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IS 7973 : 1976Code of practice for architectural and building working drawings

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ISO 7519 · AS 1100.301 · United States National CAD Standard (NCS) v6
CurrentFrequently UsedCode of PracticeBIMArchitectural · Planning, Housing and Pre-fabricated Construction
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OverviewValues7InternationalTablesFAQ4Related

IS 7973:1976 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for architectural and building working drawings. This code of practice establishes the standards for preparing architectural and building working drawings. It covers essential aspects such as drawing sheet sizes, scales, line types, lettering, dimensioning, and the layout of title blocks, ensuring clarity and consistency in construction documentation.

Code of practice for architectural and building working drawings

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Frequently Used
Domain
Architectural — Planning, Housing and Pre-fabricated Construction
Type
Code of Practice
International equivalents
ISO 7519:1991 · ISO (International Organization for Standardization), InternationalAS 1100.301-2008 · Standards Australia, AustraliaUnited States National CAD Standard (NCS) v6 · NIBS (National Institute of Building Sciences), USABS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 · BSI (British Standards Institution), UK / ISO, International
Typically used with
IS 962IS 10714
Also on InfraLens for IS 7973
7Key values2Tables4FAQs

BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.

Practical Notes
! Although written for manual drafting, its principles on line weights, scales, and notation are fundamental and directly applicable to modern CAD and BIM workflows.
! Adherence to a consistent title block format (Clause 5) is crucial for project management and document control on site and during approvals.
! This standard is foundational for preparing drawings for submission to municipal and other statutory authorities.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 3ScalesCl. 4Sizes of Drawing SheetsCl. 5Title BlockCl. 6Lines and Line WorkCl. 7Lettering and DimensioningCl. 8Symbols and Conventional Representations
Pulled from IS 7973:1976. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
ISO 7519:1991ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
HighCurrent
Technical drawings — Construction drawings — General principles of presentation for general arrangement and assembly drawings
Covers general principles for the presentation of construction drawings, aligning with the core scope of IS 7973.
AS 1100.301-2008Standards Australia, Australia
HighCurrent
Technical drawing, Part 301: Architectural drawing
Provides specific rules and conventions for architectural drawings, a direct counterpart to the IS code's focus.
United States National CAD Standard (NCS) v6NIBS (National Institute of Building Sciences), USA
MediumCurrent
United States National CAD Standard Version 6
Serves the same purpose of standardizing building drawings but is far more comprehensive and centered on CAD/BIM workflows.
BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018BSI (British Standards Institution), UK / ISO, International
LowCurrent
Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) — Information management using building information modelling — Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets
Represents the modern evolution from drawing practice codes to information management, governing how drawing information is produced and exchanged in a digital environment.
Key Differences
≠IS 7973:1976 is based on manual drafting principles and contains no provisions for Computer-Aided Design (CAD) or Building Information Modelling (BIM). International standards like the US NCS and ISO 19650 are built around digital workflows, defining layer naming conventions, file formats, and data exchange protocols.
≠Modern international standards have significantly more complex and structured naming conventions. For example, the US NCS specifies a rigid `Discipline-Sheet Type-Sequence` format for sheet numbering, whereas IS 7973 suggests a simpler prefix and serial number (e.g., A-1, A-2).
≠IS 7973 provides general recommendations. In contrast, the US National CAD Standard is highly prescriptive, specifying exact layer names (e.g., 'A-WALL' for walls), plotter settings (pen assignments), and file organization structures, leaving little to individual interpretation.
≠The focus of modern standards like ISO 19650 has shifted from 'drawing practice' to 'information management'. IS 7973 details how to draw lines and place symbols, while ISO 19650 details the collaborative process, data security, and information delivery across a project's lifecycle.
Key Similarities
≈All standards, including IS 7973, are based on the fundamental set of architectural drawing types, such as site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, and detail drawings, which serve the same purpose globally.
≈The use of standard ISO 'A' series sheet sizes (A0, A1, A2, etc.) is a common principle recommended in IS 7973 and most international standards (with the notable exception of the US), ensuring consistency and interchangeability.
≈Core drafting conventions, such as using varied line weights to represent depth and importance (e.g., thick lines for cut elements), the use of dimension lines with terminators, and hatching to denote materials, are consistent across IS 7973 and international practices.
≈The principle of drawing to a recognized scale (e.g., 1:100, 1:50, 1:20) to represent real-world objects accurately on paper is a foundational concept shared by IS 7973 and all its international counterparts.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Recommended Scales (Floor Plans)1:50, 1:100, 1:2001:50, 1:100, 1:200 are listed as preferred scales for general arrangement drawings.AS 1100.301-2008
Standard Sheet SizesDesignation A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 (ISO 'A' Series)Recommends ISO 'A' series of trimmed sizes (A0-A4).ISO 7519:1991 (referencing ISO 5457)
Line Thickness RatioRecommends two thicknesses, thick and thin. The ratio of thick to thin shall not be less than 2:1.Recommends a ratio of 2 between successive line widths of a given type. (e.g., 0.5 mm and 0.25 mm).ISO 128-20:2020
Minimum Lettering HeightMinimum height of 2.5 mm for lettering.Minimum plotted text height of 3/32 inch (approx. 2.4 mm) for most notes and dimensions.US National CAD Standard v6
Dimension Line TerminationArrowheads, oblique strokes, or dots. Only one style to be used on any one drawing.Arrowheads (filled or open), oblique strokes, or dots. The chosen termination shall be used consistently on a drawing.ISO 129-1:2018
Drawing Number Discipline CodeSuggests prefixes like 'A' for Architectural, 'S' for Structural, 'P' for Plumbing.Mandates a one or two-letter discipline designator, e.g., 'A' for Architectural, 'S' for Structural, 'P' for Plumbing.US National CAD Standard v6
Indication of NorthA north point shall be shown on all plans, preferably oriented towards the top of the sheet.A north point shall be shown on all site plans and should, wherever possible, be placed in the top right-hand corner.AS 1100.301-2008
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values7

Quick Reference Values
Recommended scale for floor plans1:50 or 1:100
Recommended scale for site plans1:200 or 1:500
Recommended scale for detailed drawings1:20, 1:10 or 1:5
Dimension of A1 drawing sheet594 mm x 841 mm
Dimension of A2 drawing sheet420 mm x 594 mm
Minimum height for titles and headings6 mm
Minimum height for general text and dimensioning2.5 mm

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Recommended Scales for Building Drawings
Table 2 - Trimmed Sizes of Drawing Sheets
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Scales
Clause 4 - Sizes of Drawing Sheets
Clause 5 - Title Block
Clause 6 - Lines and Line Work
Clause 7 - Lettering and Dimensioning
Clause 8 - Symbols and Conventional Representations

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 962:1989Code of practice for architectural and buildi...
→
IS 10714:2001Pipe Bedding
→

Frequently Asked Questions4

What are the standard drawing sheet sizes?+
The code specifies A-series sizes such as A0 (841x1189 mm), A1 (594x841 mm), A2 (420x594 mm), etc., as detailed in Table 2.
What scale should be used for a floor plan?+
For general arrangement drawings like floor plans, elevations, and sections, a scale of 1:100 or 1:50 is recommended as per Table 1.
What information is mandatory in a drawing's title block?+
Clause 5 specifies that the title block must include the project title, drawing title, drawing number, scale(s), date, and details of the responsible architect/engineer/firm.
What are the recommended line thicknesses for drawings?+
Clause 6.1 specifies using at least two line thicknesses, a thick and a thin line, with the ratio between them being not less than 2:1. For example, 0.6 mm for outlines and 0.3 mm for dimension lines.

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