Technical drawing
The term ‘technical drawing’ has a very broad meaning, referring to any drawing that conveys the way that something functions or how it is constructed. Technical drawings are intended to convey one specific meaning, as opposed to artistic drawings which are expressive and may be interpreted in a number of ways.
Most drawings prepared during the design and construction of buildings might be considered to be technical drawings.
Technical drawings will generally become more complete, more specific and will increase in detail as a project progresses. They may include:
- Sketches.
- Design intent drawings.
- Detail drawings.
- Working drawings.
- General arrangement drawings.
- Assembly drawings.
- Component drawings.
- Shop drawings.
- Installation drawings.
- As-built drawings and record drawings.
Technical drawings may comprise two-dimensional (orthogonal) plans, sections and elevations, or may include three-dimensional or exploded projections. They may be drawn to scale by hand, or prepared using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. However, increasingly, building information modelling (BIM) software is being used to create three-dimensional representations of buildings and their components. BIM models may be described as 'design intent models' during the early stages of development but then may evolve into 'virtual construction models' (VCM) and finally 'as-constructed models'.
It is important that the purpose for which technical drawings are being prepared and the people that will use them are carefully considered to ensure they are properly structured and adopt an appropriate presentational techniques.
The scale at which drawings are prepared should reflect the level of detail of the information they are required to convey, and graphical techniques such as the use of different line thicknesses and hatching can help provide greater clarity.
To help convey the precise meaning of information, technical drawings may include title blocks, dimensions, notation and symbols. To ensure their meaning is concise and unambiguous, it is important that these are consistent with industry standards.
Specification information may be included on technical drawings or in a separate specification, but information should not be duplicated as this can become contradictory and may cause confusion.
The broad term ‘technical drawing’ should not be confused with the specific meaning of drawings prepared during the technical design stage. These are drawings prepared after the detailed design (or 'developed design' or 'definition') has been completed, but before the construction contract is tendered or construction begins. These drawings will often be prepared by specialist subcontractors.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- As-built drawings and record drawings.
- Assembly drawing.
- Common mistakes on building drawings.
- Component drawings.
- Concept drawing.
- Design drawings.
- Detail drawing.
- Drawing board.
- Elevations
- Engineering drawing.
- General arrangement drawing.
- Installation drawings
- North American Paper Sizes.
- Notation and symbols.
- Paper sizes.
- Projections.
- Scale drawing.
- Scale rule.
- Section drawing.
- Shop drawing.
- Technical design.
- Technical drawing pen sizes.
- Types of drawing.
- Working drawing.
Featured articles and news
Finalists for 2024 CIOB Awards revealed
80 construction leaders and companies from across the UK.
Health and Safety Training for Construction Employers
A brief run through essential training tips from a user.
3D Laser Scanning in Building Construction
A comprehensive guide from a Cohesive BIM wiki user.
BIM for structural reinforcement modelling
From the basics to the future from our Cohesive BIM wiki.
ECA skills recharge at the House of Commons
As electrical sector feels skills shortage bite.
The impact of pandemic and new legislation on courses
CIOB Academy’s course take-up inked to external factors.
An artist, philanthropist and ex-Army helicopter pilot
Q and A with self-representing artist, Hannah Shergold.
Building Safety Regulator appoints permanent director
And publishes three-year strategic plan.
Update on the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)
Introducing changes to make it more effective from 2024.
2023 CIOB photography competition
Shortlist announced for 2023 public choice award vote.
The last of the Victorians. Book review.
Grimsby's Kasbah: where’s that?
An exotic name that is shrouded in mystery.
This weeks guest editor, Ankita Dwivedi of Firstplanit.
Fropm practice to research and the business of materials.
Terms, histories, theories and practices.
Types of work to existing buildings - repurposing of buildings
Alteration and everything else before demolition.
Comments
This would all be so much more useful if we could actually see examples of all the different types of drawings.