Plans
A guide to Understanding Plans
SO...... You're ready to start that addition, you have received the plans from your
architect or draughtsman but you can't make head nor tail of them.
Maybe this section can help to enlighten you just a little bit.
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Working Plans
are a set of plans from which the builders and other trades refer to and work off throughout the construction of the project.
The working plans are also the plans that are submitted to the local building authority (along with any other documentation that might be required) when applying for a building permit.
A few sets of plans are usually required, two or three for the building authority when applying for permit and a varying number of sets to send out to tradesmen and building supply stores when seeking quotations.
No work can commence until such time as the relevant authority has given approval.
An approved (stamped) copy of the plans must be kept on the job at all times throughout construction. The building inspector will sign the approved plans every time he does an inspection. All required inspections will be listed
in the documentation accompanied with the approved plans.
Buildeazy has drawn up a simple set of working plans to explain the bits and pieces.
These plans are for an addition to a fictitious house.
Plan and permit requirements vary from place to place.
If contemplating drawing up your own plans or doing any building work inquire at your local building department to find out what
specific needs are bound by local building code or by local authority in order to obtain a building permit.
The following example plans are for a 34sq metres (366 sq ft) addition to a fictitious house.
Construction is concrete slab floor,
brick veneer, lumber frame and lightweight tile roof on lumber trusses.
Working plans (for a standard residential addition) usually comprise of the following:
Site plan:
The site plan (plot plan) shows the placement of the existing building and the proposed addition.
The site plan also shows the site boundaries, location of services (storm water, sewer etc.) and relative levels of floor, finished ground and services. Contour grids showing the rise and fall of the land are needed for sloping sections.
example and explanation of a site plan - click here
Foundation or Footing plan:
The foundation or footing plan shows the outlay and measurements of the foundation / footings and any required steel reinforcing.
example and explanation of a foundation plan - click here
Elevation plan:
The elevation plan is more like a drawing of the outside of the addition rather
than a plan although is still drawn to scale. The elevation plan gives a
good perspective of the addition to the untrained eye.
example and explanation of an elevation plan - click here
Floor plan:
The floor plan (footprint) shows the layout of the walls, also where the doors and windows are along with the sizes of the doors and windows, units such as vanities, baths etc and the designated uses of the rooms.
The floor plan is to scale and walls etc are dimensioned.
example and explanation of a floor plan - click here
Roof plan:
The roof plan shows a flat plan view (looking down) of the outlay of the roof, and where the trusses / rafters etc are situated.
example and explanation of a roof plan - click here
Bracing plan:
The bracing plan shows where the wall braces go and what type of bracing is required.
example and explanation of a bracing plan - click here
Cross section plan and detail example:
The cross section plan is a plan taken from a cross section of the floor plan. The cross section line is marked by flags.
The cross section shows construction, lumber sizes and room heights.
A detail plan is a blow up (magnified) part of the plan to give clearer detail.
example and explanation of a cross section plan and detail - click here
Specifications:
Specifications give a description of all the materials used, sizes, spacings etc and in some cases right down to
what type of paint to use and how many coats.
Sometimes the specifications are on a separate document but sometimes (mainly smaller jobs) the specifications
are incorporated in the plan drawings.
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