Master Reference
Construction Abbreviations Master List
200+ common abbreviations used on construction drawings across all disciplines. Also see our dedicated references for electrical, mechanical, and civil abbreviations.
General/Drawing
ABV
Above
ADJ
Adjacent/Adjustable
ALT
Alternate
APPROX
Approximate
ARCH
Architectural
BET
Between
BLW
Below
CL
Centerline
CLR
Clear
CONT
Continuous
DET
Detail
DIM
Dimension
DWG
Drawing
EA
Each
ELEV
Elevation
EQ
Equal
EXIST
Existing
EXT
Exterior
FIN
Finish
FT
Foot/Feet
HT
Height
IN
Inch
INT
Interior
LF
Linear Feet
MAX
Maximum
MIN
Minimum
NIC
Not in Contract
NTS
Not to Scale
O.C.
On Center
OPP
Opposite
PROP
Proposed
REF
Reference
REQ'D
Required
REV
Revision
SCHED
Schedule
SF
Square Feet
SIM
Similar
SPEC
Specification
STD
Standard
TYP
Typical
UNO
Unless Noted Otherwise
VIF
Verify in Field
W/
With
W/O
Without
Structural
BM
Beam
B.O.S.
Bottom of Steel
CLM
Column
CMU
Concrete Masonry Unit
CONC
Concrete
DF
Douglas Fir
DL
Dead Load
EF
Each Face
EW
Each Way
FOC
Face of Concrete
FOM
Face of Masonry
FOS
Face of Stud
FTG
Footing
GA
Gauge
GRD
Grade
HSS
Hollow Structural Section
JOIST
Joist
LB
Pound
LL
Live Load
LVL
Laminated Veneer Lumber
NOM
Nominal
PSF
Pounds per Square Foot
PSI
Pounds per Square Inch
REINF
Reinforcing
STL
Steel
T.O.C.
Top of Concrete
T.O.F.
Top of Footing
T.O.S.
Top of Steel/Slab
T.O.W.
Top of Wall
W
Wide Flange (W-beam)
WF
Wide Flange
Architectural
ACT
Acoustic Ceiling Tile
AL
Aluminum
AFF
Above Finish Floor
B/
Bottom of
BD
Board
BLDG
Building
BR
Bedroom
CAB
Cabinet
CLG
Ceiling
CW
Curtain Wall
DR
Door
FF
Finish Floor
FFE
Finish Floor Elevation
FLR
Floor
GL
Glass
GWB
Gypsum Wall Board
HM
Hollow Metal
INSUL
Insulation
LT
Light (window)
MTL
Metal
OH
Overhead
PLY
Plywood
PTD
Painted
RCP
Reflected Ceiling Plan
RM
Room
SHT
Sheet
T/
Top of
THK
Thick
WD
Wood
WIN
Window
MEP (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing)
AC
Air Conditioning
AHU
Air Handling Unit
AMP
Ampere
BFP
Backflow Preventer
CFM
Cubic Feet per Minute
CHW
Chilled Water
CKT
Circuit
CO
Cleanout
CW
Cold Water
DB
Distribution Board
DF
Drinking Fountain
DISC
Disconnect
EF
Exhaust Fan
ELEC
Electrical
FD
Floor Drain
GFI/GFCI
Ground Fault Interrupter
HP
Horsepower
HW
Hot Water
HVAC
Heating, Ventilation, A/C
KW
Kilowatt
LAV
Lavatory
MDP
Main Distribution Panel
PRV
Pressure Reducing Valve
RD
Roof Drain
RTU
Rooftop Unit
SD
Storm Drain
SS
Sanitary Sewer
V
Volt
VAV
Variable Air Volume
VFD
Variable Frequency Drive
WC
Water Closet (Toilet)
WH
Water Heater
Fire Protection
FACP
Fire Alarm Control Panel
FDC
Fire Department Connection
FE
Fire Extinguisher
FH
Fire Hydrant
FHC
Fire Hose Cabinet
FP
Fire Protection
OS&Y
Outside Screw & Yoke (valve)
PIV
Post Indicator Valve
SD
Smoke Detector
Related Resources
Drawing Types Explained
Sheet organization by discipline.
Architectural Symbols
Floor plan symbol reference.
Plumbing Symbols
Pipe and fixture symbols.
Construction Glossary
Full definitions for construction terminology.
How to Reduce RFIs in Construction
Clearer documentation means fewer clarification requests.
AI vs Manual Drawing Review
How automated review catches abbreviation inconsistencies.
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