BUILDING CODES AND MATERIALS
RULES FOR DRAWING SYMBOLS
SYMBOL CONVENTIONS
The American Institute of Architect (AlA) and the American National
Standard Institute (ANSI) have each set standard conventions for archi-
tectural symbols. Since many new and different types ,of construction ma-
terials, appliances and fixtures are continually being developed and used in
construction, many architectural drafters will use symbols of their own de-
sign and show their meaning in a legend or symbol chart on the drawing.
While there are some different symbols being used, there is an overall ac-
ceptance of the AlA and ANSI symbol conventions.
As a general rule when a symbol is not clear or a new type of material
is to be noted on a drawing, a notation should be used with the symbol.
This Will clarify the communication to the builders. It must be remem-
bered that architectural working drawings must be read by many persons
in the building trades. Everything must be clear so no guess work will be
involved with the design, ordering of materials or construction phases.
SYMBOLS AND CONVENTIONS
1. Always use drawing instruments. Never draw the symbols freehand on a work-
ing drawing. Use architectural drawing template to increase the speed and
clarity of the symbols. Be certain that the template figures are the same
scale as your drawing's scale.
2. The location of the symbol on the working drawing is closely approximated. If
an exact location is required, dimensions must be added to the symbol on the
drawing.
3. Symbols are not drawn to the exact size of the actual item. The general size
of the architectural symbols will vary with the scale of the drawing. The sym-
bol should be of convenient reading size, It should 110t be too small or large.
4. Material symbols need not cover the full surface. Repetitious drawing symbols
need not be completely drawn.
5. Have references for architectural symbols available.
1
 BUILDING MATERIAL SYMBOLS
ARCHITECTURAL SYMBOLS
The drawing of an architectural working drawing requires a knowledge
of the symbols and terms commonly used in the design and construction
industry. All architectural working drawings must communicate in a clear
and concise manner to the builders.
In order to simplify the details on a drawing and to speed drawing
time it is necessary to use architectural symbols. Many symbols are
designed to approximate the appearance of an item, or the material
from which it is constructed. Some symbols however, may have no
graphic resemblance to the material or item that they
are to represent.

2
3
4
DOORS

5
TYPICAL DOOR DETAILS

6
7
FLOOR PLAN PLUMBING SYMBOLS

8
BATHROOM LAYOUT

9
KITCHEN LAYOUT

10
WINDOWS SYMBOLS

11
WINDOW AND DOOR SECTION DETAILS

12
Graphic Symbols
The symbols shown are those that seem to be the most common and acceptable,
judged by the frequency of use by the architectural offices surveyed. This list
can and should be expanded by each office to include symbols generally used by
it, but not indicated here. Adoption of these symbols as standard practice is
desirable to improve communication in the industry.

13
TYPICAL SITE PLAN

SITE PLAN
SCALE = 1:100

14
TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

15
TYPICAL WOODEN DETAILS

16
TYPICAL CONCRETE ELEVATIONS

PLEASE NOTE: NO LABELS OR DIMENSIONS ON ELEVATIONS.

TITLE MUST BE UNDERLINED AND SCALE SHOWN BELOW

17
FOUNDATION PLAN

18
 FOUNDATION DETAILS

STRIP FOUNDATION

PILE FOUNDATION
PAD FOUNDATION

RAFT FOUNDATION DEEP STRIP FOUNDATION

19
WOODEN FLOOR DETAILS

20
CONCRETE FLOOR DETAILS

21
TIMBER PARTITION WALL DETAILS

22
ROOF FRAMING PLAN

23
ROOF TYPES

24
TYPICAL RIDGE AND EAVE DETAILS

25
 TRUSS DETAILS
Roof & Parallel Chord Trusses

The pitched or common truss is characterized by its triangular shape. It is most often used for construction. Some common trusses are
names according to their web configuration, such as the King Post, Fan or Howe truss. The chord size and web configuration are deter-
mined by span, load, and spacing. All truss designs are optimized to provide the most economical application.
The parallel chord or flat truss gets its name from having parallel top an bottom chords. This is type often used for floor construction.

26
TYPICAL ROOF TRUSSES

27
STAIRS
STAIR TYPES

28
STAIRS

29
CONCRETE STAIRS

30
SECTIONS
REINFORCED CONCRETE BLOCK CONSTRUCTION

31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
TRUNCATED CYLINDER
SOLUTION

BRANCH T SOLUTION

SOLUTION FOR HALF

BRANCH

49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
TWO POINT PERSPECTIVE

57
ONE POINT PERSPECTIVE

58