anyone draw building plans? tips needed

i normally do HVAC layouts, a client has been asked to submit planning drawings to have two condensers fitted on a wall at the back of a single story shop unit with a pitched roof, seems ridiculous to me! anyway i have been asked to do the drawings. the info from the planning dept states they want an elevation view of all 4 sides, i have been given the external wall measurements and have several pictures of the building but have no measurements for wall height and roof. whats the best way to go about this? is there an average angle for slope on a roof?

Welcome to AutoCAD. Everything is ridiculous. o_O

I'm getting started with building plans and I've discovered just from catalog data that there's a lot that's over my head but AutoCAD makes it possible to get it done without everything hammering my brain at once. I see you're in the UK(UK units?) and have a pre-existing building to work on whereas I am in the US with my own measurement units and just have a theory room for a building at this point. Even though these scenarios couldn't be more different there are a few common things to keep in mind:

The measurements of the building in XYZ.

Walls take up space too. Find out if the thickness is standard or custom.

Define the area and main supports of the building before you draw anything else.

If you use wallspace for wire/pipe you might be dealing with some that exists in your scenario. It might help to find out if there is anything before you make a boo boo.

If you think it's crazy to be doing this project, define the crazy parts of it. What are the dimensions of the condensers that are to be fitted onto the walls? Can they be supported? Will everything fit perfectly and more importantly will it all work after everything is done?

These are the kind of questions I would ask myself as the drawer but the builder will say different. You might have better words from someone that physically does this kind of work rather than another guy that draws it. As long as you pay attention to sizes and dimensions you should be okay. When physics get in the way, ask the builder.

the thing i find ridiculous is that the planners want a 4 sided elevation view of a building when the only thing added to the exterior is going to be 2 units about 1.3M X 0.6M big on a wall in the car park. i think i'll get the client to talk to the planning dept and see if they would be happy with a side and rear elevation of where the condensers will be fitted.

Hi Paul,

visit the Coulcils website and download the forms etc before you get too involved. There's a lot of work in submitting a Planning Application now unless you can agree with a Planning Officer first.

You will need an OS map (possibly free download from the council website, depending where the project is - I note you are Leicester, I worked there for several years) elevations as existing and as proposed, they may also want noise data from the manufacturers of the AC unit, hours of use, etc and even a Design Statement suggesting how it complies with the planning policies of the council...

pm me if you need any more help.

Regarding the roof slope, if you have photos, a brick and mortar joint are usually one of two sizes, metric or imperial, depending on the age of the property, so count the bricks along, and up to get the slope, window details etc.