VIENID Start practicing

Home › Lessons › Construction (Building)

Layout Marking, Surveying, Dimensions & Architectural Terms

Construction (Building) · 建設分野(建築区分) · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Layout Marking (Sumidashi), Surveying Instruments, and Site Terms

A permanent elevation reference point maintained until building completion is a 'Benchmark (BM)', and the temporary wooden stakes and boards set around a building footprint before excavation to indicate position and level are 'batter boards (Yarikata / Chouhari)'.

In layout marking, main reference lines such as column/wall centerlines are 'primary lines (Oyazumi)', offset reference lines drawn parallel to avoid obstacles are 'offset lines (Nigezumi / Kaerizumi)', and horizontal height reference lines marked on walls or columns are 'level lines (Rokuzumi / Mizuzumi)'.

An 'auto-level' is used for leveling surveys to measure height differences, a 'total station' measures both distance and angles simultaneously, and a 'laser line level' projects horizontal and vertical lines at once.

A 'spirit level (Suiheiki)' checks horizontal level with a bubble vial, a conical 'plumb bob (Sagefuri)' checks verticality of columns/formwork, and a large carpenter's triangle 'Oogane' uses the Pythagorean side ratio '3 : 4 : 5 (Sashigo)' to lay out right angles.

Layout Marking (Sumidashi), Surveying Instruments, and Site Terms

Key points


  • The elevation reference point is a Benchmark (BM), the horizontal reference mark is Rokuzumi, and a parallel offset line is Nigezumi.

  • Use an auto-level for height differences, a total station for simultaneous distance/angle measurement, and a plumb bob (Sagefuri) for verticality.

  • An Oogane triangle uses the 3:4:5 ratio; in leveling, if the backsight on BM is 1,500 mm and foresight at point A is 1,800 mm, point A is 300 mm lower than BM (-300 mm).
WordMeaning
Horizontal reference mark (Rokuzumi / Mizuzumi)
Offset reference mark (Nigezumi / Kaerizumi)
Batter boards (Yarikata / Chouhari)
Total station (electro-optical distance & angle meter)

Traditional Units, Building Parts, and Dimension Terminology

In traditional Japanese building units, '1 ken' (6 times 1 shaku ≈ 303 mm) is about 1,818 mm, and '1 tsubo' (the area of 2 tatami mats) is about 3.3 m². A '4-sun roof pitch' rises 4 sun vertically for every 10 sun (1 shaku) horizontally (4/10 slope).

A structure combining a steel frame encased in rebar and concrete is an 'SRC structure (steel reinforced concrete)', and completing the installation of the highest roof ridge beam (Munagi) in timber or steel framing is called 'topping out (Joutou / Muneage)'.

The top surface of a member is 'Uwaba (Tenba)', the bottom surface is 'Shitaba', two surfaces joined completely flush without steps are 'Tsura-ichi', and the junction where two different materials or trades meet is 'Toriai'.

The clear inside distance between facing walls or columns is 'inside dimension (Uchinori)'; the clear surface-to-surface distance between adjacent rebars is 'clear spacing (Aki)', while the center-to-center distance is 'spacing (Pitch / Kankaku)'.

Key points


  • 1 ken is approx. 1,818 mm, 1 tsubo is approx. 3.3 m², and a 4-sun pitch rises 4 sun vertically per 10 sun horizontally.

  • The bottom surface is 'Shitaba', a flush joint is 'Tsura-ichi', and the interface between different parts is 'Toriai'.

  • Clear interior width is 'Uchinori', surface-to-surface rebar gap is 'Aki', and center-to-center rebar distance is 'Kankaku (Pitch)'.
WordMeaning
Flush surface alignment (Tsura-ichi)
Interface / Junction between parts (Toriai)
Clear inside dimension (Uchinori)
Center-to-center spacing / Pitch (Kankaku)

Types of Architectural Drawings and Drawing Symbols

Basic drawings include the 'site plan (Haichizu)' showing lot boundaries, roads, and building placement; 'floor plan (Heimenzu)' cut horizontally and viewed from above; 'elevation (Ritsumenzu)' viewing exterior walls from four directions; and 'section (Danmenzu)' cut vertically to show floor heights.

