This may be a height relative to a nearby roadway, or an elevation determined from sea level. Establish the elevation you will work from.This is widely accepted in cases where the site is very large, allowing for tolerance, but on a crowded lot or site, the location must be exact. If you cannot absolutely establish an exact building line, you may have to suppose the location is correct and continue. Measure to locations, preferably corners, on one side of the building, and check for any "checkpoints" to verify the accuracy of your layout. Lay out your building on the site by either the above referenced plan or the measurements given on the site plan.Here is what you'll need to do to lay out a building footprint from the plans: Some plans simply give a coordinate grid position using northings and eastings, and you will need a "total station" surveyor's transit to locate these points. If you are laying out the location of the building, you will first look at the site plan for location of existing buildings, structures, or property lines so you have a reference point to begin measuring to your building footprint. To do this, you will have to locate the element of construction you are reviewing to implement a portion of your work.
Learn how to lay out a building footprint from architectural plans. These are used for multistory construction, where each level may require support columns, beams, joists, decking, and other elements.
This sheet will show the size, thickness, and elevation of footings (footers), with notes regarding the placement of reinforcing bars (rebar). Here are the different aspects of the structural plans that you will need to read: The structural plans usually are numbered beginning with " S", as in " S 001" These plans include reinforcement, foundations, slab thicknesses, and framing materials (lumber, concrete pilasters, structural steel, concrete block, etc).