STRUCTURAL DRAFTING

STRUCTURAL SYMBOLS AND CONVENTIONS

General
Structural drafting principles are based on time tested practices based on standards set
forth by The American Standards Institute (ANSI), The American Institute of Steel
Construction (AISC), and the U.S. National CAD Standard. Structural drawing
technique refers to a style or quality of a drawing imparted by the individual drafter to the
work. It is characterized by crisp black line work, lettering, consistency, and uniformity.
Structural drawings should reflect the rigid line control of a mechanically produced drawing.
The development of good detail drawings is a real engineering accomplishment and art.
Students should develop a stylized drawing technique that conforms to the rigid
conventions of line drafting with added variations of artistic techniques to produce a very
individualized finished drawing.

The original concepts of a framework of a structure is shown on the architect's and

engineer's design drawings. These design drawings are interpreted and translated into
detail drawings to give complete instructions for the fabrication and assembly of the
various structural components. Through the shop drawings the draftsman must convey in a
technical language all information required for the shop to fabricate the structural
members. To be able to accurately prepare the required drawing the draftsman must have
a thorough knowledge of the latest engineering specifications, be familiar with the
techniques of shop fabrication and field erection, and be knowledgeable and skilled in the
techniques of structural drafting. Therefore it is imperative that the structural drafter
develop good drawing techniques.

Lettering
Lettering heights will be in accordance with the recommendations of the ANSI Standards.
General lettering and dimensioning use 3/32".

Drawing Numbers
All drawings will be numbered using the standard designation for structural drawings. All
drawing are numbered consecutively with a letter "S" preceding the number (S-1, S-2, S-3,
etc.). Drawing number should receive the greatest emphasis and have a height greater
then 1/4”.

Drawing Scales
The standard unit of structural measurement is "FEET". The scale is always noted as FEET
and INCHES. such as 1/8" = 1' -0" or 1/4" = 1' - 0". The word SCALE is always written to
identify what is being read, for example: SCALE: 1/8" = 1' -0".

Any scale specified on an "Architect's Scale" can be used on structural drawings. Generally
plan views and elevations are drawing using a scale of 1/8" = 1' -0" or 1/4" = 1' - 0".
Connection details use scales of
1" = 1' - 0", 1 1/2" = 1' -0" or 3" = 1' - 0" for smaller details. Shop drawings use a scale of
1" = 1' - 0" for beams 21" or less and a scale of 3/4" - 1'- 0" for beams greater than 21".

When a drawing sheet contains details drawn using different scales the notation SCALE:
AS NOTED is used in the title block. When a detail or drawing is not made to any scale the
notation N.T.S. is used to indicate that the drawing is NOT TO SCALE.
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Titles
All entities on a drawing must have a title whether it is a plan view, elevation, section,
detail, note column, symbols legend, etc. Titles are lettered large enough catch the viewers
eye. Generally the lettering is between 1/4" and 3/8" high. To accent the titles even more
they are underlined. Underlining can consist of a single line, a double line, or a
combination of thick and thin lines. The underlining can be centered with the lettering, be
flush, or be broken as shown when using circle call-outs. A few examples of titles and
underlining are shown below.

Section Marks
Section marks are used to indicate where sections are being taken or cut.
Structural drafting practices are very similar to Name of the section view

that used in engineering drawing. Because of the

B
complexity of structural drawings cutting plane
S-5
lines are generally omitted and only the arrow
indicating the direction of sight of the section view Sheet reference

is shown. The section call-out consists of a 1/2"

diameter circle, an arrow indication the direction
of sight, and two numbers. The upper
number/letter indicates the name of the section on the sheet and the lower
number refers to the sheet where the section view is drawn.

The lettering in the section call-out circle is always horizontal regardless of

the direction of the arrow. The arrow is a 45 degree line, tangent to the circle.

B B
S-5 S-5

The arrow can be left open or colored in. The short line segments extending
from the circle represent the cutting plane line. They can be single lines,
double lines, or alternating thick and thin lines to conform to the overall
drawing style.

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B B B B B
S-5 S-5 S-5 S-5 S-5

B
S-5

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North Arrows
The purpose of a north arrow in structural drawings is to reference the structural
components as they relate to the orientation of the building. North arrows are drafted with
drawing tools, never drawn freehand. Lettering will always have guidelines no matter how
simple the letters. The north arrow itself should be drawn with a minimal amount of time,
therefore it should be simple in design. The circle for the north arrow should be 1"
diameter. Color can also be used to enhance the north arrow by shading in the arrow itself
or shading the area surrounding the arrow. A few typical north arrows are shown below.

Title Blocks
Title blocks are a very important part of the overall drawing. They contain
information not given directly on the drawing with dimensions or notes. Title
blocks for structural drawings are prepared according to the specifications set
forth by the company. The following information is generally provided in the
title block:

Title of the project/name of the drawing

Name and address of the client.
Name and address of the structural company.
Date of the completion of the drawing package.
Scale of the drawing.
Drawing Number.
Structural engineer's professional stamp.

Lettering should be simple and conform to the overall lettering style of the
drawing. Lettering can be produced with templates, stencils, appliqué,
lettering instruments, or simply freehand with guidelines.

