The nation’s leading computer-aided design (CAD) standard has been updated. The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) released the newest edition of the United States National CAD Standard (NCS). Version 6 (V6) is available online at the NCSwebsite.
The NCS helps architects, constructors and operators coordinate efforts by classifying electronic design data consistently and making information retrieval easier, the industry groups say. It improves communication among owners and project teams; cuts or eliminates costs of developing and maintaining company-specific standards; and reduces the expense of transferring building data from design applications to facility management applications.
More than 6,000 architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) firms have voluntarily adopted the NCS in their workplaces. For this edition, NCS owners submitted an unprecedented 379 ballot items.
The new edition includes:
• New implementation guidelines on how to successfully implement the NCS for building information modeling (BIM) use.
• An improved style format.
• An enhanced and improved Symbols Library. New “Survey/Mapping” Discipline Designators.
• New Major and Minor Groups definitions added for “Airports and Plumbing.”
• A revised “Module 1 – File Naming” section to better address Model Files and Sheet Files.
• A Revised “Module 4 – Drafting Conventions, 4.2 Drawing Standards” list of common scales to add “Site/Civil” scale descriptions.
• A Revised “Module 4 – Drafting Conventions, 4.3 Sheet Types” section, which includes a new “Floor Numbering” format.
• New and revised “Communications” terms and abbreviations.
• A Revised “Module 7 – Notations, 7.4 User’s Guide” text format for notes.
• A Revised “Plotting Guidelines” introduction.
Related Stories
School Construction | Mar 28, 2016
National report on school buildings reports $46 billion annual funding shortfall
Millions of students said to be learning in obsolete facilities.
Codes and Standards | Mar 25, 2016
ASHRAE grants fund human thermal comfort database project
Aim is to help better understand thermal comfort in residential and commercial buildings.
Codes and Standards | Mar 25, 2016
OSHA finalizes new silica dust regulations
Construction industry has until June 2017 to comply.
Wood | Mar 23, 2016
APA updates Engineered Wood Construction Guide
Provides recommendations on engineered wood construction systems.
Codes and Standards | Mar 23, 2016
Affordable housing advocates differ on micro-apartment policy
New York’s luxury micro units could be first step to developing affordable units.
Codes and Standards | Mar 21, 2016
GRESB launches Health and Well-being Module for real estate industry
Optional supplement to environmental, social, and governance assessment.
Codes and Standards | Mar 4, 2016
U.S. Supreme Court lets San Jose affordable housing law stand
Law attempts to alleviate Silicon Valley’s high housing costs.
Codes and Standards | Mar 2, 2016
WELL standard offers multiple benefits for owners, says real estate executive
Could be a recruiting tool for occupant companies.
Cultural Facilities | Mar 1, 2016
China bans ‘weird’ public architecture, gated communities
Directs designers of public buildings to focus on functionality.
Energy Efficiency | Feb 23, 2016
Economists, energy efficiency practitioners need to work together for better cost/benefit studies
Flawed energy efficiency research yields misleading, confusing results.
