Understanding Sheet Index Pages and Document Organization in Construction Drawings

This is the sheet index page. You can see the name of the document down here, and here is the sheet page number. In sheet indices, the information is conveyed from the top right down, and then we read from left to right.

You can see that information is grouped in different sections. There is a section for general information, architectural information, continued architectural details, interior design, structural engineering, continued structural information, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and the technology drawings, which are on the next page. We will review those in the next video. There is logic in the numbering of the sheet pages.

In your handouts, we have included a PDF of this document, which is from the National CAD Standards. The National CAD Standards include a logical workflow for ordering the documents within a set of construction documents. There are designators for the professional discipline, a sheet type designator, and a numerical sequence.

The disciplines are grouped alphabetically: general, hazardous, survey mapping, architectural, structural, plumbing, electrical. These characters would be the first listed in the name of the page. Then we have divisions.

There is an area for general documents, plans, elevations, and sections. Again, these are the numbers that reflect these designators, and the sheets are put together and organized in this fashion. Next, we have the sequential numbering.

You can see A for architectural, dash, sequence 102, and these are supplemental drawings, in this case, Revision One. When we return and look at our sheet index page, you’ll notice that the Architect and engineers have all conformed to naming their sheets in accordance with the National CAD Standards. We have A for architecture, dash, then the page number 101, and then A and B. This building is very large.

All the information cannot be adequately conveyed at a readable scale on one page, so there is a part A and part B for the building. You can see that the number sequencing is going up. Again, lower-level parking, the second level of parking, third level, and we keep going up the building.

The information is organized, again, according to the National CAD Standards. We begin with plans, followed by elevations. There are building axonometrics, which are presentations of the 3D model. Next, we go into building sections, wall sections, and enlarged plans. Most of this information here is enlarged plans. Then we have plan detail drawings, guest room details, wall type rating assemblies, information on windows, stairs, elevators, and the parking lot striping plan.

Again, we’re following the same order recommended in the National CAD Standards, and all the remaining disciplines have done the same. Let’s now begin learning about architectural symbols and abbreviations.