Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

Types of drawings for building design

2013-11-11T15:13:24Z

Kenny:

= Location Drawings/General Arrangement Drawings =

The information shown on the locating drawing will be overall sizes, level and references to assembly drawing. The plans are intended to show the location of the work, not detail (a common mistake). The location drawings, which can be plans, elevation or sections, are numbered consecutively with the prefix L. 

Typical location drawings will be: 
*Block plans
*Site plans
*Floor plans
*Foundations plans
*Roof plans
*Section through the entire building
*Elevations 

British Standard Specification 1192 has recommended or preferred scales for location drawings. 

== Block Plans ==

Usually show the sitting of the project, in relation to Ordnance Survey Maps. Conventions are used to depict boundaries, roads and other details. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 2500 
*1 : 1250 
*1 : 500 

[[File:Typical location plan.png|600x730px|alt=Typical location plan.png]] 

== Site Plans ==

Usually show the extent of the site but no surrounding detail. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 500
*1 : 200 

The function of the site plan is to show: 
*The location of the building or buildings in relation to their surroundings. 
*The topography of the site, with both existing and finished levels.
*Buildings to be demolished or removed.
*The extent of earthworks, included, cutting and filling, and the provision of bank and retaining walls.
*Roads, footpaths, hardstandings and paved areas.
*Planting
*The layout of external service runs, including drainage, water, gas, electricity, telephone, etc.
*The layout of external lighting.
*Fencing, wall and gates.
*The location of miscellaneous external components – bollards, litter bins, etc. 

 

[[File:Typical site plan.png|600x865px|alt=Typical site plan.png]] 

== Floor plans ==

Usually show the layout of rooms, key dimensions and level, and may also use conventions and symbols to show materials and location of fittings and appliances. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 200
*1 : 100
*1 : 50

Line types are used to differentiate information in floor plans. Hatching or conventions are used to illustrate materials, while symbols are used to show fittings and appliances often with standard abbreviations. 

[[File:Typical house ground floor plan.png|600x752px|alt=Typical house ground floor plan.png]] 

For floor plans, there are three situations that must be considered: 
*General arrangement (location) drawing designed to show a single building element and what it should contain. 
*The general arrangement drawing designed to be complete in itself – i.e. a drawing which in which in BS1192 CI/SFB Table 1 terminology would be described as ‘The project in general’ and coded (--). (Clearly this type of drawing would only arise on the smallest and simplest of projects.) 
*The basic floor plan drawing – the drawing which provide the fundamental and minimal information which will appear as the framework for each individual elemental plan. The basic drawing, in fact, from which future drawing containing elemental information will be taken.

=== Basic floor plan ===

The latter situation for floor plans has a substantial bearing on the other two. If a set of working drawings for a project is prepare, you may decide that the floor plans will be divided into five elements in the following manner: 

(2-) Primary elements (3-) Secondary elements (5-) Services (piped and ducted) (6-) Services (Electrical) (7-) Fittings 

=== General arrangement plans ===

Where the elemental plans are to be drawn by CAD or manually, you must fist consider what common features of the plans will need to appear in all five elementalised plans given in the example above. It is clearly important that the information carried by the base negative, (manual) or layers common to all drawings in a CAD set shall be , not too little, and not too much. Below is a check list of what the basic plan should contain and a list of those items which more often than not get added to the original needlessly and superfluously to the subsequent inconvenience of everyone. 

''To be included:''
*Walls 
*Main openings in walls (i.e. doors and windows)
*Partitions
*Main openings in partitions (doors)
*Door swing
*Room names and number
*Grid references (when applicable)
*Stairs (in outline)
*Fixed furniture (including loose furniture where its disposition in a room is a practice predetermined - e.g. desks set out on a modular gird, etc.) 
*Sanitary fittings
*Cupboards 
*North point 

''Item which tend to be included, but should not be:''
*Dimensions 
*Annotations
*Details of construction – e.g. cavity wall construction
*Hatching and shading
*Loose furniture where it disposition is not predetermined 
*Section indications

A uniform line thickness should be used throughout and that the “middle” of the three line thickness for the scale be used on the plan should to be recommended. 

 

{| width="564" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|+ Recommended pen size/line sizes are as follows: 
|-
| Drawings to a scale of 1 : 50 and less 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale 1 : 20 to 1 : 5 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale larger than 1 : 5 
| 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
|-
| Pen size Range 1 
| 0.2 
| 0.3 
| 0.4 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|-
| Pen Size Range 2 (ISO 9175-1)* 
| 0.18 
| 0.25 
| 0.35 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|}

''* Pens size range 2 follow the same size-ratio principle used for the international A-series paper size (ISO216). The standard sizes (ISO 9175-1) differ by a factor √2. These pens are: 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). Other sizes of pens are available, however, to keep the same factor when working between different size sheets, the standard sizes of pens should be used.'' 

== Elevations ==

Usually show the outline of the building, opening details and sizes, level datums and floor position. An elevation should give an impression of how one face of the building will look from the outside. 

 

[[File:Typical elevations drawing.png|600x446px|alt=Typical elevations drawing.png]] 

== Estate road layout ==

Should be at either 1 : 1250 or 1 : 500 scales. Line types will fulfil an important role in this type of location drawing. The identity of buried items and various will be indicated by different line types. Conventions and symbols will indicate hard and soft landscape details and street furniture should be indicated by symbols. 

= Assembly drawings =

The purpose of assembly drawings is to show how the building is erected on site. Information will include component identification and reference, Assembly dimensions and tolerances with reference to component drawings.

The assembly drawings can be: 
*Plans
*Elevations
*Section

The assembly drawing number is prefixed by the letter A. Standard are often produced, thus, instead of redrawing, a standard detail drawing is reproduced. Standard details need an efficient library coding system to aid retrieval and sorting, and the Common Arrangement of Work Section (CAWS) reference system found in the standard old Method of Measurement (SMM7). Some assembly drawings will show: 
*Substructure section
*External wall details
*Wall openings such as head, sill and jamb sections, plans
*Eaves details
*Internal walls
*Stair details

The structuring of drawn information into specific sheets helps the search patterns of the end user. Some unenlightened designers, will often fill the drawing sheet with a mixture of plans, elevations and, if there is room, a detailed sections. The titled chosen for the drawing sheet is the first indication of the content of the sheet. Search procedures by the end users follow a pattern and the drawings should be structured and titled to maximise this procedure. Recommended scales fore assembly drawings are: 1 : 50; 1 : 20; 1 : 10. 

[[File:Typical section drawing.png|RTENOTITLE]] 

The drawings will comprise plan view and sections, and the thickness of lines will depend on the information hierarchy. Outlines and different components drawn with thicker lines alert the user to key information as the eye scans the entire drawing. The placing of section on the drawing sheet should be carefully laid out to minimise search time for the end user.

Identification of materials using standard conventions will complement the annotation and convey the extent of the materials used in the assembly detail.

The amount of text and dimension included on the sheet should be just enough to achieve the purpose of the drawing. For example, a drawing of a substructure detail should not included text or specification relating to the roof. When placing text and dimensions onto the sheet, it is best to assist the end user by leaving the drawing area uncluttered. The focal point is the drawn detail. Once the diagram has been assimilated, further information is sought, with the eye radiating out form the focus diagram. The diagram should therefore be encircled with dimensions and text, and the text should legible, concise and accurate.

Code references direct the user to other further drawn information such as component drawing or to the bill of quantities. The specification or the measured section of the bill of quantities should explain the quality of the material or workmanship. This will avoid expensive duplication of specifications on the drawings, reducing the possibility of discrepancies between tender and ultimate contract documents. 

= Component drawings =

This type of drawing shows individual components in the unfixed state. Information will include component sizes, tolerance and specification with reference to the bill of quantity.

The component drawing number is prefixed by the letter C, and typical component details are: 
*Wood window head detail
*Special door construction
*Sill
*Coping stone

[[File:Typical construction detail.png|RTENOTITLE]] 

Component drawings are often large-scale, sometime full-sized drawings showing individual components. Assembly drawings will contain several components, showing how the individual components fit together to make a building element. Recommended scales are: 
*1 :10
*1 : 5
*1 : 2 
*1 : 1

The component drawings will contain dimensions and some text, but the material specification and the minimum acceptable quality will be defined in the specification section of the bill of quantities. The CAWS reference code will direct the end user to the correct part of the bill of quantities. 

= Projections =

== Orthographic projection ==

Orthographic projection is a way of illustrating three-dimensional objects in a two-dimensional drawing. The basic drawing layouts are shown below. 

 

[[File:First and third angle projection.png|RTENOTITLE]]

Drawing projections must comply with the relevant British Standard to pervert misunderstanding and avoid errors in interpreting the drawing. The orthographic projection commonly used in Britain is called the first angle projection, but there are other less common projections that can be used to illustrate a three-dimensional object. 

== Axonometric projection ==

The advantage of an axonometric projection is the true plan set at 45. It is suitable for interior and kitchen layout. Planning drawings are effective as axonometric projection to show the relationship of existing buildings, topography and the proposed building. 

== Isometric projection ==

Unlike the axonometric projection, the isometric plan view is slightly distorted and can be used to show the nature of the design more clearly than an orthographic projection. It is sometimes used during the conceptualization of the design to help the client grasp the mass of the proposal. 

== Oblique projection ==

When primary information is drawn in elevation, the interpretation can be enhanced by an oblique projection. 

= Preliminary drawings =

These drawings are often refereed to as thinking drawings, where the architect illustrates elements of the design. The freehand sketches are bored strokes with little detail and illustrate either mass, proportion or other aesthetic principles. Soft pencil or a fineliner pen on detail paper is the preferred medium. To avoid deception the detail paper is often grid paper to ensure a correct proportion of images. The focal point of the building can be quickly illustrated by a preliminary sketch. Simplicity and avoidance of detail are the main aspects of a good preliminary drawing. 

= Sketch drawings =

The entire range of drawings can be illustrated as sketch drawings. A location drawing can be ‘key’ or control drawing, showing control dimensions or levels. A sketched assembly drawing can be used by the architect to instruct the technician preparing the ink negative. To avoid misinterpretation of size, it is advantageous to use a modular, grid ruled plan, in which the main grid is 300 mm, with a secondary grid of 100 mm. 

[[File:Typical sketch drawing.png|600x734px|RTENOTITLE]] 

= Working drawings =

These are the final drawn instructions which the builder will use on site to convert the design ideas into a real building, and care must be taken to ensure accuracy of dimensions and specification. In preparing the location plan it is best to use a control box when hand drawing a working drawing – that is, maximum design length and width are drawn on the tracing film. All details should fit within this control box, and if you find you are drawing outside the control box you should stop immediately as this indicates an error in the detailed measurements. Once the drawing has been completed in ink, clean up the drawing and erase the control box.

When a drawing is being produced, though must be given to the structuring of information. A drawing contains certain information that must be observed. This is primary information, shown by thicker lines and/or high intensity. Secondary information will be shown by lines of medium thickness, while tertiary information will be indicated by thin lines. With ink drawings on film or tracing paper, different pen thickness will achieve the necessary information hierarchy. 

== Specification ==

All drawings require annotation, i.e. letter describing the elements of identifying the components. As these descriptive notes and words must be clearly understood, it is essential to aim for legibility if they are hand written, which means taking time to: 
*Form and shape each individual letter
*Space letters and words correctly
*Arrange the text to help the end user
*Arrange the text in hierarchical context

To help achieve clarity of specification, stencils and dry letter transfer are available. When using CAD, take the time to select a clear and suitable font. Fonts like Comic Sans should never be used on any formal documents, signage, publications or drawings. 

== Bill of quantities ==

The bill of quantities – which is, first, a vital tender document, then a contract document – should be an accurate description and quantification of the project. There should therefore be a cross-reference to the tender drawing and architect’s notes or specifications. The achieve this, the CAWS is used.

Coordinated project references 

Based on the old SMM7, some of the main cross-references are:
*Concrete work: 

- Concrete foundation E10.1 

- Concrete bed (floor) E10.4

- Concrete cavity filling E30.8 
*Masonry

- Clay brickwork in wall F10.1

- Cavities F30.1.1

- Damp-proof course, vertical F30.2.1

- Damp-proof course, horizontal F30.2.3 
*Carcass timber

- Rafter G20.92

- Floor joist G20.6

- Floor boarding K20.2

- Trussed rafter G20.2 
*Finishing joinery

- Wood window L20.1

- Double glazing L40.2

- Wood door frame L20.7

- Wood door L20.1

- Architrave P20.1 
*Roofing

- Concrete roof tiles H60.1 
*Plastering

- Plasterboard and skim M20.2

- Plaster to walls M20.1

- Floor screed M10.5

(This information and cross-referencing should have been applied to older architectural drawings.) 

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Paper sizes (ISO 216 A, B and C series) 
*North American Paper Sizes 
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

File:Typical sketch drawing.png

2013-11-11T15:11:42Z

Kenny: Typical sketch drawing.

Typical sketch drawing.

File:Typical construction detail.png

2013-11-11T15:09:46Z

Kenny: Typical construction detail.

Typical construction detail.

File:Typical section drawing.png

2013-11-11T15:07:00Z

Kenny: Typical section drawing.

Typical section drawing.

File:Typical elevations drawing.png

2013-11-11T15:05:19Z

Kenny: Typical elevations drawing.

Typical elevations drawing.

File:Typical house ground floor plan.png

2013-11-11T15:03:40Z

Kenny: Typical house ground floor plan.

Typical house ground floor plan.

File:Typical site plan.png

2013-11-11T15:02:20Z

Kenny: Typical site plan.

Typical site plan.

File:Typical location plan.png

2013-11-11T15:01:13Z

Kenny: Typical location plan.

Typical location plan.

Types of drawings for building design

2013-11-11T14:38:24Z

Kenny:

= Location Drawings/General Arrangement Drawings =

The information shown on the locating drawing will be overall sizes, level and references to assembly drawing. The plans are intended to show the location of the work, not detail (a common mistake). The location drawings, which can be plans, elevation or sections, are numbered consecutively with the prefix L. 

Typical location drawings will be: 
*Block plans
*Site plans
*Floor plans
*Foundations plans
*Roof plans
*Section through the entire building
*Elevations 

British Standard Specification 1192 has recommended or preferred scales for location drawings. 

== Block Plans ==

Usually show the sitting of the project, in relation to Ordnance Survey Maps. Conventions are used to depict boundaries, roads and other details. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 2500 
*1 : 1250
*1 : 500 

== Site Plans ==

Usually show the extent of the site but no surrounding detail. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 500
*1 : 200 

The function of the site plan is to show: 
*The location of the building or buildings in relation to their surroundings. 
*The topography of the site, with both existing and finished levels.
*Buildings to be demolished or removed.
*The extent of earthworks, included, cutting and filling, and the provision of bank and retaining walls.
*Roads, footpaths, hardstandings and paved areas.
*Planting
*The layout of external service runs, including drainage, water, gas, electricity, telephone, etc.
*The layout of external lighting.
*Fencing, wall and gates.
*The location of miscellaneous external components – bollards, litter bins, etc. 

== Floor plans ==

Usually show the layout of rooms, key dimensions and level, and may also use conventions and symbols to show materials and location of fittings and appliances. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 200
*1 : 100
*1 : 50

Line types are used to differentiate information in floor plans. Hatching or conventions are used to illustrate materials, while symbols are used to show fittings and appliances often with standard abbreviations. 

For floor plans, there are three situations that must be considered: 
*General arrangement (location) drawing designed to show a single building element and what it should contain. 
*The general arrangement drawing designed to be complete in itself – i.e. a drawing which in which in BS1192 CI/SFB Table 1 terminology would be described as ‘The project in general’ and coded (--). (Clearly this type of drawing would only arise on the smallest and simplest of projects.) 
*The basic floor plan drawing – the drawing which provide the fundamental and minimal information which will appear as the framework for each individual elemental plan. The basic drawing, in fact, from which future drawing containing elemental information will be taken.

=== Basic floor plan ===

The latter situation for floor plans has a substantial bearing on the other two. If a set of working drawings for a project is prepare, you may decide that the floor plans will be divided into five elements in the following manner: 

(2-) Primary elements (3-) Secondary elements (5-) Services (piped and ducted) (6-) Services (Electrical) (7-) Fittings 

=== General arrangement plans ===

Where the elemental plans are to be drawn by CAD or manually, you must fist consider what common features of the plans will need to appear in all five elementalised plans given in the example above. It is clearly important that the information carried by the base negative, (manual) or layers common to all drawings in a CAD set shall be , not too little, and not too much. Below is a check list of what the basic plan should contain and a list of those items which more often than not get added to the original needlessly and superfluously to the subsequent inconvenience of everyone. 

''To be included:''
*Walls 
*Main openings in walls (i.e. doors and windows)
*Partitions
*Main openings in partitions (doors)
*Door swing
*Room names and number
*Grid references (when applicable)
*Stairs (in outline)
*Fixed furniture (including loose furniture where its disposition in a room is a practice predetermined - e.g. desks set out on a modular gird, etc.) 
*Sanitary fittings
*Cupboards 
*North point 

''Item which tend to be included, but should not be:''
*Dimensions 
*Annotations
*Details of construction – e.g. cavity wall construction
*Hatching and shading
*Loose furniture where it disposition is not predetermined 
*Section indications

A uniform line thickness should be used throughout and that the “middle” of the three line thickness for the scale be used on the plan should to be recommended. 

 

{| width="564" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|+ Recommended pen size/line sizes are as follows: 
|-
| Drawings to a scale of 1 : 50 and less 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale 1 : 20 to 1 : 5 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale larger than 1 : 5 
| 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
|-
| Pen size Range 1 
| 0.2 
| 0.3 
| 0.4 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|-
| Pen Size Range 2 (ISO 9175-1)* 
| 0.18 
| 0.25 
| 0.35 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|}

''* Pens size range 2 follow the same size-ratio principle used for the international A-series paper size (ISO216). The standard sizes (ISO 9175-1) differ by a factor √2. These pens are: 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). Other sizes of pens are available, however, to keep the same factor when working between different size sheets, the standard sizes of pens should be used.'' 

