Drawing Annotation

Last updated March 28, 2025
By Ian Story

General Principals

GENERAL FIRST: Use typical sheet notes, schedules, general specifications, standard assemblies, and typical details to communicate typical or default conditions before adding text notes to the drawings. Where the necessary instructions for describing an element can be communicated using general methods, don’t note the element on the plans.

DEFAULT SCHEDULING: For every type of element or system that occurs in the project, provide a default specification that covers the most common case. For example, typical footings on a residential project may be specified as ’16” wide x 10″ deep concrete footings w/ (2) #4 at bottom, typ. u.n.o.’ Use Typical Sheet Notes to document the default specification. Then, only note elements on the plans that differ from the default specification.

MINIMIZE SPECIFIC NOTES: To the extent possible, minimize the number of text notes on the drawing. Use tags to label any systems that are set up to use tags, and use general annotation techniques to cover the majority of remaining cases. Specific notes should be used for clarification, unusual conditions, explanation of critical conditions, and as substitutions for simple unique details.