Sections in building design
In terms of design, the term ‘section’ typically refers to a view of a structure as though it has been sliced in half or cut along another imaginary plane, which is generally, but not always a vertical plane. This is represented as a ‘section drawing’ or ‘sectional drawing’. This can be useful when designing or representing structures such as buildings as it gives a view that passes through spaces such as rooms and also through the building fabric, and this can reveal relationships between the parts of the building that might not be apparent on plans or elevations.
For more information, see Section drawing.
In a wider sense, 'section' can also refer to a specific part of a document, regulation, standard or agreement. For example, Section 50 agreement, Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, a planning obligation (section 106), and so on.
It can also be used in relation to a section engineer, the role of which is to lead a team of site engineers, usually on civil engineering and infrastructure projects. They are responsible for all engineering matters related to a project or specific part of a project, such as a road or tunnel. For more information, see Section engineer.
It may also refer to work sections, that is, parts of construction works. For example, NRM2 lists work sections for work section breakdown structures, used to prepare some types of bills of quantities. For more information, see Work section bill of quantities.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
The future of the Grenfell Tower site
Principles, promises, recommendations and a decision expected in February 2025.
20 years of the Chartered Environmentalist
If not now, when?
Journeys in Industrious England
Thomas Baskerville’s expeditions in the 1600s.
Top 25 Building Safety Wiki articles of 2024
Take a look what most people have been reading about.
Life and death at Highgate Cemetery
Balancing burials and tourism.
The 25 most read articles on DB for 2024
Design portion to procurement route and all between.
The act of preservation may sometimes be futile.
Twas the site before Christmas...
A rhyme for the industry and a thankyou to our supporters.
Plumbing and heating systems in schools
New apprentice pay rates coming into effect in the new year
Addressing the impact of recent national minimum wage changes.
EBSSA support for the new industry competence structure
The Engineering and Building Services Skills Authority, in working group 2.
Notes from BSRIA Sustainable Futures briefing
From carbon down to the all important customer: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living.
Principal Designer: A New Opportunity for Architects
ACA launches a Principal Designer Register for architects.
A new government plan for housing and nature recovery
Exploring a new housing and infrastructure nature recovery framework.
Leveraging technology to enhance prospects for students
A case study on the significance of the Autodesk Revit certification.
Comments