Plans

Assembly Diagrams and Instructions

• Definition: Assembly diagrams show how to put items together using labelled pictures or instructions.
• Key Terms:
  • Instructions for Assembling: Written steps describing the assembly process.
  • Assembly Diagrams: Labelled pictures illustrating how parts fit together.

Activity 1: Wiring a Plug

• Safety Notes:
  • Do not wire a plug unless you are trained.
  • Faulty wiring can cause electrical appliances to fail or harm you.
• Steps:
  1. Bare the ends of the wires using pliers.
  2. Twist the copper strands tightly.
  3. Remove the plug cover by snapping or unscrewing it.
  4. Unscrew the plug prongs.
  5. Insert wires into the correct prongs:
  • Top prong: Green/yellow wire (earth).
  • Left prong: Blue wire (neutral).
  • Right prong: Brown wire (live).
  6. Tighten screws and ensure wires are secure.
  7. Replace the plug cover.

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Plans and Elevations

• Definition:
  • Elevation: A 2D drawing showing the front, side, or rear view of a building.
  • Examples:
  • Front Elevation: Shows the building from the front.
  • Side Elevation: Displays the building from either side.
  • Rear Elevation: Shows the back of the building.

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Symbols on a Floor Plan

• Common Symbols:
  • Walls: Solid lines.
  • Doors: Arched lines showing opening direction.
  • Windows: Parallel lines.
  • Fixtures:
  • Bath, toilet, shower, sink, etc.
  • Furniture:
  • Bed, armchair, etc.

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Reading Floor Plans

• How to Read a Floor Plan: 8. Identify features such as doors, windows, and rooms. 9. Look for symbols indicating furniture and fixtures. 10. Understand layout based on how walls and doors are drawn.

Tips:

• Dashed lines = Fixtures like curtain rails.
• Hinged lines = Doors opening inwards or outwards.

Activity 2: Interpreting a Floor Plan

• Objective: Identify and correct errors in a given floor plan.
• Errors to Look For:
  • Incorrect placement of doors or fixtures.
  • Missing or misplaced symbols.
  • Poor flow of the layout.

Solution (Room-by-Room Analysis):

1. Kitchen:

• The window is on the north wall instead of the west, making the room dark.
• Limited space for wall cupboards due to windows on the north and south walls.
• Sink placement is problematic:
• It is not in a corner, wasting space.
• Cabinets above the sink will make it uncomfortable to work.
• No space for a fridge or cupboard south of the room.
• The door placement makes it impossible to add cupboards on the north wall.
• The kitchen door is just an open doorway, typical in modern homes.

2. Toilet:

• The toilet is misaligned with the water pipes, which run up the west exterior wall. This would make the toilet inoperable.
• The toilet lacks a door, which is inappropriate.
• There is a window into the toilet from the kitchen, which is unsuitable.
• Toilets are conventionally placed with a frosted glass window to the exterior.

3. Bathroom:

• The shower is placed in the north-east corner, creating problems:
• The water pipe has to run down from the roof, making it unsafe and costly.
• The shower should be moved to the west wall.
• The door opens the wrong way; it should open to the south wall.
• The passage adjacent to the bathroom is a waste of space:
• Removing the passage would enlarge the bathroom and improve functionality.

4. Lounge:

• The sliding door in the lounge faces north, which is appropriate in the Southern Hemisphere as it allows sunlight throughout the day.
• There is a large west wall lacking a window, which could have been added for more light.

5. Entrance Door:

• There is no entrance door to the building apart from the sliding door.
• It's conventional to have the entrance door leading into the kitchen for convenience.

6. Main Bedroom:

• The door does not open or align properly.
• The room has no cupboards; cupboards should be on the north wall.
• The window in the passage compromises privacy.

7. General Orientation Issues:

• Water pipes and water-using rooms (bathroom, kitchen, toilet) should align on the south side.
• Bedrooms should be on the north side for maximum light during the day.