Youth Explore Trades Skills Plumber

Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Drawings

Description
Students will learn to develop and interpret plumbing drawings typically found in construction.
There are two parts to this lesson:

• Part 1: Orthographic drawings

• Part 2: Isometric drawings

Lesson Outcomes
The student will be able to:
• Create orthographic drawings of objects, including a piping system
• Create isometric drawings of objects, including a piping system

Assumptions
The teacher has a basic understanding of drafting. This document seeks to teach the student
about practices used in the plumbing trade. It is assumed the teacher has a basic understanding
of the development of orthographic projections and isometric drawings.

Terminology
Fitting: an object used to connect one or more pieces of piping material to another.
Isometric: a method of representing three-dimensional objects on a flat surface by means of a
drawing that shows three planes of the object.
Orthographic: a method for representing a three-dimensional object by means of several views
from various planes.

Estimated Time
1–3 hours

Recommended Number of Students

Individual activity

Facilities
Classroom activity

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License unless otherwise indicated.
Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Plumb

Tools
• Pencil, ruler, eraser
• Tee square (Figure 1)
• 30/60/90 triangle

Figure 1—A tee square is used to align drafting drawings

to a square surface (such as a table).

Materials
• Unlined paper
• Isometric paper (Figure 2)

2 1

B B

A A

NAMETITLE DATE PERIOD

2 1

Figure 2—Isometric paper is helpful for novice students to design isometric drawings.

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Resources
Brief overview of freehand isometrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN7281MUp_U

Fun video showing the development of an isometric drawing of a Rubik’s cube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPDpsaX-Usw

Activity Background
Communication between architects, homeowners, tradespeople, and inspectors plays an
important role in the development of any project. While this could take place through extended
conversations, the most efficient way to ensure success is through the use of drawings and
diagrams. A plumber should be competent in creating and interpreting drawings. Time and
materials can be wasted if a project is not planned well.

Part 1: Orthographic Drawings

Orthographic drawings are projections from a single angle. Most objects can be fully
represented showing a front view, side view, and top (or plan) view.

The biggest limitation of orthographic drawings is they represent a single perspective that may
not show details hidden from view. For this reason, several views may have to be shown to
indicate all details. Most commonly, front views and top views are shown.

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Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Plumb

Activity 1: Create Orthographic Projections

Have students create an orthographic representation of an object. Large, box-like objects

without a lot of detail tend to be good starting points.

Figure 3—Imagine an object floating inside a glass box.

Figure 4—Each side of the glass box shows only one plane of the object,
and all lines are straight and parallel.

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Labeling views is a helpful method for students to make the connection between an object and
its orthographic projection (Figures 5 and 6).

Figure 5—Views in an orthographic drawing

Figure 6—Drawing with the glass box flattened out

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Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Plumb

Activity 2: Create Plumbing Orthographic

Projections

The teacher should create a piping system large enough so that it can be displayed at the front
of the class and students can draw an orthographic of the object. As the plumbing orthographic
samples below display, the object could be drawn from different perspectives.

Piping systems are regularly represented by orthographic projections. Blueprints of a

large project are typically top (or plan) views. This activity is designed for students to draw
orthographic projections of an actual piping system. The challenge of creating piping
orthographics is that symbols must be used to represent 90° elbows or tees pointing toward or
away from the viewer. Figure 7 identifies the possible orthographic projection views that could
be used to represent an elbow fitting.

Top view Right side view

Left side view

Front view
Figure 7—Elbow fitting with possible orthographic
projection views labelled

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For the fitting shown in Figure 7, the orthographic projection for the indicated views would be
shown as in Figure 8.

Top (plan) view

Left side view Front view Right side view

Figure 8—Orthographic projections for the elbow fitting in Figure 7.

Top view
Right side view

Front view
Figure 9—Tee fitting with possible orthographic projection views labelled

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Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Plumb

For the fitting shown Figure 9, the orthographic projection for the indicated views would be
shown as in Figure 10.

Top (plan) view

Front view Right side view

Figure 10—Orthographic projections for tee fitting in Figure 9

Figure 10 identifies the possible orthographic projection views that could be used to represent
the tee fitting being referenced.

Notes
• A fitting shown pointing “outward” from the page is shown with a dot. This represents the
inside of the fitting.

• A fitting shown pointing “inward” into the page is indicated with a solid line halfway through
the fitting. This represents the back of a fitting.

• As the sample plumbing orthographic illustrates, the biggest drawback of orthographic

projections is that fittings are often hidden from view. In other words, the fittings closest to
the viewer are clearly indicated, but the details of piping “in behind” are not shown.

• The hashmarks indicate the connection to another pipe or fitting.

Figures 12–14 show samples of an orthographic projection that could be created after viewing
the arrangement of piping in Figure 11. Students could be directed to draw each of the three
views.

