What is the minimum floor space recommended for a single draughtsman?

5.5 sq m, which includes space for the drawing board, reference table, and chair (Clause 4.1.1 & Table 2).

What is the recommended lighting level for drawing work?

A minimum of 500 lux on the working plane (drawing board), as referenced from IS 3646 (Clause 5.2.1).

What is the preferred direction for natural light in a drawing office?

North light is considered ideal as it is diffused and shadowless. For side lighting, windows should be on the left for right-handed draughtsmen (Clause 5.1).

What is the minimum recommended width for the main circulation path (gangway)?

The main gangway should have a minimum width of 1.8 meters (Clause 7.5.1).

IS 5197

: 1987

Recommendations for layout and planning of drawings offices

CurrentSpecializedGuidelinesBIMArchitectural · Planning, Housing and Pre-fabricated Construction

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This standard provides recommendations for the layout and planning of drawing offices to ensure an efficient, comfortable, and productive working environment. It covers essential aspects such as minimum space requirements per person, principles of furniture layout, standards for natural and artificial lighting, ventilation, and noise control. The code also gives guidance on ancillary areas like print rooms, record storage, and conference facilities.

Recommendations for layout and planning of drawings offices

Quick Reference Values

Minimum space per draughtsman5.5 sq m

Minimum space for Chief Draughtsman/Designer10.0 sq m

Recommended illumination on drawing boards500 lux

Minimum width of main gangways1.8 m

Minimum width of subsidiary gangways0.9 m

Minimum clear headroom3.0 m

Practical Notes

Although written in the era of manual drafting, the core principles of space, lighting, and workflow are adaptable to modern CAD-based design offices.

For modern offices, special attention should be given to mitigating screen glare from windows and overhead lights, a factor not deeply covered in the original text.

The specified space requirements are a minimum baseline; modern collaborative workspaces may require more flexible and generous space allocations.