Scale drawing
Scale drawings are used to illustrate items that it is not useful or convenient to draw at their actual size
This may be because drawing the item at full size would be unmanageable, or would not easily fit on a single sheet of paper (such as a building), or alternatively because items need to be drawn larger than full size to adequately represent all the detail that needs to be communicated (such as a complex connection).
The scale of drawings is described as a ratio using the notation:
A distance at full size : The distance at the scale used that would be the same length. |
For example:
- A full size drawing would be 1:1 (or sometimes 1/1 or ‘one to one’).
- A half size drawing would be 1:2.
- A tenth size drawing would be 1:10.
- A double size drawing would be 2:1.
In the construction industry a range of scales are generally used depending on the nature of the drawing. For example:
- A location plan at 1:1000.
- A site plan at 1:200.
- A floor plan at 1:100.
- A room plan at 1:50.
- A component drawing at 1:5.
- An assembly drawing at 1:2.
It is important that the scale used is noted on the drawing. In addition, because of the ease of reproducing, printing and re-sizing drawings, it is important to note the original sheet size that the scale was drawn at, so for example A4, A3, A2, A1, A0, and so on.
In some cases, it may be appropriate to use more than one scale on a single drawing, for example, to show the elevation of land across across a significant distance. In this case, differences in elevation might be illustrated at a larger scale and a smaller scale used for horizontal distances. Here, the scale might be noted on the axes of the drawing, or actual distances shown on the axes.
In other cases a scale might use more than one unit of measurement. For example, the length of an arrow on an air flow diagram might represent the velocity of the air, e.g. 1 cm = 0.1 m/s.
The use of computer aided drawing (CAD) and building information modelling (BIM) has introduced a new concept to this process, as in this case, digital models are created at full size. Drawings of any scale can then be generated from the model.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- As-built drawings and record drawings.
- Assembly drawing.
- Blueprint.
- Building information modelling.
- Component drawing.
- Computer aided design.
- Concept drawing.
- Design drawings.
- Detail drawing.
- Elevations.
- Engineering drawing.
- General arrangement drawing.
- Installation drawings.
- Manual drafting techniques.
- North American Paper Sizes
- Notation and symbols.
- Paper sizes (ISO 216 A, B and C series).
- Perspective.
- Projections.
- Scale.
- Schematic.
- Section drawing.
- Shop drawings.
- Site plan.
- Symbols on architectural drawings.
- Technical drawing.
- Techniques for drawing buildings.
- Types of drawing.
- Working drawing.
Featured articles and news
How faulty science resulted in sanitation reform.
Conserving the Hilda Besse Building
Improving facilities, accessibility and overall appearance.
BSRIA IAQ topic guide published
Free download of TG 12/2021 available.
Electrotechincal mentors wanted
TESP works with The Youth Group to form skill sharing network.
OpenBuilt supply chain technology in development
Big tech collaborates on platform for the built environment.
Concerns raised over Future Buildings Standard
Letter signed by 21 organisations sent to MHCLG.
The infrastructure planning process
A look at the Government's strategic approach.
Steps to help reduce the spread of infection inside buildings.
Urban exploration and construction
This social media-centred hobby can be both dangerous and illegal.
Millwork wall treatment with a long and illustrious history.
Weekly workplace noise estimator tool
HSE introduces cumulative exposure calculator.
The Edwardians and their houses.
Cut off from civilian life for over 900 years.
Receive the Designing Buildings newsletter
Click the button to subscribe.