TS 3500

TS 3500 is a standard for the graphic symbols used in project drawings for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, automatic control, sanitary, kitchen and laundry installations. In engineering documentation, the purpose of such symbols is to show equipment, flow paths, connection points and functional relationships in a clear and compact way.

The scope of this standard is limited to symbols for these building-services disciplines; symbols used in electrical and electronic project documentation are excluded. That distinction matters because mechanical services drawings and electrical/control documentation may appear in the same project package, yet they follow different symbol conventions and technical meanings.

Why drawing symbols matter in building services

In general technical practice, standardized symbols help designers, installers and reviewers read plans, schematics and detail drawings consistently. They reduce dependence on long textual notes and make it easier to identify pipes, ducts, valves, appliances and other functional elements across different sheets of a project.

For building-services work, this kind of graphical language supports coordination between HVAC, sanitation and other mechanical systems. It also helps separate physical plant items from control-related representations, which is especially important in complex buildings where multiple disciplines overlap.

• Provides a common symbol language for heating and ventilation drawings.
• Supports the representation of air-conditioning and automatic control installations.
• Helps distinguish sanitary, kitchen and laundry systems in project documents.
• Explicitly excludes electrical and electronic project symbols from its scope.