The heights of the lettering should follow in accordance with their relative
importance. The drawing number should receive the greatest emphasis and
have a height greater than 1/4". The drawing name, title of the project,
clients name, and the name of the structural company should follow with a
letter height of 1/4". The addresses, the date, and the scale should have a
letter height of 1/8". Incidental words like DATE and SCALE should receive

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the least emphasis and have a letter height of 1/16".

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The lettering in the title block should be either centered or have a flush
margin. Variations in the lettering heights adds an overall pleasing affect to
the drawing and breaks up the monotony of a line drawing and the margins
tie in with overall style of the drawing adding continuity and consistency to
the drawing.

COMPANY
ADDRESS

DRAWING TITLE
S-1
DR. BY.

DATE SCALE

Revision Blocks
Revisions blocks always appear on a drawing to record any changes that are
made after the drawing has been approved. Changes to the drawing are
necessitated by changes in design, changes made by the customer, or
changes due to errors in design. Changes are made by erasures directly on
the original drawing. Additions are made by drawing directly onto the
original. The revisions to the drawing are highlighted and marked and
reverenced to the revision block.

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NO. REVISIONS DATE BY

Bill of Materials
The bill of materials is a listing of all of the component parts of the steel
framework, including all structural members, connections angles, and
fasteners. The bill of materials is included on all shop drawings and
generally list all information for the items shown on that sheet.

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 MATERIAL ASSEMBLY
REMARKS
LENGTH MARKS
NO. SHAPE
FEET INCHES

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General Notes
Notes are classified as general notes and as local notes. Notes
are lettered horizontally on a sheet and arranged in a
systematic manner. Abbreviations in general notes should be
avoided as much as possible. Proper grammar, sentence
structure and punctuation are used in constructing a note.

Note columns are titled to make them distinguishable from

other parts of the drawing. The lettering heights should be the
same height as other titles on the sheet.

Each note is referenced with a number. Margins are used to align the note
numbers and the notes. Use a minimum space of 1/2 inch between the
number and the note. Spacing between notes should be such that each note
is distinguished from the other notes. Remember, uniformity and consistency
play an important role in the construction of the note column.

Sheet Layout
The drawing paper need to be framed with a border line. A 1/2 inch border
line is drawn around the paper. This line is a very thick line. The border line
can be a single line or a double line and should conform to the overall style of
the drawing. Title blocks are added and placed along the bottom and/or the
right side of the drawing paper. A north arrow (if applicable) is placed in the
upper left corner of the sheet. In general all of the drawing area should be
filled. The main drawing should be the dominate picture on the sheet with
detail drawings and general notes related to the main drawing placed around
it. All drawings, details, and notes should be titled. Titles are placed beneath
the picture.

BILL OF MATERIALS
NORTH ARROW (IF APPLICABLE)

MAIN DRAWING

NOTES

TITLE
SCALE

DETAIL DETAIL DETAIL

TITLE BLOCK

TITLE TITLE TITLE

SCALE SCALE SCALE

REVISION BLOCK

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Structural Drafting Line Work
Lines used in structural drafting will conform to the recommended ANSI
drafting standards. Visible Object lines are the most important lines on the
drawing, therefore they are made thick and dense black (0.020). Border lines
are made thicker than visible object lines to contrast strongly with all other
lines on the drawing.

Hidden lines are dished lines with 1/8" dashes and 1/16" spaces. These lines
are made dense black but thin (0.012).

Center lines are thin, dense black lines (0.010). There are two types of center
lines used in structural drawing. The first type is the traditional long line-
dash-long line center line. This type of line is used wherever possible.
Sometimes the spacing requirements are to small to allow for the small dash
in the center line. to avoid confusion in reading the drawing a thin, dense
black solid line is used in place of the traditional center line.

Lines used for dimensioning, gage lines, crosshatching lines. match lines, and
conventional break lines are drawn as thin, dense black lines (0.010).

The length of an arrowhead is the same dimension used for the height of
lettering (3/32”). Arrowheads can be either open, closed, solid, or the
traditional slash as shown.

OPEN

CLOSED

SOLID

SLASH

In all cases, the style of arrowheads should not be mixed on a drawing.

Consistency is the key to good drafting.

Dimensioning
The style of dimensioning in structural drafting is the same style used in
general architectural drawings. The dimension line is a continuous, unbroken
line with the dimension figure placed above the line.

16'-0"

Never place the dimension figure below the dimension line. The Aligned
system is used as opposed to the unidirectional system of dimensioning.

Consistency and uniformity is the key to good dimensioning. In spacing the

dimension lines, the first dimension line should be a minimum of 1/2" away
from the object. All successive dimension lines should be spaced a minimum
of 3/8" away from each other.

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Fastener Representation
Fasteners are not drawn to actual shape or size., they are simply represented
using basic symbols. Open circles or filled in circles using a minimum 3/32
diameter circle are generally used to represent fasteners.

Balloons
Balloons are used to identify rows of columns and beams on a plan view.
Balloons are drawn using a 1/2" diameter circle with 1/4" lettering.

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