Short answer
What do the short forms on a house drawing stand for? IS 962:1989 Table 6 lists the drawing abbreviations: FFL is finished floor level, GL is ground level, RL is reduced level, RCC is reinforced cement concrete, DPC is damp proof course and CC is cement concrete. BOQ, BBS, FGL and NGL are trade or site usage that the codes do not define. In IS 962, FL means formation level, not floor level, and PL is listed as plate.
On this page (6)
A house drawing and a site estimate are full of short forms: FFL, GL, RCC, DPC, BBS, BOQ. Most have a standard name, and some do not. This page gives the full name from the Indian standard where one exists, says so where a term is shop or site usage, and points to the page that explains each one. It gives no price, no rate and no design value.
Which short forms come from IS 962?
IS 962:1989 is the code of practice for architectural and building drawings. Its clause 12.1 says that the abbreviations recommended for general building drawings are listed in Table 6. The table gives these, among others:
| Short form | Full form in IS 962 Table 6 | Page that explains it |
|---|---|---|
| FFL | Finished floor level | Level marks on a house drawing |
| GL | Ground level | Level marks on a house drawing |
| RL | Reduced level | Level marks on a house drawing |
| RCC | Reinforced cement concrete | What RCC is |
| DPC | Damp proof course | Damp-proof course: what it is and where it goes |
| cc (written CC) | Cement concrete | PCC vs RCC |
Table 6 also lists FL as formation level, not floor level. A reader who takes FL to mean floor level will read the drawing wrongly. Use FFL for the finished floor.
Which short forms are not in the code, or are only trade usage?
Several terms used on site and in estimates are not in IS 962, IS 456 or IS 3861. The codes do not define them, so they are trade or site usage:
- PCC (plain cement concrete). IS 456 uses the phrase “plain concrete” and defines it by the strength rule: plain concrete is concrete where reinforcement is “ignored for determination of strength”. The short form PCC is trade usage. See the PCC vs RCC page.
- BBS (bar bending schedule). IS 2502 is the code of practice for bending and fixing bars, and its clause 0.2 speaks of the “bar bending schedule”. The short form is trade usage. The BBS page explains what the schedule lists.
- BOQ (bill of quantities). Not in IS 962 or IS 456. It is the list of measured items that a contractor prices. See the BOQ page.
- FGL and NGL (trade expansions: finished ground level and natural ground level). Not in IS 962 Table 6 or IS 456. They are site marks, and their meaning depends on the drawing. Ask the drafter where the datum is.
- PL. IS 962 Table 6 lists PL as “plate”, not as a level mark. Any level meaning of PL on a house drawing is site usage with no code definition. Ask the drafter what it marks.
- TMT. IS 1786 Annex A writes “thermomechanical treatment (TMT) process”. “Thermo-mechanically treated” is the common trade expansion. See the TMT bar page.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Reading FL as floor level. IS 962 Table 6 says FL is formation level. Ask for FFL on the drawing. IS 962 Table 6 gives this.
- Taking a trade expansion as the code’s word. Check the source: IS 962 Table 6 is the code’s list; anything else is trade usage. This is practice.
- Comparing bids without the same scope. Two BOQs can differ because the work is listed differently. Ask that each bidder price the same items. This is practice.
- Using a level without its datum. FGL and NGL depend on a reference level, and PL needs its meaning confirmed on the drawing. The drawing should name the datum. This is practice.
Frequently asked questions
Is PCC in the Indian codes?
IS 456 does not use the short form. It uses “plain concrete” and defines it by the strength rule. PCC is trade usage.
What is the full form of DPC?
Damp proof course. IS 962 Table 6 gives this full form.
Is FFL the same as the top of the slab?
Not in the code. FFL is the finished floor level in IS 962 Table 6. On an upper floor, the drawing may show the structural slab level instead, so ask the drafter which one is marked.
Where can I find the full form of a term not on this page?
Check the drawing’s abbreviation list, then the standard it cites. If the term is not in a standard, ask the drafter or the engineer what it means on this job.
Related guides
- Level marks on a house drawing: GL, PL, FFL, NGL and FGL
- PCC vs RCC: plain and reinforced concrete in a house
- Bar bending schedule explained
- Sariya, gitti, balu, bori, dhalai, lintar: Hindi site words in English
This guide is general information. Read the disclaimer. Your structural engineer or architect decides what the drawing means for your house.
Sources
- IS 962:1989, Code of Practice for Architectural and Building Drawings: clause 12.1 and Table 6 (recommended abbreviations: FFL, GL, FL formation level, RL, EL, RCC, DPC, CC). Read from the archive copy and checked against the PDF text layer; check the printed table before publication.
- IS 456:2000, Plain and Reinforced Concrete: clause 1.1.1 (plain concrete structures are those where reinforcement, if provided, is ignored for determination of strength) and clause 3 (terms as in IS 4845 and IS 6461).
- IS 2502:1963, Code of Practice for Bending and Fixing of Bars for Concrete Reinforcement: clause 0.2 (bar bending schedule). Reaffirmed 2004 on the cover; check the current status with BIS.
- IS 3861:2002, Method of Measurement of Plinth, Carpet and Rentable Area of Buildings: clause 2.1 (plinth area) and 2.2 (carpet area).
- IS 1786:2008, High Strength Deformed Steel Bars and Wires for Concrete Reinforcement: Annex A (the thermomechanical treatment (TMT) process).
Change log
- : Added Related guides link to newly published article(s): sariya-gitti-balu-bori-dhalai-and-lintar-hindi-site-words-in-english. No other text changed. Approved by the reviewing engineer.
General information only. It is not a structural design or professional advice. Ask a licensed structural engineer or architect to check your plans and site.