How to Draw Force Mains in Construction Plans

Force mains are conduits used to convey sewage under pressure from a certain site. It is important to draw them accurately in your construction plans, as plumbers will use them to connect bathrooms and kitchens, and builders will need to know where they are to avoid damaging them during construction.

Pen or pencil
Scale to work by
Draft paper

Instructions

- 1
  
  Determine how large you should draw the main on your plan.
  
  Research the size and width of your force mains. Each state has different rules for the diameters of the force mains as well as where they can be situated. Your local town planning and building office will have these details. Once you have the specifications, adapt these to the scale of your plan.
- 2
  
  Underground pipes connect to the mains.
  
  Draw the "feed" or pipe lines which connect to the force main. These will come from outside your plan site and usually run alongside the water pipes. Again, you can determine the location of these by contacting your city's planning and building department. Use master plans of the area to determine where the force main pipes enter your property.
- 3
  
  Mains can be indicated by symbols, letters or marks.
  
  Create a symbol or abbreviation for the force main, and write this in your legend. Most plans do not allow for detailed drawings. Designing a symbol or letters to represent the force main will allow for easy identification. On some plans force mains are marked with an "FC", and on others with a black circle.
- 4
  
  Draw measurements beside the force main.
  
  Draw dimensions, angles and any other relevant information next to the force main. This will be used by builders and plumbers to determine exactly where the force main sits and how large it is. If there isn't room to write this on the plan, include it in the plan notes.

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