Overview
Abbreviations are used throughout drawings. Each office will have their own set of abbreviations that work for them and their projects. For example, some offices will write EJ for Expansion Joint, while others will write EXJ (our preference). Make sure to run this list through the ranks. It ultimately does not matter which you use, as long as it’s not reused for something else, and stays consistent across your set.
To essentially cover your ass, list out all abbreviations you will use at the front of your documentation set. When new teammates join a team, make sure to have them review the abbreviations page to understand exactly the office standard and keep consistency across the drawing set. There is nothing more frustrating than reviewing a set and seeing multiple different variations of an abbreviation used.
Universal
There are many abbreviations that are universal. An easy example is FOOT or FEET which can be shortened to FT. This is universal and understood throughout the world, but still should be listed on your abbreviations sheet for completeness.
Grouping
A personal preference of ours is to include a grouping aspect to the abbreviations. This allows the abbreviations to be placed adjacent near similar styled abbreviations. We find this to be a more manageable and useful way to show the abbreviations and understand them.
It’s not much of a secret, that generally the abbreviations page never gets referenced, and this helps increase its usefulness just a little bit.
Compound
These are set up to be compounded ontop of eachother and stringed together. Therefore, instead of Janitor Closet listed as an abbreviation, Janitor and Closet are separately listed (JAN) and (CLO). You can then abbreviate Janitor Closet as “JAN CLO”
Thoughts?
Missing a definition? Want to add alternates or corrections for others? Let us know.
Abbreviations
Listed below…
GROUP | FIRST LETTER | ABBREVIATION | WORD/PHRASE ASSOCIATED |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | @ | @ | AT |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | # | # | NUMBER |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | A | ADJ | ADJACENT |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | A | ALT | ALTERNATE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | A | APPX | APPROXIMATE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | B | BOTT | BOTTOM |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | B | BTWN | BETWEEN |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | C | CL | CENTERLINE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | C | CLR | CLEAR |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | C | CONT | CONTINUOUS |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | C | COORD | COORDINATE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | C | CTR | CENTER |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | D | DIAG | DIAGONAL |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | D | DIV | DIVISION |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | D | DN | DOWN |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | EA | EACH |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | ENCL | ENCLOSURE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | EQ | EQUAL |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | EQVL | EQUIVALENT |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | ETC | ET CETERA |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | EXP | EXPOSED |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | EXTN | EXTENSION |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | EXTR | EXTRUDED |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | E | E | EAST |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | F | FH | FULL HEIGHT |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | F | FO | FACE OF |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | I | INCL | INCLUDE/INCLUDING |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | I | INTM | INTERMEDIATE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | L | LIN | LINEAR |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | M | MAX | MAXIMUM |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | M | MED | MEDIUM |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | M | MID | MIDDLE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | M | MIN | MINIMUM |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | M | MISC | MISCELLANEOUS |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | N | N | NORTH |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | O | OC | ON CENTER |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | O | OH | OVERHANG |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | O | OPNG | OPENING |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | O | OPP | OPPOSITE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | P | PAR | PARTIAL |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | P | PERP | PERPENDICULAR |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | Q | QTY | QUANTITY |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | S | S | SOUTH |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | S | SEP | SEPARATE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | S | SQ | SQUARE |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | S | STAG | STAGGERED |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | V | VERT | VERTICAL |
DIRECTION OR SPATIAL | W | W | WEST |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | A | ALUM | ALUMINUM |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | A | ASSY | ASSEMBLY |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | A | AVB | AIR VAPOR BARRIER |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | B | BRD | BOARD |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | B | BLK | BLOCK |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | B | BLKG | BLOCKING |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CAB | CABINET |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CER | CERAMIC |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CJ | CONTROL JOINT |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CLDG | CLADDING |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CLKG | CAULKING |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CMU | CONCRETE MASONRY UNIT |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CONC | CONCRETE |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CPT | CARPET |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | C | CSK | COUNTERSINK |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | E | EXJ | EXPANSION JOINT |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | E | ENAM | ENAMEL |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | F | FF | FINISH FLOOR |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | F | FIN | FINISH |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | F | FIXT | FIXTURE |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | F | FR | FRAME |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | G | GALV | GALVANIZED |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | G | GL | GLASS |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | G | GWB | GYPSUM WALL BOARD |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | H | HDWD | HARDWOOD |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | I | IGU | INSULATING GLASS UNIT |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | I | INSL | INSULATE, INSULATING, INSULATION |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | J | JT | JOINT |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | L | LAM | LAMINATE |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | L | LT | LIGHT |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | L | LTG | LIGHTING |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | L | LVR | LOUVER |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | M | MATL | MATERIAL |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | M | MTD | MOUNTED |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | M | MTL | METAL |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | M | MWP | MEMBRANE WATERPROOFING |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | P | PC | PRECAST |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | P | PLAM | PLASTIC LAMINATE |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | P | PLAS | PLASTER |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | P | PLYWD | PLYWOOD |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | P | PNL | PANEL |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | P | POL | POLISHED |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | P | PT/PTD | PAINT/PAINTED |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | Q | QT | QUARRY TILE |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | R | RNFC | REINFORCEMENT |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | R | RLG | RAILING |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | R | RWB | RESILIENT WALL BASE |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | S | SS | STAINLESS STEEL |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | S | SHT | SHEET |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | S | SSP | STAINLESS STEEL PIPE |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | S | STL | STEEL |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | T | T | TREADS |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | T | TC | TERRA COTTA |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | V | VNR | VENEER |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | W | WCV | WALL COVERING |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | W | WD | WOOD |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | W | WP | WATER PROOF |
MATERIAL OR OBJECT | W | WSCT | WAINSCOT |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | A | AC | AIR CONDITIONING |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | A | AMP | AMPERE |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | A | AWG | AMERICAN WIRE GAUGE |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | B | BTU | BRITISH THERMAL UNIT |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | C | CE | COMBINATION ELEVATOR |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | D | DB | DECIBEL |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | D | DW | DISHWASHER |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | E | ELEV | ELEVATOR |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | E | EMR | ELEVATOR MACHINE ROOM |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | E | ELEC | ELECTRICAL |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | E | EQUIP | EQUIPMENT |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | E | EXH | EXHAUST |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | F | FE | FIRE EXTINGUISHER |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | F | FP | FIRE PROTECTION |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | F | FPRF | FIREPROOF |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | F | FPSC | FIREPROOF SELF CLOSING |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | F | FSP | FIRE STAND PIPE |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | H | HVAC | HEATING, VENTILATING & AIR CONDITIONING |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | H | HW | HOT WATER |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | K | KW | KILOWATT |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | M | MACH | MACHINE |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | M | MECH | MECHANICAL |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | P | PE | PASSENGER ELEVATOR |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | P | PLBG | PLUMBING |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | R | R | RISERS |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | R | RECP | RECEPTACLE |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | R | RFGR | REFRIGERATOR |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | S | SE | SERVICE ELEVATOR |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | S | SD | SMOKE DETECTOR |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | S | SPKLR | SPRINKLER |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | S | SPKR | SPEAKER |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | T | TEL | TELEPHONE |
MECH, ELEC, & FIRE | V | VENT | VENTILATION |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | A | ACT | ACOUSTIC CEILING TILE |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | A | AFF | ABOVE FINISH FLOOR |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | B | BM | BEAM |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | B | BOS | BOTTOM OF SLAB |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | B | BOM | BOTTOM OF MULLION |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | C | CH | CEILING HEIGHT |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | C | CLG | CEILING |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | C | COL | COLUMN |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | D | DR(S) | DOOR(S) |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | E | EOS | EDGE OF SLAB |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | F | FD | FLOOR DRAIN |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | F | FDTN | FOUNDATION |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | F | FL/FLR | FLOOR |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | H | HP | HIGH POINT |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | H | HC | HOLLOW CORE |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | H | HDR | HEADER |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | H | HDWR | HARDWARE |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | H | HM | HOLLOW METAL |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | H | HO | HOLD OPEN |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | K | KD | KNOCK DOWN |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | K | KO | KNOCK OUT |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | L | LP | LOW POINT |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | L | LH | LEFT HAND |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | L | LHR | LEFT HAND REVERSE |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | O | ORD | OVERFLOW ROOF DRAIN |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | O | OH DR | OVERHEAD DOOR |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | P | PL | PLATE |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | R | RCP | REFLECTED CEILING PLAN |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | R | RD | ROOF DRAIN |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | R | RL | ROOF LEADER |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | R | RH | RIGHT HAND |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | R | RHR | RIGHT HAND REVERSE |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | S | SCP | SCUPPER |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | S | SC | SOLID CORE |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | S | SDL | SADDLE |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | T | TOP | TOP OF PARAPET |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | T | TOFF | TOP OF FINISH FLOOR |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | T | TOS | TOP OF SLAB |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | T | TOW | TOP OF WALL |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | T | TOM | TOP OF MULLION |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | W | WDW | WINDOW |
