How do you read a door symbol on a floor plan?

The door is a straight line for the leaf and an arc for its swing. The arc shows which room the door opens into and which side it is hinged on: the leaf line starts at the hinge.

Which way does the arrow on stairs point?

Up. The arrow starts at the bottom of the run and points the way up from the floor you are looking at, often with the word UP or DN.

How is a window shown on a floor plan?

As thin parallel lines across a gap in the wall. Windows that open like doors may also get a small swing arc.

Construction plans: lesson 1 of 6

Floor plan symbols

Name the symbol, or say which way the door opens. Get 10 right to finish.

Which way does this door open?

The common symbols

Single swing door: leaf line and arc

Double door: two arcs meeting

Sliding door: overlapping panels

Window: thin lines across the opening

Stairs: arrow points up

Section cut line with bubbles

Symbols differ a little between offices and countries. Every drawing set has a legend; check it when a symbol looks unfamiliar.

Common mistakes

Reading the arc as a wall. It only shows where the door sweeps, so keep that area free.
Missing the arrow on stairs. Without it you cannot tell up from down.

Questions

How do you read a door symbol on a floor plan?: The door is a straight line for the leaf and an arc for its swing. The arc shows which room the door opens into and which side it is hinged on: the leaf line starts at the hinge.
Which way does the arrow on stairs point?: Up. The arrow starts at the bottom of the run and points the way up from the floor you are looking at, often with the word UP or DN.
How is a window shown on a floor plan?: As thin parallel lines across a gap in the wall. Windows that open like doors may also get a small swing arc.

Explained in our own words and checked against several textbooks and trade school resources. Office standards vary, so always check the legend on your drawing set.