EN ISO 9431:1999

Construction drawings - Spaces for drawing and for text, and title blocks on drawing sheets (ISO 9431:1990)

Specifies requirements concerning the placing, layout and contents of spaces for drawing and for text, and title blocks on construction drawings. Nine figures illustrate details.

Zeichnungen für das Bauwesen - Anordnung von Darstellungen, Texten und Schriftfeldern auf Zeichnungsvordrucken (ISO 9431:1990)

Diese Internationale Norm gilt für die Anordnung von Darstellungen, Texten und Schriftfeldern auf Zeichnungen für das Bauwesen sowie für die Bestandteile und den Inhalt von Textangaben auf diesen Zeichnungen.

Dessins de construction - Zones réservées au dessin et au texte, et cartouches d'inscription sur les feuilles de dessin (ISO 9431:1990)

Gradbeniške risbe - Prostori za risbe, besedila in glave na risalnem listu (ISO 9431:1990)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Jul-1999
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Jan-2000
• ICS: 01.100.01 - Technical drawings in general
• Technical Committee: CEN/SS F01 - Technical drawings
• Drafting Committee: CEN/SS F01 - Technical drawings
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 21-Jul-1999
• Completion Date: 21-Jul-1999
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 9431:2002 - Construction drawings - Spaces for drawing and for text, and title blocks on drawing sheets (ISO 9431:1990)

Overview

EN ISO 9431:1999 is a key European adoption of the International Standard ISO 9431:1990, published by CEN. This standard specifies detailed requirements for the layout and placement of spaces on construction drawing sheets, including areas dedicated to drawings, textual information, and title blocks. Its purpose is to ensure clarity, consistency, and functionality in architectural and engineering construction documentation. By defining these parameters, EN ISO 9431 helps professionals produce standardized, clear, and easily interpretable construction drawings that facilitate communication across disciplines.

Key Topics

• Space for Drawing
  The drawing space is organized into horizontal rows and vertical columns. A main figure, if designated, should be positioned at the top left of the drawing sheet or group of figures. The layout supports organizing multiple views or details logically.

• Space for Text
  Textual areas provide necessary explanations, instructions, references, revision history, and location figures relevant to the drawing. This space is typically placed on the right-hand edge or bottom edge of the sheet and divided into columns to accommodate folding patterns such as A4-size folds. The information usually includes:

  • Explanations of symbols, abbreviations, and dimension units
  • Instructions for materials, surface treatments, assembly, and other execution details
  • References to supplementary documents or related drawings
  • Location figures showing the site, building, or section location with relevant marking
  • Revision tables tracking changes with dates, signatures, and descriptions

• Title Blocks
  The title block is standardized per ISO 7200 and contains key project and drawing identification details. It usually anchors the layout and defines the width for adjacent text columns and revision tables.

• Revision Table
  This records all amendments post initial issue, including revision identifiers, location of changes, dates, and responsible signatures. It is placed adjacent to or above the title block to maintain traceability of document changes.

• Folding Considerations
  The layout accounts for practical handling by considering typical sheet folding patterns to ensure critical data remains visible and accessible after folding.

Applications

EN ISO 9431:1999 is essential for:

• Architects and Structural Engineers producing construction documentation that adheres to European and international standards.
• CAD Technicians and Draftspersons involved in preparing drawings ensuring formal consistency and readability.
• Project Managers and Contractors needing standardized, comprehensive technical drawings that improve communication and reduce errors during construction.
• Quality Assurance teams verifying that documentation complies with best practice standards for construction drawings.

By applying EN ISO 9431, construction documentation gains a uniform structure that enhances interdisciplinary understanding and reduces rework or ambiguity on-site.

Related Standards

• ISO 7200:1984 – Technical drawings - Title blocks
• ISO 3098-1:1974 – Technical drawings - Lettering - Part 1: Currently used characters
• ISO 128:1982 – Technical drawings - General principles of presentation
• ISO 5457:1980 – Technical drawings - Sizes and layout of drawing sheets
• ISO 8048:1984 – Technical drawings - Representation of views, sections, and cuts

These complementary standards collectively guide the presentation, notation, and formatting of technical drawings, creating a cohesive framework for the production of professional construction documentation.

---

Keywords: EN ISO 9431, construction drawings standard, title blocks on drawings, space for text on technical drawings, revision table layout, architectural drawing standards, ISO construction drawing guidelines, construction documentation quality.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2002
Gradbeniške risbe - Prostori za risbe, besedila in glave na risalnem listu (ISO
9431:1990)
Construction drawings - Spaces for drawing and for text, and title blocks on drawing
sheets (ISO 9431:1990)
Zeichnungen für das Bauwesen - Anordnung von Darstellungen, Texten und
Schriftfeldern auf Zeichnungsvordrucken (ISO 9431:1990)
Dessins de construction - Zones réservées au dessin et au texte, et cartouches
d'inscription sur les feuilles de dessin (ISO 9431:1990)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 9431:1999
ICS:
01.100.30 *UDGEHQLQDþUWL Construction drawings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

ISO
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD 9431
First edi tion
1990-12-15
-- ---
Construction drawings - Spates for drawing
and for text, and title blocks on drawing skeets
Dessins de construction - Zones r&erv&es au dessin et au texte, et
cartouches d’inscription SW- les feuilies de dessin
Reference number
ISO 9431: 199O(E)
ISO 9431:199O(E)
Forewsrd
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide
federation of national Standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work
of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Esch member body interested in a subject for
which a technical committee has been established has the right to be
represented on that committee. International organizations, govern-
mental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the
work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are
circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an Inter-
national Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member
bodies casting a vote.
International Standard ISO 9431 was prepared by Technical Committee
ISO/TC IO, Technical drawings, product definition and related docnmen-
tation.
Annex A of this International Standard is for information only.
0 ISO 1990
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronie or mechanical, including photocopying and microfiIm, without
Permission in writing from the publisher.
International Organization for Standardization
Case Postale 56 l CH-121 1 Geneve 20 l Switzerland
Printed in Switzerland
ii
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 9431:1990(E)
Construction drawings - Spates for drawing and for text, and
title blocks on drawing sheets
the top left of the drawing or at the top left of a group
1 Scope
of figures. lf possible, consideration shall be taken
of A4-size folds of a drawing sheet when figures are
This International Standard specifies requirements
drawn.
concerning the placing, layout and contents of
spaces for drawing and for text, and title blocks on
construction drawings.
5 Spate for text
2 Normative references 5.1 General
The following Standards contain provisions which, The space for text on a drawing sheet shall contain
through reference in this text, constitute provisions all information necessary for the understanding of
of this International Standard. At the time of publi- the contents of the drawing (see 5.2), except for the
cation, the editions indicated were valid. All stan- text which needs to be placed adjacent to the figures
dards are subject to revision, and Parties to in the space for drawing.
agreements based on this International Standard
The space for text shall normally be placed at the
are encouraged to investigate the possibility of ap-
right-hand edge of the drawing sheet (see figure 1);
plying the most recent editions of the Standards in-
the width of the space shall be equal to that of the
dicated below. Members of IEC and ISO maintain
title block, i.e. maximum 170 mm, or at least
registers of currently valid International Standards.
100 mm.
ISO 3098-1:1974, Technical dra
...