== Elevations ==

Usually show the outline of the building, opening details and sizes, level datums and floor position. An elevation should give an impression of how one face of the building will look from the outside. 

== Estate road layout ==

Should be at either 1 : 1250 or 1 : 500 scales. Line types will fulfil an important role in this type of location drawing. The identity of buried items and various will be indicated by different line types. Conventions and symbols will indicate hard and soft landscape details and street furniture should be indicated by symbols. 

= Assembly drawings =

The purpose of assembly drawings is to show how the building is erected on site. Information will include component identification and reference, Assembly dimensions and tolerances with reference to component drawings.

The assembly drawings can be: 
*Plans
*Elevations
*Section

The assembly drawing number is prefixed by the letter A. Standard are often produced, thus, instead of redrawing, a standard detail drawing is reproduced. Standard details need an efficient library coding system to aid retrieval and sorting, and the Common Arrangement of Work Section (CAWS) reference system found in the standard old Method of Measurement (SMM7). Some assembly drawings will show: 
*Substructure section
*External wall details
*Wall openings such as head, sill and jamb sections, plans
*Eaves details
*Internal walls
*Stair details

The structuring of drawn information into specific sheets helps the search patterns of the end user. Some unenlightened designers, will often fill the drawing sheet with a mixture of plans, elevations and, if there is room, a detailed sections. The titled chosen for the drawing sheet is the first indication of the content of the sheet. Search procedures by the end users follow a pattern and the drawings should be structured and titled to maximise this procedure. Recommended scales fore assembly drawings are: 1 : 50; 1 : 20; 1 : 10. 

The drawings will comprise plan view and sections, and the thickness of lines will depend on the information hierarchy. Outlines and different components drawn with thicker lines alert the user to key information as the eye scans the entire drawing. The placing of section on the drawing sheet should be carefully laid out to minimise search time for the end user.

Identification of materials using standard conventions will complement the annotation and convey the extent of the materials used in the assembly detail.

The amount of text and dimension included on the sheet should be just enough to achieve the purpose of the drawing. For example, a drawing of a substructure detail should not included text or specification relating to the roof. When placing text and dimensions onto the sheet, it is best to assist the end user by leaving the drawing area uncluttered. The focal point is the drawn detail. Once the diagram has been assimilated, further information is sought, with the eye radiating out form the focus diagram. The diagram should therefore be encircled with dimensions and text, and the text should legible, concise and accurate.

Code references direct the user to other further drawn information such as component drawing or to the bill of quantities. The specification or the measured section of the bill of quantities should explain the quality of the material or workmanship. This will avoid expensive duplication of specifications on the drawings, reducing the possibility of discrepancies between tender and ultimate contract documents. 

= Component drawings =

This type of drawing shows individual components in the unfixed state. Information will include component sizes, tolerance and specification with reference to the bill of quantity.

The component drawing number is prefixed by the letter C, and typical component details are: 
*Wood window head detail
*Special door construction
*Sill
*Coping stone

Component drawings are often large-scale, sometime full-sized drawings showing individual components. Assembly drawings will contain several components, showing how the individual components fit together to make a building element. Recommended scales are:
*1 :10
*1 : 5
*1 : 2
*1 : 1

The component drawings will contain dimensions and some textr, but the material specification and the minimum acceptable quality will be defined in the specification section of the bill of quantities. The CAWS reference code will direct the end user to the correct part of the bill of quantities. 

= Projections =

== Orthographic projection ==

Orthographic projection is a way of illustrating three-dimensional objects in a two-dimensional drawing. The basic drawing layouts are shown below. 

 

[[File:First and third angle projection.png]]

Drawing projections must comply with the relevant British Standard to pervert misunderstanding and avoid errors in interpreting the drawing. The orthographic projection commonly used in Britain is called the first angle projection, but there are other less common projections that can be used to illustrate a three-dimensional object. 

== Axonometric projection ==

The advantage of an axonometric projection is the true plan set at 45. It is suitable for interior and kitchen layout. Planning drawings are effective as axonometric projection to show the relationship of existing buildings, topography and the proposed building. 

== Isometric projection ==

Unlike the axonometric projection, the isometric plan view is slightly distorted and can be used to show the nature of the design more clearly than an orthographic projection. It is sometimes used during the conceptualization of the design to help the client grasp the mass of the proposal. 

== Oblique projection ==

When primary information is drawn in elevation, the interpretation can be enhanced by an oblique projection. 

= Preliminary drawings =

These drawings are often refereed to as thinking drawings, where the architect illustrates elements of the design. The freehand sketches are bored strokes with little detail and illustrate either mass, proportion or other aesthetic principles. Soft pencil or a fineliner pen on detail paper is the preferred medium. To avoid deception the detail paper is often grid paper to ensure a correct proportion of images. The focal point of the building can be quickly illustrated by a preliminary sketch. Simplicity and avoidance of detail are the main aspects of a good preliminary drawing. 

= Sketch drawings =

The entire range of drawings can be illustrated as sketch drawings. A location drawing can be ‘key’ or control drawing, showing control dimensions or levels. A sketched assembly drawing can be used by the architect to instruct the technician preparing the ink negative. To avoid misinterpretation of size, it is advantageous to use a modular, grid ruled plan, in which the main grid is 300 mm, with a secondary grid of 100 mm. 

= Working drawings =

These are the final drawn instructions which the builder will use on site to convert the design ideas into a real building, and care must be taken to ensure accuracy of dimensions and specification. In preparing the location plan it is best to use a control box when hand drawing a working drawing – that is, maximum design length and width are drawn on the tracing film. All details should fit within this control box, and if you find you are drawing outside the control box you should stop immediately as this indicates an error in the detailed measurements. Once the drawing has been completed in ink, clean up the drawing and erase the control box.

When a drawing is being produced, though must be given to the structuring of information. A drawing contains certain information that must be observed. This is primary information, shown by thicker lines and/or high intensity. Secondary information will be shown by lines of medium thickness, while tertiary information will be indicated by thin lines. With ink drawings on film or tracing paper, different pen thickness will achieve the necessary information hierarchy. 

== Specification ==

All drawings require annotation, i.e. letter describing the elements of identifying the components. As these descriptive notes and words must be clearly understood, it is essential to aim for legibility if they are hand written, which means taking time to: 
*Form and shape each individual letter
*Space letters and words correctly
*Arrange the text to help the end user
*Arrange the text in hierarchical context

To help achieve clarity of specification, stencils and dry letter transfer are available. When using CAD, take the time to select a clear and suitable font. Fonts like Comic Sans should never be used on any formal documents, signage, publications or drawings. 

== Bill of quantities ==

The bill of quantities – which is, first, a vital tender document, then a contract document – should be an accurate description and quantification of the project. There should therefore be a cross-reference to the tender drawing and architect’s notes or specifications. The achieve this, the CAWS is used.

Coordinated project references 

Based on the old SMM7, some of the main cross-references are:
*Concrete work: 

- Concrete foundation E10.1 

- Concrete bed (floor) E10.4

- Concrete cavity filling E30.8 
*Masonry

- Clay brickwork in wall F10.1

- Cavities F30.1.1

- Damp-proof course, vertical F30.2.1

- Damp-proof course, horizontal F30.2.3 
*Carcass timber

- Rafter G20.92

- Floor joist G20.6

- Floor boarding K20.2

- Trussed rafter G20.2 
*Finishing joinery

- Wood window L20.1

- Double glazing L40.2

- Wood door frame L20.7

- Wood door L20.1

- Architrave P20.1 
*Roofing

- Concrete roof tiles H60.1 
*Plastering

- Plasterboard and skim M20.2

- Plaster to walls M20.1

- Floor screed M10.5

(This information and cross-referencing should have been applied to older architectural drawings.) 

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Paper sizes (ISO 216 A, B and C series) 
*North American Paper Sizes 
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

File:First and third angle projection.png

2013-11-11T14:36:47Z

Kenny: Comparison of first and third angle projection.

Comparison of first and third angle projection.

Types of drawings for building design

2013-11-11T14:19:10Z

Kenny:

= Location Drawings/General Arrangement Drawings =

The information shown on the locating drawing will be overall sizes, level and references to assembly drawing. The plans are intended to show the location of the work, not detail (a common mistake). The location drawings, which can be plans, elevation or sections, are numbered consecutively with the prefix L. 

Typical location drawings will be: 
*Block plans
*Site plans
*Floor plans
*Foundations plans
*Roof plans
*Section through the entire building
*Elevations 

British Standard Specification 1192 has recommended or preferred scales for location drawings. 

== Block Plans ==

Usually show the sitting of the project, in relation to Ordnance Survey Maps. Conventions are used to depict boundaries, roads and other details. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 2500 
*1 : 1250
*1 : 500 

== Site Plans ==

Usually show the extent of the site but no surrounding detail. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 500
*1 : 200 

The function of the site plan is to show: 
*The location of the building or buildings in relation to their surroundings. 
*The topography of the site, with both existing and finished levels.
*Buildings to be demolished or removed.
*The extent of earthworks, included, cutting and filling, and the provision of bank and retaining walls.
*Roads, footpaths, hardstandings and paved areas.
*Planting
*The layout of external service runs, including drainage, water, gas, electricity, telephone, etc.
*The layout of external lighting.
*Fencing, wall and gates.
*The location of miscellaneous external components – bollards, litter bins, etc. 

== Floor plans ==

Usually show the layout of rooms, key dimensions and level, and may also use conventions and symbols to show materials and location of fittings and appliances. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 200
*1 : 100
*1 : 50

Line types are used to differentiate information in floor plans. Hatching or conventions are used to illustrate materials, while symbols are used to show fittings and appliances often with standard abbreviations. 

For floor plans, there are three situations that must be considered: 
*General arrangement (location) drawing designed to show a single building element and what it should contain. 
*The general arrangement drawing designed to be complete in itself – i.e. a drawing which in which in BS1192 CI/SFB Table 1 terminology would be described as ‘The project in general’ and coded (--). (Clearly this type of drawing would only arise on the smallest and simplest of projects.) 
*The basic floor plan drawing – the drawing which provide the fundamental and minimal information which will appear as the framework for each individual elemental plan. The basic drawing, in fact, from which future drawing containing elemental information will be taken.

=== Basic floor plan ===

The latter situation for floor plans has a substantial bearing on the other two. If a set of working drawings for a project is prepare, you may decide that the floor plans will be divided into five elements in the following manner: 

(2-) Primary elements (3-) Secondary elements (5-) Services (piped and ducted) (6-) Services (Electrical) (7-) Fittings 

=== General arrangement plans ===

Where the elemental plans are to be drawn by CAD or manually, you must fist consider what common features of the plans will need to appear in all five elementalised plans given in the example above. It is clearly important that the information carried by the base negative, (manual) or layers common to all drawings in a CAD set shall be , not too little, and not too much. Below is a check list of what the basic plan should contain and a list of those items which more often than not get added to the original needlessly and superfluously to the subsequent inconvenience of everyone. 

''To be included:''
*Walls 
*Main openings in walls (i.e. doors and windows)
*Partitions
*Main openings in partitions (doors)
*Door swing
*Room names and number
*Grid references (when applicable)
*Stairs (in outline)
*Fixed furniture (including loose furniture where its disposition in a room is a practice predetermined - e.g. desks set out on a modular gird, etc.) 
*Sanitary fittings
*Cupboards 
*North point 

''Item which tend to be included, but should not be:''
*Dimensions 
*Annotations
*Details of construction – e.g. cavity wall construction
*Hatching and shading
*Loose furniture where it disposition is not predetermined 
*Section indications

A uniform line thickness should be used throughout and that the “middle” of the three line thickness for the scale be used on the plan should to be recommended. 

 

{| width="564" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|+ Recommended pen size/line sizes are as follows: 
|-
| Drawings to a scale of 1 : 50 and less 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale 1 : 20 to 1 : 5 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale larger than 1 : 5 
| 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
|-
| Pen size Range 1 
| 0.2 
| 0.3 
| 0.4 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|-
| Pen Size Range 2 (ISO 9175-1)* 
| 0.18 
| 0.25 
| 0.35 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|}

''* Pens size range 2 follow the same size-ratio principle used for the international A-series paper size (ISO216). The standard sizes (ISO 9175-1) differ by a factor √2. These pens are: 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). Other sizes of pens are available, however, to keep the same factor when working between different size sheets, the standard sizes of pens should be used.'' 

== Elevations ==

Usually show the outline of the building, opening details and sizes, level datums and floor position. An elevation should give an impression of how one face of the building will look from the outside. 

== Estate road layout ==

Should be at either 1 : 1250 or 1 : 500 scales. Line types will fulfil an important role in this type of location drawing. The identity of buried items and various will be indicated by different line types. Conventions and symbols will indicate hard and soft landscape details and street furniture should be indicated by symbols. 

= Assembly drawings =

The purpose of assembly drawings is to show how the building is erected on site. Information will include component identification and reference, Assembly dimensions and tolerances with reference to component drawings.

The assembly drawings can be: 
*Plans
*Elevations
*Section

The assembly drawing number is prefixed by the letter A. Standard are often produced, thus, instead of redrawing, a standard detail drawing is reproduced. Standard details need an efficient library coding system to aid retrieval and sorting, and the Common Arrangement of Work Section (CAWS) reference system found in the standard old Method of Measurement (SMM7). Some assembly drawings will show: 
*Substructure section
*External wall details
*Wall openings such as head, sill and jamb sections, plans
*Eaves details
*Internal walls
*Stair details

The structuring of drawn information into specific sheets helps the search patterns of the end user. Some unenlightened designers, will often fill the drawing sheet with a mixture of plans, elevations and, if there is room, a detailed sections. The titled chosen for the drawing sheet is the first indication of the content of the sheet. Search procedures by the end users follow a pattern and the drawings should be structured and titled to maximise this procedure. Recommended scales fore assembly drawings are: 1 : 50; 1 : 20; 1 : 10. 

The drawings will comprise plan view and sections, and the thickness of lines will depend on the information hierarchy. Outlines and different components drawn with thicker lines alert the user to key information as the eye scans the entire drawing. The placing of section on the drawing sheet should be carefully laid out to minimise search time for the end user.

Identification of materials using standard conventions will complement the annotation and convey the extent of the materials used in the assembly detail.

The amount of text and dimension included on the sheet should be just enough to achieve the purpose of the drawing. For example, a drawing of a substructure detail should not included text or specification relating to the roof. When placing text and dimensions onto the sheet, it is best to assist the end user by leaving the drawing area uncluttered. The focal point is the drawn detail. Once the diagram has been assimilated, further information is sought, with the eye radiating out form the focus diagram. The diagram should therefore be encircled with dimensions and text, and the text should legible, concise and accurate.

Code references direct the user to other further drawn information such as component drawing or to the bill of quantities. The specification or the measured section of the bill of quantities should explain the quality of the material or workmanship. This will avoid expensive duplication of specifications on the drawings, reducing the possibility of discrepancies between tender and ultimate contract documents. 

= Component drawings =

This type of drawing shows individual components in the unfixed state. Information will include component sizes, tolerance and specification with reference to the bill of quantity.

The component drawing number is prefixed by the letter C, and typical component details are: 
*Wood window head detail
*Special door construction
*Sill
*Coping stone

Component drawings are often large-scale, sometime full-sized drawings showing individual components. Assembly drawings will contain several components, showing how the individual components fit together to make a building element. Recommended scales are:
*1 :10
*1 : 5
*1 : 2
*1 : 1

The component drawings will contain dimensions and some textr, but the material specification and the minimum acceptable quality will be defined in the specification section of the bill of quantities. The CAWS reference code will direct the end user to the correct part of the bill of quantities. 

= Projections =

== Orthographic projection ==

Orthographic projection is a way of illustrating three-dimensional objects in a two-dimensional drawing. The basic drawing layout for a location drawing of a house is shown below. 

[[File:Orthographic projection.jpg|RTENOTITLE]] 

Drawing projections must comply with the relevant British Standard to pervert misunderstanding and avoid errors in interpreting the drawing. The orthographic projection commonly used in Britain is called the first angle projection, but there are other less common projections that can be used to illustrate a three-dimensional object. 

== Axonometric projection ==

The advantage of an axonometric projection is the true plan set at 45. It is suitable for interior and kitchen layout. Planning drawings are effective as axonometric projection to show the relationship of existing buildings, topography and the proposed building. 

== Isometric projection ==

Unlike the axonometric projection, the isometric plan view is slightly distorted and can be used to show the nature of the design more clearly than an orthographic projection. It is sometimes used during the conceptualization of the design to help the client grasp the mass of the proposal. 

== Oblique projection ==

When primary information is drawn in elevation, the interpretation can be enhanced by an oblique projection. 

= Preliminary drawings =

These drawings are often refereed to as thinking drawings, where the architect illustrates elements of the design. The freehand sketches are bored strokes with little detail and illustrate either mass, proportion or other aesthetic principles. Soft pencil or a fineliner pen on detail paper is the preferred medium. To avoid deception the detail paper is often grid paper to ensure a correct proportion of images. The focal point of the building can be quickly illustrated by a preliminary sketch. Simplicity and avoidance of detail are the main aspects of a good preliminary drawing. 

= Sketch drawings =

The entire range of drawings can be illustrated as sketch drawings. A location drawing can be ‘key’ or control drawing, showing control dimensions or levels. A sketched assembly drawing can be used by the architect to instruct the technician preparing the ink negative. To avoid misinterpretation of size, it is advantageous to use a modular, grid ruled plan, in which the main grid is 300 mm, with a secondary grid of 100 mm. 

= Working drawings =

These are the final drawn instructions which the builder will use on site to convert the design ideas into a real building, and care must be taken to ensure accuracy of dimensions and specification. In preparing the location plan it is best to use a control box when hand drawing a working drawing – that is, maximum design length and width are drawn on the tracing film. All details should fit within this control box, and if you find you are drawing outside the control box you should stop immediately as this indicates an error in the detailed measurements. Once the drawing has been completed in ink, clean up the drawing and erase the control box.

