What Is Drafting Standards and Why You Should Follow Them?
- January 8, 2023
Drafting is required whenever you’re trying to build something. Whether a floor plan or a giant building, drafting becomes the base of our design and everyone follows it to construct the specific project. But how do all these people, from the architect to the plumber, understand the blueprint drawing? Well, there are some specific standards drafters follow to make these drawings. These rules are known as ‘Drafting Standards.
In this article, we’ll tell you all about what is drafting standards and why they’re necessary. So, let’s find out.
What Is Drafting Standards?
The art of drafting is universal. In every country and location around the world, people are building things daily, and each project requires a blueprint of the design. Moreover, international collaborations are also nothing new in the world of architecture and engineering. Drafters from different countries are working on various global parts of projects to bring together a large project. So, for all these people to work together and construct something, their architectural language has to be common.
They all need to understand each other in terms of technical matters. For example, whenever an architect from America sees a drafted plan made by a drafter in Indonesia, they need to understand the plan the moment they see it. This is where drafting standards come in.
So, what is drafting standards? They are general guidelines for drafters to follow when producing a CAD-based drawing. They mostly focus on the text style, layers, scaling, dimensions, line conventions, etc. Drafting standards are meant to provide a universal language in the drafting field so that CAD documents are shareable and understandable anywhere they go.
Some Common Examples of Drafting Standards
Drafting standards are commonly known as drawing standards, as these rules are applied almost everywhere in architecture and engineering. We’ve discussed some of the common rules here.
Thickness of Drawing
A specific thickness is assigned to a particular pen color while drawing in AutoCad. Here, the thickness refers to how far you will extend the object in 3D. So, whenever another official would look at the 2D drawing, they would know how far they need to extend the surface while building the object.
Sheet Sizes
Every standardization board sets a specific type of sheet size guideline where a particular sheet’s name would indicate specific dimensions. For example, in ANSI standards, sheets are called A, B, C, and so on sized. An A size sheet is the standard size of 8.8 x 11 inches in length and width. B size is double of A size and thereby carried forward.On the other hand, the JIS paper sizes follow an A and a B series, each following a number trend.
A JIS A3 sheet would be a 297 x 420-dimension paper and more like that. These sheets are used to draw or print the blueprint. They then serve as the primary reference to execute the construction work and bring the project to life.
Drawing Scales
Every drafting plan needs to have appropriate scaling used. We need scaling because these designs are never drawn according to their real-life dimensions.
We might be planning to build a 2000 sq. feet home, but its full design needs to fit in a 10-inch paper. That’s why we use scaling to denote the measurements’ enlarged or reduced value.
For example, 3 inches on paper could mean 1 foot in real life. Appropriate scaling is essential for every drafted plan and should always be mentioned in the standard file.
Benefits of Following the Drawing Standards
Many drafters nowadays are drifting away from following conventional drafting standards. Some don’t even know what is drafting standards. In the long run, this is a big problem as you might get discredited if your work by any chance goes to highly professional places, as it will look sloppy.
That’s why you always follow international drawing standards while drafting to make your designs more accessible. Below are some other benefits of why drafting by following appropriate guidelines helps.
Easier Interpretation
If you follow the standard drawing rules, wherever you send your work, people can interpret your designs easily. As a result, no follow-up questions will be asked of you, and you will also leave a good impression on them.
This will also help the construction to move faster as the designs are clear-cut.
Better Teamwork
Drafting is not always done alone. Sometimes we have to work in groups with several people to build a project. In such cases, if you follow the CAD drafting standards, your colleagues can easily catch up to your work.
Everyone will remain on the same page as a group, and there will not be any difference or lack between anyone’s work.
Fewer Chances of Errors
A blueprint, after being made goes a long way. After it is drafted, the print goes to the architects or engineers, who then pass it to many people affiliated with the construction.
Imagine if your draft had any misinformation, it would be misinterpreted by others, and there would be errors in the construction process. You could also cause delays in the work with such mistakes. That’s why it’s best always to follow the standard guidelines, as everyone understands this language. You cannot be held accountable for any mishaps.
Saves Time
Last but not least, following the standard drawing guidelines saves a lot of time, as everyone can understand your draft from one look. You can also complete the task in a much shorter time as you know what rules to follow and don’t have to set any standards yourself. So, from both sides, it’s a win-win situation!
Frequently Asked Questions About What is Drafting Standards
New drafters might have questions about drafting standards and how they can apply them to their drawings. Below we have mentioned a few questions that drafters often have about the standards.
What are ISO standards?
ISO standards are guidelines for technical drawing and designing by the International Organization for Standardization. They also denote how to graphically represent objects in technical drawing through CAD or other means of designing for drafters.
What are the most widely accepted drafting standards?
Several standards are accepted worldwide. ASME, JIS, ISO, ANSI, and others are some of them.
How many standards are there in ASME?
About 600 standards under ASME cover many areas, from power plant systems to elevators.
Where are JIS standards used?
JIS stands for the Japanese Industrial Standard. Its drafting standards are used in Japan for all sorts of industrial developments. But it is also a widely accepted standard worldwide.
Do drafters and engineers follow the same CAD drafting standards?
Yes, the same set of standards is used by everyone when it comes to technical drawing. Drafters, engineers, architects, etc., all use the same guidelines.
Final Words
To get into the drafting profession, you need to know the general drafting standards for your work to be accredited everywhere. These rules are very important in construction and engineering, and following them will always benefit you in the long run.In this article, we told you all about what is drafting standards and the benefits of using them.
Now, you know their true purpose and how they can help you if you want to become a professional drafter.