Structural Drafting

Course Description

This course (TDR0520C) is a postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) course within the Engineering Technologies > Technical Drafting taxonomy of the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). It is offered as part of a planned sequence of drafting instruction aligned with the Architecture and Construction career cluster.

The purpose of this course is to prepare students for employment or advanced training in the structural drafting field. Students apply technical drafting skills — by hand, by computer, and using 3D modeling — to produce professional-quality drawings for structural systems including steel, reinforced concrete, and wood. The course emphasizes competency-based, applied learning that develops higher-order reasoning, problem-solving, and occupation-specific skills aligned with Florida Department of Education (FDOE) CTE curriculum frameworks (2025–2026).

Laboratory investigations, including scientific inquiry, measurement, problem solving, and the use of emerging tools and equipment, are an integral part of this course.

Learning Outcomes

Required Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Interpret structural manuals and technical tables — read and apply industry reference materials, load tables, section property tables, and standard details to drafting tasks.
• Prepare structural details — draft connection details, sections, and assembly drawings for structural systems in compliance with applicable codes and standards.
• Prepare structural steel drawings — produce plans, elevations, sections, and details for steel-framed structures, including member designations and connection specifications.
• Prepare reinforced concrete drawings — create rebar placement plans, footing details, slab layouts, beam and column schedules, and related structural concrete documentation.
• Prepare structural wood drawings — draft floor and roof framing plans, member schedules, and connection details for light-frame and heavy-timber wood construction.
• Produce structural 3-D computer-aided drawings — use CAD software to generate 3-D models of steel, wood, and reinforced concrete structural systems.
• Engage in project planning — schedule and plan structural drafting project tasks, manage resources and deadlines, and deliver project documents per negotiated phases and obligations.
• Apply basic drafting skills — use drafting equipment, scales, and instruments; demonstrate the Alphabet of Lines; prepare title blocks and drafting formats; and apply freehand sketching techniques.
• Demonstrate algebra and geometry mathematics — apply arithmetic, algebraic, and geometric operations relevant to structural drafting calculations and dimensioning.
• Perform CAD functions — execute basic and intermediate computer-aided drafting operations, including layer management, annotation, dimensioning, and file management.

Optional Learning Outcomes

The following outcomes may be covered at the instructor's discretion or as time permits:

• Prepare multi-view and sectional drawings — apply orthographic projection principles to structural components.
• Prepare auxiliary and pictorial drawings — produce axonometric, oblique, and perspective views of structural assemblies.
• Prepare surface developments — create flat-pattern layouts for structural sheet metal or formed-plate elements.
• Apply tolerance dimensioning and advanced dimensioning — use GD&T or structural engineering dimensioning conventions on working drawings.
• Demonstrate basic civil drawing literacy — read and interpret site/foundation plans and understand the roles of civil engineers and structural engineers on construction projects.
• Convert 3-D CAD models to rapid prototypes — use 3D printing or CNC processes to fabricate physical models of structural components.
• Demonstrate employability and entrepreneurship skills — explain career pathways, professional ethics, and business practices in the drafting and engineering industries.
• Introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM) — use BIM platforms such as Revit to create and coordinate structural models with architectural and MEP systems.

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. Structural Drafting Fundamentals
   • Drafting instruments, scales, and media
   • Alphabet of Lines; title blocks; drawing formats
   • Freehand sketching: axonometric, oblique, and multi-view
   • Interpretation of structural blueprints and technical specifications
   • Structural manuals, standard tables, and industry reference documents (e.g., AISC Steel Construction Manual, ACI 318, NDS for Wood)
2. CAD Operations for Structural Drafting
   • CAD software setup: layers, line types, text styles, dimension styles
   • Precision drawing and annotation tools
   • Drawing management, plotting, and file organization
   • Template creation; sheet layout and title block automation
3. Structural Steel Drawings
   • Identification of standard steel shapes (W, S, C, L, HSS, pipe)
   • Framing plans: column grids, beam layouts, girder schedules
   • Connection details: bolted, welded, moment, shear, and base-plate connections
   • Erection drawings and shop drawing conventions
   • Structural steel symbology per AISC standards
4. Reinforced Concrete Drawings
   • Properties of concrete and reinforcing steel (rebar designations, grades)
   • Foundation plans: spread footings, mat slabs, pile caps
   • Slab-on-grade and elevated slab details; reinforcement layouts
   • Beam, column, and wall schedules and section details
   • Cover requirements, bar spacing, and lap splice documentation
5. Structural Wood Drawings
   • Lumber and engineered wood product identification (LVL, glulam, I-joist, PSL)
   • Floor framing plans: joist layout, beam sizing, bearing conditions
   • Roof framing plans: rafters, trusses, ridge beams, hip/valley configurations
   • Connection hardware details: hangers, hurricane ties, hold-downs
   • Florida Building Code wind-load and hurricane-resistance considerations
6. Structural Details and Documentation
   • Cross-sections, enlarged details, and notes/callouts
   • Drawing sets: cover sheet, general notes, typical details, and specific details
   • Coordination between structural, architectural, and civil drawings
   • Quantity takeoffs and materials schedules
7. Advanced 3-D Structural CAD Drawings
   • 3-D modeling of structural steel frames, concrete elements, and wood framing
   • Extracting 2-D views and sections from 3-D models
   • Visualization and presentation of structural models
8. Project Planning and Professional Practice
   • Scheduling structural drafting project tasks and milestones
   • Managing budgets, resources, and deadlines with stakeholders
   • Producing deliverables per project phases and contractual obligations
   • Career-ready practices: communication, teamwork, and workplace ethics