When a drawing is being produced, though must be given to the structuring of information. A drawing contains certain information that must be observed. This is primary information, shown by thicker lines and/or high intensity. Secondary information will be shown by lines of medium thickness, while tertiary information will be indicated by thin lines. With ink drawings on film or tracing paper, different pen thickness will achieve the necessary information hierarchy. 

== Specification ==

All drawings require annotation, i.e. letter describing the elements of identifying the components. As these descriptive notes and words must be clearly understood, it is essential to aim for legibility if they are hand written, which means taking time to: 
*Form and shape each individual letter
*Space letters and words correctly
*Arrange the text to help the end user
*Arrange the text in hierarchical context

To help achieve clarity of specification, stencils and dry letter transfer are available. When using CAD, take the time to select a clear and suitable font. Fonts like Comic Sans should never be used on any formal documents, signage, publications or drawings. 

== Bill of quantities ==

The bill of quantities – which is, first, a vital tender document, then a contract document – should be an accurate description and quantification of the project. There should therefore be a cross-reference to the tender drawing and architect’s notes or specifications. The achieve this, the CAWS is used.

Coordinated project references 

Based on the old SMM7, some of the main cross-references are:
*Concrete work: 

- Concrete foundation E10.1 

- Concrete bed (floor) E10.4

- Concrete cavity filling E30.8 
*Masonry

- Clay brickwork in wall F10.1

- Cavities F30.1.1

- Damp-proof course, vertical F30.2.1

- Damp-proof course, horizontal F30.2.3 
*Carcass timber

- Rafter G20.92

- Floor joist G20.6

- Floor boarding K20.2

- Trussed rafter G20.2 
*Finishing joinery

- Wood window L20.1

- Double glazing L40.2

- Wood door frame L20.7

- Wood door L20.1

- Architrave P20.1 
*Roofing

- Concrete roof tiles H60.1 
*Plastering

- Plasterboard and skim M20.2

- Plaster to walls M20.1

- Floor screed M10.5

(This information and cross-referencing should have been applied to older architectural drawings.) 

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Paper sizes (ISO 216 A, B and C series) 
*North American Paper Sizes 
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

Types of drawings for building design

2013-11-11T14:14:55Z

Kenny:

= Location Drawings/General Arrangement Drawings =

The information shown on the locating drawing will be overall sizes, level and references to assembly drawing. The plans are intended to show the location of the work, not detail (a common mistake). The location drawings, which can be plans, elevation or sections, are numbered consecutively with the prefix L. 

Typical location drawings will be: 
*Block plans
*Site plans
*Floor plans
*Foundations plans
*Roof plans
*Section through the entire building
*Elevations 

British Standard Specification 1192 has recommended or preferred scales for location drawings. 

== Block Plans ==

Usually show the sitting of the project, in relation to Ordnance Survey Maps. Conventions are used to depict boundaries, roads and other details. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 2500 
*1 : 1250
*1 : 500 

== Site Plans ==

Usually show the extent of the site but no surrounding detail. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 500
*1 : 200 

The function of the site plan is to show: 
*The location of the building or buildings in relation to their surroundings. 
*The topography of the site, with both existing and finished levels.
*Buildings to be demolished or removed.
*The extent of earthworks, included, cutting and filling, and the provision of bank and retaining walls.
*Roads, footpaths, hardstandings and paved areas.
*Planting
*The layout of external service runs, including drainage, water, gas, electricity, telephone, etc.
*The layout of external lighting.
*Fencing, wall and gates.
*The location of miscellaneous external components – bollards, litter bins, etc. 

== Floor plans ==

Usually show the layout of rooms, key dimensions and level, and may also use conventions and symbols to show materials and location of fittings and appliances. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 200
*1 : 100
*1 : 50

Line types are used to differentiate information in floor plans. Hatching or conventions are used to illustrate materials, while symbols are used to show fittings and appliances often with standard abbreviations. 

For floor plans, there are three situations that must be considered: 
*General arrangement (location) drawing designed to show a single building element and what it should contain. 
*The general arrangement drawing designed to be complete in itself – i.e. a drawing which in which in BS1192 CI/SFB Table 1 terminology would be described as ‘The project in general’ and coded (--). (Clearly this type of drawing would only arise on the smallest and simplest of projects.) 
*The basic floor plan drawing – the drawing which provide the fundamental and minimal information which will appear as the framework for each individual elemental plan. The basic drawing, in fact, from which future drawing containing elemental information will be taken.

=== Basic floor plan ===

The latter situation for floor plans has a substantial bearing on the other two. If a set of working drawings for a project is prepare, you may decide that the floor plans will be divided into five elements in the following manner: 

(2-) Primary elements (3-) Secondary elements (5-) Services (piped and ducted) (6-) Services (Electrical) (7-) Fittings 

=== General arrangement plans ===

Where the elemental plans are to be drawn by CAD or manually, you must fist consider what common features of the plans will need to appear in all five elementalised plans given in the example above. It is clearly important that the information carried by the base negative, (manual) or layers common to all drawings in a CAD set shall be , not too little, and not too much. Below is a check list of what the basic plan should contain and a list of those items which more often than not get added to the original needlessly and superfluously to the subsequent inconvenience of everyone. 

''To be included:''
*Walls 
*Main openings in walls (i.e. doors and windows)
*Partitions
*Main openings in partitions (doors)
*Door swing
*Room names and number
*Grid references (when applicable)
*Stairs (in outline)
*Fixed furniture (including loose furniture where its disposition in a room is a practice predetermined - e.g. desks set out on a modular gird, etc.) 
*Sanitary fittings
*Cupboards 
*North point 

''Item which tend to be included, but should not be:''
*Dimensions 
*Annotations
*Details of construction – e.g. cavity wall construction
*Hatching and shading
*Loose furniture where it disposition is not predetermined 
*Section indications

A uniform line thickness should be used throughout and that the “middle” of the three line thickness for the scale be used on the plan should to be recommended. 

 

{| width="564" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|+ Recommended pen size/line sizes are as follows: 
|-
| Drawings to a scale of 1 : 50 and less 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale 1 : 20 to 1 : 5 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale larger than 1 : 5 
| 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
|-
| Pen size Range 1 
| 0.2 
| 0.3 
| 0.4 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|-
| Pen Size Range 2 (ISO 9175-1)* 
| 0.18 
| 0.25 
| 0.35 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|}

''* Pens size range 2 follow the same size-ratio principle used for the international A-series paper size (ISO216). The standard sizes (ISO 9175-1) differ by a factor √2. These pens are: 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). Other sizes of pens are available, however, to keep the same factor when working between different size sheets, the standard sizes of pens should be used.'' 

== Elevations ==

Usually show the outline of the building, opening details and sizes, level datums and floor position. An elevation should give an impression of how one face of the building will look from the outside. 

== Estate road layout ==

Should be at either 1 : 1250 or 1 : 500 scales. Line types will fulfil an important role in this type of location drawing. The identity of buried items and various will be indicated by different line types. Conventions and symbols will indicate hard and soft landscape details and street furniture should be indicated by symbols. 

= Assembly drawings =

The purpose of assembly drawings is to show how the building is erected on site. Information will include component identification and reference, Assembly dimensions and tolerances with reference to component drawings.

The assembly drawings can be: 
*Plans
*Elevations
*Section

The assembly drawing number is prefixed by the letter A. Standard are often produced, thus, instead of redrawing, a standard detail drawing is reproduced. Standard details need an efficient library coding system to aid retrieval and sorting, and the Common Arrangement of Work Section (CAWS) reference system found in the standard old Method of Measurement (SMM7). Some assembly drawings will show: 
*Substructure section
*External wall details
*Wall openings such as head, sill and jamb sections, plans
*Eaves details
*Internal walls
*Stair details

The structuring of drawn information into specific sheets helps the search patterns of the end user. Some unenlightened designers, will often fill the drawing sheet with a mixture of plans, elevations and, if there is room, a detailed sections. The titled chosen for the drawing sheet is the first indication of the content of the sheet. Search procedures by the end users follow a pattern and the drawings should be structured and titled to maximise this procedure. Recommended scales fore assembly drawings are: 1 : 50; 1 : 20; 1 : 10. 

The drawings will comprise plan view and sections, and the thickness of lines will depend on the information hierarchy. Outlines and different components drawn with thicker lines alert the user to key information as the eye scans the entire drawing. The placing of section on the drawing sheet should be carefully laid out to minimise search time for the end user.

Identification of materials using standard conventions will complement the annotation and convey the extent of the materials used in the assembly detail.

The amount of text and dimension included on the sheet should be just enough to achieve the purpose of the drawing. For example, a drawing of a substructure detail should not included text or specification relating to the roof. When placing text and dimensions onto the sheet, it is best to assist the end user by leaving the drawing area uncluttered. The focal point is the drawn detail. Once the diagram has been assimilated, further information is sought, with the eye radiating out form the focus diagram. The diagram should therefore be encircled with dimensions and text, and the text should legible, concise and accurate.

Code references direct the user to other further drawn information such as component drawing or to the bill of quantities. The specification or the measured section of the bill of quantities should explain the quality of the material or workmanship. This will avoid expensive duplication of specifications on the drawings, reducing the possibility of discrepancies between tender and ultimate contract documents. 

= Component drawings =

This type of drawing shows individual components in the unfixed state. Information will include component sizes, tolerance and specification with reference to the bill of quantity.

The component drawing number is prefixed by the letter C, and typical component details are: 
*Wood window head detail
*Special door construction
*Sill
*Coping stone

Component drawings are often large-scale, sometime full-sized drawings showing individual components. Assembly drawings will contain several components, showing how the individual components fit together to make a building element. Recommended scales are:
*1 :10
*1 : 5
*1 : 2
*1 : 1

The component drawings will contain dimensions and some textr, but the material specification and the minimum acceptable quality will be defined in the specification section of the bill of quantities. The CAWS reference code will direct the end user to the correct part of the bill of quantities. 

= Projections =

== Orthographic projection ==

Orthographic projection is a way of illustrating three-dimensional objects in a two-dimensional drawing. The basic drawing layout for a location drawing of a house is shown below. 

[[File:Orthographic projection.jpg]] 

Drawing projections must comply with the relevant British Standard to pervert misunderstanding and avoid errors in interpreting the drawing. The orthographic projection commonly used in Britain is called the first angle projection, but there are other less common projections that can be used to illustrate a three-dimensional object. 

== Axonometric projection ==

The advantage of an axonometric projection is the true plan set at 45. It is suitable for interior and kitchen layout. Planning drawings are effective as axonometric projection to show the relationship of existing buildings, topography and the proposed building. 

== Isometric projection ==

Unlike the axonometric projection, the isometric plan view is slightly distorted and can be used to show the nature of the design more clearly than an orthographic projection. It is sometimes used during the conceptualization of the design to help the client grasp the mass of the proposal. 

== Oblique projection ==

When primary information is drawn in elevation, the interpretation can be enhanced by an oblique projection. 

= Preliminary drawings =

These drawings are often refereed to as thinking drawings, where the architect illustrates elements of the design. The freehand sketches are bored strokes with little detail and illustrate either mass, proportion or other aesthetic principles. Soft pencil or a fineliner pen on detail paper is the preferred medium. To avoid deception the detail paper is often grid paper to ensure a correct proportion of images. The focal point of the building can be quickly illustrated by a preliminary sketch. Simplicity and avoidance of detail are the main aspects of a good preliminary drawing. 

= Sketch drawings =

The entire range of drawings can be illustrated as sketch drawings. A location drawing can be ‘key’ or control drawing, showing control dimensions or levels. A sketched assembly drawing can be used by the architect to instruct the technician preparing the ink negative. To avoid misinterpretation of size, it is advantageous to use a modular, grid ruled plan, in which the main grid is 300 mm, with a secondary grid of 100 mm. 

= Working drawings =

These are the final drawn instructions which the builder will use on site to convert the design ideas into a real building, and care must be taken to ensure accuracy of dimensions and specification. In preparing the location plan it is best to use a control box when hand drawing a working drawing – that is, maximum design length and width are drawn on the tracing film. All details should fit within this control box, and if you find you are drawing outside the control box you should stop immediately as this indicates an error in the detailed measurements. Once the drawing has been completed in ink, clean up the drawing and erase the control box.

When a drawing is being produced, though must be given to the structuring of information. A drawing contains certain information that must be observed. This is primary information, shown by thicker lines and/or high intensity. Secondary information will be shown by lines of medium thickness, while tertiary information will be indicated by thin lines. With ink drawings on film or tracing paper, different pen thickness will achieve the necessary information hierarchy. 

== Specification ==

All drawings require annotation, i.e. letter describing the elements of identifying the components. As these descriptive notes and words must be clearly understood, it is essential to aim for legibility if they are hand written, which means taking time to: 
*Form and shape each individual letter
*Space letters and words correctly
*Arrange the text to help the end user
*Arrange the text in hierarchical context

To help achieve clarity of specification, stencils and dry letter transfer are available. When using CAD, take the time to select a clear and suitable font. Fonts like Comic Sans should never be used on any formal documents, signage, publications or drawings. 

== Bill of quantities ==

The bill of quantities – which is, first, a vital tender document, then a contract document – should be an accurate description and quantification of the project. There should therefore be a cross-reference to the tender drawing and architect’s notes or specifications. The achieve this, the CAWS is used.

Coordinated project references 

Based on the old SMM7, some of the main cross-references are:
*Concrete work: 

- Concrete foundation E10.1 

- Concrete bed (floor) E10.4

- Concrete cavity filling E30.8 
*Masonry

- Clay brickwork in wall F10.1

- Cavities F30.1.1

- Damp-proof course, vertical F30.2.1

- Damp-proof course, horizontal F30.2.3 
*Carcass timber

- Rafter G20.92

- Floor joist G20.6

- Floor boarding K20.2

- Trussed rafter G20.2 
*Finishing joinery

- Wood window L20.1

- Double glazing L40.2

- Wood door frame L20.7

- Wood door L20.1

- Architrave P20.1 
*Roofing

- Concrete roof tiles H60.1 
*Plastering

- Plasterboard and skim M20.2

- Plaster to walls M20.1

- Floor screed M10.5

(This information and cross-referencing should have been applied to older architectural drawings.)

 

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Paper sizes (ISO 216 A, B and C series) 
*North American Paper Sizes 
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

North American Paper Sizes

2013-11-11T14:14:40Z

Kenny:

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group. 

[[File:Herbert Hoover.jpg|400x525px|alt=Herbert Hoover.jpg]]

''(Herbert Hoover was U.S. Secretary of Commerce between 1921-1928, and the 31st President of the USA between 1929-1933''. ''Graduated as a mining engineer and was the chief engineer for the Chinese government before and during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion.'') 

 

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: Notes on the standardization of paper sizes 1972 ([http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]) ] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard (P Series) =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= PA series =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

[[File:ANSI papaer size.png|600x751px|alt=ANSI papaer size.png]]

= Architectural sizes =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= [[File:ARCH paper sizes.png|600x750px|alt=ARCH paper sizes.png]] The adoption of the metric system in the USA =

The United States has been offcial on the metric system since 1975! The 'Metric Conversion Act' is an Act of Congress that U.S. President Gerald Ford signed into law on December 23, 1975. It declared the Metric system as, "the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce". However, it permitted the use of United States customary units in non-business activities. 

The Act also established the government agency of United States Metric Board (USMB) with representatives from scientific, technical, and educational institutions, as well as state and local governments to plan, coordinate, and educate the American people for the Metrication of the United States, and to encourage metrication. 

[[File:All About Metric.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''USMB published various educational materials including this 18-page booklet titled All About Metric, printed in 1982. '' 

 

The existed of The USMB was short lived though. It existed from 1975 to 1982, ending when President Ronald Reagan abolished it, largely on the recommendation of Frank Mankiewicz (journalist and president of National Public Radio in 1981) who encouraged Lyn Nofziger, (President Reagan's assistant for political affairs), to persuade President Reagan to dissolve the board, believing the system was harming the country. 

Overall, the board made little impact on implementing the metric system in the United States, but did "educate the American people about the meaning of the Metric system in everyday life", (taken from President Ronald Reagan's letter to Louis Polk, Chairman of the USMB, on 9 March 1982, thanking him for his efforts.) 

Just before it dissolved — officially, on 30 September 1982 — the USMB issued the 44-page ''U.S. Metric Board Summary Report — July 1982'' ([http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pur1.32754076105224;view=1up;seq=1&nbsp http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pur1.32754076105224;view=1up;seq=1]), summarizing its four years of activities. Among other things, it includes a list of findings and recommendations, with these main points (for the explanation of each, read the report): 

'''Findings'''
*The present policy of maintaining a dual system of measures for trade and commerce is confusing to all segments of American society.
*Voluntary metric conversion by industry occurs primarily in response to marketplace demands and usually on a company-by-company basis.
*The costs of metric conversion have not been excessive.
*Large segments of industry have metric capability.
*Past perceptions of the difficulty of metric conversion have no basis.
*There are no substantial legal barriers to metric conversion requiring Federal preemptive action.
*There are no substantial technical problems with metric conversion.
*Consumers accept conversion according to their own interests.

'''Recommendations'''
*The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 should continue to be administered.
*National policy on metric conversion should be reassessed.
*Research should be conducted on economic sectors where metric capability may be critical.
*The Federal Interagency Committee on Metric Policy and the National Council on State Metrication should be continued.
*The functions outlined in the Board's Private Sector Planning Guidelines should be continued.
*Government public awareness, consumer and education programs should be continued selectively.
*The States should consider enacting uniform metric conversion legislation.

The Summary Report also includes statements from each USMB's 17 members, providing their perspectives on metrication; a detailed summary of USMB activities; the metrication status of each federal agency; and a summary of each state's metric conversion status. 

It also includes a brief summary of USMB expenditures and a bibliography of USMB publications. 

