Symbols

Like abbreviations, symbols are used instead of words on drawings to save space. There are a lot of them, but they’re standardised (drawn the same way) to avoid confusion, so don’t worry. Some of them look a lot like what they represent. For example, the symbol:

Others are more obscure. The symbol:

Some cross-sections have a ‘filling’ that symbolises what material is to be used. In drafting terms this is called ‘hatching’. For example, this hatching:

As mentioned in Section 1, some drawings have a legend to indicate what the symbols used on the drawing mean.

The legend shown in Figure 5.1 is from a site plan. Without this legend, the symbols on the drawing could be misinterpreted.

Electrical, hydraulic, and engineering drawings commonly have legends on them.