The floor plan

Sometimes it is useful to make a floor plan of your event, activity or production. A floor plan makes it easier for you and your colleagues to carry out the work, you are less likely to encounter surprises when you start carrying out your activity, and it often leads to a safer situation. In some cases it is a requirement, such as when applying for a permit.

Types of floor plans

There are many different types of floor plans. They can differ in such things as how much detail is included and the design. In some activities, you draw up only a detailed floor plan and in other cases you end up with all forms during the process. It depends on the goal you are pursuing.

The spot drawing

A spot drawing is a floor plan where large areas indicate which part will be placed where. Scale and such like have not yet been taken into account. What is clearly stated is which object is which. You often make this floor plan at an early stage and you can send it along when you announce your activity to the municipality, for example. As an appendix to the permit or for construction it is less suitable. Download an example of the spot drawing.

The environmental map

Your activity may affect the environment of the location where it is held. If it is in an existing venue and you are not doing something that never happens there then it is somewhat less applicable, but in other cases it is good to map the surrounding area as well. For example, it is useful to map out how and through which roads your visitors will come to the event and where they will park their car or bike. In addition, you should always be able to indicate how security forces can reach the site. Download a sample area map.

The detail plan

This is the most important floor plan you create. With it, you map out in great detail how the site is laid out, where the facilities are placed and the relationship between them, and you use it to name safety aspects. The floor plan is always to scale and it includes a legend. This allows a municipality or the fire department to properly determine whether the activity can be conducted according to the regulations. Download an example of the detailed floor plan.

The fairy tale map

OK, we coined this term ourselves, mind you. We are referring to the maps that, for example, a park like the Efteling or the Dutch Open Air Museum makes to show its visitors in a fun way where the attractions are. More and more events are mapping out for their visitors in this way where the program sections and facilities are located. This map focuses more on design than scale and therefore cannot be used for permit applications or construction. Download a sample fairy map.

What all is on the map?

The content of the floor plan varies for each project or initiative. Of course, what you include on this floor plan depends on the activity you will be conducting. Roughly speaking, all fixed objects, all temporary facilities and safety aspects are listed on the floor plan. We have written a specific and extensive article on the contents of the floor plan.

Scale

It is essential that the detailed floor plan be to scale. Otherwise, you could be in for huge surprises. Imagine that a tent or a stage turns out not to fit or that you can only accommodate half the chairs sold. So make sure you know how big everything is and how it relates to the location and the rest of the objects and facilities. Sometimes the permit application asks for a specific scale but in other cases it just needs to be clear.

The layout of the floor plan

You are basically free to make up the floor plan. Again, this depends on the goal you are pursuing. For example, the floor plan for the visitors can contain a lot of color and it does not have to be to scale. A designer can go wild on this. If you are making a floor plan for construction or as an attachment to the permit application, it is advisable to keep it simple. In this case, clarity and ease of use are much more important than the atmosphere the floor plan evokes.

How do you make a floor plan?

There are a lot of ways to make a floor plan. Before you actually start drawing, it is a good idea to survey the situation and make sure you have a good basic floor plan. Then you inventory the objects and safety aspects and try to figure out details such as dimensions. If you have a large section then you can start working on it. Later you can always add new objects. Make several versions of your floor plan, note the date and version on the document and store them properly. There are several digital tools to actually draw the floor plan.

Mapping the basics

You always need a basic floor plan that you can start filling out. If you choose an existing event venue, chances are very good that a good floor plan already exists, which often has things like escape routes and fire extinguishing systems already listed on it. In other cases, you will need to create a basic drawing yourself.

Site visit

Elsewhere in the knowledge base there is more information on the first site visit. Before creating the floor plan, it is helpful to consider the following things during the site visit:

• Always take pictures.
• Provide measuring equipment such as a rangefinder (wheel), a long tape measure or laser equipment. A pedometer won't get you there!
• Measure all the edges of the terrain carefully. Also be sure to measure distances across the entire terrain at a few points.
• Map all fixed objects.
• Make a clear sketch where you can list the distances.
  

If, from your expertise, you yourself have knowledge that would fit this topic, or if you see opportunities to improve this text, we look forward to receiving your message at info@cultuuracademy.nl.