Architectural Term Abbreviations

A Cheat Sheet for Deciphering Architectural Abbreviations and Symbols

Architectural diagrams and drawings such as floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and elevations are generally pretty self explanatory, but the intricate details can be quite complex. It can be challenging to decipher the meaning of specific abbreviations or symbols used in these diagrams. To simplify the process, we have compiled a cheat sheet that outlines many of the commonly used abbreviations and symbols:

 

ACT Acoustic Ceiling Tile
AFF Above Finished Floor
BOB Bottom of Beam
BOD Bottom of Deck
BSMT Basement
CH Ceiling Height
CIP Cast In Place
CL Centerline
CLG Ceiling
CMU Concrete Masonry Unit
COL Column
CONC Concrete
DBL Double
DEMO Demolish or Demolition
DIM Dimension
DIMS Dimensions
DR Door
DWG Drawing or AutoCAD file
EL Elevation
ELEC Electrical
ELEV Elevator or Elevation
EXIST Existing
FF Finished Face or Finished Floor
FFL Finished Floor Level
FL Floor Level
FLR Floor
GWB Gypsum Wall Board
HVAC Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning
INT Interior
MAX Maximum
MECH Mechanical
MEP Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing
MO Masonry Opening
MIN Minimum
NIC Not In Content
OC On Center
PC Point Cloud
PNT Paint or Painted
RCP Reflected Ceiling Plan
RM Room
SD Smoke Detector
TEL Telephone
TELE Telephone
TEL/DATA Telephone/Data
TO Top Of
TYP Typical
UTA Unable to Access
WC Water Closet
WH Water Heater
W/ With

 

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