How to Bind Architectural Plans and Blueprints

Standard Sizes for Architectural Drawings

How to Bind Architectural Plans and Blueprints

Architects have all kinds of processes that have been passed on from one generation to the next, and they’re worth sharing. Even folding blueprint paper used to create a set of drawings has to be done a certain way. You might be wondering why someone would want to fold a drawing. But if you only have a few drawings and rolling blueprint storage isn’t an option, folding is a more viable choice. Some municipalities have rules for how they will take drawings, and folding is typically the preferred way. Sometimes it’s easier to ship folded drawings. But sometimes, you’re better off putting them in your bag on the way to a meeting.

Standard Sizes for Architectural Drawings

Blueprint paper will come in several standard sizes, but two of the most common are 18” x 24” and 24” x 36.” You can also find large sizes (such as 36” x 48”), which is needed for bigger and more detailed projects. No matter what size is used, the purpose of a technical drawing is to show a trained person how to build a particular structure.

There are two main paper size standards for large-format documents around the world: the International (ISO) and the North American ANSI sizes. Architects in North America will typically use the ARCH sizes for large-format drawings. These sizes are listed as follows:

ARCH A: 9 x 12 inches (229 x 305 millimeters).
ARCH B: 12 x 18 inches (305 x 457 millimeters).
ARCH C: 18 x 24 inches (457 x 610 millimeters).
ARCH D: 24 x 36 inches (610 x 914 millimeters).
ARCH E: 36 x 48 inches (914 x 1219 millimeters).
ARCH E1: 30 x 42 inches (762 x 1067 millimeters).

You can also find technical drawings in the following loose paper sizes:

Letter: 8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279 millimeters).
Legal: 8.5 x 14 inches (216 x 356 millimeters).
Tabloid: 11 x 17 inches (279 x 432 millimeters).
Ledger: 17 x 11 inches (432 x 279 millimeters).

Whether you’re looking for a blueprint organizer or some other product you can use to create and store architectural drawings, be sure to look at what we have at Engineer Supply.

How to Fold 30”x 42” Blueprint Paper

You can properly fold a 30” x 42” technical drawing for blueprint storage if you follow these steps.

Fold the Drawing in Half

Fold the drawing in half, so the interior is folded toward the inside.

Fold Back the Outside Corners

Take the outside corners, and fold them back to the right so that side of the title bar is exposed.

Flip Over the Drawing and Repeat

Flip the drawing over and repeat the previous step.

Fold the Drawing in the Middle

Fold the drawing so the title bar is on the inside face of the fold. You should now have two main flaps.

Rotate and Fold

Rotate the folded drawing 90 degrees so the seam is at the top and the open edges are pointed toward the bottom. Then, take the bottom edge and fold it up to the top. This will expose the upper right-hand corner of the title block.

Rotate and Repeat

Rotate the drawing 90 degrees and repeat the last step. You now have a folded drawing with 1/16th of the area showing the sheet title information on the outside corner.

After following these steps, you will have a compact and neatly folded piece of blueprint paper with the drawing title on one side and the company logo on the other.

How to Fold An 11” x 17” Technical Drawing

Some people refer to this paper size as “Tabloid” or “B-size sheets.” But no matter what you call them, they need to be folded properly before they can be put into a blueprint organizer or project binder. You can fold this type of blueprint paper by taking the following steps:

Fold the drawing in half.
Fold back the title block edge, which will create an 8.5” x 11” size piece of paper.

This technique will also leave you with an exposed title block along the outside edge of the paper, so no unfolding is necessary to see the drawing center.

How to Roll a Set of Architectural Drawings

When you roll up technical drawings for blueprint storage, you want to do it in a way that will leave the drawing face exposed. This will accomplish two things:

Allows you to see the full title block so you know the name of the project, the sheet, and even the issue date information.
When you unroll the drawings and put them on the table, they roll up toward the table instead of on themselves. You will no longer have to pin the corners down with weights to keep your drawings flat.