Congress still recognise the necessity of the United States’ conformance with international standards for trade, included new encouragement for U.S. industrial metrication in the 'Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designates the metric system as the "A preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce.” The legislation states that the Federal Government has a responsibility to assist industry, especially small business, as it voluntarily converts to the metric system of measurement.

= the problems of using N.A. Paper sizes =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0. 

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature. 

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of envelope formats ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]).

== Calculating Weights ==

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]) odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

== Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American ==

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies. 

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers or shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and they might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

== '''Note:''' ==

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet. 

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Paper sizes (ISO 216 A, B and C series) 
*Types of Drawings.
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

Paper Sizes

2013-11-11T14:12:50Z

Kenny:

Like systems of measurement, there have been many different paper size standards at different times and in different places.

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world. The ISO standard paper sizes are used for writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used that is still based on imperial measurements.

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, and are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardisation) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2.

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size on an aspect ratio of √2 was first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, the first director of NADI (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed as DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again as the German Institute for Standardisation, or 'DIN'.

''(Note: The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly described as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". Indeed, NADI published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (relating to tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.)''

On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio.

The Lichtenberg Ratio (1: 1.4142) is occasionally confused with the Golden Ratio, which is 1: 1.618. While aesthetically pleasing properties have been attributed to both, the Lichtenberg Ratio has the advantage of preserving the aspect ratio when cutting a page into two. The Golden Ratio, on the other hand, preserves the aspect ratio when cutting a maximal square from the paper, a property is not particularly useful for office applications. The Golden Ratio was a very fashionable topic in antique and renaissance arts literature and it has a close connection to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics. Many examples of the Golden ratio can be found in art and architecture.

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organisation for Standardisation, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 were already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard.

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

[[File:A-B-C-series-paper-size-comparison.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series was derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142).

The dimensions of this rectangle of paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins.

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in).

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate. A standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to their international successor:

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0: 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that were not included by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B size illustration2-svg.png|660x900px|RTENOTITLE]]

 The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and are defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number. So, the area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

[[File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== CAD usage ==

Computer Aided Design (CAD) uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes (m ISO) differ by a factor √2. These pens are: 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.13 mm. 

So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). Other sizes of pens are available, however, to keep the same factor when working between different size sheets, the standard sizes of pens (m ISO) should be used. 

[[File:Drafting pens.jpg|RTENOTITLE]] 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (referred to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

= Size management =

Using non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes are needed between A0 and A1 then the B1 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet.

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawings on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable, and there will always be a number of small details which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and whether this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate.

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are:
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users (both producer and recipient) will have access to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce a drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are generally an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile. A4’s can also be carried around easily.

The disadvantages of the A4 format are:
*The drawing area is too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3.

The choice is not easy, but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for the pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can bind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can copy them in two halves on a photocopier and tape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet.

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: There is a separate article on North American paper sizes on this Wiki)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use. 

{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| Type of board
| Size
| Width (mm)
| Length (mm)
|-
| Parallel motion unit only or parallelogram type drafting machine
| 
| 
| 
|-
| 
| A2
| 470
| 650
|-
| 
| A1
| 730
| 920
|-
| 
| A0
| 920
| 1270
|-
| 
| 2A0
| 1250
| 1750
|-
| Track or tolley type drafting machine requiring additional 'parking' area on one side.
| 
| 
| 
|-
| 
| A1 extended
| 650
| 1100
|-
| 
| A0 extended
| 920
| 1500
|-
| Parallel motion unit with drafting head requiring additional 'parking' area at the bottom of the board.
| 
| 
| 
|-
| 
| A1 deep
| 730
| 920
|-
| 
| A0 deep
| 1000
| 1270
|}

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*North American Paper Sizes 
*Types of Drawings.
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

File:Orthographic projection.jpg

2013-11-11T14:10:00Z

Kenny: Orthographic projection of a house.

Orthographic projection of a house.

Types of drawings for building design

2013-11-11T14:06:06Z

Kenny: Created page with " = Location Drawings/General Arrangement Drawings = The information shown on the locating drawing will be overall sizes, level and references to assembly drawing. The plans..."

= Location Drawings/General Arrangement Drawings =

The information shown on the locating drawing will be overall sizes, level and references to assembly drawing. The plans are intended to show the location of the work, not detail (a common mistake). The location drawings, which can be plans, elevation or sections, are numbered consecutively with the prefix L. 

Typical location drawings will be: 
*Block plans
*Site plans
*Floor plans
*Foundations plans
*Roof plans
*Section through the entire building
*Elevations 

British Standard Specification 1192 has recommended or preferred scales for location drawings. 

== Block Plans ==

Usually show the sitting of the project, in relation to Ordnance Survey Maps. Conventions are used to depict boundaries, roads and other details. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 2500 
*1 : 1250
*1 : 500 

== Site Plans ==

Usually show the extent of the site but no surrounding detail. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 500
*1 : 200 

The function of the site plan is to show: 
*The location of the building or buildings in relation to their surroundings. 
*The topography of the site, with both existing and finished levels.
*Buildings to be demolished or removed.
*The extent of earthworks, included, cutting and filling, and the provision of bank and retaining walls.
*Roads, footpaths, hardstandings and paved areas.
*Planting
*The layout of external service runs, including drainage, water, gas, electricity, telephone, etc.
*The layout of external lighting.
*Fencing, wall and gates.
*The location of miscellaneous external components – bollards, litter bins, etc. 

== Floor plans ==

Usually show the layout of rooms, key dimensions and level, and may also use conventions and symbols to show materials and location of fittings and appliances. Recommended scales are: 
*1 : 200
*1 : 100
*1 : 50

Line types are used to differentiate information in floor plans. Hatching or conventions are used to illustrate materials, while symbols are used to show fittings and appliances often with standard abbreviations. 

For floor plans, there are three situations that must be considered: 
*General arrangement (location) drawing designed to show a single building element and what it should contain. 
*The general arrangement drawing designed to be complete in itself – i.e. a drawing which in which in BS1192 CI/SFB Table 1 terminology would be described as ‘The project in general’ and coded (--). (Clearly this type of drawing would only arise on the smallest and simplest of projects.) 
*The basic floor plan drawing – the drawing which provide the fundamental and minimal information which will appear as the framework for each individual elemental plan. The basic drawing, in fact, from which future drawing containing elemental information will be taken.

=== Basic floor plan ===

The latter situation for floor plans has a substantial bearing on the other two. If a set of working drawings for a project is prepare, you may decide that the floor plans will be divided into five elements in the following manner: 

(2-) Primary elements (3-) Secondary elements (5-) Services (piped and ducted) (6-) Services (Electrical) (7-) Fittings 

=== General arrangement plans ===

Where the elemental plans are to be drawn by CAD or manually, you must fist consider what common features of the plans will need to appear in all five elementalised plans given in the example above. It is clearly important that the information carried by the base negative, (manual) or layers common to all drawings in a CAD set shall be , not too little, and not too much. Below is a check list of what the basic plan should contain and a list of those items which more often than not get added to the original needlessly and superfluously to the subsequent inconvenience of everyone. 

''To be included:''
*Walls 
*Main openings in walls (i.e. doors and windows)
*Partitions
*Main openings in partitions (doors)
*Door swing
*Room names and number
*Grid references (when applicable)
*Stairs (in outline)
*Fixed furniture (including loose furniture where its disposition in a room is a practice predetermined - e.g. desks set out on a modular gird, etc.) 
*Sanitary fittings
*Cupboards 
*North point 

''Item which tend to be included, but should not be:''
*Dimensions 
*Annotations
*Details of construction – e.g. cavity wall construction
*Hatching and shading
*Loose furniture where it disposition is not predetermined 
*Section indications

A uniform line thickness should be used throughout and that the “middle” of the three line thickness for the scale be used on the plan should to be recommended. 

 

{| width="564" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|+ Recommended pen size/line sizes are as follows: 
|-
| Drawings to a scale of 1 : 50 and less 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale 1 : 20 to 1 : 5 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
| 
|-
| Drawings to a scale larger than 1 : 5 
| 
| 
| (a) 
| (b) 
| (c) 
|-
| Pen size Range 1 
| 0.2 
| 0.3 
| 0.4 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|-
| Pen Size Range 2 (ISO 9175-1)* 
| 0.18 
| 0.25 
| 0.35 
| 0.5 
| 0.7 
|}

''* Pens size range 2 follow the same size-ratio principle used for the international A-series paper size (ISO216). The standard sizes (ISO 9175-1) differ by a factor √2. These pens are: 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). Other sizes of pens are available, however, to keep the same factor when working between different size sheets, the standard sizes of pens should be used.'' 

== Elevations ==

Usually show the outline of the building, opening details and sizes, level datums and floor position. An elevation should give an impression of how one face of the building will look from the outside. 

== Estate road layout ==

Should be at either 1 : 1250 or 1 : 500 scales. Line types will fulfil an important role in this type of location drawing. The identity of buried items and various will be indicated by different line types. Conventions and symbols will indicate hard and soft landscape details and street furniture should be indicated by symbols. 

= Assembly drawings =

The purpose of assembly drawings is to show how the building is erected on site. Information will include component identification and reference, Assembly dimensions and tolerances with reference to component drawings.

The assembly drawings can be: 
*Plans
*Elevations
*Section

The assembly drawing number is prefixed by the letter A. Standard are often produced, thus, instead of redrawing, a standard detail drawing is reproduced. Standard details need an efficient library coding system to aid retrieval and sorting, and the Common Arrangement of Work Section (CAWS) reference system found in the standard old Method of Measurement (SMM7). Some assembly drawings will show: 
*Substructure section
*External wall details
*Wall openings such as head, sill and jamb sections, plans
*Eaves details
*Internal walls
*Stair details

The structuring of drawn information into specific sheets helps the search patterns of the end user. Some unenlightened designers, will often fill the drawing sheet with a mixture of plans, elevations and, if there is room, a detailed sections. The titled chosen for the drawing sheet is the first indication of the content of the sheet. Search procedures by the end users follow a pattern and the drawings should be structured and titled to maximise this procedure. Recommended scales fore assembly drawings are: 1 : 50; 1 : 20; 1 : 10. 

The drawings will comprise plan view and sections, and the thickness of lines will depend on the information hierarchy. Outlines and different components drawn with thicker lines alert the user to key information as the eye scans the entire drawing. The placing of section on the drawing sheet should be carefully laid out to minimise search time for the end user.

Identification of materials using standard conventions will complement the annotation and convey the extent of the materials used in the assembly detail.

The amount of text and dimension included on the sheet should be just enough to achieve the purpose of the drawing. For example, a drawing of a substructure detail should not included text or specification relating to the roof. When placing text and dimensions onto the sheet, it is best to assist the end user by leaving the drawing area uncluttered. The focal point is the drawn detail. Once the diagram has been assimilated, further information is sought, with the eye radiating out form the focus diagram. The diagram should therefore be encircled with dimensions and text, and the text should legible, concise and accurate.

Code references direct the user to other further drawn information such as component drawing or to the bill of quantities. The specification or the measured section of the bill of quantities should explain the quality of the material or workmanship. This will avoid expensive duplication of specifications on the drawings, reducing the possibility of discrepancies between tender and ultimate contract documents. 

= Component drawings =

This type of drawing shows individual components in the unfixed state. Information will include component sizes, tolerance and specification with reference to the bill of quantity.

The component drawing number is prefixed by the letter C, and typical component details are: 
*Wood window head detail
*Special door construction
*Sill
*Coping stone

Component drawings are often large-scale, sometime full-sized drawings showing individual components. Assembly drawings will contain several components, showing how the individual components fit together to make a building element. Recommended scales are:
*1 :10
*1 : 5
*1 : 2
*1 : 1

The component drawings will contain dimensions and some textr, but the material specification and the minimum acceptable quality will be defined in the specification section of the bill of quantities. The CAWS reference code will direct the end user to the correct part of the bill of quantities. 

= Projections =

Orthographic projection is a way of illustrating three-dimensional objects in a two-dimensional drawing. The basic drawing layout for a location drawing of a house is shown below. Drawing projections must comply with the relevant British Standard to pervert misunderstanding and avoid errors in interpreting the drawing. The orthographic projection commonly used in Britain is called the first angle projection, but there are other less common projections that can be used to illustrate a three-dimensional object. 

== Axonometric projection ==

The advantage of an axonometric projection is the true plan set at 45. It is suitable for interior and kitchen layout. Planning drawings are effective as axonometric projection to show the relationship of existing buildings, topography and the proposed building. 

== Isometric projection ==

Unlike the axonometric projection, the isometric plan view is slightly distorted and can be used to show the nature of the design more clearly than an orthographic projection. It is sometimes used during the conceptualization of the design to help the client grasp the mass of the proposal. 

== Oblique projection ==

When primary information is drawn in elevation, the interpretation can be enhanced by an oblique projection. 

= Preliminary drawings =

These drawings are often refereed to as thinking drawings, where the architect illustrates elements of the design. The freehand sketches are bored strokes with little detail and illustrate either mass, proportion or other aesthetic principles. Soft pencil or a fineliner pen on detail paper is the preferred medium. To avoid deception the detail paper is often grid paper to ensure a correct proportion of images. The focal point of the building can be quickly illustrated by a preliminary sketch. Simplicity and avoidance of detail are the main aspects of a good preliminary drawing. 

= Sketch drawings =

The entire range of drawings can be illustrated as sketch drawings. A location drawing can be ‘key’ or control drawing, showing control dimensions or levels. A sketched assembly drawing can be used by the architect to instruct the technician preparing the ink negative. To avoid misinterpretation of size, it is advantageous to use a modular, grid ruled plan, in which the main grid is 300 mm, with a secondary grid of 100 mm. 

= Working drawings =

These are the final drawn instructions which the builder will use on site to convert the design ideas into a real building, and care must be taken to ensure accuracy of dimensions and specification. In preparing the location plan it is best to use a control box when hand drawing a working drawing – that is, maximum design length and width are drawn on the tracing film. All details should fit within this control box, and if you find you are drawing outside the control box you should stop immediately as this indicates an error in the detailed measurements. Once the drawing has been completed in ink, clean up the drawing and erase the control box.

When a drawing is being produced, though must be given to the structuring of information. A drawing contains certain information that must be observed. This is primary information, shown by thicker lines and/or high intensity. Secondary information will be shown by lines of medium thickness, while tertiary information will be indicated by thin lines. With ink drawings on film or tracing paper, different pen thickness will achieve the necessary information hierarchy. 

== Specification ==

All drawings require annotation, i.e. letter describing the elements of identifying the components. As these descriptive notes and words must be clearly understood, it is essential to aim for legibility if they are hand written, which means taking time to: 
*Form and shape each individual letter
*Space letters and words correctly
*Arrange the text to help the end user
*Arrange the text in hierarchical context

To help achieve clarity of specification, stencils and dry letter transfer are available. When using CAD, take the time to select a clear and suitable font. Fonts like Comic Sans should never be used on any formal documents, signage, publications or drawings. 

== Bill of quantities ==

The bill of quantities – which is, first, a vital tender document, then a contract document – should be an accurate description and quantification of the project. There should therefore be a cross-reference to the tender drawing and architect’s notes or specifications. The achieve this, the CAWS is used.

Coordinated project references 

Based on the old SMM7, some of the main cross-references are:
*Concrete work: 

- Concrete foundation E10.1 

- Concrete bed (floor) E10.4

- Concrete cavity filling E30.8 
*Masonry

- Clay brickwork in wall F10.1

- Cavities F30.1.1

- Damp-proof course, vertical F30.2.1

- Damp-proof course, horizontal F30.2.3 
*Carcass timber

- Rafter G20.92

- Floor joist G20.6

- Floor boarding K20.2

- Trussed rafter G20.2 
*Finishing joinery

- Wood window L20.1

- Double glazing L40.2

- Wood door frame L20.7

- Wood door L20.1

- Architrave P20.1 
*Roofing

- Concrete roof tiles H60.1 
*Plastering

- Plasterboard and skim M20.2

- Plaster to walls M20.1

- Floor screed M10.5

(This information and cross-referencing should have been applied to older architectural drawings.)

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

Paper Sizes

2013-11-01T21:04:13Z

Kenny:

Like systems of measurement, there have been many different paper size standards at different times and in different places.

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world. The ISO standard paper sizes are used for writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used that is still based on imperial measurements.

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, and are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardisation) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2.

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size on an aspect ratio of √2 was first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, the first director of NADI (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed as DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again as the German Institute for Standardisation, or 'DIN'.

''(Note: The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly described as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". Indeed, NADI published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (relating to tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.)''

On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio.

The Lichtenberg Ratio (1: 1.4142) is occasionally confused with the Golden Ratio, which is 1: 1.618. While aesthetically pleasing properties have been attributed to both, the Lichtenberg Ratio has the advantage of preserving the aspect ratio when cutting a page into two. The Golden Ratio, on the other hand, preserves the aspect ratio when cutting a maximal square from the paper, a property is not particularly useful for office applications. The Golden Ratio was a very fashionable topic in antique and renaissance arts literature and it has a close connection to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics. Many examples of the Golden ratio can be found in art and architecture.

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organisation for Standardisation, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 were already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard.

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

[[File:A-B-C-series-paper-size-comparison.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series was derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142).

The dimensions of this rectangle of paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins.

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in).

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate. A standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to their international successor:

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0: 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that were not included by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B size illustration2-svg.png|660x900px|RTENOTITLE]]

 The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and are defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number. So, the area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

[[File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== CAD usage ==

Computer Aided Design (CAD) uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes (m ISO) differ by a factor √2. These pens are: 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm and 0.13 mm. 

So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). Other sizes of pens are available, however, to keep the same factor when working between different size sheets, the standard sizes of pens (m ISO) should be used. 

[[File:Drafting pens.jpg|RTENOTITLE]] 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (referred to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

= Size management =

Using non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes are needed between A0 and A1 then the B1 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet.

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawings on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable, and there will always be a number of small details which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and whether this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate.

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are:
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users (both producer and recipient) will have access to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce a drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are generally an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile. A4’s can also be carried around easily.