Detailed drawings include the 'wall section detail (Kanabakarizu)' cut vertically from foundation to eaves, 'interior elevation (Tenkaizu)' showing all four interior walls of a room, 'reflected ceiling plan (Tenjou-fusezu)', and 'foundation plan (Kiso-fusezu)'.

Numbers without unit symbols on Japanese architectural drawings are in 'millimeters (mm)' in principle; a chain line (dash-dot line) indicates a 'centerline (grid line)', and a dashed line indicates 'hidden outlines'.

Among symbols, 'FL' denotes finished floor level, 'FIX' denotes a fixed non-opening window, and structural member symbols are 'C = Column, G = Girder (main beam), B = Beam (secondary beam), S = Slab'.

Key points


  • Heimenzu is a floor plan, Ritsumenzu is an exterior elevation, Kanabakarizu is a vertical wall section from foundation to eaves, and Tenkaizu shows interior room walls.

  • Default drawing units are mm; chain lines represent centerlines/grid lines, and dashed lines represent hidden edges.

  • FL means finished floor level, FIX means fixed window, and C = Column, G = Girder, B = Beam, S = Slab.
WordMeaning
Detailed vertical wall section (Kanabakarizu)
Interior room elevation drawing (Tenkaizu)
Ceiling plan (Tenjou-fusezu)
Finished Floor Level (FL)

Material Quantity Takeoff and Practical Site Calculations

Calculating required material types, quantities, and labor from drawings and specifications is called 'quantity takeoff (Hiroidashi)'. A wall measuring 80 mm (8 cm) on a 1/50 scale plan has an actual length of 80 × 50 = 4,000 mm (4.0 m).

Slope & spacing calculations: a 1/100 drainage slope over 4 m gives a 40 mm height drop; a 2,800 mm story height divided into 14 steps gives a 200 mm riser height; 5 posts spaced equally along 6,000 mm (4 intervals) have a 1,500 mm pitch; rebars at 200 mm pitch across 2,000 mm (including both ends) require (2,000 ÷ 200) + 1 = 11 bars.

Area & panel calculations: a 3 m × 6 m wall minus a 2 m × 1.5 m door leaves 15.0 m² of painting area (100 m² × 0.25 kg/m² × 2 coats = 50 kg paint); a 6 m × 4.5 m room (21 m perimeter) minus a 1 m doorway needs 20.0 m of baseboard; a 3,640 × 1,820 mm wall takes 4 gypsum boards of 910 × 1,820 mm; a 4,000 × 1,200 mm wall takes 60 concrete blocks of 400 × 200 mm.

Volume & weight calculations: a 5 m × 4 m × 0.15 m concrete slab is 3.0 m³; hauling 12.0 m³ of excavated soil in a 3.0 m³ dump truck takes 4 loads; 1:3 mortar using 50 L of cement requires 150 L of sand; twenty 4 m rebars weighing 1.5 kg/m weigh 120 kg in total.

Key points


  • Rebars at 200 mm pitch over 2,000 mm require (2,000÷200)+1 = 11 bars; 5 posts spaced equally over 6,000 mm have a pitch of 6,000÷4 = 1,500 mm.

  • Subtract door/window opening areas or widths when calculating paint area or baseboard length.

  • Concrete volume = Length × Width × Thickness (in meters); 1:3 mortar with 50 L of cement requires 150 L of sand.
WordMeaning
Material quantity takeoff (Hiroidashi)
Drainage slope (Mizukoubai)
Stair riser height (Keage)

Layout Marking, Surveying, Dimensions, and Terms

Practice this chapter in the app

Official references