How Many Types of Drafting Are There Based on the Structure?

Drafting is one of the essential elements of engineering, architecture, and design. Drafting is the visual representation of an idea, a design, or a structure. Drafting assists engineers, architects, and designers to convey complicated ideas clearly and accurately. However, it is not a "one size fits all" task. Drafting can be classified into different types depending on the structure being designed.
In this article, we will explain the types of drafting based on the structure and why each type is essential to the construction and design industries.

1. Architectural Drafting Architectural drafting covers the design of buildings and structures for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes. Architectural drafting includes detailed drawings indicating: • Floor plans, • Elevations, • Sections, • Layout of roof and foundations, Architectural drafted drawings give contractors and builders the dimension and layout of a building or structure, both functionally and aesthetically.
2. Structural Drafting Structural drafting is about the "skeleton" of a building or described structure. Structural drafting shows how multiple load-bearing components such as beams, columns, trusses, and other components connect together in order to load the weight properly. Structural drafted drawings are essential to ensure a stable and safe structure's construction. Some of the typical drawings identified are: • Reinforcement details, • Steel frameworks, • Concrete layout. These drafts help engineers design structures that can withstand external forces like wind, earthquakes, and loads.
3. Mechanical Drafting Mechanical drafting applies to more than just buildings but is highly relevant for buildings with machinery, equipment, or mechanical systems. Drafting is appropriate when designing building infrastructures that include HVAC systems, lifts, and layouts for manufacturing plants. Mechanical drafting includes: • Drawings of machine parts and assemblies • Layout of HVAC systems in buildings • Pipe fittings and mechanical equipment. Mechanical drafts are a final check of accuracy and ensure long-term efficiency and reliability of mechanical systems and components.
4. Electrical Drafting The use of electrical energy is fundamental; there is no building in our contemporary lives without electricity. Electrical drafting provides a coherent layout of electrical systems in buildings, as well as other infrastructure. Electrical drafting is the basis for the work classifications such as the following: • Wiring layouts • Power of lighting system layouts • Buildings and features of communication devices and fire alarm systems Electrical drafting provides safety and efficiency of distributing power throughout a building. Electrical drafts ensure electrically designed systems are following code.
5. Civil Drafting Civil drafting is often associated with large work being done in structural form, which, of course, in the course of the drafting, will constitute roads, bridges, dams, highways, etc. Civil drafting applies to land development more than buildings and focuses on larger infrastructures such as: • Grading design from site plans "place from one site to another" • Road specifications • drainage and water systems layout Civil drafts will show essential information for projects that are reliant on some integration with the environment and have a large and overall impact on planning.
6. Plumbing and Sanitary Drafting Water and people require a suitable supply and means of drainage; your building will need a supply of water to have suitable drainage, be sanitary, etc. Plumbing and sanitary drafts are drawings that relate supply systems. Tasks completed by plumbers: • Layout of water lines • Layout of drainage systems • Layout of gas piping These drafts help ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable water usage within structures.
7. Landscape Drafting When drafting for outdoor spaces around buildings, the draft will give definitive drawings for: • Gardens and parks • Paths and walkways • Irrigation systems Landscape drafts improve aesthetics while supporting ecological balance. Why Drafting Type Awareness is Important Each of these types of drafting can be viewed as tied together. For example, architectural drafts define placement, structural drafts define stability, and electrical and plumbing drafts define functional use of the building by the end user. All together, these drafts create a complete footprint of the building which permits the act of construction. Last Thoughts Regardless of structure, drafting generally falls into architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, plumbing/sanitary, and landscape drafts. Drafting serves very different roles by discipline to ensure that each a part of the project—design to build-- is planned for. Source: https://www.synnoptechcad.com/blog/how-many-types-of-drafting-are-there-based-on-the-structure/