The disadvantages of the A4 format are:
*The drawing area is too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3.

The choice is not easy, but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for the pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can bind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can copy them in two halves on a photocopier and tape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet.

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: There is a separate article on North American paper sizes on this Wiki)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use. 

{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| Type of board
| Size
| Width (mm)
| Length (mm)
|-
| Parallel motion unit only or parallelogram type drafting machine
| 
| 
| 
|-
| 
| A2
| 470
| 650
|-
| 
| A1
| 730
| 920
|-
| 
| A0
| 920
| 1270
|-
| 
| 2A0
| 1250
| 1750
|-
| Track or tolley type drafting machine requiring additional 'parking' area on one side.
| 
| 
| 
|-
| 
| A1 extended
| 650
| 1100
|-
| 
| A0 extended
| 920
| 1500
|-
| Parallel motion unit with drafting head requiring additional 'parking' area at the bottom of the board.
| 
| 
| 
|-
| 
| A1 deep
| 730
| 920
|-
| 
| A0 deep
| 1000
| 1270
|}

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*North American Paper Sizes 
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique. 

= North American Paper Sizes =

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

North American Paper Sizes

2013-11-01T09:59:21Z

Kenny:

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group. 

[[File:Herbert Hoover.jpg|400x525px|alt=Herbert Hoover.jpg]]

''(Herbert Hoover was U.S. Secretary of Commerce between 1921-1928, and the 31st President of the USA between 1929-1933''. ''Graduated as a mining engineer and was the chief engineer for the Chinese government before and during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion.'') 

 

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: Notes on the standardization of paper sizes 1972 ([http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]) ] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard (P Series) =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= PA series =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

[[File:ANSI papaer size.png|600x751px|alt=ANSI papaer size.png]]

= Architectural sizes =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= [[File:ARCH paper sizes.png|600x750px|alt=ARCH paper sizes.png]] The adoption of the metric system in the USA =

The United States has been offcial on the metric system since 1975! The 'Metric Conversion Act' is an Act of Congress that U.S. President Gerald Ford signed into law on December 23, 1975. It declared the Metric system as, "the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce". However, it permitted the use of United States customary units in non-business activities. 

The Act also established the government agency of United States Metric Board (USMB) with representatives from scientific, technical, and educational institutions, as well as state and local governments to plan, coordinate, and educate the American people for the Metrication of the United States, and to encourage metrication. 

[[File:All About Metric.jpg]]

''USMB published various educational materials including this 18-page booklet titled All About Metric, printed in 1982. '' 

 

The existed of The USMB was short lived though. It existed from 1975 to 1982, ending when President Ronald Reagan abolished it, largely on the recommendation of Frank Mankiewicz (journalist and president of National Public Radio in 1981) who encouraged Lyn Nofziger, (President Reagan's assistant for political affairs), to persuade President Reagan to dissolve the board, believing the system was harming the country. 

Overall, the board made little impact on implementing the metric system in the United States, but did "educate the American people about the meaning of the Metric system in everyday life", (taken from President Ronald Reagan's letter to Louis Polk, Chairman of the USMB, on 9 March 1982, thanking him for his efforts.) 

Just before it dissolved — officially, on 30 September 1982 — the USMB issued the 44-page ''U.S. Metric Board Summary Report — July 1982'' ([http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pur1.32754076105224;view=1up;seq=1&nbsp http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pur1.32754076105224;view=1up;seq=1]), summarizing its four years of activities. Among other things, it includes a list of findings and recommendations, with these main points (for the explanation of each, read the report): 

'''Findings'''
*The present policy of maintaining a dual system of measures for trade and commerce is confusing to all segments of American society.
*Voluntary metric conversion by industry occurs primarily in response to marketplace demands and usually on a company-by-company basis.
*The costs of metric conversion have not been excessive.
*Large segments of industry have metric capability.
*Past perceptions of the difficulty of metric conversion have no basis.
*There are no substantial legal barriers to metric conversion requiring Federal preemptive action.
*There are no substantial technical problems with metric conversion.
*Consumers accept conversion according to their own interests.

'''Recommendations'''
*The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 should continue to be administered.
*National policy on metric conversion should be reassessed.
*Research should be conducted on economic sectors where metric capability may be critical.
*The Federal Interagency Committee on Metric Policy and the National Council on State Metrication should be continued.
*The functions outlined in the Board's Private Sector Planning Guidelines should be continued.
*Government public awareness, consumer and education programs should be continued selectively.
*The States should consider enacting uniform metric conversion legislation.

The Summary Report also includes statements from each USMB's 17 members, providing their perspectives on metrication; a detailed summary of USMB activities; the metrication status of each federal agency; and a summary of each state's metric conversion status. 

It also includes a brief summary of USMB expenditures and a bibliography of USMB publications. 

Congress still recognise the necessity of the United States’ conformance with international standards for trade, included new encouragement for U.S. industrial metrication in the 'Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designates the metric system as the "A preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce.” The legislation states that the Federal Government has a responsibility to assist industry, especially small business, as it voluntarily converts to the metric system of measurement.

= the problems of using N.A. Paper sizes =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0. 

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature. 

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of envelope formats ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]).

== Calculating Weights ==

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]) odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

== Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American ==

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies. 

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers or shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and they might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

== '''Note:''' ==

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet. 

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Paper sizes (ISO 216 A, B and C series) 
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

North American Paper Sizes

2013-11-01T09:58:05Z

Kenny:

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group. 

[[File:Herbert Hoover.jpg|400x525px|alt=Herbert Hoover.jpg]]

''(Herbert Hoover was U.S. Secretary of Commerce between 1921-1928, and the 31st President of the USA between 1929-1933''. ''Graduated as a mining engineer and was the chief engineer for the Chinese government before and during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion.'') 

 

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: Notes on the standardization of paper sizes 1972 ([http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]) ] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard (P Series) =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= PA series =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

[[File:ANSI papaer size.png|600x751px|alt=ANSI papaer size.png]]

= Architectural sizes =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= [[File:ARCH paper sizes.png|600x750px|alt=ARCH paper sizes.png]] The adoption of the metric system in the USA =

The United States has been offcial on the metric system since 1975! The 'Metric Conversion Act' is an Act of Congress that U.S. President Gerald Ford signed into law on December 23, 1975. It declared the Metric system as, "the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce". However, it permitted the use of United States customary units in non-business activities. 

The Act also established the government agency of United States Metric Board (USMB) with representatives from scientific, technical, and educational institutions, as well as state and local governments to plan, coordinate, and educate the American people for the Metrication of the United States, and to encourage metrication. 

[[File:All About Metric.jpg|RTENOTITLE

''USMB published various educational materials including this 18-page booklet titled All About Metric, printed in 1982. '' 

 

The existed of The USMB was short lived though. It existed from 1975 to 1982, ending when President Ronald Reagan abolished it, largely on the recommendation of Frank Mankiewicz (journalist and president of National Public Radio in 1981) who encouraged Lyn Nofziger, (President Reagan's assistant for political affairs), to persuade President Reagan to dissolve the board, believing the system was harming the country. 

Overall, the board made little impact on implementing the metric system in the United States, but did "educate the American people about the meaning of the Metric system in everyday life", (taken from President Ronald Reagan's letter to Louis Polk, Chairman of the USMB, on 9 March 1982, thanking him for his efforts.) 

Just before it dissolved — officially, on 30 September 1982 — the USMB issued the 44-page ''U.S. Metric Board Summary Report — July 1982'' ([http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pur1.32754076105224;view=1up;seq=1&nbsp http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pur1.32754076105224;view=1up;seq=1]), summarizing its four years of activities. Among other things, it includes a list of findings and recommendations, with these main points (for the explanation of each, read the report): 

'''Findings'''
*The present policy of maintaining a dual system of measures for trade and commerce is confusing to all segments of American society.
*Voluntary metric conversion by industry occurs primarily in response to marketplace demands and usually on a company-by-company basis.
*The costs of metric conversion have not been excessive.
*Large segments of industry have metric capability.
*Past perceptions of the difficulty of metric conversion have no basis.
*There are no substantial legal barriers to metric conversion requiring Federal preemptive action.
*There are no substantial technical problems with metric conversion.
*Consumers accept conversion according to their own interests.

'''Recommendations'''
*The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 should continue to be administered.
*National policy on metric conversion should be reassessed.
*Research should be conducted on economic sectors where metric capability may be critical.
*The Federal Interagency Committee on Metric Policy and the National Council on State Metrication should be continued.
*The functions outlined in the Board's Private Sector Planning Guidelines should be continued.
*Government public awareness, consumer and education programs should be continued selectively.
*The States should consider enacting uniform metric conversion legislation.

The Summary Report also includes statements from each USMB's 17 members, providing their perspectives on metrication; a detailed summary of USMB activities; the metrication status of each federal agency; and a summary of each state's metric conversion status. 

It also includes a brief summary of USMB expenditures and a bibliography of USMB publications. 

Congress still recognise the necessity of the United States’ conformance with international standards for trade, included new encouragement for U.S. industrial metrication in the 'Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designates the metric system as the "A preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce.” The legislation states that the Federal Government has a responsibility to assist industry, especially small business, as it voluntarily converts to the metric system of measurement.

= the problems of using N.A. Paper sizes =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0. 

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature. 

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of envelope formats ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]).

== Calculating Weights ==

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]) odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

== Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American ==

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies. 

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers or shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and they might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

== '''Note:''' ==

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet. 

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Paper sizes (ISO 216 A, B and C series) 
*Architectural publishing. 
*Brand guidelines.
*Getting published.
*Notation and symbols.
*Self publishing for architects.
*Technical notes on architectural publishing.
*Using publishing to optimise real estate projects.
*Writing technique.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

File:All About Metric.jpg

2013-11-01T09:55:49Z

Kenny: United States Metric Board (USMB) educational material titled All About Metric, printed in 1982.

United States Metric Board (USMB) educational material titled All About Metric, printed in 1982.

North American Paper Sizes

2013-10-25T16:15:49Z

Kenny:

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group. 

[[File:Herbert Hoover.jpg|400x525px|alt=Herbert Hoover.jpg]]

''(Herbert Hoover was U.S. Secretary of Commerce between 1921-1928, and the 31st President of the USA between 1929-1933''. ''Graduated as a mining engineer and was the chief engineer for the Chinese government before and during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion.'') 

 

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: Notes on the standardization of paper sizes 1972 ([http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]) ] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard (P Series) =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= PA series =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

[[File:ANSI papaer size.png|600x751px|alt=ANSI papaer size.png]]

= Architectural sizes =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= [[File:ARCH paper sizes.png|600x750px|alt=ARCH paper sizes.png]] The adoption of the metric system and the problems of using N.A. Paper sizes =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0.

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature.

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of envelope formats ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]).

= Calculating Weights =

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]) odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

= Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American =

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies.

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers and shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

== '''Note:''' ==

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

North American Paper Sizes

2013-10-25T16:14:01Z

Kenny:

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group. 

 

[[File:Herbert Hoover.jpg|400x525px|alt=Herbert Hoover.jpg]]

''(Herbert Hoover was U.S. Secretary of Commerce between 1921-1928, and the 31st President of the USA between 1929-1933''. ''Graduated as a mining engineer and was the chief engineer for the Chinese government before and during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion.'') 

 

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: Notes on the standardization of paper sizes 1972 ([http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]) ] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard (P Series) =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= PA series =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

[[File:ANSI papaer size.png|600x751px|alt=ANSI papaer size.png]]

= Architectural sizes =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= [[File:ARCH paper sizes.png|600x750px|alt=ARCH paper sizes.png]] The adoption of the metric system and the problems of using N.A. Paper sizes =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0.

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature.

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of envelope formats ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]).

= Calculating Weights =

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]) odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

= Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American =

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies.

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers and shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

== '''Note:''' ==

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

North American Paper Sizes

2013-10-25T16:09:27Z

Kenny:

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group. 

[[File:Herbert Hoover.jpg|600x787px|alt=Herbert Hoover.jpg

''(Herbert Hoover was U.S. Secretary of Commerce between 1921-1928, and the 31st President of the USA between 1929-1933''. ''Graduated as a mining engineer and was the chief engineer for the Chinese government before and during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion.'') 

 

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: Notes on the standardization of paper sizes 1972 ([http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]) ] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard (P Series) =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= PA series =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

[[File:ANSI papaer size.png|600x751px|alt=ANSI papaer size.png]]

= Architectural sizes =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= [[File:ARCH paper sizes.png|600x750px|alt=ARCH paper sizes.png]] The adoption of the metric system and the problems of using N.A. Paper sizes =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0.

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature.

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of envelope formats ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]).

= Calculating Weights =

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]) odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

= Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American =

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies.

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers and shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

== '''Note:''' ==

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

File:ARCH paper sizes.png

2013-10-25T16:05:17Z

Kenny: A size chart illustrating the Architectural paper sizes.

A size chart illustrating the Architectural paper sizes.

File:ANSI papaer size.png

2013-10-25T16:04:30Z

Kenny: uploaded a new version of "File:ANSI papaer size.png": A size chart illustrating the ANSI sizes.

A size chart illustrating the ANSI paper sizes.

File:ANSI papaer size.png

2013-10-25T16:00:08Z

Kenny: A size chart illustrating the ANSI paper sizes.

A size chart illustrating the ANSI paper sizes.

File:Herbert Hoover.jpg

2013-10-25T15:47:54Z

Kenny: Herbert Hoover (U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1921-1928 and the 31st President of the USA from 1929-1933)

Herbert Hoover (U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1921-1928 and the 31st President of the USA from 1929-1933)

North American Paper Sizes

2013-10-25T14:47:01Z

Kenny:

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group.

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: Notes on the standardization of paper sizes 1972 ([http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]) ] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard (P Series) =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= PA series =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

= '''Architectural sizes''' =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= The adoption of the metric system and the problems of using N.A. Paper sizes =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0.

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature.

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of envelope formats ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]).

= Calculating Weights =

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]) odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

= Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American =

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies.

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers and shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

'''Note:'''

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

North American Paper Sizes

2013-10-25T14:43:25Z

Kenny:

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group.

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: Notes on the standardization of paper sizes 1972 ([http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]) ] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard (P Series) =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= PA series =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

= '''Architectural sizes''' =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= the adoption of the metric system and the complications using N.A. Paper sizes =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0.

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature.

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of envelope formats ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]).

= Weight =

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an ([http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]) odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

= Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American =

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies.

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers and shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

'''Note:'''

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

North American Paper Sizes

2013-10-25T14:32:38Z

Kenny: Created page with " The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard ..."

The United States, Canada, and in part Mexico, are today the only industrialized nations in which the ISO 216 standard paper sizes are not yet widely used. The current standard sizes are unique to that continent (though with globalisation other parts of the world have become increasingly familiar with them). 

The traditional North American inch-based sizes "Letter", "Legal", "Ledger", and "Tabloid" are by far the most commonly used of these for everyday activities. Outside of North America, Letter size (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) is also known as "American Quarto" and the size is almost exactly one quarter of the old Imperial (British) paper size known as Demy (17½ in ×22½ in or 445 mm × 572 mm), allowing ½ inch for trimming. 

There are many other unsystematic formats for various applications in use. The “Letter”, “Legal”, “Tabloid”, and other formats (although not these names) are defined in the American National Standard ANSI X3.151-1987. 

While all ISO paper formats have consistently the same aspect ratio of √2 = 1.414, the U.S. format series has two different alternating aspect ratios 17/11 = 1.545 and 22/17 = 1.294. Therefore, you cannot reduce or magnify from one U.S. format to the next higher or lower without leaving an empty margin, which is rather inconvenient. 

 

{| width="435" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="4" |
Common North American paper sizes 

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Letter'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
215.9 × 279.4

|
1.294…

|-
|
'''Government-Letter'''

|
8.0 × 10.5

|
203.2 × 266.7

|
1.3125

|-
|
'''Legal'''

|
8.5 × 14

|
215.9 × 355.6

|
1.6470…

|-
|
'''Junior Legal'''

|
8.0 × 5.0

|
203.2 × 127

|
1.6

|-
|
'''Ledger'''

|
17 × 11

|
432 × 279

|
1.5483…

|-
|
'''Tabloid'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5483… 

|}

= '''History and adoption ''' =

The historic origins of the 216 × 279 mm U.S. Letter format, and in particular its rationale, seem rather obscure. The American Forest and Paper Association argues that the dimension originates from the days of manual paper making, and that the 11 inch length of the page is about a quarter of "the average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's (a worker who washes, dyes, cooks, or chemically treats products in a vat) arms." However, this does not explain the width or aspect ratio. 

The earliest documented attempts to standardize U.S. paper format used a completely different format. On 28th March 1921, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (Herbert Hoover – later to become the 31st president of the USA in 1929) declared a 203 × 267 mm format (Government-Letter) to be the standard for his department. It apparently to enable discounts from the purchase of paper for schools, but more likely due to the standard use of trimming books (after binding) and paper from the standard letter size paper to produce consistency and allow "bleed" printing. 

It was adopted on 14th September 1921 by the Permanent Conference on Printing (established by General Dawes, first director of the Bureau of the Budget) as the general U.S. government letterhead standard. It is still used in the United States and Canada for children's writing. The name "government-letter" was given by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers'''’''' (IEEE) Printer Working Group.

Independent of that, on 30th March 1921 a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards. It recommended standard basic sizes of 432 × 559 mm (17 × 22 in), 432 × 711 mm (17 × 28 in), 483 × 610 mm (19 × 24 in), 559 × 864 mm (22 × 34 in), 711 × 864 mm (28 × 34 in), and 610 × 914 mm (24 × 36 in). 

