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Blueprints

The full set of house drawings you need and the most commonly used symbols.

Blueprint conventions

Worth sticking to the conventions

So that your drawings can be understood by others, particularly building officials and subcontractors, it is necessary to follow certain conventions in your official drawings. Personally I did all the incrementing of the house design in a light weight drawing package without worrying about official blueprint conventions and then I converted the drawings to official blueprints using AutoCAD. AutoCAD is very powerful, but making lots of changes in AutoCAD can slow you up if you are not an expert AutoCAD user.

Anyway, this page describes what's needed for your official blueprints and describes the conventions you should try to follow.

Typical symbols

Unfortunately there is not full consistency regarding what symbols are used on blueprints. Here are the symbols that I got by trolling around the internet and grabbing (thanks to the folks who put these online). Look through the symbols shown below and try to use one of those symbols rather than inventing your own.

My drawing process

It is worth looking at the info on my blueprint process that is here .

Structure Blueprint Symbols

Doors and windows etc

Structure doors and windows etc blueprint symbols

Plumbing Blueprint Symbols

Kitchen bath etc

Plumbing kitchen bath etc blueprint symbols

Bathroom etc

Plumbing bathroom etc blueprint symbols

Misc 1

Plumbing misc blueprint symbols

Misc 2

Plumbing misc blueprint symbols

Pipes 1

Plumbing pipes 2 blueprint symbols

Pipes 2

Plumbing pipes 2 blueprint symbols

Fittings

Plumbing fittings blueprint symbols

Valves 1

Plumbing valves 1 blueprint symbols

Valves 2

Plumbing valves 2 blueprint symbols

Electrical Blueprint Symbols

Basics

Electrical basics blueprint symbols

Fixtures 1

Electrical fixtures 1 blueprint symbols

Fixtures 2

Electrical fixtures 2 blueprint symbols

Outlets 1

Electrical outlets 1 blueprint symbols

Outlets 2

Electrical outlets 2 blueprint symbols

Switches 1

Electrical switches 1 bluepring symbols

Switches 2

Electrical switches 2 blueprint symbols

Low voltage

Electrical low voltage blueprint symbols

Blueprints needed for building permit submission

Exactly what is needed varies from area to area.

In my area (King County, WA) the requirements as to drawings are...

All plans should be a minimum of 18” x 24”, but it is best to use 36"x24". At a 1/4" to 1 foot scale the minimum text size in CAD should be 6" high. For drawings at a 1/2" to 1 foot scale the minimum text height in CAD is 3".

▪ Foundation Plans - (Required scale: 1/4” =1’);
▪ Floor Plans of Each Floor - (Required scale: 1/4” = 1’);
- Indicate square footage of conditioned space, garages, carports, outbuildings and decks;
- Designate use of each room or space. The number of bedrooms should equal those on the septic design approved by the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health.
▪ Building Cross Section(s) - Usually through the most complex area(s) (Required scale 1/4” = 1’);
▪ Elevations - (Recommended scale 1/4” = 1’) for All Sides of the building;
▪ Roof Framing Plans - May be indicated on the uppermost floor plan (Required scale 1/4” - 1’);
▪ Floor Framing Plans - May be indicated on a floor or foundation plan (Required scale 1/4” = 1’);
▪ Miscellaneous Structural Details - (Recommended scale 3/4” = 1’); and
▪ Typical Wall Section - (Recommended scale 1/2” = 1’).
▪ Plot map

Drawing Sets Shall Be As Follows:
▪ Clear and with readable writing;
▪ Stapled together with plot plan as the first sheet;
▪ In order, with each page numbered consecutively;
▪ No pencil drawings; and
▪ Reproductions on substantial paper are required.

Additional Information Which May Be Required:
▪ Energy Code Compliance: Plans and specifications must comply with the Washington State Energy Code and the Ventilation Indoor Air Quality Code. Energy forms are required for review and permit issuance;
▪ For additions, include the floor plans of existing adjacent rooms. Show location of windows and their sizes and how they operate (horizontal slider for example);
▪ Engineering calculation and details for retaining walls other than per Table 1805.5 of the IBC as amended, as printed on the King County Residential Corrections Sheet;
▪ Engineering calculations and details for beams, joists, trusses, lateral loads (wind and/or seismic) and special connections; (change formatting to be consistent);
▪ Site inspection by the Engineer/Architect of Record may be required for special designs;
▪ Snow loads will be computed using King County DDES Snow Load Analysis based on the Snow Load Analysis for Washington, 2nd Edition, published by the Structural Engineers Association of Washington;
▪ Flood Elevation Certificate delineating finished floor elevation and FEMA 100-Year Floodplain Elevation.

