4.

Setting out
structures
of simple building
After completing this chapter you should be able to:
1. Recognise and classify the different types of drawings used in building.
Recognise and tabulate the symbols for components and
the drawing symbols for materials. materials used in building.
3. Reproduce
Some of the requirements for site plans,
4. State layout drawings, and component drawings.
Describe the procedure for setting out a building.

4,1 Introduction
Plans which provide builders with the information needed to construct buildings in which
people live, work and play are called architectural drawings.
An understanding of the basic principles of architectural drawings wll be of great help
when planning to design and build a house,
The ability toread and interpret architecturaldrawings is essential to those in the build
ing industry such as carpenters, bricklayers, electricians and plumbers. It is also useful
for workers in timer yards, hardware and building supply stores.
In this book we use the term building drawings instead of architectural drawings.

4.2 Classification of drawings (Extracted from S.A.B.S.

0143-1980)
4.2.1. General
written or printed
Information about a project is normally given both on drawings and on quickly, a draw
information to be found
sheets.To facilitate the presentation and to enable
information to be communicated, and
Ing is classified according to the particular type ofappropriate to its category. Do not give
generally contains only that information which is
in a schedule, specification, or in
Information in a drawing that could be better included
formation sheet.

4.2.2 Types of drawings

(a) Sketch drawings general inten
preliminary drawings, sketches, or diagrams that showthe
ese are may be done freehand.
uons of the designer. These drawings
(b) Design drawings designer and are sufficiently dimen
sketch drawings done by the
ese are enlarged 71
 documents to be prepared
enable contract
loenable other memberstoofthe professional team to complete their drrawings.
co-ordinated The
SIOned and
done freehand.
drawings mav be

() Working drawings locality plans, site plans, layout drawings

(which :
Omnent up
ranges, ofcomponent details and assembly drawings (which are
These are made

the
uniCanque be
standard1zed). identifies site and locates
4.1) is a plan that
1 Alocalin plan (Fig.
relation to a town plan or
other wider contevs the outline
of abuilding in

Berg Street

Street
West
Street
End A
Street
Park
Locality
Plan

Orange Street
1:2500
Scale

72 Fig. 4.1 A
locality plan
2. A .site plan (Fig. 4.2) is a plan that
locates the positions of buildings in
indicates the size and features of a site
and
by the authority relation them. It also contains other infor-
to
mation required
concerned, for example building lines.

Erf
24

000 EL
000 O%
-
line
Building

1:500
Street
Coristo SCALE
30
000
000
42
New
dwelling
PLAN
Erf
25
SITE

0 0 0Z

Park Erf
26

A site plan
Fig. 4.2

elevations and sections)

drawing (including plans,
a various spaces, the general
3. Alayout drawing (Fig. 4.3)isbuilding occupied by the elements and the components.
that shows the positions in athe location of principal
construction of the
building,
73
Fig. 4.3

DETAIL A
2500 220
GARAGE
D.P.C.
8ED R

Y.WC. DETAIL A
680 x 230 mm SCALE 1:10
SCALE 1:100
SECTION A.A

3 x NP 120

SEMI-FACE SEMI-FACE

EAST ELEVATION SCALE 1:100 WEST ELEVATION SCALE 1:100

100 mm PVC DRAIN PIPE

12780 LAID TO A FALL 1:60
110 220 220 10 220
TO MUNICIPAL CONNECTION
A000 2690
I|900|| 1590 | 2500
1.0 1.0 1.0 |10 0
1.0 '
S.o

COURTYARD
DINING SINK GARAGE

7000
KITCHEN 1900
I|
HWB
WC

LOUNGE ,700 1290 700,

110
A120
2000
BED AM 2
BED RM 1

220
220
4000
220 PLAN1100
SCALE
3000 220 220
3500 3500
UNITS
E;FANDG
16 500
74
 Fig. 4.3 cont.