What became later known as the U.S. Letter format is just the first of these basic sizes halved. One hypothesis for the origin of this format series is that it was derived from a then typical mold size used then in the production of hand-made paper. “It does not appear, even in the selection of 8 1/2 × 11 inch size paper, that any special analysis was made to prove that this provided an optimum size for a commercial letterhead” [Arthur D. Dunn: <a href="[http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Emgk25/volatile/dunn-papersizes.pdf]">Notes on the standardization of paper sizes</a> 1972] 

It appears that this standard was just a commercial compromise at the time to reduce inventory requirements without requiring significant changes to existing production equipment. The Hoover standard (Government-Letter) remained in force until the government declared in January 1980 the Letter format (8.5 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) to be the new official paper format for U.S. government offices. 

The reason for this is because, in later years, as photocopy machines proliferated, citizens wanted to make photocopies of government forms, but the machines did not generally have this size paper in their bins. President Jimmy Carter’s administration therefore had the U.S. government switch to regular letter size format (8 1⁄2 in × 11 in or 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm). 

The Government-Letter size is still commonly used in spiral-bound notebooks and the like, a result of trimming from the current letter dimensions. 

= The Canadian standard =

The Canadian standard CAN 2-9.60M “Paper Sizes for Correspondence” defines the six formats:
*P1 (560 × 860 mm) Ratio = 1.5357… 
*P2 (430 × 560 mm) Ratio = 1.3023… 
*P3 (280 × 430 mm) Ratio = 1.5357…
*P4 (215 × 280 mm) Ratio = 1.3023…
*P5 (140 × 215 mm) Ratip = 1.5357…
*P6 (107 × 140 mm) Ratio = 1.3084…

These are just the U.S. sizes rounded to the nearest half centimetre (P4 ~ U.S. Letter, P3 ~ U.S. Ledger). This Canadian standard was introduced in 1976, even though the Ontario Government already had introduced the ISO A series formats before in 1972. Even though these Canadian paper sizes look somewhat like a pseudo-metric standard, they still suffer from the two major inconveniences of the U.S. formats, namely they have no common height/width ratio, so therefore suffer with scaling and halving of sizes unlike the 1:√2 ratio of ISO 216, and the sizes of these papers differ significantly from what the rest of the world uses.

= '''PA series''' =

A transitional size called PA4 (210 mm × 280 mm or 8.27 in × 11.02 in) was proposed for inclusion into the ISO 216 standard in 1975. It has the height of Canadian P4 paper (215 mm × 280 mm, about 8½ in × 11 in) and the width of international A4 paper (210 mm × 297 mm or 8.27 in × 11.69 in). The table below shows how this format can be generalized into an entire format series.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
PA4-based series

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''PA0'''

|
840 × 1120

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA1'''

|
560 × 840

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA2'''

|
420 × 560

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA3'''

|
280 × 420

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA4'''

|
210 × 280

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA5'''

|
140 × 210

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA6'''

|
105 × 140

|
3:4

|-
|
'''PA7'''

|
70 × 105

|
2:3

|-
|
'''PA8'''

|
52 × 70

|
≈3:4

|-
|
'''PA9'''

|
35 × 52

|
≈2:3

|-
|
'''PA10'''

|
26 × 35

|
≈3:4

|}

The PA formats did not end up in ISO 216, because the committee felt that the set of standardized paper formats should be kept to the minimum necessary. However, PA4 remains of practical use today. In landscape orientation, it has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the displays of traditional TV sets, some computer displays and data projectors. PA4, with appropriate margins, is therefore a good choice as the format of presentation slides.

PA4 is also a useful compromise between A4 and US/Canadian Letter sizes. Hence it is used today by many international magazines, because it can be printed easily on equipment designed for either A4 or US Letter.

= '''ANSI paper sizes''' =

The American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1 which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the ''de facto'' standard 8 1⁄2 in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm) "letter" size which it assigned "ANSI A". The new standard specifies how to use the ISO A0−A4 formats for technical drawings in the U.S.

Technical drawings usually have a fixed drawing scale (e.g., 1:100 means that one meter is drawn as one centimetre), therefore it is not easily possible to resize technical drawings between U.S. and standard paper formats. As a result, internationally operating U.S. corporations increasingly find it more convenient to abandon the old ANSI Y14.1 formats and prepare technical drawings for ISO paper sizes, like the rest of the world does.

This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size.

Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. To wit, "Letter" (8½" × 11", or ANSI A) is less elongated than A4, while "Ledger/Tabloid" (11" × 17", or ANSI B) is more elongated than A3. The ANSI series is shown below.

With care, documents can be prepared so that the text and images fit on either ANSI or their equivalent ISO sheets at 1:1 reproduction scale.

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|
'''Alias'''

|
'''Similar ISO A size'''

|-
|
'''ANSI A'''

|
8.5 × 11

|
216 × 279

|
1.2941

|
Letter

|
A4

|-
|
'''ANSI B'''

|
11 × 17

|
279 × 432

|
1.5455

|
Ledger Tabloid

|
A3

|-
|
'''ANSI C'''

|
17 × 22

|
432 × 559

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A2

|-
|
'''ANSI D'''

|
22 × 34

|
559 × 864

|
1.5455

|
 

|
A1

|-
|
'''ANSI E'''

|
34 × 44

|
864 × 1118

|
1.2941

|
 

|
A0

|}

Other, larger sizes continuing the alphabetic series illustrated above exist, but it should be noted that they are not part of the series per se, because they do not exhibit the same aspect ratios.

For example, Engineering F size (28 in × 40 in or 711.2 mm × 1,016.0 mm) also exists and is commonly required for NAVFAC (United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command) drawings, but is generally less commonly used, as are G, H, ... N size drawings. G size is 22 1⁄2 in (571.5 mm) high, but variable width up to 90 in (2,286 mm) in increments of 8 1⁄2 in (215.9 mm), i.e., roll format.

H and larger letter sizes are also roll formats. Such sheets were at one time used for full-scale layouts of aircraft parts, wiring harnesses and the like, but are slowly being phased out, due to widespread use of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

Some visual arts fields also continue to use these paper formats for large-scale printouts, such as for displaying digitally painted character renderings at life-size as references for makeup artists and costume designers, or to provide an immersive landscape reference.

= '''Architectural sizes''' =

In addition to the ANSI system as listed above, there is a corresponding series of paper sizes used for architectural purposes. This series also shares the property that bisecting each size produces two of the size below, with alternating aspect ratios.

It may be preferred by North American architects because the aspect ratios (4:3 and 3:2) are ratios of small integers, unlike their ANSI (or ISO) counterparts. Furthermore, the aspect ratio 4:3 matches the traditional aspect ratio for computer displays. The architectural series, usually abbreviated "Arch", is shown below:

 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Arch A'''

|
9 × 12

|
229 × 305

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch B'''

|
12 × 18

|
305 × 457

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch C'''

|
18 × 24

|
457 × 610

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch D'''

|
24 × 36

|
610 × 914

|
2:3

|-
|
'''Arch E'''

|
36 × 48

|
914 × 1219

|
3:4

|-
|
'''Arch E1'''

|
30 × 42

|
762 × 1067

|
5:7

|-
|
'''Arch E2'''

|
26 × 38

|
660 × 965

|
13:19

|-
|
'''Arch E3'''

|
27 × 39

|
686 × 991

|
9:13

|}

= Complications of using N.A. paper sizes and likely future adoption of the metric system =

Both the “Letter” and “Legal” format could easily be replaced by A4, “Executive” (if it is really needed) by B5, and “Ledger/Tabloid” by A3. Similarly, the A–E formats can be replaced by A4–A0.

It can be hoped and expected that with the continuing introduction of the metric system in the United States, the ISO paper formats will eventually replace non-standard paper formats also in North America. Conversion to A4 as the common business letter and document format in North America would not be too difficult, as practically all modern software, copying machines, and laser printers sold today in the U.S. already support A4 paper as a standard feature.

Users of photocopiers outside the U.S. and Canada usually take it for granted that the machine is able to enlarge A4 → A3 or reduce A3 → A4, the two paper formats usually kept in machines with two paper trays. When they use a copier in North America, it often comes as a disappointing surprise when they find out that magnifying an entire page is not a function available there. The absence of this useful capability is a direct result of the unfortunate design of the U.S. paper formats.

North American copiers usually also have two or more paper trays, but these are mostly used for the two very similar “Letter” and “Legal” formats, wasting the opportunity of offering a highly useful magnifying capability. Any enlarging of a “Letter” page onto “Legal” paper will always chop off margins and is therefore of little use.

The Legal format itself is quite rarely used, the notion that it is for “legal” work is a popular myth; the vast majority of U.S. legal documents are actually using the “Letter” format. Some copiers also offer in addition or instead the next larger “Ledger” format, but that again has a different aspect ratio and will therefore change the margins of a document during magnification or reduction.

Based on the experience from the introduction of ISO paper formats in other industrialized countries at various points during the 20th century, it becomes clear that this process needs to be initiated by a political decision to move all government operation to the new paper format system. History shows that the commercial world then gradually and smoothly adopts the new government standard for office paper within about 10–15 years.

It would not be a major operation to do this in the U.S. and Canada as well, especially considering that most standard software and office machines are already prepared for A4. However, such a project can succeed only if the national executive has the political will to accomplish this. The transition period of about a decade is necessary to avoid expensive equipment replacement costs for printers, especially those with older large rotary presses that were not yet designed to be easily retooled for ISO paper sizes.

It is advised that if a company/organisation is to purchase new office or printing equipment in North America, it would be wise to pay attention whether the equipment is suitable for use with A4 paper. When you make inquiries, best indicate to vendors that ISO 216 compatibility of equipment is of concern to you.

The dominance of the “Letter” format instead of ISO A4 as the common laser-printer paper format in North America causes a lot of problems in daily international document exchange with the USA and Canada. ISO A4 is 6 mm less wide but 18 mm higher than the U.S. “Letter” format. Word processing documents with an A4 layout can often not be printed without loss of information on “Letter” paper or require you to reformat the text, which will change the page numbering. 

“Letter” format documents printed outside North America either shows too much white space on the top or bottom of the page or the printer refuses to operate as “Letter” format paper has been selected by the software but is not available. A4 size documents have to be copied or printed with a 94% magnification factor to fit on the 6% less tall “Letter” paper, and “Letter” documents have to be printed with 97% size to fit on the 3% less wide A4 format. 

Universities in the U.S. increasingly use A4 size paper in laser printers and library copying machines, because most conferences outside North America require papers to be submitted in A4 format and many journals and conference proceedings are printed in A4 format.

The three-hole 108-mm filing system widely used in the U.S. is not compatible with the two-hole 80-mm ISO system used in most other countries. The three-hole system could of course also be used on A4 pages, but many files with a three-hole mechanism are only designed for U.S. “Letter” sheets and are not tall enough to reliably protect A4 pages. Another disadvantage of the three-hole system is that it is not suitable for storing formats smaller than U.S. “Letter”.

The U.S. Postal Service standard-size range for first-class or single piece third-class mail weighing up to 28 g includes ISO C6 and DL envelopes. The U.S. currently use quite a large number of <a href="[http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/env.html#nafuutou]">envelope formats</a>.

= Weight =

The U.S. paper industry has managed to come up with an <a href="[http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html http://www.edsebooks.com/paper/grammage.html]">odd way (to say the least!) of specifying the density of paper</a>. Instead of providing you with the obvious quotient of mass per area (e.g., in grams per square meter, ounces per square yard, whatever), they specify the total mass <var>M</var> of a ream of <var>N</var> pages of some size <var>X</var>×<var>Y</var>.

This means, you have to know four values in order to understand how to calculate the (scalar) density of the paper. For example “20 lb paper” can mean that a ream of 500 pages in format 24×36 in has a total mass of 20 pounds. These ream sizes of 500 × 24 in × 36 in = 278.70912 m² are somewhat typical in newsprint applications but not universal, as 17×22 in, 25×38 in and other reference sheet sizes are used as well!

With 453.59237 g/lb and 278.70912 m²/ream, you get roughly 1 lb/ream = 1.63 g/m² for this particular ream size. It can be very problematic if you have to do these conversions yourself and you really should complain to paper suppliers who still do not manage to communicate the proper g/m² values (commonly called “grammage” in both English and French) for their products.

= Supply of ISO 216 paper in North American =

Although it is still rarely advertised, ISO A4 laser printer and copying paper, as well as suitable files and folders, ''are'' available today from many U.S. office supply companies. A4 paper and supplies have been regularly ordered in the U.S. for many years, especially by companies and organizations with a lot of international correspondence, including patent lawyers, diplomats, universities, and some government agencies.

Many of the larger stationery chains do offer at least one type of A4 paper in their catalogues. Often the only type of A4 paper available is a higher-quality brand: the type of paper one might prefer for important documents, such as international patent applications.

If the suppliers and shop assistant are unfamiliar with “A4 paper”, try asking for “210 mm × 297 mm”, “8 1/4 in × 11 3/4 in”, “international size”, or “European size” paper.

In the mid-1990s, most shops there did not keep A4 paper on stock routinely and might have to order it first. Many were only able to order entire boxes of 10 reams (5000 sheets) and many shop assistants were unfamiliar with the ISO paper-size system. The situation has improved in recent years and that A4 paper and accessories are now a lot easier to obtain, but are still considered specialty items.

 

'''Note:'''

If you live in the U.S. and have never been abroad, you might not be aware that paper and accessories in the North-American sizes are not commonly available outside the U.S. or Canada. They are very difficult to obtain in any other country and the only practical way to get U.S. “Letter” there is to cut one of the next larger available sizes (usually B4, A3 or RA4). Therefore, do not expect anyone to send you documents in “Letter” format from abroad.

If you send documents to any other country, your use of A4 will greatly ease the handling and filing of your documents for the recipient. If you design software that might be used globally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of laser printer users will print onto A4 paper. Therefore, always make A4 the default setting and the first selection choice in your printing user interface. Remember that it is the paper format used by about 95% of the people on this planet.

[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Theory]]

Paper Sizes

2013-10-06T13:49:13Z

Kenny:

Like system of measurements for centuries there have been many different paper sizes standards at different times and in different countries and empires. 

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world today. The ISO standard paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used instead and is still based on imperial measurements. 

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. All material in the office should conform to its requirements. 

The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardization) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of √2 were first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes in. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, recently appointed as the first director of the newly founded NADI, (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again to German Institute for Standardization, or 'DIN'. 

During 1920–1923, Walter Porstmann worked for NADI, where he, among other things, worked on formulating a standardised format system. On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. 

''(Note: The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly expanded as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". The NADI indeed published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (about tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.)'' 

Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio.

The Lichtenberg Ratio (1: 1.4142) is occasionally confused with the Golden Ratio, which is 1: 1.618. While aesthetically pleasing properties have been attributed to both, the Lichtenberg Ratio has the advantage of preserving the aspect ratio when cutting a page into two. The Golden Ratio, on the other hand, preserves the aspect ratio when cutting a maximal square from the paper, a property that seems not particularly useful for office applications. The Golden Ratio was a very fashionable topic in the antique and renaissance arts literature and it has a close connection to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics. Many examples of the Golden ratio can be found in art and architecture. 

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

 

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organization for Standardization, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard. 

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 700px"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

[[File:A-B-C-series-paper-size-comparison.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series originates and derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142) 

The dimensions of this rectangle paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension each time, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins. 

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in). 

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate as well: a standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to its international successor: 

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0:

 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

 

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that had previously been missed by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B size illustration2-svg.png|660x900px|RTENOTITLE]]

 

The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and is defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number. The area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

 

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

[[File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== ==

== CAD usage ==

CAD uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes differ by a factor sqrt(2): 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (refer to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

= Size management =

Using non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes is needed between A0 and A1 then the B1 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet. 

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawings on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable for them, and there will always be, in addition, a number of small details on any project which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and weather this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate. 

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are: 
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users-both producer and recipient-will possess or have access at least to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are general an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile.A4’s can be carried around easily as well. 

The disadvantages of the A4 format are: 
*The drawing area is altogether too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3. 

The choice is not easy but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can, at a pinch, blind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can, at a pinch, copy them in two halves on a photocopier and sellotape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper (if it was manual drawn) than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet. 

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: Might write a separate article on North American paper sizes with more detail information at a later date.)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

 

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use. 

 

{| width="564" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px; width:303px" | '''Type of board'''
| style="width:95px" | '''Size'''
| style="width:80px" | '''Width (mm)'''
| style="width:87px" | '''Length (mm)'''
|- height="36"
| height="36" style="height:36px; width:303px" | Parallel motion unit only or parallelogram type drafting machine
| 
| 
| 
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A2
| 470
| 650
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1
| 730
| 920
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0
| 920
| 1270
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| 2A0
| 1250
| 1750
|- height="38"
| height="38" style="height:38px; width:303px" | Track or tolley type drafting machine requiring additional 'parking' area on one side.
| 
| 
| 
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1 extended
| 650
| 1100
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0 extended
| 920
| 1500
|- height="51"
| height="51" style="height:51px; width:303px" | Parallel motion unit with drafting head requiring additional 'parking' area at the bottom of the board.
| 
| 
| 
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1 deep
| 730
| 920
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0 deep
| 1000
| 1270
|}

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

Paper Sizes

2013-10-06T13:45:51Z

Kenny:

Like system of measurements for centuries there have been many different paper sizes standards at different times and in different countries and empires. 

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world today. The ISO standard paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used instead and is still based on imperial measurements. 

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. All material in the office should conform to its requirements. 

The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardization) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of √2 were first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes in. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, recently appointed as the first director of the newly founded NADI, (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again to German Institute for Standardization, or 'DIN'. 

During 1920–1923, Walter Porstmann worked for NADI, where he, among other things, worked on formulating a standardised format system. On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. 

''(Note: The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly expanded as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". The NADI indeed published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (about tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.)'' 

Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio.

The Lichtenberg Ratio (1: 1.4142) is occasionally confused with the Golden Ratio, which is 1: 1.618. While aesthetically pleasing properties have been attributed to both, the Lichtenberg Ratio has the advantage of preserving the aspect ratio when cutting a page into two. The Golden Ratio, on the other hand, preserves the aspect ratio when cutting a maximal square from the paper, a property that seems not particularly useful for office applications. The Golden Ratio was a very fashionable topic in the antique and renaissance arts literature and it has a close connection to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics. Many examples of the Golden ratio can be found in art and architecture. 

