Reading & Understanding Construction Drawings
This introductory course is designed to help Construction Team Members build confidence in reading, understanding, and using construction drawings as a practical communication tool on a project. Team Members are introduced to the purpose of drawings, how drawing sets are organized, and how plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, symbols, dimensions, and notes work together to describe the scope and requirements of the work.
The class is appropriate for new construction professionals, field staff, administrative team members, estimators, project engineers, interns, and anyone who needs a stronger foundation in navigating construction documents. Instruction will combine short explanations with real drawing examples, so participants learn where to find information, how to follow references from sheet to sheet, and how to ask better questions when drawings are unclear.
Key Topics Covered
· Understanding the purpose of construction drawings and their role in project communication
· Navigating a drawing set, including cover sheets, general notes, sheet indexes, and discipline drawings
· Reading basic plan views, elevations, sections, details, and schedules
· Recognizing common symbols, abbreviations, line types, dimensions, and callouts
· Understanding how drawings connect with specifications, submittals, RFIs, and field coordination
· Identifying key information needed for layout, estimating, procurement, and construction activities
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session, participants should be able to locate important information in a drawing set, interpret basic drawing views, understand common symbols and references, and explain how drawings support communication between design teams, contractors, subcontractors, and field personnel. The goal is not to make learners experts in every discipline, but to give them a practical foundation for reading drawings accurately and participating more effectively in construction project coordination.
We will provide a certificate of completion to all who successfully pass the exam. A self-reporting certificate will also be available to those who can submit for continuing education credits.
Arizona ACI and the Concrete Contractors Association of Arizona plan to offer this program statewide and if your group would like to schedule this for your company, we require 15 people to attend to hold one at your location. Contact the AZ ACI office for more details at azaci@outlook.com
