ASTM E577-85(1999)

Standard Guide for Dimensional Coordination of Rectilinear Building Parts and Systems

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the application of dimensional coordination in building design and the fabrication of rectilinear building parts and systems. A minimum number of preferred dimensions are recommended to give a range of alternatives that should result in economies in design, detailing, production, and construction. Dimensional coordination should be used where benefits in documentation, fabrication, installation, and maintenance can be established, but is not intended to eliminate uncoordinated custom design.  
1.2 Specifically, the guide covers:  
1.2.1 Descriptions of terms used in dimensional coordination.  
1.2.2 The basis for the dimensional coordination of building parts and systems in the design of buildings.  
1.2.3 Preferred horizontal and vertical dimensions for building parts and for the coordination of systems.  
1.3 This guide does not state preferred dimensions and sizes for building components, except for general principles.  
1.4 Basic guidelines for dimensioning in modular drawing practice are given.
1.5 Where practicable, recommendations in international standards prepared by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have been taken into account.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Apr-1999
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.21 - Serviceability

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E577-85(2002) - Standard Guide for Dimensional Coordination of Rectilinear Building Parts and Systems (Withdrawn 2011)
• Effective Date: 27-Dec-1985
• Referred By: ASTM E1612/E1612M-94(2022) - Standard Specification for Preformed Architectural Compression Seals for Buildings and Parking Structures
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E1783/E1783M-96(2017) - Standard Specification for Preformed Architectural Strip Seals for Buildings and Parking Structures
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E1399/E1399M-97(2022) - Standard Test Method for Cyclic Movement and Measuring the Minimum and Maximum Joint Widths of Architectural Joint Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 577 – 85 (Reapproved 1999) An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
Dimensional Coordination of Rectilinear Building Parts and
Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 577; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
The concept of coordinating the dimensions of buildings and building parts with the dimensions of
manufactured components and assemblies by means of a common dimensional factor, or module, was
pioneered in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. The terms “modular coordination” and
“dimensional coordination” were adopted for the use of the basic building module and preferred
dimensions in building design, production, and construction.
In 1939, the American Standards Association (now ANSI) organized project A62, a cooperative
study of dimensional coordination, resulting in the issue of a series of standards concerning the subject
between 1945 and 1971. Responsibility for the continuation of the work was transferred to ASTM and
under the general supervision of Committee E-6 on Performance of Building Constructions.
Subcommittee E06.62, Coordination of Dimensions for Building Materials and Systems, has the
specific task to develop standards in this field, including metric versions that use the international
building module of 100 mm.
In 1976, ASTM Committee E-6 approved ANSI/ASTM E 577 to set voluntary standards for the
dimensional coordination of rectilinear building parts and systems in either metric (SI) or inch-pound
units, using a basic incremental dimension (M) with the value 100 mm in SI units, or 4 in. in
inch-pound units.
Subcommittee E06.62 has now prepared companion standards in acceptable metric and inch-pound
units so that designers wishing to apply the principles of dimensional coordination can select
preferences in line with the measurement system used in their documentation. Except for the
dimensions ascribed to the basic building module and, therefore, its multiples, the companion
standards are identical in text.
1. Scope 1.2.1 Descriptions of terms used in dimensional coordina-
tion.
1.1 This guide covers the application of dimensional coor-
1.2.2 The basis for the dimensional coordination of building
dination in building design and the fabrication of rectilinear
parts and systems in the design of buildings.
building parts and systems. A minimum number of preferred
1.2.3 Preferred horizontal and vertical dimensions for build-
dimensions are recommended to give a range of alternatives
ing parts and for the coordination of systems.
that should result in economies in design, detailing, production,
1.3 This guide does not state preferred dimensions and sizes
and construction. Dimensional coordination should be used
for building components, except for general principles.
where benefits in documentation, fabrication, installation, and
1.4 Basic guidelines for dimensioning in modular drawing
maintenance can be established, but is not intended to elimi-
practice are given.
nate uncoordinated custom design.
1.5 Where practicable, recommendations in international
1.2 Specifically, the guide covers:
standards prepared by the International Organization for Stan-
dardization (ISO) have been taken into account.
This guide is under the jurisidiction of ASTM Committee E-6 on Performance
of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.62 on Coordina-
2. Terminology
tion of Dimensions for Building Materials and Systems.
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Current edition approved Dec. 27, 1985. Published February 1986. Originally
e1
published as E 577 – 76. Last previous edition E 577 – 76 (1984) .