TD78

SEMLFACE

NORTH ELEVATION SCALE 1:10

NCT 45 2 x NCT 15
NCT 45
B HWB HWB SINK
Wo WO TO679
W JVP
OG OG
PG I.0
To municipal 60
0 1.0 1.0
connection (Val. 1:60)

SOUTH ELEVATION SCALE 1:100

TOT AREA = 120,5 m2

GARAGE INCLUDED

PLAN I100
NEW SIMPLEX UNITS DRAWN: SITE PLAN 1500

FOR MR X ON ERF 916

SECTION 100

ELEVATIONS 100

g0 000
24 000
22 000
22 000
22 000 MAIN SEWERAGE PIPE

4n
s00
8340
8340 4m
8 4rn
A
PROTECTED
WALLS
DRAINAGE

BRAICKPAVING

ERE 916

SITE PLAN
60 SCALEI500
10500 14 000

19 000
19 00O
DAHLIA SREEI
75
BO00
60 000
 (a) The component range is a drawing that shows the basic sizes and the sysiem
4. Component drawings
of reference for a set of components, for example windows, doors, etc.
(b) The component detailis a drawing that shows allthe information necessarY
component.
of adrawings
(c) for the manufacture
Assembly drawings are that showin detail the construction of abui.
elements, between elements and
junctions in and between
ding,
and between components. components
4.3 Building plans
decides how he wants t
When the owner, or the person who wants to builda house,
he makes rough sketches from which special drawings are made; these are known: as plans.
The plans show the exact position and size of each room, various sectional viewe
house and many other necessary detils. The material needed and the cost of the houe
are also worked out from these plans before building operations are started.
Aplan is the view presented when looking vertically down on an object.
Projectorsare perpendiculars. If perpendiculars are drawn from the corners of an oh.
ject to points on a horizontal flat surface (called a plane) and if these points are connected
by lines, the resulting figure is known as a projection and is the plan of the
for example, the object is a building plot, the plan will show its true shape as object.
If,
aries will be of true length and correctly related. A plan of a its bound
and the correct room will show its true shape
position of
the door, window(s) and any fireplace.
PLAN

SECTION

ELEVATIONS

ELEVATION
76
Fig. 4.4
 the
An elevation is the view obtained when looking in a horizontal dircction towards
truc length. Tcrms
object. It is the projection on its vertical plane. All vertical lines are of Blcvation'" and
"East
applied to a building, such as Front Elevation'", "Rear Elevation"
"North Elevation' are self-explanatory. Examples of clevations arce shown in Figs. 4.7
(1) - (4).

4.3.1 The ground plan

ahouse, also means a particular
The word "plan", besides including all the drawings of from abovc, without the roof.
would look
part of a drawing. It shows the house as it
the other and the top part is
Supposing the house is cut horizontally from one side to looking down on it.
the house when
removed; then you will see the ground plan of
8360

3500
3500

110 110 220

220

BEDROOM BEDROOM
2690 4000

||
100
|10

10
|
20 BATH
RM
BEDROOM
4000
B
13
770
110 PASSAGE

KITCHEN
4000 220

LOUNGE

DINING
RM 5000
3000

A| |220

3300 3800

PLAN SCALE 1:100

220 110 220

Fig.4.5

77
 4.3.2
If one The vertical
could cut section
right through a building, starting at the roof and cutting through vertically
the portion that re-
portion that has been cut off, will
to the foundation, andthen remove the indicate roof
4.6). The section
mains would represent a section of the house (Fig. foundations, filling floors, etc. Sec-
floors,
of ceilings and ceiling, doors and windows in
construction, ceilings, finishing section,
tions also show the height from the floor to the
foundation walls and the damp proof course.

LROOF COVERING
-ROOF FRAMING

+EXT. BRICK WALL

CONC FLOOR

COMPACTED HARDCORE

acONCFOUNDATION
SECTION A-A

Fig. 4.6 Vertical Section

Marks appearing on a plan like those in Fig. 4.5 show where the section has been cut.
They also indicate the angle from which the section should be viewed. The sectional view
may be anywhere through the building provided that it is shown on the ground plan.
4.3.3 Elevations
An elevation is a drawing of one side of a house. A
house usually has four sides. Tnus
there are four elevations which can be shown on the plan - the
tions. This is usually enough to show what the front. back and end eleva
Fig. 47 shows four elevations of adwelling. The building
one viewwillis look like.
a north elevation (that wilI
be the side facing north). The other
view is the east elevation. The twoviews that are usually
nreferred for elevation plans are the view facing the street
and the
times more views may be
required but most of the township view facing north. SO
authorities require
only two views. developing
Elevation plans show all the detail on the outside of adwelling, like wall-finishing- door
and window sizes, pitch of the
Note: The line indicating north roof gutters, downpipes, ground level steps, erc.
must always be shown on all
drawings.
78
 FACEBRICK

