Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lesson Overview
Architectural and construction design must follow rules and
standards. The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
establishes the rules for architectural drafting, defining the
layers, colors, line types, and symbols to be used in
architectural drafting. Visit the AIA website at www.aia.org.
The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is an
organization for students interested in pursuing a career in
architecture. Visit the AIAS website at www.aias.org.
Many cities and counties have their own rules, based on the
AIA standards, to make it easier to check drawings that are
being submitted to their planning departments. The rules
dictate how drawing sheets should be numbered and what
symbols, line types, colors, and so forth, should be used.
Software:
Time:
3 to 4 hours
Level:
Beginner
Datasets:
Imperial included
Concepts Addressed
Describe drawing units and how they are measured in drawings
Describe drawing scale and dimension styles
Identify the different sheet sizes and how they should be named
Describe title blocks and the contents that are typically included in them
Explain why templates are used, and the settings that are preset within them
Learning Objectives
After completing this lesson you will be able to:
Exercise Index
Exercise 01
Select a Template
Page 9
Exercise 02
Set Units
Page 11
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Exercise 03
Page 12
Exercise 04
Page 14
Exercise 05
Page 19
Exercise 06
Page 27
Exercise 07
Create a Template
Page 30
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Architectural and construction design must follow rules and standards. The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
establishes the rules for architectural drafting, defining the layers, colors, line types, and symbols to be used in
architectural drafting. Visit the AIA website at www.aia.org .
The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is an organization for students interested in pursuing a
career in architecture. Visit the AIAS website at www.aias.org .
Many cities and counties have their own rules, based on the AIA standards, to make it easier to check drawings
that are being submitted to their planning departments. The rules dictate how drawing sheets should be numbered
and what symbols, line types, colors, and so forth, should be used.
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
Key Terms
AIA
dimension
label
metric
portrait
scale
text
view
attribute
dual notation
landscape
permanent dimensions
ratio
sheet
title block
commercial
imperial
layout
plot
residential
temporary dimensions
units
Building Codes
The Uniform Building Code establishes the rules for building design. The rules are meant to ensure that buildings
are safe for people. Most states have their own building codes that take into consideration environmental and
social issues specific to that state.
The Uniform Building Code also defines what constitutes a bedroom, a bathroom, a common area (such as a
living room or family room), a garage, and so on. For example, in order for a room to be considered a bedroom, it
must have at least one door, one window, and one closet. If it lacks any of these components, it cannot be called
a bedroom. A garage must be completely enclosed, otherwise it is considered a carport.
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A good example of a Building Code rule applies to bedroom windows on an upper floor. Each bedroom or upper
floor room that is adjacent to the exterior must have at least one window large enough to accommodate a
firefighter with a backpack. If there is a fire, the firefighter must be able to get into the room easily to fight the fire
and save the people inside.
Drawing Units
Architectural drawing, like mechanical drawing, uses a system of units to define the size of a structure and its
components: walls, doors, windows, and so on.
A unit is a particular physical quantity, defined and adopted by convention, with which other particular quantities of
the same kind are compared to express their value.
The value of a physical quantity is the quantitative expression of a particular physical quantity as the product of a
number and a unit, the number being its numerical value. The numerical value of a particular physical quantity
depends on the unit in which it is expressed.
For example, the value of the height h of the Washington Monument is h = 169 m = 555 ft. Here h is the physical
quantity, its value is expressed in the unit meter, unit symbol m, is 169 m, and its numerical value when expressed
in meters is 169. The value of h expressed in the unit foot, unit symbol ft., is 555 ft., and its numerical value when
expressed in feet is 555.
In architectural drafting, units are applied to dimensions. There are two basic types of dimensions: size and
location. Size dimensions indicate the overall size of an object. Location dimensions deal with the actual
placement of an object or structure.
Many architects are beginning to draft using the metric system, also known as the International System of Units.
However, in the United States, the construction industry still uses the English, or imperial, system (inches and
feet) to order lumber, glass, and other materials.
Some architects deal with this by applying metric dimensions to those items they can control, such as room size
and wall height, while noting the width of studs (2 x 4) and so forth, using imperial units. Another method is to
apply dual notation. This means that every dimension is shown using metric units and imperial units. Many
architects in the United States continue to use only imperial units, as they find this the easiest way to
communicate with consultants and government agencies.
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Scales are ratios, one value representing another value. The format typically used for architectural scales is an
inch value equal to one foot, for example 1/8" = 1'-0". This is actually equal to 1:96 scale, because there are
ninety-six 1/8 inches in a foot (12 x 8).
This means that if you plot a drawing at 1/8" = 1'0", everything in your drawing gets scaled down ninety-six times
when it is plotted. If you were to get a ruler out and measure the objects on your drawing, every 1/8" would
represent 1'.
Revit accomplishes this automatically with a system of view scale, sheets, and viewports.
In Revit, dimension styles control the appearance of dimensions: font and text size, line weight and pattern, and
the size and shape of the tick marks that define the measuring point. Dimensions scale with other view contents
when viewports are placed on sheets for plotting.
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Sheets
Sheets in technical drafting can be different sizes. Each size is designated by a letter. Most offices define a title
block for each sheet size used for their documentation.
