03 / Drawings & codes
Construction drawings and building codes can look complicated at first. This section breaks them down into practical, understandable pieces so you can see what the drawings are telling you, how the documents fit together, and what the code is actually trying to accomplish.
Learn how plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, and notes work together in a construction document set.
Read the GuideUnderstand how drawing references, dimensions, tags, and annotations communicate the design and connect information across a drawing set.
Learn the SymbolsSee what typically belongs in a permit set and why each drawing matters.
Explore Permit DrawingsUse the Construction Drawing Checklist to review drawing scope, record questions, and track coordination items with your design team. Read it online or download the fillable PDF and editable Word versions.
When a drawing question needs a formal response during construction, use the RFIs and Submittals guide to understand clarification requests, review actions, revisions, and the connection to change approval.
Floor plans are horizontal “cut” views through a building. They show room layouts, walls, doors, windows, dimensions, fixtures, and how spaces connect to one another.
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Elevations are straight-on views of a building or interior wall. They show heights, materials, openings, finishes, and the vertical relationships that are difficult to understand from a plan alone.
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Building sections are vertical cuts through a building. They explain how floors, walls, roofs, foundations, ceilings, and other major components relate to each other in height.
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Details zoom in on specific parts of the building to show exactly how components are assembled and connected. They often explain conditions that cannot be communicated clearly on a plan or section alone.
Use the Building Enclosure guide to review how wall, roof, and window details connect water, air, vapor, and thermal control.
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Structural drawings explain how the building carries loads safely to the ground. They typically include foundations, framing plans, beams, columns, bearing walls, reinforcement, and structural details.
Read the Foundations and Structural Systems guide to connect these drawings with foundation options, load paths, and coordination questions.
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MEP drawings show the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and often fire-protection systems that make the building function. These drawings must be coordinated carefully with the architectural and structural documents.
Read the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems guide for equipment decisions, service routes, trade scope, and handover questions.
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Building codes establish the minimum requirements for safety, health, accessibility, structural performance, fire protection, and other building systems. They are the baseline rules used by designers, contractors, and code officials throughout a project.
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Building permits are the formal approval process used by local authorities to review proposed work before construction begins. Permit requirements vary by jurisdiction and by the type and scope of the project.
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Inspections verify that construction generally complies with the approved drawings, applicable codes, and permit requirements. Different inspections occur at different stages of the work.
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Start with How to Read Construction Drawings. It gives you the basic framework for understanding nearly every other drawing, code, and permit topic on this site.
Start with Construction DrawingsFor projects in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, or Illinois, explore architectural design and permit drawing services. Share your location, proposed work, and any existing plans or building department comments to discuss the next steps with Robert.
Keep the next decisions organized with a working checklist or worksheet.
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