PRM SEM 01 - 12. Working Drawings

Question 1

What does Documentation/drawings for a RC involve?

Answer 1

Drawings: site plan, plans, sections, elevations mainly focused on showing the buildings bulk, location, materials, appearance.

AEE: A written Assessment of Effects on the Environment (visual effects, effects of shading, effects of use such as noise, traffic, stormwater etc.

Question 2

What does the documentation/drawings for a BC involve?

Answer 2

Drawings: A much more intensive set of drawings: site plan, plumbing and drainage
plan, plans, foundation plans, floor framing plans, roof framing plans, roof plan,
sections, elevations, construction details.

• Specification: Written document describing standard of materials and workmanship,
  need to be in accordance with NZ Standards and Building Code.
• A Risk Matrix analysis of your roofing and cladding related to Clause E2 (External
  Moisture) of the Building Code.
• An ALF (Annual Loss Factor) calculation of the thermal performance of your building
  related to Clause H1 (Energy Efficiency) of the Building Code.
• Bracing Calculations showing how your design resists horizontal loads such as
  earthquake and wind.
• Engineer’s Calculations for anything not complying with NZS 3604 eg steel beams
  and perhaps a Producer Statement.

Question 3

What do Working Drawings involve? (Usually)

Answer 3

Set Layout: Auckland City’s Building Consent forms have a (huge!) checklist. Present your drawings in a logical sequence. Typically:

Sheet 1:
* Site Plan at 1:100 or 1: 200 with boundary and dimensions shown, all structures, paving, shrubs,
grass and trees. Highlight with hatching the addition or alteration if applicable, clearly label new
and existing.

• Legal Description (Certificate of Title number, Lot number (copy from CT)
• Either on Site Plan or a separate plan: planning rule compliance eg permeable/ impermeable
  surface calculations, car parking, living and service courts etc
• Plumbing and Drainage Plan at 1:100 or 1 :50, a schematic (3 dimensional representation) if over two storeys.
• Sometimes a Roof Plan at 1:100 or 1 :50 showing gutters and downpipes.

Sheet 2:
* Floor Plans at 1 :50, clearly label new and existing, label all rooms, key in sections and details.
Notes describing work eg “remove existing door” etc. Dimensions. Note bracing locations and
information, lintel location and sizes. Show North point. Perhaps have a structural grid labelled A,
B, C in one direction, 1,2, 3 in other.

• Sections at 1 :50, clearly label new and existing, label all rooms, key in details. Notes and text
  boxes describing materials in detail. Dimensions. Planning rule dimensions such as maximum
  height and height to boundary controls. Some people do sections at 1 :20. Don’t add in internal
  elevation detail, do that on a separate internal elevation.

Sheet 3:
* Foundation Plans, Floor Framing Plans, Roof Framing Plans at 1 :50. Labels and dimensions.
Some people like to put these with the plans or the sections. Others like to concentrate portions
of the building work together eg deck plan, deck framing deck section all on one sheet, carport
drawings on another.

Sheet 4:
* Elevations at 1 :50, sometimes 1:100 if its an alteration and you aren’t touching that elevation.
Clearly label new and existing, materials, key in sections and details. Number and dimension
new windows and doors. Planning rule dimensions such as maximum height and height to
boundary controls.

Sheet 5:
* Details at 1 :5 or 1:10. Concentrate on waterproofing issues such as windows, eaves etc and
stairs, deck balustrades. Also interior details such as bathroom and kitchens. Interior elevations
of joinery, benches, cupboards are often at 1 :20 or 1 :10.

Sheet 6:
* Other drawings may include lighting and electrical plans. demolition plan. internal elevations.
door and window schedule, kitchen, bathroom, built in fittings (shelves) etc

Question 4

What paper sizes do you typically produce drawings on?

Answer 4

Paper size: A 1 preferably, A2 also acceptable. Some Councils won’t accept A3 or A4. (Many
architects used to put details in A4 booklets as they were easier to use on site than A 1 sheets).

Paper format: Landscape not portrait for A 1, A2, A3. Portrait generally for A4.

A1 is best as you can reduce/ print extra copies easily on A3. And when you do the scale is halved but stays regular: 1:100 becomes 1 :200, 1 :50 becomes 1:100 etc

Question 5

Drawing Sets: What to include in the information Box?

Answer 5

Layout: Put a logo / information box in the lower right quadrant, about A4 high, half A4 wide (when you fold an A 1 three times it ends up A4 and this box is visible on top with job and drawing info)

Logo/ Information Box: Needs to contain:

• your name and contact details (Council require these from the designer!)
• job name (eg The Apple Shed)
• client name ( eg H and G Clark) and site address (75 Alverston St, Waterview, Auckland)
• drawing number (2 of 6) and
• name (Plans & Sections)
• scale(1:50 at A1)
• date
• a space labelled Revisions (in which to note the date and type of changes made (eg carport
  deleted, en-suite altered, 20/04/16)
• it is also common to add these conditions in finer print: “Do not scale. Check all dimensions on
  site before construction or fabrication. All construction to comply with NZ Standards, NZ
  Building Code and manufacturers instructions and recommendations.”

Question 6

Drawing Sets: General Page Layout

Answer 6

Page Layout:
* North is generally up on a page.
* Never use colour as what you print will also be black and white copied. (Hmm questionable)
* Try and keep text and dimensions outside and around drawings.
* Try and divide your page into 4 A3 quadrants and work within those, it makes it easy to photocopy parts of your A1 later on.
* Try and line up plans, framing plans sections.
* Don’t try and squeeze in an extra drawing, you will run out of space. Go to a new page.