OPENING, ROOF, WALL, FLOOR & CEILING | X | XBRCE | CROSS BRACE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | A | ARCH | ARCHITECT |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | A | APT | APARTMENT |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | B | BO | BY OTHERS |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | B | BLDG | BUILDING |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | B | BOH | BACK OF HOUSE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | B | BDRM | BEDROOM |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | B | BSMT | BASEMENT |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | C | CM | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | C | CLO | CLOSET |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | C | CRDR | CORRIDOR |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | D | DEPT | DEPARTMENT |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | E | ENGR | ENGINEER |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | E | EXT | EXTERIOR |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | F | FIG | FIGURE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | F | FOH | FRONT OF HOUSE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | G | GC | GENERAL CONTRACTOR |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | I | INT | INTERIOR |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | J | JAN | JANITOR |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | L | LAV | LAVATORY |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | L | LNDG | LANDING |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | L | LKR | LOCKER |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | M | MFR | MANUFACTURER |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | M | MNGR | MANAGER |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | M | MED | MEDICINE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | M | MEZZ | MEZZANINE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | O | OFF | OFFICE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | O | ORCH | ORCHESTRA |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | R | RM/RMS | ROOM/ROOMS |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | S | SR | SENIOR |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | S | ST | STAIR |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | S | STR | STORAGE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | U | URNL | URINAL |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | V | VEST | VESTIBULE |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | W | WC | WATER CLOSET |
SPACE, ROOM, PERSON/OFFICE | W | WKRM | WORKROOM |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | A | ADTL | ADDITIONAL |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | A | ADJT | ADJUSTABLE |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | C | CFM | CUBIC FEET PER MINUTE |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | C | CU | CUBIC |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | C | CONST | CONSTRUCTION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | D | D | DEPTH |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | D | DIA | DIAMETER |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | D | DIM | DIMENSION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | D | DEMO | DEMOLITION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | D | DTL | DETAIL |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | D | DWG | DRAWING |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | E | EXG | EXISTING |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | E | EL | ELEVATION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | F | FT | FOOT/FEET |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | G | GA | GAUGE |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | G | GAL | GALLON |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | H | H | HEIGHT |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | H | HOR | HORIZONTAL |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | I | ID | INSIDE DIAMETER |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | I | IN | INCH |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | I | INFO | INFORMATION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | L | L | LENGTH |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | L | LB | POUND |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | M | MO | MASONRY OPENING |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | N | NIC | NOT IN CONTRACT |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | N | NTS | NOT TO SCALE |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | O | OD | OUTSIDE DIAMETER |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | PCF | POUNDS PER CUBIC FOOT |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | PSF | POUNDS PER SQUARE FOOT |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | PSI | POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | PA | PUBLIC ADDRESS |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | PERM | PERMANENT |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | POS | POSITIVE |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | PROD | PRODUCTION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | PROP | PROPERTY |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | P | PH | PHASE |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | Q | QUAL | QUALITY |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | R | R | RADIUS |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | R | RO | ROUGH OPENING |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | R | REQD | REQUIRED |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | SF | SQUARE FOOT |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | SGL | SINGLE |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | STD | STANDARD |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | SUSP | SUSPENDED |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | SCHED | SCHEDULE |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | SECT | SECTION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | SIM | SIMILAR |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | SK | SKETCH |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | S | SPECS | SPECIFICATION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | T | THK | THICK/THICKNESS |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | T | TBD | TO BE DETERMINED |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | T | TYP | TYPICAL |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | U | UON | UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | V | VOL | VOLUME |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | V | VAR | VARIES |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | V | VIF | VERIFY IN FIELD |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | V | VS | VERSUS |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | W | W | WIDTH |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | W | WT | WEIGHT |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | W | W/ | WITH |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | W | W/O | WITHOUT |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | X | XSECT | CROSS SECTION |
VIEW, SET, MEASURE, MISC & GENERAL | Y | YD | YARD |