Assembly drawing
Contents |
[edit] What are assembly drawings?
Assembly drawings are a type of technical drawing used to represent items that consist of more than one component. They show how those components fit together and may be in the form of, orthogonal plans, sections and elevations, or three-dimensional views.
The location of assemblies may be shown on general arrangement drawings, or sometimes on detail drawings. The components that form the assembly may be shown shop drawings that allow their fabrication.
[edit] What are assembly drawings for?
Assembly drawings may show assembled components, or an exploded view of the relationship between components and how they fit together. For example, they may be used to show how to assemble the parts of a kit such as furniture, how to assemble a complex part of a building (an assembly), or the relationship between a number of details.
[edit] What do assembly drawings include?
Assembly drawings might include instructions, lists of component parts, reference numbers, references to detail drawings or shop drawings, and specification information. They may also include dimensions, notation and symbols. It is important that these are consistent with industry standards so that their precise meaning is clear and can be understood.
Assembly drawings should not duplicate information provided elsewhere, as this can become contradictory and may cause confusion.
The scale at which drawings are prepared should reflect the level of detail of the information they are required to convey. Different line thicknesses can be used to provide greater clarity for certain elements.
Assembly drawings may be drawn to scale by hand, or prepared using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. However, increasingly, building information modelling (BIM) is being used to create 3 dimensional representations of buildings and their components.
BS EN ISO 7519:1997 Technical drawings. Construction drawings. General principles of presentation for general arrangement and assembly drawings establishes general principles of presentation to be applied to construction drawings for general arrangement and assembly. This standard compliments the ISO 128 series on technical drawings.
[edit] What are the different types of assembly drawings?
Different types of assembly drawings include:
- General assembly drawings, showing an overall assembly.
- Outline assembly drawings, showing the exterior shape.
- Diagrammatic assembly drawings, representing the assembly with the use of symbols.
- Unit assembly or sub-assembly drawings, showing in more detail a part of the overall assembly.
- Fitted assembly drawings, showing the completed assembly.
- Exploded assembly drawing, showing the relationship between the separated parts.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- As-built drawings and record drawings.
- Assembly.
- Building information modelling.
- Component drawing.
- Computer aided design.
- Design drawings.
- Detail drawing.
- Drawings.
- Engineering drawing.
- Exploded view.
- General arrangement drawing.
- Installation drawings.
- Notation and symbols.
- Production information.
- Projections.
- Scale drawing.
- Shop drawings.
- Technical drawing.
- Technical drawing pen sizes.
Featured articles and news
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch up for free, subscribe and share with your network.
The Association of Consultant Architects recap
A reintroduction and recap of ACA President; Patrick Inglis' Autumn update.
The Home Energy Model and its wrappers
From SAP to HEM, EPC for MEES and FHS assessment wrappers.
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.





























Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.