This means that the object is 50 times as large as the drawing, so that 50 mm on the object is represented by 1 mm on the drawing. For another example, 30 mm on the drawing represents 50 × 30 mm = 1500 mm (or 1.5 metres) on the object. Figure 2 lists the scale ratios used for building plans and construction drawings in both metric and the approximate equivalent architectural scale ratios. Imperial Equivalents Type of Drawing Common Metric Ratios Use and Ratios 1:500 1:480 To locate the 1" = 40'-0" Site plan building, services and 1/16" reference points on 1:200 1:192 the site To show the overall Sketch plans 1:200 1/16" 1:192 design of the building To indicate the juxtaposition of the General locations 1:100 1:96 rooms and locate 1/8" =1'-0" the positions of piping systems and Drawings 1:50 1:48 components 1/4 =1'-0" 1:20 1/2 =1'-0" 1:24 To show the detail of 1:10 1" = 1'-0" 1:12 Construction details system components 1:5 3" =1'-0" 1:4 and assemblies 1:1 Full size 1:1 Figure 2 Preferred scales for building drawings — (imperial) scales Architect’s Traditional architectural measurements of length are written very precisely in feet and inches using the appropriate symbols for feet and inches separated by a dash (e.g., 4'-3 1/2" and 7'-0"). This is the way that all imperial measurements are written on construction drawings. Listed below are the scales found on the triangular scale ruler. architect’s 1. 3/32" 6. 3/8" = 1'-0" 7. 1" =1'-0" 2. 3/16" = 1'-0" 8. 1/2" = 1'-0" 3. 1/8" = 9. 11/2" = 1'-0" 10. 3" = 1'-0" 4. 1/4" = 11. 1" = 1" (full size—use the scale labelled 16) 5. ¾" = 1'-0"
This means that the object is 50 times as large as the drawing, so that 50 mm on the object is represented by 1 mm on the drawing. For another example, 30 mm on the drawing represents 50 × 30 mm = 1500 mm (or 1.5 metres) on the object. Figure 2 lists the scale ratios used for building plans and construction drawings in both metric and the approximate equivalent architectural scale ratios. Type of Drawing Common Metric Ratios Imperial Equivalents and Ratios Use Site plan 1:500 1:200 1" = 40'-0" 1/16" 1:480 1:192 To locate the building, services and reference points on the site Sketch plans General locations Drawings 1:200 1:100 1:50 1/16" 1/8" =1'-0" 1/4 =1'-0" 1:192 1:96 1:48 To show the overall design of the building To indicate the juxtaposition of the rooms and locate the positions of piping systems and components Construction details 1:20 1:10 1:5 1:1 1/2 =1'-0" 1" = 1'-0" 3" =1'-0" Full size 1:24 1:12 1:4 1:1 To show the detail of system components and assemblies Figure 2 — Preferred scales for building drawings Architect’s (imperial) scales Traditional architectural measurements of length are written very precisely in feet and inches using the appropriate symbols for feet and inches separated by a dash (e.g., 4'-3 1/2" and 7'-0"). This is the way that all imperial measurements are written on construction drawings. Listed below are the scales found on the architect’s triangular scale ruler. 1. 3/32" 2. 3/16" = 1'-0" 3. 1/8" = 4. 1/4" = 5. ¾" = 1'-0" 6. 3/8" = 1'-0" 7. 1" =1'-0" 8. 1/2" = 1'-0" 9. 11/2" = 1'-0" 10. 3" = 1'-0" 11. 1" = 1" (full size—use the scale labelled 16)
4AScaleDimensioning.docx