1. Chapter 45
Structural Drafting

2. Introduction
This chapter introduces basic concepts and drawing methods
Expected of an entry-level drafter in an architect’s or engineer’s office
Refer to the text for a project example
Main objectives: to coordinate various plans and to draw coordinated details that correspond to different areas of the building

3. Plan the Drawing Plan views for similarities Start with the floor plan
Get a general understanding of the structure
Move to upper level and work to lowest
Shows loads that must be supported as work progresses (e.g., beams of roof supported by columns, pedestals on slab plan, and footings at foundation)

4. Plan the Drawing (cont’d.)
As you work on various plans, study details that relate to the plan
Gives a better understanding
Should result in faster drawing production

5. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings
Mathematical solutions to particular problems
Printed following related problem
Drafter is given a set of specifications and is expected to determine the goal of the engineer
Then translates results into working drawings
Typically means skipping over math work

6. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Sketches
Provided by an engineer
Tools to help solve calculations
Drafter uses them as a guide to determine size and material to be used

7. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Drafter is expected to study similar jobs and details for common elements
Common notes
Common connection methods
Also expected to consult vendors’ catalogs for specific details of prefabricated material

8. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Drawing layout methods
Group all plan views together
Then all roof details, all concrete details, and so on, in the same order of plan views
Group a plan view with all related details
Show roof plan and then roof details
Show slab plan and then slab details

9. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Methods of assembling a project
Drafters in architectural and structural firms typically work with CADD
Well-suited to CADD drafting because of layering possibilities
Develop a base drawing
Use external referencing to bind material to base drawing

10. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Refer to the text for a list of common commercial layer names including:
Civil drawing layer names
Architectural layer names
Structural layers

11. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Annotation
Important factors to considered before placing text:
Who will use the drawing
Information the text is to define
Scale factor of the text

12. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Annotation (cont’d.)
Text placement
Location of text relative to drawing and within drawing file
Text orientation should be parallel to bottom or parallel to right edge of the page
Text is generally placed within inches of the object
Much of the text used can be standardized and placed in a template drawing

13. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Annotation (cont’d.)
Text placement (cont’d.)
On details, text can be placed within the detail if large open spaces are part of the drawing
It is preferable to keep text out of the drawing
Text should be aligned to enhance clarity
Text should be placed on a layer with a major group code of ANNO

14. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Annotation (cont’d.)
Types of text
Title
General notes (e.g., project, discipline, sheet, reference keynotes)
Simplified keynotes
Local notes

15. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Managing drawings at multiple scales
Drawing sheets can be assembled for plotting using layouts and viewports
Each time you enter a layout, you’re working with a floating viewport
Allows you to look through the paper and see the drawing in model space
Displays drawing in layout for plotting

16. Procedure–From Calculations to Working Drawings (cont’d.)
Detail coordination
As you draw each detail, provide room for:
Title
Scale
Detail marker under detail

17. Order of Precedence Text project (refer to the text):
Includes sketches and engineer’s calculations
Has some very large errors
Helps you to learn to think as a drafter
If you find an error, do not make changes until you have discussed them with the engineer (instructor)

18. Order of Precedence (cont’d.)
Follow this order of precedence:
Written changes by engineer (instructor) as change orders
Verbal changes given by engineer (instructor)
Engineer’s calculations
Information written in goals, project, and method is more reliable than sketches

19. Order of Precedence (cont’d.)
Follow this order of precedence (cont’d.):
Sketches by the engineer (text)
Lecture notes and sketches
Your own decision
Should it come to this, check with your instructor