If you need to find a place where you can find quality blueprint paper or any product you can use for blueprint storage, be sure to look at the broad selection we have at Engineer Supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of paper should I use for blueprints?

Blueprints can be printed on Mylar paper (either transparent or frosted) on a laser printer, but only in black-and-white. Vellum is a more traditional type of blueprint paper that will also allow you to print black-and-white technical drawings.

Does blueprint paper have to be blue?

The original blueprinting process produced white lines on a blue background and was invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel. It allowed for the rapid and accurate production of an unlimited number of copies, and it was widely used for over a hundred years. Traditional blueprints became obsolete when less expensive printing methods and digital technologies became more available. With Computer-Aided Design (CAD), the final design is represented as an image on a computer screen. So, the need for paper during the design process is eliminated.

What are the standard sizes for blueprint paper?

The standard sizes for architectural drawings include:

ARCH A: 9 x 12 inches (229 x 305 millimeters).
ARCH B: 12 x 18 inches (305 x 457 millimeters).
ARCH C: 18 x 24 inches (457 x 610 millimeters).
ARCH D: 24 x 36 inches (610 x 914 millimeters).
ARCH E: 36 x 48 inches (914 x 1219 millimeters).
ARCH E1: 30 x 42 inches (762 x 1067 millimeters).

You can also find blueprint paper in any of the following loose paper sizes:

Letter: 8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279 millimeters).
Legal: 8.5 x 14 inches (216 x 356 millimeters).
Tabloid: 11 x 17 inches (279 x 432 millimeters).
Ledger: (17 x 11 inches (432 x 279 millimeters).

Aside from these two size standards, there are also two others that are used around the world: the international (ISO) A series and the North American ANSI sizes. The sizes for ANSI Series blueprint paper include the following:

ANSI A: 8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279 millimeters).
ANSI B: 11 x 17 inches (279 x 432 millimeters).
ANSI C: 17 x 22 inches (432 x 559 millimeters).
ANSI D: 22 x 34 inches (559 x 864 millimeters).
ANSI E: 34 x 44 inches (864 x 1118 millimeters).

The ISO A-Series paper sizes include:

- A0: 33.1 x 46.8 inches (841 x 1189 millimeters).
- A1: 23.4 x 33.1 inches (594 x 841 millimeters).
- A2: 16.5 x 23.4 inches (420 x 594 millimeters).
- A3: 11.7 x 16.5 inches (297 x 420 millimeters).
- A4: 8.3 x 11.7 inches (210 x 297 millimeters).
If you’re looking for quality blueprint paper, you can find what you need at Engineer Supply.

What are my options for blueprint storage?

There are several options when it comes to storing blueprints, with each one having its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the options you have when it comes to choosing a blueprint organizer include but may not be limited to:

Rolled Storage— This will be the least expensive. But aside from the cost advantages, it’s also convenient. Its main drawback is related to access speed and space. It takes time to roll and unroll plans, and you won’t be able to store as many in the same space as you would with a flat storage system.
Plan Racks and Hanging Clamps— This will be the quickest and most convenient method of blueprint storage. Not only can you store up to 1200 prints in a limited amount of space, but you can also move them to different people whenever you need to.
Flat File Cabinets— This method of blueprint storage will give you the most protection. Some cabinets are archival, so they won’t emit any vapors that can damage the paper. But they’re both expensive and hard to move.

Before you decide on a blueprint organizer, you should carefully consider your needs.

Why is a technical drawing called a "blueprint?"

The term “blueprint” came from the original process, which was invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel. It used a photosensitive solution that consisted of ammonium iron citrate and potassium ferrocyanide, which could be used to reproduce documents. When the original and the copy were exposed to bright light, the two chemicals reacted to form an insoluble blue compound called “ferric ferrocyanide” (also called “Prussian Blue”).