Construction Documents: 11 Types of Construction Drawings

A set of construction documents is a set of drawings that an architect produces during the design development phase of a construction project. They serve as a project manual during the construction phase, and they assist permitting agencies and inspectors from local governments, who have to clear the project.

An architect must produce two sets of construction drawings that specify every detail of their final design. One set of plans is called the construction set, and it remains on-site throughout the construction process. They guide the actual construction administration, usually under the direction of a general contractor. The other set of drawings is called the permit set, and it goes to the local permitting authority, which is usually part of a city or county government. The permitting authority checks the drawings for safe adherence to building codes and zoning laws.

To ensure a safe, legal, and successful process, the builder closely follows the construction documents—from architectural plans to technical drawings to window schedules—all the way through final project delivery. In order to receive a certificate of occupancy from a permitting authority, the final building must match the submittals provided at the beginning of the project.

The construction documents below are standard throughout the construction industry.

1. 1. A0 sheets: These project information documents serve as cover sheets for a permit set or construction set. They lay out the general scope of work, including a site plan with the general condition of the work site, and plans that show fire protection and accessibility.
2. 2. A1 sheets (demolition): Demolition plans show the current state of the structure and indicate what must be demolished as part of the construction project.
3. 3. A2 sheets (floor plans): Also known as blueprints, floor plans are working drawings that show an aerial view of each level of the building. They include building dimensions, interior walls, exterior walls, and relevant fixtures.
4. 4. A3 sheets (elevations): Elevation drawings are architectural drawings that show cross-sections of a building. Also called section drawings, they show ceiling heights, wall construction, foundation plans, and framing plans.
5. 5. A4 sheets (finish plans): An architect or design team provides these plans to show what materials will be laid atop the core structure. A4 sheets include a reflected ceiling plan, which shows the ceiling as viewed from the floor, including any lighting fixtures. These sheets also show the location of power outlets, and they make reference to what's known as a finish schedule (found later in the plans).
6. 6. A5 sheets (interior elevations): A more detailed variation on the A3 sheets, these elevations might show furniture, light switches, and wall finish types.
7. 7. A6 sheets (schedules): In the construction industry, the word "schedule" refers to lists or spreadsheets of certain materials. Construction sets and permit sets feature door schedules (showing all the doors that appear on other sheets) and window schedules (showing all the windows that appear on other sheets).
8. 8. S sheets (structural drawings): These building design drawings are the work of a structural engineer, who has a different role than an architect. The structural engineer’s S sheets show the structural schematics of a building, including concrete footings, wall-to-roof connections, joist layout, and any specially engineered pieces in the building's framing. Complex projects may require greater levels of detail in these engineering drawings.
9. 9. M sheets (mechanical drawings): These types of drawings show mechanical systems in a building, most notably an HVAC system (which controls heating and air conditioning and is required in most new homes and office buildings).
10. 10. P Sheets (plumbing drawings): These show the location of pipes, water tanks, and plumbing fixtures. Plumbing systems include vents that cut through the roof and allow sewer gases to safely escape the building.
11. 11. E Sheets (electrical drawings): These drawings show detailed information about a building's electrical plan.

Note that other documents associated with a construction contract—such as bidding documents, contract documents, project management agreements, legal conditions of the contract, cost estimates, interior design proposals, informal shop drawings, contract modifications, supplementary conditions, and other contract addenda—do not count as construction plans. The architect does not need to include them in a building permit set or construction set.

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