Module 00105
Introduction to Construction
Drawings
Copyright © 2021 by NCCER, Alachua, FL 32615. Published by Pearson. All rights reserved.
1.3.0 Dimensions and Drawing Scale
1.4.0 Measuring Scales
Objective
Successful completion of this module prepares you to
do the following:
Describe components and features used in construction drawings and
identify how the drawings are different.
c. Explain how dimensions relate to various drawing scales.
d. Demonstrate how to use engineer’s and architect’s scales.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
Performance Task
Under supervision, you should be able to do the
following:
1. Using the residential floor plan and elevations supplied in the
Appendix D:
• Locate the wall common to bedroom #3 and the garage.
• Determine the overall width of the home.
• Calculate the distance from the outside northwest corner
of the house to the center of the window in bedroom #2.
• Determine the overhang of the eaves.
• Using an architect’s scale, determine the width of the
garage.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
Trade Terms (1 of 2)
Engineer’s scale: A straightedge measuring device divided
uniformly into multiples of 10 divisions per inch so that
drawings can be made with decimal values. Used mainly
for land measurements on site plans.
Architect’s scale: A specialized ruler used in making or
measuring reduced scale drawings. The ruler is marked
with a range of calibrated ratios for laying out distances,
with scales indicating feet, inches, and fractions of inches.
Used on drawings other than site plans.
Not to scale (NTS): Describes drawings that show relative
positions and sizes only, without scale.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
Trade Terms (2 of 2)
Metric scale: A straightedge measuring device divided into
centimeters, with each centimeter divided into 10
millimeters. Usually used for architectural drawings and
sometimes referred to as a metric architect’s scale.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.1 – Dimensions
Always take great care when making measurements,
and be certain that you are measuring to the correct
point. This can be challenging when the drawings have
been reduced in size.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.4.1 – Architect’s Scale (1 of 2)
Triangular scales, or tri-scales, are the most popular
because they reduce the number of scales that
need to be available. Drawing scales often differ
from page to page in the same set of plans;
having one scale instead of six is far more convenient.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.4.1 – Architect’s Scale (2 of 2)
An architect’s scale for inches and feet breaks the
scale increment value, such as ", into 12 equal parts to
represent inches.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.4.2 – Metric Scale (Metric Architect’s Scale)
Metric scales are always calibrated in units of 10—the
basis for the metric system.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.4.3 – Engineer’s Scale
Engineer’s scales are always calibrated in multiples of
10 and the measurements are taken in decimals.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question One
SCALE: 1ʹ = "
On a floor plan,
a scale showing
that inch on the SCALE: ʹ = 1ʹ 0"
drawing
represents 1
foot, 0 inches SCALE: " = 1"
would read
_________.
SCALE: " = 1' 0"
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question One
Answer
SCALE: 1ʹ = "
On a floor plan,
a scale showing
that inch on the SCALE: ʹ = 1ʹ 0"
drawing
represents 1
foot, 0 inches SCALE: " = 1"
would read
_________.
SCALE: " = 1' 0"
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question Two
architect’s scale
The scale used
to develop site metric scale
plans is a(n)
________.
engineer’s scale
inches scale
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question Two
Answer
architect’s scale
The scale used
to develop site metric scale
plans is a(n)
________.
engineer’s scale
inches scale
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question Three
3 and 6 millimeters
Common
lengths 30 and 60
indicated on millimeters
metric scales
are ________. 30 and 60
centimeters
300 and 600
centimeters
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question Three
Answer
3 and 6 millimeters
Common
lengths 30 and 60
indicated on millimeters
metric scales
are ________. 30 and 60
centimeters
300 and 600
centimeters
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question Four
architect’s scale
The ________
scale must
accommodate metric scale
very large
measurements.
engineer’s scale
metric architect’s
scale
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question Four
Answer
architect’s scale
The ________
scale must
accommodate metric scale
very large
measurements.
engineer’s scale
metric architect’s
scale
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question Five
True
All drawings are False
drawn to scale.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
1.3.0–1.4.0 Section Review Question Five
Answer
True
All drawings are False
drawn to scale.
Module 00105 – Introduction to
Construction Drawings
Next Section…
1.5.0 Six Types of Construction
Drawings
Read sections 1.5.0–1.5.7. Complete the Section 1.0.0
Review.