NORTH ELEVATION

(2)

FACEBRICK

SOUTH ELEVATION

(3)

FACEBRICK

WEST ELEVATION
Fig. 4.7
79
 (4)

FACEBRICK

EAST ELEVATION

Fig. 4.7

4.4 Building drawing symbols

(Extracted from SABS. 0143-1980)
It has been mentioned that a building drawing is
produced to give information to a variex
of professional people involved in building a partiaular
of information included on these drawings, structure. Because of the vast amout
symbols are used to save space and keep te
drawing as clear as possible. The representation of materials and symbols for componers
and materials in table 4.1, covers the basic
requirements for producing a drawing.
4.4.1 Representation of materials
(a) General
Recommended methods of indicating materials on plans and sections are
the table. These must only be used show
tation of drawings, but in all cases a where confusion is likely to occur in the
thickness, etc. Do not hatch existing descriptive note is added stating the type of inteip
na
dotted lines. work and show demolished work by ma

(b) Colouring
Colouring is costly, laborious and conducive to error and is consequently tobeavoi
ed.
Hatching is preferable where it is materias
Colouring is, however, sometimes necessary to differentiate between
4.4.2 Symbols required by local
authorities.
Symbols are the same in the singular and in the plural. Use capital lettersfor Componens
and lower case letters for
Where components and materials.
equipment can be clearly shown by grraphical symbolson!
no other symbol
ples of some of should be used and other Section. Exa
the most
commonly symbols are this
used symbols areexcluded in Table 4.1.
from
80 given
g up

FACE BRICK STONE CONCRETE

STOCK
BRICKS

COMPACTED GLASS
EARTH
UNDISTURBED HARDCORE (SECTION)
PLASTER

STEEL
UNPLANED
PLANED TIMBER
MARBLE (SECTION)
TIMBER

ROOF
FIBRE BOARD INSULATION
BLOCKWORK PLYWOOD
Table 4.1

4.5 Scales
the views
Most building plans and drawings are drawn to scale. When drawn to scale,
structure.
presented accurate proportion of the full-sized
A:100 scaleon themeans
drawing are
that 1 mmshown
on in
the an
drawing equals 100 mm in the structure to be built.
This scale is
Scale architect's scale rule is used.
divided drianwito ngsvarious major units each representing 1 m.
are quite easy to make if an

81
 4.6 Site planning
proposed site should be evaluated
When beginning to plun a home, the function of before
(he plans to see what
not nornally taken into
eftect it will have onthe design and
consideration by most
home to capitalize on the daily quantity of sun,
home
the
planners or builders are
the prevailing winds in the
forieniinnalgizcornghes
home.
area,
the presence of trees and the
raphy of the site - both natural and artificial-
surrounding buildings. Theseshould all have a direct
influence on the
design. All
lopogand
sh rub ery
factors should be kept in mind because of the potential to adaptthem to the overall\of hese
and to minimize the energy requirements of buildings.
Employed wiscly, the features of the building site can be used to the
scheme
home Cwner s ad-
Vantage to reduce energy requirements, particularly those associated with
and lighting. heating, cooling
4.6.1 Clearing the site
Prior to the commencement of building operations the site must be
rubbish, all bushes and shrubs must be grubbed generally clearad
up, cleared and carted away and the sitn
left ready for excavation.

4.6.2 Setting out

The first line to be set out is
iscalled the building line, andgenerally that of the main frontage of the
building. This
the building line by using the
if the building is
3:4:5 method. rectangular, right angles are set off fromline

side 4
hypotenuse
5

900

Boundary line base

Building line
e.g. 32 + 42 = 52
82
Buildingline
Tape Measure Building line
5
A

3
3
2

90°

Corner Profile

Fig. 4.8Setting out using the 3:4:5 method

Profiles are used to ensure the accurate setting out of the walls. These are temporary guides
consisting of boards nailed to wooden pegs which are driven into the ground about I metre
away from the excavation line.

