Week 10

Other Construction Drawings

Objective

• This chapter gives an overview of building systems and the drawings that represent them, specifically demolition, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and site plans

Electrical Plans

Figure 13-2 Electrical plan for a kitchen

Electricity and its Delivery

• Electricity is the flow of electrical power– Generated at a power plant using fuel

• Fuel sources include:– Coal, oil, and nuclear raw materials– Solar, wind, and combustible gas from landfills– Decomposing corn stalks

Electricity and its Delivery (cont’d.)

Figure 13-6 How electricity is delivered within the house

Electrical Terms• Flow of electrons: current measured in

amps• Household electrical consumption

measured in kilowatt (1000 watts) abbreviated kW

• Total amount of electrical energy used is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh)– kWh: work performed by one kilowatt in one

hour

Electrical Terms (cont’d.)

• Electric meter measures amount of energy customer uses

Figure 13-7 Residential electric watt-hours meter

Electrical Terms (cont’d.)

• Service panel– Receives electricity into the house from the

service entrance or meter box– Distributes it throughout via branch circuits– Large metal box

• Contains circuit breakers or fuses• Circuit

– Includes the conductor, switching device(s), and the outlet for a load

Electrical Terms (cont’d.)

• Voltage: pressure that forces electrons through a wire

• Current: flow of electrons through a wire, measured in amperes

• Appliance: general term for any item powered through a plug and a flexible cable

• Watt: unit of power, calculated as energy per unit of time

• Lamp: technical term for light bulb

Electrical Terms (cont’d.)

Fixture: consists of map, reflector, opening, housing, and connection to power source

May contain ballast to regulate powerConduit: hollow tube that holds conductorsSwitch: electrical device that opens and closes circuitTypes: toggle, push-button, dimmer, timer, joystick, single-pole, three-way, four-way

Electrical Terms (cont’d.)

Convenience outlet: receptacle; connection deviceGround fault circuit interrupter (GFCI): safety device installed on circuitGround: electrical connection to earthSpecial outlets: phone jacks, TV antenna jacks, alarm systems, etc.Automated systems: low-voltage, electronically controlled devices

Drawing the Electrical Plan

Figure 13-14 Drafting common electrical symbols

Power/Telephone/Data/VOIP Plans

• Shows where electrical outlets, phone jacks, data ports, computers, video equipment, and communications systems are located

• Includes the following:– Data ports– Digital subscriber lines– Telephony (includes Voice over IP)– Communication systems

Reflected Ceiling Plan• View of the ceiling as if it were reflected

onto a mirror that is flat on the floor• Shows ceiling materials, molding,

ornamentation, exposed structural elements, HVAC, soffits, exposed beams, skylights, building grid lines, and anything else that is on or touches the ceiling

Reflected Ceiling Plan (cont’d.)

Figure 13-27 Rich ornamentation is described on a refracted ceiling plan.

Climate Control Plans• Shows HVAC systems• Drawings: mechanical and equipment plans• Includes furnaces, air conditioners, water

heaters, ducts, filters, humidifiers, pipes, control devices, outlets registers and vents

Climate Control TermsNatural gas: energy source for gas-fueled furnacesFurnace: appliance that produces heatAir conditioner: appliance that cools, filters, and dehumidifies airHeat pump: appliance that heats and cools a buildingThermostat: regulates temperature in a furnace or air conditioner via sensors and activating switches

Climate Control Terms (cont’d.)

• Zone: specific area heated or cooled by one unit

• Hydronic: heating or cooling system that transfers heat via a circulating fluid

• Pipes: copper tubes round in cross-section, that serve as the distribution method in hydronic systems

• Humidifier: appliance that adds moisture to the house

Climate Control Terms (cont’d.)

• Ducts: distribution and return-air path in a forced-air system

• Register: outlet in a forced-air system through which air is returned to a room

• Forced-air heat systems: furnace draws room air through ductwork and returns the warmed air to the rooms

• Flexible tubes and panels heat system: radiant system

Reading the Mechanical Plan

Figure 13-42 Examples of the pipes and fittings that mechanical symbols and plans schematically represent

Plumbing Plans

Figure 13-43 Plumbing plan

Plumbing Terms• Water heater• PEX: cross-linked polyethylene• Water pipes• Fixture• Trap: S-shaped section of pipe• Valve: controls flow• Stack: vertical pipe• Stack wall• Clean-out

Plumbing Terms (cont’d.)• Well• Main• Hose bib• Septic tank• Sump pump• Freshwater water delivery• Waste water discharge

Demolition Plans

Figure 13-60 Demolition plan

Site Plans• North arrow: shows the solar orientation

of the house• Engineer scale: used to dimension the

property• Footprint: building’s shape, size and

orientation• Property lines: physical boundaries• Hard surfaces: include walks, entries,

driveways, access roads, and patios• Waterways: include rivers and lakes

Site Plans (cont’d.)• Utility lines: include gas, electricity, water,

and sewer lines• Vegetation: comprises trees and shrubs• Contour lines: show ground elevations• Legal description: includes location of the

property lines• Details: construction drawings• Related drawings: survey, plots,

landscape plans

Summary• Many different types of drawings are

included in a set of instructions for constructing or renovating a building

• Floor plans, elevations, sections, details, electrical, water, and building systems drawings are all necessary to describe the design

• While the interior designer may not draw all of them, it is useful to be able to read them and recognize key features