An important part of building construction is the ability to
read and understand the information shown on a construction drawing or a set of
construction drawings. The drawings show what plumbing facilities are required by using
symbols and abbreviations to identify the real material items. The symbols and
abbreviations on the construction drawing tell the plumber the location of water and waste
pipelines, the type and size of pipe, the type of fittings for pipeline connections, and
the location of all the fixtures required.
Once you can read and understand the information on a
construction drawing, you can determine the lengths of pipe required by type and size, the
number of different types of fittings by size, and the number of different types of
fixtures. You will be able to make a list of plumbing materials needed to install any part
of or all of the plumbing system.