Letter
A
Size (Inches)
8.5 X 11
11 X 17
17 X 22
22 X 34
An easy way to figure out what size sheet is designated by which letter is to start by knowing that a standard 8-1/2
(H) x 11 (W) sheet of paper is A.
Each letter size after this is W x 2*H of the previous size.
A B-size sheet of paper is 11 (W) x 8.5*2 (H) = 11(W) x 17 (H).
QUESTION: If your customer demands his documentation in D-size sheets, can you calculate the size of the
paper? E-size?
(See the end of this section for the answer)
The AIA has several recommended naming conventions for sheets, and most architectural offices use a modified
version of the AIA standard.
Project drawing sheets are grouped by a sheet-type prefix that identifies the discipline for each sheet:
SHEET TYPE
Prefixes
A
Discipline
Architectural
Structural
Mechanical/HVAC
Electrical
Plumbing
Fire Protection
Civil Engineering/Site
Landscape
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The prefix is followed by a number where the integer refers to the type of drawing, and a decimal refers to the
drawing order under the type.
The integers go from 0 to 9.
Integer
0
Drawing Type
Index, symbols, notes
Schedules
Floor plans
Interior elevations
Exterior details
Interior details
For example, a sheet for the first-floor floor plan would be numbered A4.01.
A sheet for an exterior elevation showing structural detail would be numbered S3.01.
A sheet in Revit simulates a sheet of paper and provides a predictable plotting setup. You create and position
views, and then add a title block or other symbols.
You create multiple sheets in a Revit project, each of which contains different plot scales and paper sizes.
ANSWER
If your customer demands his documentation in E-size sheets, can you calculate the size of the paper?
A D-size sheet of paper is 22 (W) x 34 (H).
An E-size sheet of paper is 34 (W) x 22*2 (H) = 34 (H) x 44 (W).
Title Blocks
A title block is like a title page to a report or a book cover. It identifies the drawing with a title or description, the
author of the drawing, the date drawn, and other relevant information.
The AIA has enacted certain standards as to the appearance of title blocks for architectural and construction
drawings. Typically, the title block is a single column on the right side of the paper. The paper is oriented
landscape, so that the height is less than the width. The column is divided into sections.
Usually, the name and address of the architectural firm are located at the top space, followed by information on
the building's owner. Remaining spaces are used for any consultants involved in the project; that is, the
electrician, the HVAC company, and so on. The next space is for tracking revisions.
The final sections are for the sheet title and number.
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Templates
A template is a master copy of a file used as a starting point to design new documents. A template may be as
simple as a blank document in the desired size and orientation, or as elaborate as a nearly complete design with
placeholder text, fonts, and graphics that need only a small amount of customization of text. Templates are usually
preset with drawing units, drawing scales, annotation plot sizes, and layer standards. Object styles and display
controls can also be preset in a template.
You can use the templates that are installed with Revit to begin a project, and then modify the settings in the
drawing and save it as a template that you use as a future starting point.
Each building project must comply with a specific standard. The standard will be dictated by the type of building
(residential or commercial) and the location of the project.
Because different projects and types of buildings require different documentation drawings, you can create
separate template files that have preset settings according to the corresponding projects.
Most architectural firms create a template for each standard they need to meet. For example, a firm may have a
template for San Francisco-Residential to use for any residential projects to be constructed Standards and
Building Codes n 99 in the City of San Francisco. The template will contain the required sheets/layouts, title
blocks, layer settings, required symbols, dimension and text styles, and so forth.
Settings
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you use templates that are preset with drawing units, views, dimension styles, and
sheets as your starting point in Revit.
Revit templates also contain preloaded sets of component families such as doors, windows, and walls.
These can be used to build your model.
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You can use one of the templates installed with Revit to begin a project. Revit comes with templates
using imperial or metric units.
Key Terms
dimension
imperial
menu
properties
template
view properties
elevation markers
label
object
sheet
title block
family
load
project browser
styles
view
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Select a Template
1) Open Revit to an empty project file. On the
application menu, click New > Project.
Architecture:
A commercial building is a building used for
a business, factory, or store.
A residential building is a single-family
dwelling.
Condominiums, apartments, and town
houses usually use commercial building
templates.
Structure:
For either commercial or residential projects
Building Systems:
For either commercial or residential projects
4) Select the Residential-Default.rte template file
from the Imperial Templates folder.
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dimensions.
7) Press ESC to cancel the wall.
8) Close the file without saving.
In this exercise, you opened an existing file and
changed the unit settings.
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Click OK
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Click OK
Add a Sheet
13) Click Sheets (all) in the Project Browser. Rightclick. Click New Sheet.
Click OK.
Click OK
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Click Apply
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Add Labels
Revit labels look like text but are smarter. Labels
show information assigned in file properties,
object/entity properties, or by the user as a custom
property.
Click OK
You see that the text is too large for the field.
40) Click Modify. Select the label. On the Properties
palette, click Edit Type.
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Click OK
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Click Open
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Click OK
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Click OK
Click OPEN
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Click OK
8) Next, create a Dimension Style.
On the Annotate tab, click Dimension panel list
> Linear Dimension Types.
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Click OK
Click OK
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