Blueprint Examples

1) Floor Plan

The floor plan is what most people are familiar with when they are designing a home. It has the layout of the exterior and interior walls. The floor plan blueprints also need to include the dimensions for walls, rooms, wall thickness, windows and doors, kitchen and bath layouts, electrical and plumbing layouts, stairs, ceilings, and flooring. The main floor plan is an architectural blueprint of a top view that looks down on the home. You can see entryways, doors and walls. There needs to be one floor plan for each level, and that includes the basement and attic space. These floor plans usually have the floor joist placement and roof truss placement. The spacing measurements, nailing schedule, and beam schedule is usually included in this part of the plans.

King County example floor plan main

King County floor plan bedroom level

King County floor plan lower level

Blueprint example main floor

Blueprint example main floor with notes

Blueprint example main floor

2) Elevations

This part of the plans help the inspectors understand the height of the outside of the house. It also shows the shape and size of windows, doors, trim, roof material and slope, and anything else that can help describe the outside building designs of the house.

King County example elevation

Blueprint example front elevation

Blueprint example side elevation

Blueprint example section elevation

3) Foundation Plan

This blueprint shows how the foundation should be built according to the information from the soil sample. It shows how deep into the ground the footings will go and it gives the dimensions of the footings. It also shows the dimensions of the foundation wall and any columns or blocks used in the foundation. It also needs to show things like any vent locations in the foundation walls. The foundation plan includes details like frost levels, and slope or grade levels when necessary.

King County foundation and walls

Blueprint example foundation cross section

Blueprint example foundation plan

Blueprint example foundation details

Blueprint example crawlspace

4) Details

This is a plan for some of the smaller things that have special build instructions. This is more for the subcontractors so they can get a good idea of the house design, but inspectors also like to know what's going on. Some of the details might include how a fireplace should look, stairs and handrails, molding and trim or just anything that is different from normal houses. The details sheet is part of the house blueprint package and is as many pages as needed. The details section is where the architect draws special details that might need special attention. Inspectors like to have vivid details.

Blueprint example details

Blueprint example framing details

Blueprint example window

Blueprint example electrical

Blueprint example electrical with notes

Blueprint example schedule doors

Blueprint example schedule beam

Blueprint example schedule nailing

5) Sections and interior elevations

This part of the blueprint package shows how the parts of a building fit together and shows the important interior items that need special consideration.. Most of it is common sense, but sometimes walls, stairs, and things like fireplaces need a little extra explaining to avoid confusion. Like detail plans, the sections plans are more for the builder than the inspector, but they like to be kept in the loop. Usual items needing special attention are kitchens, bathrooms and fireplaces. Most house blueprints will include specialty interior items like these.

King County example elevation cross section

Blueprint example stairs

Blueprint example fireplace

Notes to accompany blueprints

In addition to the drawings it is necessary to provide a comprehensive set of design and implementation notes. Some of these notes can be written onto the blueprint drawings, but others can be handled in a separate word processor document. Either way, there is a certain set of info that your local building department will want before they approve the plans.

For my area, King County require that the following aspects are properly described and specified in the package of drawings supplied with the building permit application...

