Symbols on architectural drawings
This article catalogues some of the more commonly used symbols on architectural drawings and designs.
[edit] Add to the list by clicking the 'Edit this article' button.
|
1 gang light switch |
|
2 gang light switch |
|
2 gang 2 way light switch |
|
Adjustable recessed spotlight |
|
Automatic air vent |
|
Bath |
|
Blockwork |
|
Boiler flue |
|
Brick |
|
Category 5 break tank |
|
Compressor |
|
Concrete |
|
Consumer unit |
|
Dimmer switch |
|
Door (plan) |
|
Double switched wall socket |
|
Double switched wall socket above worktop level |
|
Ethernet socket |
|
Expansion vessel |
|
Filter |
|
Flexible hose |
|
Floor tiles |
|
Flow restrictor |
|
Glass |
|
Hardcore |
|
Hardwood |
|
Incline (steps, stairs or ramp) with arrow head at the higher side |
|
Insulation |
|
Isolation valve |
|
Lamp |
|
Lockshield valve |
|
Mechanical fan vent |
|
Microbubble coalescent material |
|
Non return valve |
|
North point |
|
Passive vent |
|
Paving |
|
Pendant light |
|
|
Plywood |
|
Pressure sensor |
|
Pump |
|
Radiator |
|
Rainwater outlet |
|
Recessed downlight |
|
Recessed spotlight |
|
Roof tiles |
|
Rubble |
|
Safety valve |
|
Sand |
|
Sawn timber |
|
Shaver socket |
|
Shingles |
|
Shower tray |
|
Single switched fused spur |
|
Single switched wall socket |
|
Sink |
|
Soil vent pipe |
|
Solenoid valve |
|
Stairway with arrow head at the higher side |
|
Stone |
|
Stonework |
|
Telephone point |
|
Temperature sensor |
|
Test point |
|
Thermostat |
|
Towel rail |
|
Tree (existing) |
|
Tree (proposed) |
|
Tree - to be removed |
|
Tundish |
|
TV aerial |
|
Wall light |
|
Wash basin |
|
wc |
|
Weight sensor |
|
Window (elevation) showing direction of opening - point of triangle indicates hinged side |
|
Window (plan) |
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Architect.
- Common mistakes on building drawings.
- Common spelling mistakes in the construction industry.
- Drawings.
- Drawing board.
- Hatching.
- How to draw a floor plan.
- Manual drafting techniques.
- Notation and units on drawings and documents.
- Paper sizes.
- Scale drawing.
- Technical drawing pen sizes.
- Techniques for drawing buildings.
- Types of drawing.
- Visualisation.
- Working drawing.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.
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.
Great start, but it would be really helpful if people would add more.