Construction Plan Reading Course

Lesson 1 • Scale and Measurement Basics

Introduces graphic and numerical scales used on construction drawings. Students convert scaled dimensions to real-world measurements accurately.

Lesson 2 • Purpose and Scope of Construction Plans

Explains why construction drawings exist and how they communicate design intent to field teams. Establishes the role of plans within the broader project delivery process.

Lesson 3 • Title Blocks and Revision Tracking

Decodes title block data including project info, issue dates, and revision clouds. Ensures students always work from the correct and current drawing version.

Lesson 4 • Drawing Types and Their Roles

Distinguishes plans, elevations, sections, and detail drawings by function. Connects each drawing type to the specific field decisions it supports.

Lesson 1 • Line Types and Their Meanings

Identifies the standard line weights and types used to convey visibility, cut planes, and hidden elements. Directly supports accurate reading of any plan view.

Lesson 2 • Civil and Site Symbols

Introduces symbols for grading, utilities, and site features on civil drawings. Connects symbol literacy to site layout and earthwork interpretation.

Lesson 3 • Abbreviations and Drawing Legends

Builds fluency with standard construction abbreviations and teaches use of project-specific legends. Reduces misreading errors caused by unfamiliar shorthand.

Lesson 4 • Architectural Symbols

Covers door, window, wall, and fixture symbols used in architectural drawings. Students identify these elements instantly in floor plans and elevations.

Lesson 1 • Exterior Elevations

Covers how elevations depict vertical building faces with material, height, and opening data. Students read finish materials and benchmark elevations from these views.

Lesson 2 • Reflected Ceiling Plans

Introduces the reflected ceiling plan as a mirror-image view showing ceiling systems and overhead elements. Students coordinate ceiling heights, grids, and light fixture locations.

Lesson 3 • Floor Plan Fundamentals

Teaches how floor plans represent horizontal cuts through a building at standard height. Students locate walls, openings, and spaces accurately from plan views.

Lesson 4 • Door and Window Schedules

Explains how schedules link plan symbols to detailed specifications for each opening. Students cross-reference schedules to confirm sizes, materials, and hardware.

Lesson 1 • Detail Reference Systems

Teaches the bubble-and-sheet reference system linking details to their parent drawings. Students navigate from a plan or section to the correct detail sheet without confusion.

Lesson 2 • Roof and Floor Assembly Details

Covers detail drawings for roof systems and structural floor assemblies including drainage and insulation. Students verify slope, membrane type, and deck attachment from details.

Lesson 3 • Connection and Fastening Details

Examines structural connection details for steel, wood, and concrete elements. Students read fastener schedules, weld symbols, and anchor bolt patterns.

Lesson 4 • Wall Sections and Assemblies

Focuses on wall section details showing layer-by-layer construction from foundation to roof. Students identify insulation, sheathing, cladding, and waterproofing sequences.

Lesson 1 • Utility and Infrastructure Plans

Addresses underground utility routing for water, sewer, storm, gas, and electrical systems. Students identify pipe sizes, invert elevations, and connection points from utility plans.

Lesson 2 • Grading and Drainage Plans

Covers existing and proposed contour lines, spot elevations, and drainage flow arrows. Students calculate cut-and-fill volumes and verify positive drainage from grading drawings.

Lesson 3 • Site Plan Components

Identifies the key elements of a site plan including property boundaries, setbacks, and building footprint. Students orient the site plan to the physical site using north arrow and benchmarks.

Lesson 4 • Survey Data and Legal Descriptions

Introduces boundary survey data, metes-and-bounds descriptions, and benchmark datums. Students use survey information to verify site layout and confirm legal boundaries.

Lesson 1 • Wood Framing Plans

Covers lumber and engineered wood framing plans for floors, walls, and roofs. Students read joist direction arrows, header sizes, and shear wall locations.

Lesson 2 • Concrete Structural Plans

Addresses reinforced concrete column, beam, and slab drawings including rebar schedules. Students verify bar sizes, spacing, cover requirements, and lap splice lengths.

Lesson 3 • Steel Framing Plans

Reads structural steel framing plans showing member designations, grid lines, and connection types. Students identify wide-flange sizes, connection details, and camber requirements.

Lesson 4 • Structural Notes and General Requirements

Interprets general structural notes covering material standards, inspection requirements, and load assumptions. Students apply these notes to resolve field questions about structural intent.

Lesson 1 • Fire Protection and Life Safety Plans

Covers sprinkler system layouts, fire alarm device locations, and egress path drawings. Students verify coverage areas, head spacing, and alarm device placement from these plans.

Lesson 2 • HVAC Plans and Ductwork Layouts

Covers air handling unit locations, duct routing, diffuser placement, and airflow schedules. Students read duct sizes, static pressure notes, and equipment tags from HVAC drawings.

Lesson 3 • MEP Coordination and Clash Detection

Introduces overlay coordination techniques for identifying MEP conflicts before installation. Students use plan overlays and section cuts to detect and document clashes.

Lesson 4 • Electrical Plans and Panel Schedules

Reads electrical floor plans showing panel locations, circuit routing, and device placement. Students cross-reference panel schedules to verify circuit loads and breaker sizes.

Lesson 1 • Resolving Drawing Conflicts

Addresses precedence rules when drawings, specifications, and addenda conflict. Students apply the contract document hierarchy to make correct field decisions.

Lesson 2 • Field Layout from Construction Drawings

Applies plan reading to physical layout tasks including control points, grid lines, and offset stakes. Students transfer drawing dimensions to the field accurately using standard layout methods.

Lesson 3 • Submittal Review and Shop Drawings

Covers the submittal process for shop drawings, product data, and samples against design documents. Students verify that submittals conform to drawing dimensions and specification requirements.

Lesson 4 • Quality Control Using Drawings

Uses construction drawings as the baseline for inspection checklists and punch list generation. Students compare installed work to drawing requirements and document nonconformances.