DIMENSIONING & DRAWING GRAPHICS 2011

“It is first important to stress the ultimate goal, clear and concise drawings. Every visible line, number, word or symbol contained within a drawing should and does provide some type of information to the user”.

“Contractors believe that each morsel of graphic information on a drawing means something, and there is also a cost attached to it. That should be our approach when producing documents. We must constantly ask ourselves what each bit of graphic information on a drawing tells the user and does it say what it is intended”.

Each project should establish a Project Graphic Standard.

As graphic issues come up during the course of the class project, keep up the standard.

Specific line types should appear the same on each different scale drawing in which it appears. A good example would be column centerlines.

The goal for each project is to make each drawing, each sheet of drawings and each project look as close as possible the same.

THE ARCHITECT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL DIMENSIONAL CONTROL ON A PROJECT

Know what the dimension will be prior to creating them with the computer

We must know the dimension when we draw it

Provide the dimensions which affect other disciplines ASAP

TIE ALL DIMENSION STRINGS LOCATING ITEMS SUCH AS PARTITIONS AND EDGE OF SLAB TO COLUMN GRIDLINES

Each time a dimension string crosses a gridline it should tick to it

These dimensions are the backbone of the documents linking different drawing types together such as: plans to wall sections and plan details, wall sections to section details

ALWAYS GIVE ADA AND CODE REQUIRED DIMENSIONS PRIORITY

Clearly indicate these required dimensions on the plans to avoid code review comments required space at strike and pull side of the door required accessibility spaces exit widths

Avoid wherever possible dimensioning to code minimums – provide for contactor tolerances

WHEREVER POSSIBLE DIMENSION TO ONLY ONE FACE OF A PARTITION

Most partitions have one face which is more critical than the other – once determined stick with it

If both faces are critical such as plumbing chase walls or shaftwalls at mechanical chases then dimensioning both faces is acceptable

HAVE A HIERARCHY AND A GRAPHIC PLAN FOR HOW DIMENSIONS ARE TO BE PLACED ON FLOOR PLANS AND REMAIN CONSISTENT

Cartoon your dimension string locations on a print prior to the computer task – this will promote organization and thoroughness

Remember neat and organized documents instill confidence in the contractor

CLOSING DIMENSIONS COLUMN TO COLUMN IS NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY

Not closing dimensions where practical gives the contractor an area to accommodate layout tolerances

BE MINDFUL OF IMPORTANT ITEMS NEEDING DIMENSIONS

Overall building face dimensions Minor and major building offsets Exterior wall rough openings, Brick shelves and brick coursing Deflection joint size and location Building expansion joint size and location

WITH REVIT MASONRY SHOULD BE DRAWN TO ACTUAL DIMENSIONS

This is a significant historical change With AutoCad this was our strategy –

“When dimensioning block or brick use nominal dimensions vs. actual dimensions and clearly note this in the general plan notes on each floor plan sheet”

WE MUST LOCATE WORK POINTS FOR RADIAL AND ANGULAR DIMENSIONS

Provide included angels Clearly note what these dimensions are

dimensioning such as: Face of building, Face of mullion, Outside face of glass

DIMENSION GRAPHICS Dimension text wherever possible should

read from the bottom and or the right or title block side of the sheet

Dimension text wherever possible should sit above the dimension line

Use centerline line style when dimensioning to centerline of an object

Be mindful of dimension lines and text locations to avoid conflicting with other drawing objects

OBJECT LINES: Always be aware of the lines we place

on drawings Avoid placing lines on top of other lines Learn how to gap lines so they read

graphically

DIMENSION LINES: Should never occupy the same location

as another line Should be sufficiently gapped from

other lines Always be the same lineweight

regardless of the drawing scale (applies to extension lines as well)

EXTENSION LINES Should closely relate with the proper

offset to the object or point being dimensioned

Override the standard offset any time the end of the extension line is coincidental with another line or in some other way may create confusion.

SHEET FORMAT Drawings are to be placed and

numbered from the lower right corner moving upward then left

Elevations and horizontal sections being the exception

DRAWING ORIENTATION Unless there is an overwhelming reason

the drawings should be oriented vertically

Drawing orientation should remain the same from smaller scale to blow-ups to details

PROPER SCALE: Utilize the appropriate drawing scale for

the information at hand Focus on the purpose for the drawing or

detail avoiding unnecessary information as an example our primary floor plans are

1/8” scale (your 1:100) with blow-ups only for important information intensive areas

details need to clearly illustrate materials and their interface with other elements

DRAWING NUMBERS & TITLES: All drawings need a title and number Drawing titles need to be as descriptive

and unique as possible Just detail or section doesn’t leave

much to work with Make every effort to keep the

numbering regimen intact on each sheet of the set

DRAWING TEXT: Drawing text should be limited to a

minimum number of sizes with the bulk of drawing text being the same size

This predominate text size should be consistent regardless of the scale

Avoid using lowercase text

DRAWING NOTES: Notes should be clear, concise and

use as few words as possible to get the job done.

Same font and same text size throughout documents

Always left justified Extension lines start at the beginning

of the note when extending to the left and from the end of the note when extending to the right

DRAWING NOTES(cont.): Coordinate material and product language

with the specifications Anytime you abbreviate use only

abbreviations from the list contained in the specifications

Drawing note extension lines: terminate with appropriately scaled arrowheads

– just like the text, arrowheads should be the same size on each drawing and sheet of drawings throughout the set

wherever possible avoid using acute angles

REFERENCING: Wall sections are drawn with the exterior to the

left - references point in a clockwise direction Wall sections are to be referenced on floor and

roof plans and elevations The length of the reference extension line

should match the scope of the wall section The area of a plan or section detail reference

should match the scope of the enlarged drawing Reference text should read from bottom or right

REFERENCING(cont.): As much as possible limit references to the

primary floor plans or elevations rather than the blow-ups

If a similar reference is used – a description of the similar condition is required

Using opposite hand is acceptable as long as it is truly opposite hand

Avoid the use of opposite hand-similar. Just use similar and the rules of using a similar reference still apply.

DETAIL REFERENCES: Section cuts for details should follow rules of wall

section cuts QM prefers that the bubble portion of the reference

to be a dashed linestyle and the leader or extension line be solid

Area or blow-up bubbles as with wall sections should closely emulate the extent indicated on the detail drawing

Care should be taken when placing bubbles - don’t obscure other drawing information

Area or blow-up bubble reference numbers should always be read from the bottom of the sheet

MISCELLEANEOUS: Cutlines are only needed when there is a

break in a drawing not at the termination of a drawing

If crosshatching or poche’ is to be used, start with the materials legend first before employing a different crosshatching

Elevation or Floor targets should be the same scale on each drawing regardless of the scale.

THANK YOU

WHEREVER POSSIBLE DIMENSION TO THE NEAREST INCH – WHEN LAYING OUT PARTITION LOCATIONS BE MINDFUL OF THIS GOAL FOR DIMENSIONING EASE

With Revit partitions are drawn exact which will lead to more fractions

If fractions are necessary do not use any smaller than an 1/8 of an inch

BE CAREFUL OF THE USE OF EQUAL-EQUAL

We must tie down the starting point We must provide the overall dimension

containing the equal-equal We must avoid having equal-equal

inside another equal-equal Avoid equal 1,equal 2, equal 3