Floor plans are two-dimensional drawings of an architectural project that indicate the size of a designed building, the materials that must be used during construction and the definition of its characteristics. Architects use blueprints and written directions to communicate to workers and builders how the building is to be built. Learning to read a floor plan is essential not only for those who work on construction, but also for clients who entrust architects with the drafting of projects, in order to be able to make more conscious decisions regarding construction or restoration.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: The Basics for Interpretation
Step 1. Memorize the three basic categories
A floor plan can be divided into three main parts: plan, elevation and section. Each of these provides a specific two-dimensional view of the construction project.
- A floor plan is the projection on a horizontal plane of the building project seen from above. The top is usually placed 75 centimeters from the floor.
- An elevation is the vertical projection of one side of the project, seen from the north, south, east or west.
- A section is the projection onto a vertical plane of the building, cut from the plane itself, which shows how something will be built.
Step 2. Determine the scale in which the project is represented
Projects are drawn using one or two scales: architectural scale or engineering scale.
- The architectural (or architect's) scale uses units of the metric system in meters and centimeters. These projects are represented so that a particular length measurement is equal to 1 meter. The scales vary from 1 mm to 2 m equivalent to 1 m.
- The engineering scale uses dimensions with a scale ratio that is a multiple of 10. This scale can have measurements in either meters or feet or in decimal parts of a foot.
- Some projects use the English unit of measurement accompanied by metric conversions: this system is known as "double quoting". Other types of projects use only metric units.
Step 3. Understand the symbols used to represent the components of an architectural design
The architects developed a symbology to represent the individual parts of a building and the land surrounding it, so that the project can communicate a large amount of information. Most projects include a legend explaining the symbols used.
Method 2 of 2: Methods of Interpretation
Step 1. Read some books on the subject
There are many general or specific texts on how to read a project, some of which are published by companies that make mechanical tools and components and others by government agencies, such as the United States Army. These books are available in print and digital format.
Step 2. Watch training videos
The videos are available in DVD format or streamed over the internet.
Step 3. Take courses related to reading architectural plans
These courses are held in local trade institutes and vocational training centers, but also online.
Step 4. Learn to read projects online
In addition to offering access to courses and training videos, the Internet also offers a large number of websites with information on how to read architectural plans.
