Blueprint Reading for the Trades
How to read construction drawings and specifications the way experienced tradespeople do, followed through two first-year apprentices on a mid-rise building: drawing sets and title blocks, orthographic and isometric views, scales and dimensions, lines, symbols and reference marks, site and floor plans, sections and details, structural, plumbing, HVAC and electrical drawings, specifications and schedules, and RFIs, changes and as-built drawings.
TRD-103 12 lessons · 4 h 15 min
Offered by HSM University · Trades Core
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Navigate a construction drawing set using discipline letters, sheet numbers, the drawing list and title blocks, and confirm that a sheet is the current revision.
- Visualize objects from orthographic views and read and sketch isometric drawings, including single-line piping isometrics.
- Read architectural and engineering scales, use graphic scale bars, interpret dimensions and dimension strings, and explain why written dimensions govern over scaled measurements.
- Interpret line types, material hatching, abbreviations, section marks, detail callouts, tags and keynotes, and follow references between sheets.
- Read site plans and floor plans, and locate work from structural grid lines, benchmarks and datums.
- Read elevations, building and wall sections, details and interior elevations, and calculate heights from levels and mounting heights above finished floor.
- Read structural drawings, including general notes, foundation and slab plans, reinforcing callouts and the rules for sleeves and openings, and recognize the hazards of post-tensioned slabs.
- Read plumbing and fire protection drawings, including legends, plans, invert elevations, riser diagrams and fixture schedules.
- Read HVAC drawings, including duct sizes, air devices, dampers, hydronic piping, equipment schedules and coordination of the ceiling space.
- Read electrical drawings, including symbols, circuits and home runs, lighting plans, panel schedules, single-line diagrams and fire alarm drawings.
- Use specifications organized by MasterFormat and the three-part section format, and use schedules from every discipline.
- Prepare a clear request for information, explain how changes and submittals are processed, and mark up as-built drawings.
Course content
12 lessons · 4 h 15 min total · final exam
- 1 The drawing set: sheets, title blocks and revisions 20 min · quiz
- 2 Orthographic and isometric views 22 min · quiz
- 3 Scales and dimensions 22 min · quiz
- 4 Lines, symbols, abbreviations and reference marks 22 min · quiz
- 5 Site plans, grid lines and floor plans 21 min · quiz
- 6 Elevations, sections and details 21 min · quiz
- 7 Structural drawings 21 min · quiz
- 8 Plumbing and fire protection drawings 21 min · quiz
- 9 HVAC and mechanical drawings 21 min · quiz
- 10 Electrical drawings 20 min · quiz
- 11 Specifications and schedules 21 min · quiz
- 12 Changes, RFIs, shop drawings and as-builts 23 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
How to read construction drawings and specifications the way experienced tradespeople do, followed through two first-year apprentices on a mid-rise building: drawing sets and title blocks, orthographic and isometric views, scales and dimensions, lines, symbols and reference marks, site and floor plans, sections and details, structural, plumbing, HVAC and electrical drawings, specifications and schedules, and RFIs, changes and as-built drawings.