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Figure 11—Tube structure for orthographic drawing activity

Figure 12—Front view Figure 13—Plan view Figure 14—Right view

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Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Plumb

Part 2: Isometric Drawings

Isometric drawings are most commonly used by tradespeople to communicate a large amount of
information in a single drawing. Because isometric drawings show three sides of an object, they
make it easy to visualize how a finished project may look or to better understand how the pieces
will fit together. As demonstrated in the development of orthographic drawings, much more detail
can be conveyed in a single isometric drawing than in a series of three orthographic drawings.

Figure 15—Isometrics show a three-dimensional object from

three perspectives in a single drawing.

An isometric drawing can be identified by several factors:

• Vertical planes or edges are still drawn vertically.
• Left and right planes are drawn at an angle of 30° above horizontal.
• No horizontal lines are found on isometrics.

The strength of using isometrics in the plumbing trade is that all fittings can be shown on
a single drawing, whereas an orthographic may have fittings hidden from view. This can
create confusion and uncertainty in the mind of the tradesperson. It is common practice for a
tradesperson to examine blueprint drawings (orthographic plan views) and create isometric
sketches to clarify areas of uncertainty. This can be used to discuss issues with inspectors,
supervisors, architects, or homeowners. The ability to visualize and plan a project before
actually using materials is a valuable skill.

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Plumb Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric

Figure 16—Assembly drawings are typically drawn in isometric form,

as they can convey how parts are to be connected.

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Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Plumb

Rear Addition - Plumbing Drains/Vents -

2nd
roof vent 1st
AAV
roof vent
(vent)

AW CO
Bas
KS

Sh CO
1st
WC
WC roof vent
Bas - Basin (bath sink) Sh - Shower
WC - Water closet (toilet) AW - Auto washer
4" CAST KS - Kitchen sink CO - Clean out
To public sewer
3" PVC
2" PVC
1½" PVC

Figure 17—Isometric drawings allow a tradesperson to accurately determine

how systems will be integrated and what supplies will be necessary for construction.

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Plumb Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric

Activity 3: Create Isometric Drawings

Have students sketch an object using correct isometric standards. Large rectangular objects
such as a television or computer are typically best for beginners. Labelling the sides of the
object with a sticky note may assist novices to differentiate between the different planes.
Isometric paper (includes vertical axes as well as 30° axes already laid out) is an excellent
way to begin. As students begin to understand the parallel manner of the various planes, a tee
square and 30/60/90 triangle on unlined paper can be used.

Teacher Notes
• Isometric paper can be used as a tool to support the novice. It serves as a physical
reminder of the 30° planes used to create depth on the flat drawing surface.

• Depending on the age and ability of the students, sketching isometrics freehand (without
a straightedge) may be an objective toward which students should be working. Isometrics
are commonly sketched on job sites to quickly communicate information. As students gain
confidence and expertise, this skill should be developed.

• Teachers should encourage students to incorporate isometric sketching into other

activities. The design of virtually any product begins with a sketch showing how the
product will eventually look. The ability to communicate an idea to others without extensive
conversations is an excellent means of brainstorming.

Figure 18—Basic shapes and simple ideas Figure 19—More complex shapes can be
can be shown more realistically through created by creating wire frames or boxes to which
the development of isometric sketches. detail is added.

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Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Plumb

Activity 4: Create Piping Isometric Drawings

Have students create an isometric drawing based on an existing system of pipe. See below
for sample pictures and drawings that could be created. As students gain skill, more complex
systems could be shown and drawn.

Teacher Notes
• The shoulders of the fittings are drawn parallel to the opposing outlet.

• In terms of classroom management, it is likely easiest to show pictures of small systems on

a projector rather than guiding students to draw isometrics in a lock-step format.

Below are sample piping arrangements and the isometrics that would represent them.

Figure 20—ABS piping installation Figure 21—Isometric drawing of ABS piping

installation

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Figure 22—Lamp constructed from Figure 23—Isometric drawing of piping and bottle
piping and bottles lamp. An open-headed arrow is used to represent a
light bulb.

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Drafting: Orthographic and Isometric Plumb

Figure 24—Drainage and water lines

Figure 25—Isometric drawing of drainage and water lines

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Evaluation Guidelines
Overall neatness:
• Lines are concisely drawn.
• Lettering is done to a high quality (all uppercase).
• Guidelines are fully erased to avoid confusion.

Drawing conforms to orthographic standards:

• Accuracy of drawing to actual object
• Alignment of views (top view above front view, for example)
• Correct use of symbols (fittings pointed away from or toward viewer)

Drawing conforms to isometric standards:

• Correct use of symbols (i.e., shoulders on fittings)
• Conformity to 30° planes
• Accuracy of drawing to actual project

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