The standards replace ANSI/ASTM E 577-76 and supersedes ANSI A62.1-
1957, A62.5-1965, and A62.7-1969.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E 577
2.1.1 basic building module (basic module)—a unit dimen-
sion used as the standard increment in the dimensional coor-
dination of buildings and building parts.
2.1.1.1 Discussion—For dimensional coordination in metric
(SI) units, the basic building module has the internationally
agreed value of 100 mm; the basic building module is
designated by the symbol M; for example: 100 mm 5 1 M;
1200 mm 5 12 M. For dimensional coordination in inch-pound
units, the basic building module has the value of 4 in.; the basic
building module is designated by the symbol M; for example:
4 in. 5 M;48in. or4ft0in. 5 12 M.
2.1.2 building part—a piece or unit of building material
including joints, or an item of building equipment. Rectilinear
building parts have sides that are at right angles to each other.
2.1.3 ceiling height—the dimension that extends from the
coordinating interface of a wall component at the floor to its
FIG. 2 Changes of Level at Floors or Roofs
coordinating interface at the ceiling (see Fig. 1 (B)).
components, including allowances for joints and tolerances.
2.1.4 ceiling space dimension—the dimension measured
2.1.11 coordinating line or plane—the theoretical line or
from the wall-to-ceiling interface to the lowest point of the
plane by reference to which one building part or component is
horizontal structural elements, generally applicable only for
coordinated with another.
suspended ceilings and includes the ceiling construction and
2.1.12 custom dimension—any dimension that is not a
the plenum above, if any (see Fig. 1 (F)).
whole multiple of the basic module.
2.1.5 change in level—the vertical difference between two
2.1.13 dimension—a linear distance, such as length, width,
adjacent floor or roof planes, or both (see Fig. 2).
height, depth, or thickness.
2.1.6 clear structure height—the clear distance between the
2.1.14 dimensional coordination—a comprehensive ap-
highest point of the horizontal structure of one story to the
proach to the coordination of the geometry of buildings,
lowest point of the horizontal structure of the story above (see
building parts, components, and systems, through a set of
Fig. 1 (D)).
dimensional preferences derived from the basic module; a
2.1.7 controlling dimension—a modular coordinating di-
relationship between sizes and dimensions of building parts
mension between controlling planes, for example, story height,
that will permit their assembly and erection without modifica-
ceiling height, distance between axes of columns, thickness of
tion or adjustment (see Fig. 3).
controlling zone.
2.1.15 dimensionally coordinated product—building prod-
2.1.8 controlling plane or line—a plane or line that repre-
uct, the dimensions of which are established in conformance
sents a major building space reference in dimensional coordi-
with this guide, and which include allowances for joint
nation.
thicknesses and dimensional tolerances (see Fig. 4).
2.1.9 controlling zone—a zone between controlling planes.
2.1.16 floor-ceiling thickness—the dimension from the ceil-
2.1.10 coordinating dimension—a preferred dimension be-
ing plane to the finished floor plane of the story immediately
tween coordinating planes or lines that is a whole multiple of
above (see Fig. 1 (C)).
the module and used in the coordination of building parts and
2.1.17 horizontal structure thickness—the vertical dimen-
sion of the structural floor or roof system; in the case of
structural floors, the dimension between the structural floor and
the lowest point of that structural floor system (see Fig. 1 (E)).
2.1.18 intermediate controlling dimension—a preferred di-
mension used for control of openings or other elements; for
example, door heads and jambs (see Fig. 5).
2.1.19 joint—the space formed by two adjacent building
parts or components, when these are put together, fixed, or
combined with or without a jointing product (see Fig. 4).
2.1.20 modular coordination—dimensional coordination
employing the basic building module or multimodules.
2.1.21 modular grid—a reference grid with lines or planes
at right angles, the spacing of which are either the basic
building module or multiples. The spacing of lines or planes in
A—Story height
a modular grid need not be the same in difference directions.
C—Floor-ceiling thickness
D—Clear structure height
2.1.21.1 M—basic modular dimension (see 2.1).
E—Horizontal structure thickness
2.1.22 multimodule—a preferred multiple of the basic
F—Ceiling space dimension
building module used for horizontal or vertical dimensional
G—Thickness of finished floor
FIG. 1 Preferred Vertical Dimensions control in building design.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E 577
Axial Controlling Lines Boundary Controlling Lines
FIG. 3 Preferred Horizontal Dimensions
2.1.25 size—an area measure that is expressed as a product
of two dimensions, or a volume measure that is expressed as a
product of three dimensions.
2.1.26 standard modular grid—a modular grid in which the
space of lines is the basic building module, M.
2.1.27 story height—the dimension between controlling or
coordinating lines at one floor plane and the floor plane or roof
plane above (see Fig. 1 (A)).
2.1.28 system—an integration of building parts that perform
FIG. 4 Dimensionally Coordinated Product
one or more specific functions.
3. Basis for Dimensional Coordination of Buildings and
Sizing of Building Parts
3.1 Dimensional coordination of buildings and rectilinear
building parts is based on the application of three related
concepts:
3.1.1 Modular reference grids of lines or planes to define
reference locations in space;
3.1.2 Controlling dim
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