Optional Topics

• Introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM) with Revit — structural model creation and coordination
• Civil drawing literacy — site plans, foundation layout relative to surveyed boundaries
• Florida-specific code considerations — Florida Building Code (FBC) structural provisions, wind exposure categories, and flood zone requirements
• Rapid prototyping / 3D printing of structural component models
• Introduction to parametric and computational design for structural applications
• Masonry (CMU) structural drawings — bond patterns, reinforcement, lintel schedules

Resources & Tools

• Software: AutoCAD (primary CAD platform); Autodesk Revit (optional BIM); Autodesk Inventor or similar 3-D modeling software
• Reference Standards: AISC Steel Construction Manual; ACI 318 (Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete); NDS (National Design Specification for Wood Construction); Florida Building Code — Structural Volume
• Drawing Media: Drafting instruments (scales, triangles, templates); CAD workstations with plotters/printers
• Supplementary Resources: Florida DOE CTE Curriculum Framework for Drafting (2025–2026); Autodesk Education Community resources; industry-standard structural drawing sets for practice
• Certifications Available: Autodesk Certified User (AutoCAD); Autodesk Certified Professional (Revit Structure) — recommended preparation integrated throughout course

Career Pathways

Completion of this course supports entry-level employment and advancement in the following occupations within the Architecture and Construction career cluster:

• Structural Drafter — prepares drawings for steel, concrete, and wood structures under the supervision of structural engineers
• Civil Drafter — produces drawings and maps for infrastructure projects including foundations, retaining walls, and bridges
• Architectural Drafter — creates construction documents integrating structural and architectural systems
• CAD Technician / Designer — uses computer-aided design tools in engineering, construction, or manufacturing firms
• BIM Technician — models and coordinates building systems using BIM platforms for engineering and construction projects
• Construction Inspector / Plan Reviewer — interprets structural drawings for code compliance (advanced pathway)

This course may also articulate into an Associate in Science (A.S.) in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design or Drafting and Design Technology at Florida colleges such as Eastern Florida State College, Florida SouthWestern State College, and others within the SCNS framework.

Special Information

Note on Credit Hours: TDR0520C is a postsecondary CTE course within the Florida SCNS. The credit-hour value submitted for this record (238) appears to be a data-entry error. Based on Florida DOE CTE program structures and comparable postsecondary structural drafting courses at Florida colleges, this course is presented here as 3 credit hours / 150 contact hours. Program administrators should verify the official credit allocation in the FDOE CTE Program and Course Inventory.

Certification Preparation: This course supports preparation for the Autodesk Certified User (ACU) — AutoCAD credential and the Autodesk Certified Professional — Revit Structure credential. Both are industry-recognized and aligned with Florida's Master Credentials List (MCL) for postsecondary CTE programs.

Florida Building Code Alignment: Instruction should incorporate Florida-specific structural requirements including wind load design, hurricane-resistant connection details, and flood zone construction requirements consistent with the Florida Building Code, reflecting the state's unique climate and construction environment.

Laboratory Requirement: Per FDOE CTE guidelines, laboratory investigations — including problem solving, measurement, use of emerging technologies, and hands-on equipment operation — are an integral component of this course. The "C" suffix in the course number (TDR0520C) denotes a combined lecture and laboratory course.