Width of wall

Profile board

Pegs with pointed

Ground level | ends driven into

ground

Foundation

Fig. 4.9 Profiles

83
 and
uscd when setting out these profiles, the measure
checked. Auseful
fape check
should beis obtained by taking diagonal measurements between
A steel

COmers and, if the

building is rectangular, these should, of Course, be equal.
profile indicating the width
TImem
saw-cuts,ofihe conTe
are narked on each
Permanent dimensions checked,
footings and the thickness of the wall, when about
bed, brick upper edge of each board to
deep, are made down these marks in the
the trenches, receive
the
position and correct alignment of end
of the bricklayer's line. The
walls are obtained by plumbing
down from lines which are
stretched in turn fooings agp-nd
posite profiles (Fig. 4.9).
The trenches and pier holes are then marked
out on the ground and
betwe
excavated
n
Widths and depths, as set out, to a solid
bottom. to the

4.6.3Levelling of trenches
which all
It is necessary to fix the height of the ground floor level, to other heights are
related. If possible, this should be a permanent level, such as the top of a plinth
or
of an existing building. Otherwise a peg is driven in position on the site, where it iestep
likely to be disturbed.

Sight line
Sight rail

Sight rail placed

at a known height
Boning rod (could be profile board)

Depth of foundation

Leveling pegs removed as

foundation is laid

Sight rail
Support
post
Alternatives- support post placeo
in pipe filled with sand or eartn

Boning rod

Fig. 4.10
84 Boning rods (Trench excavations)
 Assuming that the trenches have
been líned out and
bottomand at each corner of the trenches untíl the topexcavated, a peg is
of cach is at the driven in the
belowthe floor level. This depth is obtained by neans of a rmetre required depth
spiritlevel and short straight edge applied on the floor level peg. If rule and the use of a
dance with the gauge of the brickwork decided upon, the this depth is in accor-
floor level will course with the
bed joint of thhe brickwork. Interrnediate pegs are then dríven in the bottorn of
convenient intervals until their tops
are at the sane level as the
the trenches
at
assured if three boning rods (Fig. 4.10) of the same height are used, corner pegs. This ís
one onthrough"
of corner pegs and the thírd on the intermediate pegs in turn, "sighting each of aíron
pair
d The bottom of the trenches around each peg ís
then trínned to the
rote depth and levelled thrOugh between pegs. Foundation trenches and pierrequired
on
holes are ts
he approved by the architect and local authority before the concrete is laid.
After approval the concrete is carefully deposited and brought to the level of the pey
vons by using a striking-off board on each pair of adjacent pegs in turn.

4.64 An alternative method

Another method tor site and building layout is to use surveying instruments. Today tne
builder uses surveying instruments both to speed up the work and to ensure its accurar.
Surveying simply means making precise measurerments, which are a must no matter what
stage of construction you are working on.
The simplest of the surveying instruments is the builder's leel (sornetimes referred to
as the dumpy level). In this instrument, a telescope in a fixed position turns a complae
360°. Although layout work is not possibie with this instrument. it can be used for testíng
leveiness. transferring points and measuring angles on a horizontal plane.

4.7 Foundation concrete

distribute the weight of the building
Foundation concrete is placed at the base of walls to
ground. To lay this concrete, pegs are driven
as evenly as possible over a large area of the
required thickness of the concrete. This thick
Into the bottom of the trench to indicate the or
carry, but should be not less than 200 mm
ness will depend upon the load it has to greater.
from the face of the wall. whichever is the
equal to the length of the edge projecting

4.8 Exercises
following working drawings:
wie short notes describing the
(a) locality plans:
(b) site plans:
(c) layout drawings.
used for the following
materials:
2. Symbols
Make neat sketches of the sectioning
(a) stock bricks:
(b) stone work:
(c) face bricks:
(d) glass:
85
 (e) plaster:
() concrete:
(g) hard core:
(h) earth filling.
building:
3. Explain the following terms in
(a) building line;
(b) "3:4:5'' method;
(c) profile board;
(d) boning rod;
(e) footing.
house shown in
4. Using a scale of 1:50 draw a plan of the two-roomed the
line diagya
given below. Show clearly the positions of the windows and doors, and draw
thicknesses and insert names and dimensions. Use your own discretion
given. for sizes

300
8

3 000
3000

86