We have already mentioned that construction blueprints can be considerably different from project to project. But it is more acceptable to use the terms drawings and prints when referring to floor plans or any type of plan for that matter. Today, the term blueprint is still casually used to refer to floor plans. The paper is then washed and dried resulting into an exact copy of the original image with the image reproduced in white line against a dark blue background. Because India ink (the ink used in the drawings) blocks the UV light, the coating behind the drawings does not go through the photoreaction and remains soluble. During this light exposure, the ultra-violet light is transmitted through the tracing paper converting the light sensitive coating to a stable blue or black dye. This process is called cyanotype and creates the blue coated paper ready for drawing reproduction.Īrchitects and engineers would draw their designs on cartridge paper, which are then traced onto tracing paper, and then the tracing paper is placed on the sensitised paper, clamped under glass, and exposed to daylight in an exposure frame. A solution of potassium ferricyanide is used to develop the image – this forms an insoluble ferroferricyanide (Prussian blue or Turnbell’s blue) – and then the excess chemicals are washed off.
Upon exposure to light, a photoreaction occurs turning the trivalent ferric iron into divalent ferrous iron. The sheet is then saturated with ammonium ferric citrate solution and dried. The blueprint process starts off with a photosensitive ferric compound, usually the widely used ammonium ferric citrate and potassium ferricyanide. The blueprints presented as negative drawings or illustrations of the original as white lines on a blue background. First used in 1842, the blueprinting process enabled quick and accurate reproduction of specification drawings in the construction and building industry. Historically, blueprints were literally blueprints and were made to reproduce technical drawings through a contact print process on light-sensitive paper. In this guide, we will dig deeper into how you can read a construction blueprint, what information is typically included in it and its effect on the planning process. For that reason, it is essential that everyone involved in the construction process is able to understand a construction plan. There are many different types of construction blueprints and some can be significantly more perplexing than others. On top of that, construction plans offer a detailed overview of the project’s scope to the people on site, as it includes a number of vital information such as quality specifications, building codes, and measurements.
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Free ebook: 6 keys to staying competitive in constructionĮxamining all the different dimensions included in a blueprint can ensure that every stage of the project is progressing as expected avoiding rework and by extension project delays and budget overruns. Therefore, every tradesman, subcontractor, and contractor will need a lesson on reading blueprints before they start their careers. In fact, anyone that tries to skip this step is going to find that their work will not be done properly, nor will they ever be good at their job.
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These details are needed to request permits, determine the construction schedule, and eventually do the construction itself.Įvery construction worker needs to know how to read blueprints.
What is a construction blueprint or construction plan?Ĭonstruction blueprints (also known as construction plans or construction drawings) are two-dimensional drawings that contain all the details that are needed for a project.
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