1. Line of Structure Above - Particularly overhangs and cantilevers, roofs, etc;
2. Crawl Space Vents - Call out typical size and quantity;
3. Crawl Space Access - Call out size of opening;
4. Type of Foundation - Example: concrete, wood or masonry – Call out sizes;
5. Footings Continuous and Pads - Call out sizes;
6. Columns/Post - Call out member size;
7. Bearing Wall - Call out for clarity;
8. Framing (Floor, Roof, Deck) - Show direction of layout, size, species, grade and spacing.
(Example: roof rafters 2 x 10 H.F. #2 @ 16” O.C.);
9. Beams & Headers - Call out size, species and grade. Example: HDR 6 x 8 D.F. #1.
10. Ground-Cover - 6 mil. Polyethylene or equivalent;
11. Connectors - Beam to beam, post to beam, truss to beam, hangers; call out size. Provide
detail and engineering for custom fabricated connectors;
12. Miscellaneous Structural Components - Show doubled joist, blocking, etc.;
13. Spaces (Rooms) - Label areas; (Example: crawl space, closet, bedroom, deck, etc.);
14. Heating System - Show location and call out size in BTUH or other appropriate unit;
15. Stairs - Show Direction of Travel (up or down). Refer to Section 1009.3 of the IBC or
11.5.3 of the IRC;
16. Toilet Fixtures;
17. Mechanical Ventilation;
18. Doors - Show swing; if pocket door, show pocket area. Call out sizes;
19. Sliding doors - Call out size;
20. Windows - Call out size. Indicate if fixed or operable. Window sizes must meet minimum
requirements for light and ventilation. Windows in sleeping areas must meet Section
R3101.1 of the IRC (or Section 1025 of the IBC);
21. Half Walls/Guardrails - Show height;
22. Decking - Call out type; if wood, call out size;
23. Line of Floor or Ceiling Openings - Call out stairs, elevator shafts, laundry chutes or
dumbwaiters, etc;
24. Skylights - Call out size;
25. Attic Access - Call out size;
26. Fireplace - Install per manufacturer’s specifications. Chimneys must extend 2’ - 0” vertically
above any structure within 10’ - 0” measured horizontally;
27. Ridges - Call out size and species of ridgeboard;
28. Hips - Call out size and species of hip rafter;
29. Valleys - Call out size and species of valley rafter;
30. Roof Framing;
- Trusses - Show direction of layout; call out spacing. Show and label hip masters,
hip jacks, end jacks, girder trusses, hangers, bearing areas, etc;
- Conventional Roof Framing - Show direction of roof rafter and ceiling joist layout; call
out spacing; and
- Show and label rafter ties, purlins, blocking, support joints, bearing points and/or walls,
etc.
31. Smoke Detectors;
32. Concrete Foundation - 48” maximum unbalanced backfill; if higher, submit engineering
calculations and details with stamp from licensed professional Architect or Engineer;
33. Concrete Foundation With Cripple Wall - 4’0” maximum unbalanced backfill restrained at
base by concrete floor; if higher, submit engineering calculations and details from licensed
professional Architect or Engineer;
Obtaining A Residential Building Permit Bulletin 9
Bulletin 9 09/22/2008 Page 11 of 14
34. Slope of Roof - Rise and run;
35. Finish Roof Material - Call out type of roofing; specify interlayment and/or underlayment;
36. Roof Sheathing - Call out size; indicate if solid or spaced;
37. Roof Members - Call out size; indicate if stick framed or trussed;
38. Insulation Baffle - 1” minimum clear vented air space above the insulation;
39. Eave Blocking/Attic Ventilation;
40. Gutter;
41. Overhang - Dimension;
42. Ceiling insulation - Call out R-Value;
43. Gypsum Wall Board (GWB) - Call out thickness;
44. Floor - Call out system. Indicate insulation and any level changes. Example: 3/4” T&G
plywood decking over 2 x 10 floor joist (FJ) @ 16” O.C. over 1/2” GWB;
45. Wall - Call out system;
(Example: Exterior - 1 x 8 bevel cedar siding over 1/2” plywood sheathing over 2 x 6 studs
@ 16” O.C. with R-19 batt insulation on 1/2” GWB. Interior - 2 x 4 studs @ 16” O.C. with
1/2” GWB each side.);
46. Studs - Walls supporting two floors, roof and ceiling minimum 3 x 4 or 2 x 6 spaced @ 16”
O.C.;
47. For Foundations Supporting Wood, Extend Concrete 6” Above Grade;
48. Damp proofing and Waterproofing of Foundation Walls Enclosing a Room
Below Grade – Refer to Section R406.1 and Section R406.2 of the IRC (or Section
1807.2 of the IBC);
49. Foundation Wall - Indicate type of construction and size – Refer to Section R305.1 of the
IRC (7’0”) or, 1208.2 IBC (7’6”);
50. Floor To Floor, Floor to Top Plate - Minimum 7’ 0” ceiling height for IRC applications.
Refer to Section R305.1 of the IRC. (Minimum ceiling height for the IBC applications is
7’6” – Section 208.2 of the IBC);
51. Garage Separation - Refer to Section R309.2 of the IRC. 5/8” type ‘X’ GWB is used on
ceilings below habitable space. Garage to house walls, and garage walls supporting
habitable space above shall be protected with a least ½ inch GWB;
52. Pressure Treated Sill - Call out size;
53. Anchor Bolts - Call out size and spacing. Example: 1/2” 0 x 10” AB 6’ - 0” O.C.;
54. Reinforcing Bars (Rebar) - Call out size and spacing;
55. Drain Tile - Recommended and required in some areas;
56. Grade - Show on elevations;
57. Patios, Decks - Call out materials. Indicate distance of finished floor from grade.

It is worth using the above as a checklist to make sure you have not forgotten anything. When not building a wooden house some of the questions will need a bit of interpretation and judgment, but the list is still helpful in letting you know the types of info required. If in doubt about whether some aspect needs to be specified, it is worth specifying it. Too much info is better than not enough and the plans inspector will appreciate it.

My blueprints

In my case I am the one building the house rather than a contractor so there is no particular need to indicate where things like electrical sockets and lights are installed. I just need to provide enough info to get a building permit.