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

 

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organization for Standardization, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard. 

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 700px"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

[[File:A-B-C-series-paper-size-comparison.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series originates and derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142) 

The dimensions of this rectangle paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension each time, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins. 

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in). 

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate as well: a standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to its international successor: 

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0:

 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

 

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that had previously been missed by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B size illustration2-svg.png|660x900px|RTENOTITLE]]

 

The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and is defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number. The area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

 

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

[[File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== ==

== CAD usage ==

CAD uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes differ by a factor sqrt(2): 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (refer to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

= Size management =

Using non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes is needed between A0 and A1 then the B1 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet. 

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawings on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable for them, and there will always be, in addition, a number of small details on any project which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and weather this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate. 

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are: 
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users-both producer and recipient-will possess or have access at least to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are general an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile.A4’s can be carried around easily as well. 

The disadvantages of the A4 format are: 
*The drawing area is altogether too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3. 

The choice is not easy but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can, at a pinch, blind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can, at a pinch, copy them in two halves on a photocopier and sellotape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper (if it was manual drawn) than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet. 

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: Might write a separate article on North American paper sizes with more detail information at a later date.)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

 

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use. 

{| width="564" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px; width:303px" | '''Type of board'''
| style="width:95px" | '''Size'''
| style="width:80px" | '''Width (mm)'''
| style="width:87px" | '''Length (mm)'''
|-
| height="36" style="height:36px; width:303px" | Parallel motion unit only or parallelogram type drafting machine
| 
| 
| 
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A2
| 470
| 650
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1
| 730
| 920
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0
| 920
| 1270
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| 2A0
| 1250
| 1750
|-
| height="38" style="height:38px; width:303px" | Track or trolley type drafting machine requiring additional 'parking' area on one side.
| 
| 
| 
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1 extended
| 650
| 1100
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0 extended
| 920
| 1500
|-
| height="34" style="height:34px; width:303px" | Parallel motion unit with drafting head requiring additional 'parking' area at the bottom of the board.
| 
| 
| 
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1 deep
| 730
| 920
|-
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0 deep
| 1000
| 1270
|}

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

Greek Classical orders in architecture

2013-10-06T13:42:06Z

Kenny:

At the heart of ancient Greek architecture were the Classical "orders". Three styles of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian) that determined the style of columns, the form of structure and decoration that followed on from them. The styles developed one after another, each stemmed, initially, from different parts of Greece.

The three types of columns used in these styles were developments of the ancient Egyptian columns, which symbolised bunches of reeds tied together. Like the Egyptian columns, the capitals of Greek columns were representations of natural forms, as in rams' horns of the Ionic style or the stylised acanthus leave of the Corinthian style.

= Order and harmony =

To the ancient Greeks and Roman, the Orders represented, in their proportioning of elements, the perfect expression of beauty and harmony. The basic unit of dimension was the diameter of the column. From this module were derived the dimensions of the shaft, the capital, as well as, the pedestal below and the entablature above, down to the smallest detail. Intercolumniation - the system of spacing between columns - was also based on the diameter of the column.

Because the sizes of columns varied according to the extent of a building, the Orders were not based on a fixed unit of measurement. Rather, the intention was to ensure that all parts of any building were proportionate and in harmony with one another.

Roman architect Vitruvius, in the time of Augustus, studied actual examples of the Orders and presented his 'ideal' proportions for each in his treatise, ''De Architectura'' (English: On architecture, published as ''Ten Books on Architecture''). Sixteenth century Italian architect Giacomo Barozzi de Vignola, recodified these rules for the Italian Renaissance and his forms of Orders are probably the best known to this day.

= Elements =

Greek architecture followed a highly structured system of proportions that relates individual architectural components to the whole building. This system was developed according to three styles, or ''orders''. Each order consists of an upright support called a ''column'' that extends from a base at the bottom to a shaft in the middle and a ''capital'' at the top - much like the feet, body and head of the human figure. The capital was often a stylised representation of natural forms, such as animal horns or plant leaves. It, in turn, supports a horizontal element called the ''entablature'', which is divided further into three different parts: 
*The architrave (lowest part)
*The frieze (middle part)
*The cornice (top part)

These elements, in turn, were further elaborated with decorative moulding and ornamentation. Each component of a classical order was sized and arranged according to an overall proportioning system based on the height and diameter of the columns.

The Greeks first constructed their order with wood and then switched to stone using the same forms. The ends of the wooden beams holding up the roof, for example, were translated into stone as a decorative element, called a triglyph ("three grooves"), in the entablature above the column capital.

The Greeks began by using only one order per building, but after a few hundred years of development, they became more creative and sometimes used one order for the exterior and another for the interior. The proportions of the orders also became lighter and more refined.

Some believe that the orders are primarily a question of details, mouldings and characteristic capitals. However, each of the orders is a proportional system or a range of proportions for the entire structure. The very concept of order and an overall relationship is really the most important thing in the structure's architecture.

= Doric =

The oldest, simplest, and most massive of the three Greek orders is the ''Doric'', which was applied to temples beginning in the seventh century BC. The columns are placed close together and are often without bases. Their shafts are sculpted with concave curves called ''flutes''. The capitals are plain with rounded section at the bottom, known as the ''echinus'', and a square at the top, called the abacus. 

[[File:Doric columns.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]The entablature has a distinctive frieze decorated with vertical channels, or triglyphs. In between the triglyphs are spaces, called ''metopes'', that were commonly sculpted with figures and ornamentation.

The frieze is separated from the architrave by a narrow band called the ''regula''. Together, these elements formed a rectangular structure surrounded by a double row of columns that conveyed a bold unity. Some argue that the Doric order reached its pinnacle of perfection in the Parthenon (Athens) built between 447-432 BC, by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates.

= Ionic =

The next order developed by the Greeks was the Ionic order. Called Ionic, because of its development on the Ionian islands (West and South of mainland Greece) in the sixth century BC. Roman historian, architect and engineer Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (80/70 BC - died after 15 BC), perhaps best known for his multi-volume work entitled ''De Architectura ''compared this delicate order to a female form, in contrast to the stockier "male" Doric order.

[[File:Ionic column.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

The Ionic order was used for smaller buildings and interiors. It is easy to recognise because of the two scrolls, called ''volutes'', on its capital. It has been suggested that the volutes may have been based on nautilus shells, animal horns (e.g. the Minotaur of ancient Greek mythology) or even the female fallopian tubes, giving weight to Vitruvis' ideas on the Ionic order being a "female" form.

Between the volutes is a curved section that is often carved with oval decoration known as ''eggs and darts''. Above the capital, the entablature is narrower then the Doric, with a frieze containing a continuous band of sculpture. One of the earliest and most striking example of Ionic order is the tidy Temple to Athena Nike at the entrance to the Athens Acropolis. It was designed by Callicrates from about 448-421 BC.

= Corinthian =

The Corinthian order is similar to the Ionic order in its base, column, and entablature, but it capital is far more ornate, carved with two tiers of curly acanthus leaves.

[[File:Corinthian-column.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]The Corinthian order wasn't used much by the ancient Greeks. It is named after the city of Corinth (located about 78 km/48 miles southwest of Athens). According to Vitruvius, it is Corinth where the capital was created by the sculptor Callimachus (working in the second half of the fifth century BC ), who invented it after spotting a votive basket surrounded by leaves. In fact, the oldest known Corinthian capital was found inside the temples of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, 427 BC.

It is sometimes called the feminine order because it is used on the top level of the Colosseum in Rome, therefore holding up the least amount weight. The Corinthian order has the slenderest column in terms of width to height ratio of all the Classical Orders at about 10:1.

= Compensating for Illusions =

The ancient Greeks continued to strive for perfection in the appearance of their buildings. To make their columns look straight, they bowed them slightly outward to compensate for the optical illusion that makes vertical lines look curved from a distance. They named this effect ''entasis'' which means "to strain" in Greek.

Relationships between columns, windows, doorways, and other elements were constantly analysed to find pleasing dimensions that were in harmony with nature and the human body. Symmetry and the unity of parts to the whole were important to Greek architecture, as these elements reflected the democratic city-state pioneered by the Greek civilization.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Architectural styles.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:History]]

File:Corinthian-column.jpg

2013-10-06T13:41:20Z

Kenny: Corinthian column

Corinthian column

File:Ionic column.jpg

2013-10-06T13:34:40Z

Kenny: Ionic column

Ionic column

File:Doric columns.jpg

2013-10-06T13:24:11Z

Kenny: Doric columns in Athens

Doric columns in Athens

Paper Sizes

2013-10-06T13:14:50Z

Kenny:

Like system of measurements for centuries there have been many different paper sizes standards at different times and in different countries and empires. 

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world today. The ISO standard paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used instead and is still based on imperial measurements. 

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. All material in the office should conform to its requirements. 

The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardization) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of √2 were first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes in. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, recently appointed as the first director of the newly founded NADI, (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again to German Institute for Standardization, or 'DIN'. 

During 1920–1923, Walter Porstmann worked for NADI, where he, among other things, worked on formulating a standardised format system. On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. 

''(Note: The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly expanded as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". The NADI indeed published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (about tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.)'' 

Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio.

The Lichtenberg Ratio (1: 1.4142) is occasionally confused with the Golden Ratio, which is 1: 1.618. While aesthetically pleasing properties have been attributed to both, the Lichtenberg Ratio has the advantage of preserving the aspect ratio when cutting a page into two. The Golden Ratio, on the other hand, preserves the aspect ratio when cutting a maximal square from the paper, a property that seems not particularly useful for office applications. The Golden Ratio was a very fashionable topic in the antique and renaissance arts literature and it has a close connection to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics. Many examples of the Golden ratio can be found in art and architecture. 

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

 

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organization for Standardization, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard. 

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 700px"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

[[File:A-B-C-series-paper-size-comparison.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series originates and derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142) 

The dimensions of this rectangle paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension each time, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins. 

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in). 

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate as well: a standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to its international successor: 

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0:

 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

 

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that had previously been missed by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B size illustration2-svg.png|RTENOTITLE]]The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and is defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number. The area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

[[File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== CAD usage ==

CAD uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes differ by a factor sqrt(2): 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (refer to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

= Size management =

Using non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes is needed between A0 and A1 then the B1 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet. 

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawings on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable for them, and there will always be, in addition, a number of small details on any project which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and weather this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate. 

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are: 
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users-both producer and recipient-will possess or have access at least to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are general an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile.A4’s can be carried around easily as well. 

The disadvantages of the A4 format are: 
*The drawing area is altogether too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3. 

The choice is not easy but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can, at a pinch, blind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can, at a pinch, copy them in two halves on a photocopier and sellotape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper (if it was manual drawn) than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet. 

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: Might write a separate article on North American paper sizes with more detail information at a later date.)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

 

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use. 

{| width="564" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px; width:303px" | '''Type of board''' 
| style="width:95px" | '''Size''' 
| style="width:80px" | '''Width (mm)'''
| style="width:87px" | '''Length (mm)'''
|- height="36"
| height="36" style="height:36px; width:303px" | Parallel motion unit only or parallelogram type drafting machine
| 
| 
| 
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A2
| 470
| 650
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1
| 730
| 920
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0
| 920
| 1270
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| 2A0
| 1250
| 1750
|- height="38"
| height="38" style="height:38px; width:303px" | Track or tolley type drafting machine requiring additional 'parking' area on one side.
| 
| 
| 
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1 extended
| 650
| 1100
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0 extended
| 920
| 1500
|- height="34"
| height="34" style="height:34px; width:303px" | Parallel motion unit with drafting head requiring additional 'parking' area at the bottom of the board.
| 
| 
| 
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A1 deep
| 730
| 920
|- height="17"
| height="17" style="height:17px" | 
| A0 deep
| 1000
| 1270
|}

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png

2013-10-06T12:59:25Z

Kenny: uploaded a new version of "File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png": ISO 216 C-series envelopes sizes.

C-Series Envelopes Sizes

File:A series.png

2013-10-06T12:53:14Z

Kenny: uploaded a new version of "File:A series.png": ISO 216 A-series paper size chart.

A-series sizes of paper.

File:B size illustration2-svg.png

2013-10-06T12:51:23Z

Kenny: ISO 216 B-series paper size chart.

ISO 216 B-series paper size chart.

File:C series.png

2013-10-06T12:50:46Z

Kenny: uploaded a new version of "File:C series.png": ISO 216 C-series paper size chart.

C-series sizes of paper.

Paper Sizes

2013-10-06T12:38:35Z

Kenny:

Like system of measurements for centuries there have been many different paper sizes standards at different times and in different countries and empires. 

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world today. The ISO standard paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used instead and is still based on imperial measurements. 

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. All material in the office should conform to its requirements. 

The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardization) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of √2 were first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes in. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, recently appointed as the first director of the newly founded NADI, (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again to German Institute for Standardization, or 'DIN'. 

During 1920–1923, Walter Porstmann worked for NADI, where he, among other things, worked on formulating a standardised format system. On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. 

''(Note: The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly expanded as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". The NADI indeed published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (about tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.)'' 

Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio.

The Lichtenberg Ratio (1: 1.4142) is occasionally confused with the Golden Ratio, which is 1: 1.618. While aesthetically pleasing properties have been attributed to both, the Lichtenberg Ratio has the advantage of preserving the aspect ratio when cutting a page into two. The Golden Ratio, on the other hand, preserves the aspect ratio when cutting a maximal square from the paper, a property that seems not particularly useful for office applications. The Golden Ratio was a very fashionable topic in the antique and renaissance arts literature and it has a close connection to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics. Many examples of the Golden ratio can be found in art and architecture. 

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

 

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organization for Standardization, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard. 

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 700px"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

[[File:A-B-C-series-paper-size-comparison.png]]

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series originates and derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142) 

The dimensions of this rectangle paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension each time, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins. 

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in). 

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate as well: a standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to its international successor: 

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0:

 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

 

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that had previously been missed by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B series.png|659x900px|alt=B series.png]] 

The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and is defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number. The area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

[[File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png|RTENOTITLE]]

== CAD usage ==

CAD uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes differ by a factor sqrt(2): 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (refer to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

= Size management =

Using non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes is needed between A0 and A1 then the B1 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet. 

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawings on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable for them, and there will always be, in addition, a number of small details on any project which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and weather this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate. 

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are: 
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users-both producer and recipient-will possess or have access at least to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are general an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile.A4’s can be carried around easily as well. 

The disadvantages of the A4 format are: 
*The drawing area is altogether too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3. 

The choice is not easy but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can, at a pinch, blind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can, at a pinch, copy them in two halves on a photocopier and sellotape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper (if it was manual drawn) than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet. 

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: Might write a separate article on North American paper sizes with more detail information at a later date.)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

 

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

File:C series.png

2013-10-06T12:38:17Z

Kenny: uploaded a new version of "File:C series.png": ISO 216 C-series paper size chart.

C-series sizes of paper.

File:B series.png

2013-10-06T12:37:38Z

Kenny: uploaded a new version of "File:B series.png": ISO 216 B-series paper size chart.

B-series sizes of paper.

File:A series.png

2013-10-06T12:34:03Z

Kenny: uploaded a new version of "File:A series.png": ISO 216 A-series paper sizes chart.

A-series sizes of paper.

Paper Sizes

2013-10-05T23:46:46Z

Kenny:

Like system of measurements for centuries there have been many different paper sizes standards at different times and in different countries and empires. 

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world today. The ISO standard paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used instead and is still based on imperial measurements. 

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. All material in the office should conform to its requirements. 

The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardization) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of √2 were first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes in. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, recently appointed as the first director of the newly founded NADI, (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again to German Institute for Standardization, or 'DIN'. 

During 1920–1923, Walter Porstmann worked for NADI, where he, among other things, worked on formulating a standardised format system. On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. 

''(Note: The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly expanded as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". The NADI indeed published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (about tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.)'' 

Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio.

The Lichtenberg Ratio (1: 1.4142) is occasionally confused with the Golden Ratio, which is 1: 1.618. While aesthetically pleasing properties have been attributed to both, the Lichtenberg Ratio has the advantage of preserving the aspect ratio when cutting a page into two. The Golden Ratio, on the other hand, preserves the aspect ratio when cutting a maximal square from the paper, a property that seems not particularly useful for office applications. The Golden Ratio was a very fashionable topic in the antique and renaissance arts literature and it has a close connection to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics. Many examples of the Golden ratio can be found in art and architecture. 

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

 

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organization for Standardization, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard. 

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 700px"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

 

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series originates and derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142) 

The dimensions of this rectangle paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension each time, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins. 

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in). 

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate as well: a standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to its international successor: 

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0:

 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

 

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that had previously been missed by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B series.png|659x900px|alt=B series.png]] 

The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and is defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number. The area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

[[File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png]]

== CAD usage ==

CAD uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes differ by a factor sqrt(2): 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (refer to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

= Size management =

Using non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes is needed between A0 and A1 then the B1 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet. 

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawings on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable for them, and there will always be, in addition, a number of small details on any project which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and weather this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate. 

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are: 
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users-both producer and recipient-will possess or have access at least to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are general an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile.A4’s can be carried around easily as well. 

The disadvantages of the A4 format are: 
*The drawing area is altogether too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3. 

The choice is not easy but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can, at a pinch, blind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can, at a pinch, copy them in two halves on a photocopier and sellotape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper (if it was manual drawn) than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet. 

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: Might write a separate article on North American paper sizes with more detail information at a later date.)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

 

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png

2013-10-05T23:45:46Z

Kenny: uploaded a new version of "File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png": C-Series Envelopes Sizes.

C-Series Envelopes Sizes

File:C-Series-Envelopes-Sizes.png

2013-10-05T23:44:23Z

Kenny: C-Series Envelopes Sizes

C-Series Envelopes Sizes

Paper Sizes

2013-10-05T23:36:24Z

Kenny:

Like system of measurements for centuries there have been many different paper sizes standards at different times and in different countries and empires. 

