Floor plan abbreviations and symbols | BUILD

1 of 12

Ideas gallery
Design guides
Build & renovate
PLANS
MAINTENANCE FORUM
BLOGS

http://www.build.com.au/floor-plan-abbreviations-and-symbols

HOUSE

Advertisement

Local trades & services

Get Quotes Now

Floor plan abbreviations and symbols

How to build a house,House plan

House plans like oor plans, site plans, elevations and other architectural diagrams or blueprints are
generally pretty self explanatory - but the devil's often in the details. It's not always easy to make an educated
guess about what a particular abbreviation or symbol might mean.
To help make things a bit easier, we've put together a cheat sheet to explain many of the more common
abbreviations and symbols:

House plan abbreviations

ABBREVIATION

MEANING

AB

Air brick

AL

Aluminium

AP

Acoustic plaster

ASPH

Asphalt

AT

Acoustic tile

Basin

BAL

Balustrades

BC

Book case

BHD

Bulkhead over

B/I

Built-in

BK

Brick

BV

Brick veneer

BWK

Brickwork

Cooker

CAB

Cabinet

CBD / CPD

Cupboard

CD

Clothes dryer

CF

Concrete oor

COL

Column

CORR

Corrugated

15/05/2015 1:56 PM

Floor plan abbreviations and symbols | BUILD

2 of 12

http://www.build.com.au/floor-plan-abbreviations-and-symbols

ABBREVIATION

MEANING

CR

Cement render

CT

Ceramic tile

CW

Cavity wall

Door

DG

Double glazing

DH

Double hung (windows)

DP

Downpipe

DPC / DPM

Damp-proof course / damp-proof membrane

DW

Dishwasher

FA

Floor area

FB

Face brick

FCL

Finished ceiling level

FFL

Finished oor level

FL

Floor level (note: the oor level is provided as a gure relative to a datum, or universal
reference point)

FW

Floor waste

GM

Gas meter

GPO

General purpose outlet (i.e. power point)

HTR

Heater

HW

Hot water unit

INSUL

Insulation

KIT

Kitchen

LIN

Linen cupboard

LINO

Linoleum

LVR

Louvres

Meter

MSB

Master switch board

Oven

PBD

Plasterboard

R / REFRIG

Refrigerator

RL

Reduced level

RS

Roller shutter

RWH

Rainwater head

RWP

Rainwater pipe

RWT

Rainwater tank

SC

Stop cock

15/05/2015 1:56 PM

Floor plan abbreviations and symbols | BUILD

3 of 12

http://www.build.com.au/floor-plan-abbreviations-and-symbols

ABBREVIATION

MEANING

SD

Sewer drain

SD

Sliding door

SHR

Shower

SS

Stainless steel

TC

Terra cotta

TEL

Telephone

TRZO

Terrazzo

TV

Television

U/G

Underground

U/S

Underside

Vinyl

VENT

Ventilator

VP

Vent pipe

W(number)

Window - Basix window number

WB

Weatherboard

WC

Water closet

WM

Washing machine

WR

Wardrobe

Plan view: annotations

SYMBOL

MEANING
Job datum level - indicates the altitude at a speci c point, relative to a
universal reference point known as a 'datum'.

Special area reference - a reference to a separate diagram detailing a

special area (numbers indicate which diagram)

Elevation reference - a reference to an elevation diagram (numbers

indicate which diagram)

Section reference - a reference to a separate section diagram (numbers

indicate which diagram)

15/05/2015 1:56 PM

Floor plan abbreviations and symbols | BUILD

4 of 12

SYMBOL

http://www.build.com.au/floor-plan-abbreviations-and-symbols

MEANING
Detail reference - a reference to a detail diagram (numbers indicate
which diagram)

Window and door references - a reference to speci c windown and

door diagrams (numbers indicate which diagrams)
Graduated scale - used to indicate the size and scale of objects and
structures in the diagram
Compass - shows the orientation of the plan diagram and the structures
it depicts

Title block - provides details about the project, the speci c plan revision
you're looking at, the architect or designer, the date etc.

Plan view - general

SYMBOL

MEANING
Window

Single-swing door (90 degrees)

Single-swing door (180 degrees)

Single double-acting door

Pocket / cavity door - a sliding door that slides into the wall cavity
Exposed sliding door
Bifold / concertina doors centred on a track
Bifold / concertina doors xed to one side on a track

Ramp - arrow points upwards

15/05/2015 1:56 PM

Floor plan abbreviations and symbols | BUILD

5 of 12

SYMBOL

http://www.build.com.au/floor-plan-abbreviations-and-symbols

MEANING

Stairs - arrow points upwards

Fall / drainage - arrow points downwards, towards oor waste / drain.

Archway
Lintel

Access hatch

Recessed object - an object recessed into a particular wall or surface.

Surface-mounted object - an object mounted directly on a wall or

surface.

Free-standing object - an object not connected to the adjacent wall or

surface.

Object mounted over - an object mounted over the area shown.

Object sittting above the plane of the depicted section - a surface

mounted object sitting higher than the plane of the diagram.

Plan view - fittings

SYMBOL

MEANING

15/05/2015 1:56 PM

Floor plan abbreviations and symbols | BUILD

6 of 12

SYMBOL

http://www.build.com.au/floor-plan-abbreviations-and-symbols

MEANING

Bathtub

Shower stall - lines in the centre of this diagram indicate drop for
drainage.

Basin

Vanity with basin

Toilet

Bidet

Sink with two bowls

Sink with one bowl

Double tub or trough

Single tub or trough

Hotplates

15/05/2015 1:56 PM

Floor plan abbreviations and symbols | BUILD

7 of 12

http://www.build.com.au/floor-plan-abbreviations-and-symbols

Elevation view - doors and windows

SYMBOL

MEANING

Right-side hinged window

Side pivoted window

Top and bottom pivoted window

Top hinged window

Bottom hinged window

Horizontal sliding window with xed sash

15/05/2015 1:56 PM

Floor plan abbreviations and symbols | BUILD

8 of 12

SYMBOL

http://www.build.com.au/floor-plan-abbreviations-and-symbols

MEANING

Vertical sliding sash window

Left hinged door

Double doors hinged at left and right jambs

Share this:

3 Like

Need a tradie?
Get fast, FREE quotes
Quali ed, trusted tradespeople
in your area
Compare your quotes - and then
pick the best

You Might Also Like

15/05/2015 1:56 PM