Construction is one of the leading industries of the world, which has pressured the people associated with it to work hard and achieve perfection. This perfection can only be achieved by paying attention to the construction plans and blueprints. Following them to the dot is essential to create the right work according to the need of clients and authorities’ regulations.
What are Construction Blueprints?
Construction blueprints are the 2D drawings that shed light on the minutest details of the project. The drawings are composed following all the legal and design implications. They do not only provide the guideline of construction work but also help the involved parties visualize the final picture of the project. Without blueprints, starting work on construction sites is impossible.
Components of Construction Blueprints
Construction blueprints are exceptionally detail-oriented. Knowing about their important components is necessary to understand better and read the blueprints and follow them. Below mentioned are some of the most important components of construction blueprints:
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General Sheets
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Architectural Plans
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Structural Engineering Plans
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Electrical Plans
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Mechanical Plans
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Plumbing Plans
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Door Schedule
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Window Schedule
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Finish Schedule
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Specifications Sheets
This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide about construction blueprints. Keep scrolling down to learn all the details and implement them in your construction projects.
Top 6 Tips to Better Read Construction Project Blueprints
Architectures and engineers usually have the responsibility of drawing and designing the construction blueprints. However, project managers, contractors, subcontractors, and project owners are the primary parties who have to consult the blueprints time and again to ensure perfect work completion. It is crucial to read the blueprints properly in order to follow them and avoid mistakes in the construction process.
Here are the key tips to better read and understand construction project blueprints.
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Check the Title Block
The very first thing you need to check in order to understand the construction blueprint better is the title block. The title block includes all the important information about the blueprint, like the date of its creation, approval, and the name of the people who designed and approved the plan.
Construction parties often have to face delays as they fail to understand the plan or due to mistakes in it. They also acquire the service of construction consultants to deal with the matter and ensure completion of the project on time, according to the perfect blueprints.
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Identify the Scale
The scale of the blueprint is the next most important thing in it. You should not make even a minor mistake in understanding the scale of the blueprint, as it can damage the whole project. The scale is usually included in the upper right-hand corner of the blueprint. It denotes the north and south directions of the project. Moreover, it is the compact visual presentation of the project and highlights the size difference between the actual project and the drawing.
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Get to Know the Symbols and Abbreviations
Construction blueprints are quite detailed. However, it is quite difficult to represent all the details on a single sheet of paper. On the other hand, the architects and engineers cannot omit all the important details just to accommodate the plan on the sheet. So, they use short terms, symbols, and abbreviations to shed light on the plan. Get to know the symbols and abbreviations to better read and act on the blueprints.
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Review All Side Notes
Accounting all the details of the construction blueprint on the limited sheet is not easy. However, these details cannot be missed. They are not only important during the construction phase of the project but also help the authorities take care of maintenance, remodeling, or demolishing over the years. Therefore, they include side notes to share detailed insights. Do not forget to check these to get a detailed guidance.
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Pay Attention to Plan Legend
Besides the symbols related to the floor plan, structure, and design of the project, construction blueprints include symbols for windows, doors, electric, plumbing, gas, and mechanical fixtures. You need to pay attention to all these symbols to incorporate them efficiently in the drawing. Legend plan includes a detailed description of all the symbols mentioned on the blueprints, so do not forget to check it if you are facing any issue in reading it.
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Check All the Schedules
Construction blueprints also include the details of material and structure requirements and when the next step should be started. So, check all the schedule related updates of the project to follow the blueprint. However, if your project is delayed due to poor understanding, you can hire delay experts to identify the causes, responsible parties and lend you support in resolution.
Understand the blueprints to follow them completely!
Blueprints can be termed as the stepping stones in construction. Projects can face numerous legal issues in case the blueprint is not followed. On the other hand, difficulty in understanding it can delay project completion. So, try to review and analyze different sections of the plan to better understand and follow it. Involve the experts in your project to identify and deal with all the arising issues before they start affecting it.
Layla Flinn is a Sydney based writer and researcher, a regular contributor at Smooth Decorator blog. She writes about décor, gardening, recycling, ecology, and business. She thinks all of these topics fall under the self-improvement category. She believes in the power of sharing ideas and communicating via the internet to achieve betterment.
