House plans like floor plans, site plans, elevations and other architectural diagrams or blueprints are generally pretty self explanatory - but the devil's often in the details. It's not always easy to make an educated guess about what a particular abbreviation or symbol might mean.
To help make things a bit easier, we've put together a cheat sheet to explain many of the more common abbreviations and symbols:
Plan view: annotations
| SYMBOL | MEANING |
 | Job datum level - indicates the altitude at a specific point, relative to a universal reference point known as a 'datum'. |
 | Special area reference - a reference to a separate diagram detailing a special area (numbers indicate which diagram) |
 | Elevation reference - a reference to an elevation diagram (numbers indicate which diagram) |
 | Section reference - a reference to a separate section diagram (numbers indicate which diagram) |
 | Detail reference - a reference to a detail diagram (numbers indicate which diagram) |
 | Window and door references - a reference to specific windown and door diagrams (numbers indicate which diagrams) |
 | Graduated scale - used to indicate the size and scale of objects and structures in the diagram |
 | Compass - shows the orientation of the plan diagram and the structures it depicts |
 | Title block - provides details about the project, the specific plan revision you're looking at, the architect or designer, the date etc. |
Plan view - general
| SYMBOL | MEANING |
 | Window |
 | Single-swing door (90 degrees) |
 | Single-swing door (180 degrees) |
 | Single double-acting door |
 | Pocket / cavity door - a sliding door that slides into the wall cavity |
 | Exposed sliding door |
 | Bifold / concertina doors centred on a track |
 | Bifold / concertina doors fixed to one side on a track |
 | Ramp - arrow points upwards |
 | Stairs - arrow points upwards |
 | Fall / drainage - arrow points downwards, towards floor waste / drain. |
 | Archway |
 | Lintel |
 | Access hatch |
 | Recessed object - an object recessed into a particular wall or surface. |
 | Surface-mounted object - an object mounted directly on a wall or surface. |
 | Free-standing object - an object not connected to the adjacent wall or surface. |
 | Object mounted over - an object mounted over the area shown. |
 | Object sittting above the plane of the depicted section - a surface mounted object sitting higher than the plane of the diagram. |
Plan view - fittings
| SYMBOL | MEANING |
 | Bathtub |
 | Shower stall - lines in the centre of this diagram indicate drop for drainage. |
 | Basin |
 | Vanity with basin |
 | Toilet |
 | Bidet |
 | Sink with two bowls |
 | Sink with one bowl |
 | Double tub or trough |
 | Single tub or trough |
 | Hotplates |
Elevation view - doors and windows
| SYMBOL | MEANING |
 | Right-side hinged window |
 | Side pivoted window |
 | Top and bottom pivoted window |
 | Top hinged window |
 | Bottom hinged window |
 | Horizontal sliding window with fixed sash |
 | Vertical sliding sash window |
 | Left hinged door |
 | Double doors hinged at left and right jambs |
House plan abbreviations
| ABBREVIATION | MEANING |
| AB | Air brick |
| AL | Aluminium |
| AP | Acoustic plaster |
| ASPH | Asphalt |
| AT | Acoustic tile |
| B | Basin |
| BAL | Balustrades |
| BC | Book case |
| BHD | Bulkhead over |
| B/I | Built-in |
| BK | Brick |
| BV | Brick veneer |
| BWK | Brickwork |
| C | Cooker |
| CAB | Cabinet |
| CBD / CPD | Cupboard |
| CD | Clothes dryer |
| CF | Concrete floor |
| COL | Column |
| CORR | Corrugated |
| CR | Cement render |
| CT | Ceramic tile |
| CW | Cavity wall |
| D | Door |
| DG | Double glazing |
| DH | Double hung (windows) |
| DP | Downpipe |
| DPC / DPM | Damp-proof course / damp-proof membrane |
| DW | Dishwasher |
| FA | Floor area |
| FB | Face brick |
| FCL | Finished ceiling level |
| FFL | Finished floor level |
| FL | Floor level (note: the floor level is provided as a figure relative to a datum, or universal reference point) |
| FW | Floor waste |
| GM | Gas meter |
| GPO | General purpose outlet (i.e. power point) |
| HTR | Heater |
| HW | Hot water unit |
| INSUL | Insulation |
| KIT | Kitchen |
| LIN | Linen cupboard |
| LINO | Linoleum |
| LVR | Louvres |
| M | Meter |
| MSB | Master switch board |
| O | Oven |
| PBD | Plasterboard |
| R / REFRIG | Refrigerator |
| RL | Reduced level |
| RS | Roller shutter |
| RWH | Rainwater head |
| RWP | Rainwater pipe |
| RWT | Rainwater tank |
| SC | Stop cock |
| SD | Sewer drain |
| SD | Sliding door |
| SHR | Shower |
| SS | Stainless steel |
| TC | Terra cotta |
| TEL | Telephone |
| TRZO | Terrazzo |
| TV | Television |
| U/G | Underground |
| U/S | Underside |
| V | Vinyl |
| VENT | Ventilator |
| VP | Vent pipe |
| W(number) | Window - Basix window number |
| WB | Weatherboard |
| WC | Water closet |
| WM | Washing machine |
| WR | Wardrobe |
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