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The five types of drawings used in building construction are architectural, structural, electrical, sanitary and plumbing, and as-built drawings.
Construction drawings or 2D CAD drawings serve an important purpose in building construction. Usage of these two-dimensional depictions may include documenting existing conditions, proposing modifications, quantifying materials, and assessing compliance with local building codes. Construction drawings are critical to document owner expectations, communicate design intent and recommend work broken down by trade or discipline. Without them, visualization of the final project is impossible.
There are five main construction drawing types, and differentiating them without a construction background can be challenging. Below is a breakdown of each.
1. Architectural Drawings
Architectural drawings detail the purpose of the space, how it is perceived, and how the occupant interacts with it. Efficient use, comfort, and safe egress are documented on these sheets. These drawings may also give a preview of other aspects of the design that will be documented in more detail by other design disciplines. Common drawings or details may include: floor plans, elevation views, building sections, wall details, and other vital details. Architectural drawings are often created using 2D or 3D architectural design software.
Architectural drawings specify general arrangement and a background of the facility. These drawings are often shared with other design professionals for them to quantify fees and detail discipline's specific features. These drawings are also critical for resolving issues prior to actual construction. Architectural drawings (or BIM models) are often used for performing location collaboration and clash detection with other disciplines. Without architectural drawings, there would be no clear directive on a building’s design, increasing the likelihood of change orders and budget overruns.
2. Structural Drawings
Structural drawings are engineering documents that focus on detailing the building’s support features. A structural drawing may include the size and type of members; dimensions for a concrete structure; information and details about reinforcement bars; and other data that affects construction.
3. Electrical Drawings
Sometimes called wiring diagrams, electrical drawings give a visual description of the electrical systems in a building and how they connect to the outside power grid. The purpose of an electrical drawing is to explain the electrical design to the electricians installing the system. It will also be used as a reference for future electrical repairs. Electrical drawings fall into one of several types: schematic, wiring, block, and pictorial.
4. Sanitary and Plumbing Drawings
A plumbing drawing provides a visual representation of the building’s plumbing system. It includes the exact location of pipes, valves and fixtures; and outlines how freshwater is supplied and how wastewater is discharged. This type of drawing is used to illustrate the engineering design to those contractors installing the building's plumbing system.
5. As-Built Drawings
As-built drawings, or finished drawings, document the actual final construction completed. As-built drawings may look different from the initial architectural and structural drawings since most designs need adjustments along the way. Regardless, as-built drawings are intended to document final construction. Since most architects and engineers are not involved in the day-to-day processes and are not aware of the changes made during construction, it is often up to the contractors to submit final as-built drawings. The nature of this final process makes initial as-built documents unreliable, which is why as-built drawing laser scanning has become standard practice for projects where accuracy at close-out is non-negotiable.
How GPRS Supports Construction Drawing Accuracy
Every drawing type discussed above depends on one thing: accurate existing conditions data. When that data is wrong or missing, the consequences cascade through every downstream document, from structural drawings built on faulty floor plans to as-built drawings that don’t reflect what was actually built. GPRS addresses this problem at the source.
Our 3D laser scanning services capture construction-grade point cloud data that our Mapping & Modeling Team converts into 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models. These deliverables can inform architectural and structural drawings during the design phase, serve as a verification layer during construction, and produce reliable as-built drawings at project close. For renovation and retrofit projects in particular, where the gap between original drawings and actual conditions is often significant, laser scanning closes that gap before it becomes a change order.
GPRS also provides utility locating and concrete imaging services to document what exists below slab and below grade before design or demolition work begins. This subsurface data integrates directly into plumbing, electrical, and structural drawings, reducing the risk of costly conflicts between new work and existing hidden infrastructure.
Why GPRS? The GPRS Difference.
With GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar Systems), the nation’s largest private utility locating company, clients can rest assured that our elite Project Managers use state-of-the-art 3D laser scanning technology to document accurate existing conditions information. Every GPRS Project Manager completes an extensive training program to ensure their competence in laser scanning equipment and field knowledge to provide the best possible results for every project.
We use industry-leading survey-grade laser scanners to capture comprehensive point cloud data. The data produced is complete, clean, accurate, and well filtered with low range noise. Point clouds provide powerful and dynamic information for a project. By representing spatial data as a collection of x, y, and z coordinates, point clouds deliver large datasets that can be mined for information.
Our Mapping & Modeling Team specializes in point cloud to CAD and BIM conversion, producing 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, 3D meshes, TruViews, and virtual tours of the highest quality standards. Partnering with GPRS means you recieve accurate as-built data to expedite project planning and reduce change orders, delays, and costs.
GPRS leads the industry in construction drawing accuracy and as-built documentation services, keeping projects on time, reducing risks, and putting relationships with our clients first.
