International CAD (computer-aided design) standards are the regulations used during the production, maintenance and sharing of CAD data or diagrams. Because CAD is used in a range of applications, such as construction and fashion design, a number of international CAD standards are currently in place. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is responsible for publishing worldwide CAD standards, although it relies on the input of various national groups such as the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) in the United States.

Importance of International CAD Standards

The aim of international CAD standards is to provide cohesion among different organizations across the globe. Therefore, if an American firm wants to build overseas or to set up a fashion design unit, it knows it is complying with that country’s standards. Failure to adhere to these standards can result in cost and time inefficiencies.

What the Standards Cover

The processes covered by global CAD standards include layer-naming conventions; text fonts; drawing sheet templates; file-naming conventions; paper layouts; and line types and line weights. Some standards cover individual processes, while others cover a combination of different CAD processes.

How to Get More Information

The ISO has a detailed list of standards relating to the CAD process. These cover a range of design stages including technical drawings, industrial automation systems, and integration and technical product documentation. The organization is constantly developing new international CAD standards and reviewing existing ones.