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world today. The ISO standard paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used instead and is still based on imperial measurements. 

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. All material in the office should conform to its requirements. 

The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardization) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of √2 were first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes in. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, recently appointed as the first director of the newly founded NADI, (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again to German Institute for Standardization, or 'DIN'. 

During 1920–1923, Walter Porstmann worked for NADI, where he, among other things, worked on formulating a standardised format system. On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. 

''(Note: The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly expanded as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". The NADI indeed published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (about tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.)'' 

Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio.

The Lichtenberg Ratio (1: 1.4142) is occasionally confused with the Golden Ratio, which is 1: 1.618. While aesthetically pleasing properties have been attributed to both, the Lichtenberg Ratio has the advantage of preserving the aspect ratio when cutting a page into two. The Golden Ratio, on the other hand, preserves the aspect ratio when cutting a maximal square from the paper, a property that seems not particularly useful for office applications.
The Golden Ratio was a very fashionable topic in the antique and renaissance arts literature and it has a close connection to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics. Many examples of the Golden ratio can be found in art and architecture. 

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

 

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organization for Standardization, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard. 

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 700px"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

 

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series originates and derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142) 

The dimensions of this rectangle paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension each time, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins. 

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in). 

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate as well: a standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to its international successor: 

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0:

 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

 

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that had previously been missed by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B series.png|659x900px|alt=B series.png]] 

The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and is defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number. The area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

== CAD usage ==

CAD uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes differ by a factor sqrt(2): 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (refer to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

= Size management =

Using non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes is needed between A0 and A1 then the B1 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet. 

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawings on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable for them, and there will always be, in addition, a number of small details on any project which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and weather this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate. 

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are: 
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users-both producer and recipient-will possess or have access at least to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are general an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile.A4’s can be carried around easily as well. 

The disadvantages of the A4 format are: 
*The drawing area is altogether too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3. 

The choice is not easy but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can, at a pinch, blind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can, at a pinch, copy them in two halves on a photocopier and sellotape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper (if it was manual drawn) than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet. 

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: Might write a separate article on North American paper sizes with more detail information at a later date.)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

 

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

Paper Sizes

2013-10-05T23:07:49Z

Kenny:

Like system of measurements for centuries there have been many different paper sizes standards at different times and in different countries and empires. 

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world today. The ISO standard paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used instead and is still based on imperial measurements. 

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. All material in the office should conform to its requirements. 

The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardization) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of √2 were first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes in. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, recently appointed as the first director of the newly founded NADI, (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again to German Institute for Standardization, or 'DIN'. 

During 1920–1923, Walter Porstmann worked for NADI, where he, among other things, worked on formulating a standardised format system. On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. 

Note: (The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly expanded as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". The NADI indeed published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (about tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.) 

Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio. 

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

 

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organization for Standardization, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard. 

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 700px"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

 

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series originates and derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142) 

The dimensions of this rectangle paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension each time, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins. 

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in). 

=== Folding A sheets ===

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate as well: a standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to its international successor: 

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0:

 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

 

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that had previously been missed by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B series.png|659x900px|alt=B series.png]] 

The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and is defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number; for instance, the area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet or folded A4 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

== CAD usage ==

CAD uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes differ by a factor sqrt(2): 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (refer to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

Using these non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes is needed then B0 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet.

= Size management =

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawing on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable for them, and there will always be, in addition, a number of small details on any project which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and weather this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate. 

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are: 
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users-both producer and recipient-will possess or have access at least to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are general an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile.A4’s can be carried around easily as well. 

The disadvantages of the A4 format are: 
*The drawing area is altogether too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3. 

The choice is not easy but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can, at a pinch, blind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can, at a pinch, copy them in two halves on a photocopier and sellotape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper (if it was manual drawn) than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet. 

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: Might write a separate article on North American paper sizes with more detail information at a later date.)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

 

('' * The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States.'')

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]

Paper Sizes

2013-10-05T23:03:30Z

Kenny:

Like system of measurements for centuries there have been many different paper sizes standards at different times and in different countries and empires. 

Today there is one widespread metric international ISO standard for paper sizes. Standard paper sizes like ISO A4 are widely used all over the world today. The ISO standard paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents. The standards also have related sizes for envelopes. In North America, a local standard is used instead and is still based on imperial measurements. 

= A-series =

The international A-series of paper sizes is now universally accepted as the standard used for all drawings, printed sheets and written materials. All material in the office should conform to its requirements. 

The A-series and B-series formats were designated ISO 216 in 1975, are based on the German DIN (German Institute for Standardization) 476 standard for paper sizes, which uses an aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

== History and adoption of the A-series. ==

The advantages of basing a paper size upon an aspect ratio of √2 were first noted in 1786 by the German scientist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. During the First World War (1917), while working as a meteorologist on the Western front, Dr Walter Porstmann (German mathematician and engineer) published a work on standards which turned Lichtenberg's idea into a proper system of different paper sizes in. 

[[File:Walter-porstmann.jpg|RTENOTITLE]]

''Dr. Walter Porstmann (1886-1959)''

The published work came to the attention of Waldemar Hellmich, recently appointed as the first director of the newly founded NADI, (Standardisation Committee of German Industry) in 1917. In 1926 the organisation was renamed to DNA (German Standardisation Committee), and in 1975 it was renamed again to German Institute for Standardization, or 'DIN'. 

During 1920–1923, Walter Porstmann worked for NADI, where he, among other things, worked on formulating a standardised format system. On 18th August 1922 Porstmann's system new DIN standard (DIN 476) was launched, with the A-series and B-series replacing a vast variety of other paper formats. 

Note: (The acronym, 'DIN,' is often incorrectly expanded as Deutsche Industrienorm ("German Industry Standard"). This is largely due to the historic origin of the DIN as "NADI". The NADI indeed published their standards as DI-Norm (Deutsche Industrienorm). For example, the first published standard was 'DI-Norm 1' (about tapered pins) in 1918. Many people still mistakenly associate DIN with the old DI-Norm naming convention.) 

Even today the paper sizes are called "DIN A4" in everyday use in Germany and Austria. The term ''Lichtenberg ratio'' has recently been proposed for this paper aspect ratio. 

The DIN 476 standard spread quickly to other countries. 

{| width="580" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| Germany (1922) 
|-
| Belgium (1924) 
|-
| Norway (1926) 
|-
| Finland (1927) 
|-
| Switzerland (1929) 
|-
| Sweden (1930) 
|-
| Soviet Union (now Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Estonia and Lithuania) (1934) 
|-
| Hungary (1938) 
|-
| Italy (1939) 
|-
| Uruguay (1942) 
|-
| Argentina and Brazil (1943) 
|-
| Spain (1947) 
|-
| Austria and Iran (1948) 
|-
| Romania (1949) 
|-
| Japan (1951) 
|-
| Denmark and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) (1953) 
|-
| Israel and Portugal (1954) 
|-
| Yugoslavia (now Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.) (1956) 
|-
| India and Poland (1957) 
|-
| United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (1959) 
|-
| Venezuela (1962) 
|-
| New Zealand (1963) 
|-
| Iceland (1964) 
|-
| Mexico (1965) 
|-
| South Africa (1966) 
|-
| France, Peru and Turkey (1967) 
|-
| Chile (1968) 
|-
| Greece (1970) 
|-
| Singapore and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) (1970) 
|-
| Bangladesh (1972) 
|-
| Thailand and Barbados (1973) 
|-
| Australia and Ecuador (1974) 
|-
| Colombia and Kuwait (1975) 
|}

 

== ISO 216 ==

By 1975 so many countries were using the German system that it was established as an ISO standard (ISO 216) by the International Organization for Standardization, as well as the official document format for the United Nations.

In 1977, a large German car manufacturer performed a study of the paper formats found in their incoming international mail and concluded that out of 148 examined countries, 88 already using the A series formats. Today the standard has been adopted by all countries in the world except the United States and Canada. In Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the Philippines the US letter format is still in common use, despite their official adoption of the ISO standard. 

The ISO 216 standard defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes. Two supplementary standards, ISO 217 and ISO 269, define related paper sizes; the ISO 269 "C" series is commonly listed alongside the A and B sizes. All ISO 216, ISO 217 and ISO 269 paper sizes (except DL) have the same aspect ratio of 1:√2. 

{| cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 700px"
|-
| colspan="7" |
ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

|-
|
'''Format'''

| colspan="2" |
'''A series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''B series'''

| colspan="2" |
'''C series'''

|-
|
'''Size'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''0'''

|
841 × 1189

|
33.11 × 46.81

|
1000 × 1414

|
39.37 × 55.67

|
917 × 1297

|
36.10 × 51.06

|-
|
'''1'''

|
594 × 841

|
23.39 × 33.11

|
707 × 1000

|
27.83 × 39.37

|
648 × 917

|
25.51 × 36.10

|-
|
'''2'''

|
420 × 594

|
16.54 × 23.39

|
500 × 707

|
19.69 × 27.83

|
458 × 648

|
18.03 × 25.51

|-
|
'''3'''

|
297 × 420

|
11.69 × 16.54

|
353 × 500

|
13.90 × 19.69

|
324 × 458

|
12.76 × 18.03

|-
|
'''4'''

|
210 × 297

|
8.27 × 11.69

|
250 × 353

|
9.84 × 13.90

|
229 × 324

|
9.02 × 12.76

|-
|
'''5'''

|
148.5 × 210

|
5.83 × 8.27

|
176 × 250

|
6.93 × 9.84

|
162 × 229

|
6.38 × 9.02

|-
|
'''6'''

|
105 × 148.5

|
4.13 × 5.83

|
125 × 176

|
4.92 × 6.93

|
114 × 162

|
4.49 × 6.38

|-
|
'''7'''

|
74 × 105

|
2.91 × 4.13

|
88 × 125

|
3.46 × 4.92

|
81 × 114

|
3.19 × 4.49

|-
|
'''8'''

|
52 × 74

|
2.05 × 2.91

|
62 × 88

|
2.44 × 3.46

|
57 × 81

|
2.24 × 3.19

|-
|
'''9'''

|
37 × 52

|
1.46 × 2.05

|
44 × 62

|
1.73 × 2.44

|
40 × 57

|
1.57 × 2.24

|-
|
'''10'''

|
26 × 37

|
1.02 × 1.46

|
31 × 44

|
1.22 × 1.73

|
28 × 40

|
1.10 × 1.57

|}

 

== Sizes in the A-series ==

The A-series originates and derived from a rectangle piece of paper (A0) having an area of 1 m2, the length of whose sides are in the proportion 1:√2 (1: 1.4142) 

The dimensions of this rectangle paper (A0) is 1189 × 841 mm and by progressively halving the larger dimension each time, a reducing series of rectangles is produced, in which the proportions of the original rectangle remains relativity unchanged (at approximately 1:1.4142), and in which the area of each rectangle is half that of its predecessor in the series. 

[[File:A series.png|660x900px|alt=A series.png]]

This system (as with the B-series and C-series) allows scaling without compromising the aspect ratio from one size to another – as provided by office photocopiers, e.g. enlarging A4 to A3 or reducing A3 to A4. Similarly, two sheets of A4 can be scaled down to fit exactly one A4 sheet without any cut-offs or margins. 

=== Trimmed sizes and tolerances ===

The A formats are trimmed sizes and therefore exact; stubs of tear-off books, index tabs, etc. are always additional to the A dimensions. Printers purchase their paper in sizes allowing for the following tolerances of the trimmed sizes.
*For dimensions up to and including 150 mm (5.9 in), ±1 mm (0.04 in)
*For dimension greater than 150 mm up and including 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in), ±1.5 mm (0.06 in)
*For dimensions greater than 600 mm (23.6 in), ±2 mm (0.08 in).

Recommended methods of folding the larger A-sized prints are shown below. 

[[File:A0-and-A1-paper-folding.png|641x849px|RTENOTITLE]] 

=== Weights ===

Weights for the A-series are easy to calculate as well: a standard A4 sheet made from 80 g/m2 paper will weigh 5 g (as it is one 16th of an A0 page, measuring 1 m2), allowing one to easily compute the weight—and associated postage rate—by counting the number of sheets used.

=== German extensions ===

In the original German standard and specification of DIN 476 for the A and B sizes there are two other sizes that differ to its international successor: 

DIN 476 provides an extension to formats larger than A0, denoted by a prefix factor. In particular, it lists the two formats 2A0, which is twice the area of A0, and 4A0, which is four times A0:

 

{| width="294" cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
| colspan="3" |
DIN 476 overformats

|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''in × in'''

|-
|
'''4A0'''

|
1682 × 2378

|
66.22 × 93.62

|-
|
'''2A0'''

|
1189 × 1682

|
46.81 × 66.22

|}

 

== B-series ==

The less common B Series of paper sizes were introduced to cover desirable sheet proportions that had previously been missed by the prominent A Series. As with the A series, the lengths of the B series have the ratio 1:√2.

[[File:B series.png|659x900px|alt=B series.png]]

The area of B size sheets are the geometric mean of successive A-series sheets. For instance, the area of the B1 sheet (0.707 m²) is in between A0 (1 m²) and A1 (0.5 m²). The B Series is used for passports, envelopes and posters. B5 has become a conventional size for many books. 

 

== C-series (Envelope Sizes) ==

The entire C-series suite of envelopes are designed to hold their A-series’ counterparts, and is defined by ISO 269. The area of C series sheets is the geometric mean of the areas of the A and B series sheets of the same number; for instance, the area of a C4 sheet is the geometric mean of the areas of an A4 sheet and a B4 sheet.

[[File:C series.png|660x900px|alt=C series.png]]

For instance, a C4 envelope can hold a flat A4 sheet; a C5 can house a flat A5 sheet or folded A4 sheet and so on, and C4 paper fits inside a B4 envelope, as well. The DL (Dimension Lengthwise) envelope was created to hold a concertina folded sheet of A4, or a standard sized compliments slip.

== CAD usage ==

CAD uses these paper sizes too, with the addition on larger drawings of a gripping margin for the printer or plotter.

== Technical drawing pen sizes ==

Technical drawing pens follow the same size-ratio principle. The standard sizes differ by a factor sqrt(2): 2.00 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.00 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.13 mm. So after drawing with a 0.35 mm pen on A3 paper and reducing it to A4, you can continue with the 0.25 mm pen. (ISO 9175-1). 

= Using non-standard sizes =

The large differential between A0 and A1 has led to the introduction in some offices of a non-standard size sheet (refer to by magazine publishing as a “bastard size”) to reduce the gap, but the use of non-standard intermediate sizes is not desirable. These non-standard sizes have to be cut from paper of a larger size, and their non-standard proportion lead to difficulties in folding, storage and photographic reproduction.

Using these non-standard sheets should always be avoided, and if an intermediate sizes is needed then B0 size should be used instead. A0 can be incredibly cumbersome at times, both in the drawing office and on site, and on the whole it would seem to be preferable to set the A1 sheets as the upper limit for working drawings in all but the most exceptional circumstances, e.g. presentations, displays, etc. The site plan for even the largest of projects can usually be illustrated at the appropriate scale on an A1 sheet.

= Size management =

Apart from this upper limitation it is clearly sensible to restrict as far as possible the number of different sized drawing on any one project. An early appraisal of the size of the job and of the appropriate scale for the general arrangement planes will probably establish the format for the complete set of such drawings; normally it is not difficult to contrive that the assemblies and the ranges of component drawings should also be drawn on sheets of that size. The majority of the drawings in the average set therefore will appear in either A1 or A2 format, depending upon the size of the project.

The nature of sub-component drawings and schedules however, tends to make a smaller format more suitable for them, and there will always be, in addition, a number of small details on any project which it would be pointless to draw in one corner of an A1 sheet and which it would be confusing to attempt to collect together on a single sheet. The ‘miscellaneous details’ approach should never be used as it will lead to confusion between designer and builder.

Where the format for the other drawings is A2 it is probably worth wasting a little paper for the sake of obtaining a manageable set of consistent size. Where the general size is A1 however, a smaller sheet become necessary and weather this should be A4 or A3 is a matter for some debate. 

== Pros and cons of using A4 over A3 ==

The advantages of the A4 format are: 
*A substantial amount of the project information is already in A4 format-specification, bills of quantities, architect’s instructions, correspondence, etc.
*Trade literature is normally A4 and if you wish to include manufactures’ catalogues as part of your set then they are more readily absorbed into the structure of the set if you already have an A4 category.
*Most users-both producer and recipient-will possess or have access at least to an A4 printer or photocopier with the facility that this offer to, for example, the contractor who wishes to get alternative quotes for a particular item and can rapidly produce drawing. However, A3 copiers are very common in the home and in offices these days.
*The restricted size of sheets makes it more suitable for producing standard drawings, where it is necessary to limit the amount and extent of the information shown in order to preserve it ‘neutrality’.
*Architect’s instructions are frequently accompanied by a sketch detail and the A4 format simplifies filling and retrieval.
*A bound set of A4 drawings is suitable for shelf storage, unless you fold A3s in half. A3s are general an inconvenient size to store, whether on a shelf, in a plan chest drawer, or in a vertifile.A4’s can be carried around easily as well. 

The disadvantages of the A4 format are: 
*The drawing area is altogether too small. One is constantly being forced into the position of limiting what is shown because these is just not room on the paper, or of selecting an inappropriately small scale.
*There is no room to record amendments adequately, or for that matter to incorporate a reasonably informative title panel.
*And finally, builders, especially when working on site, don’t like them. They would prefer the larger size of A3. 

The choice is not easy but on the whole most people would favour A3 as the smallest sheet of a set, if only for pragmatic reason that you can, at a pinch, hang them landscape in a vertifile; that you can, at a pinch, blind them into a specification or a bill of quantities and fold them double; that you can, at a pinch, copy them in two halves on a photocopier and sellotape the two halves together; and that wasting paper is, in the last resort, cheaper (if it was manual drawn) than redrawing a detail which in the end would not quite go on the sheet. 

= Pre-metric paper sizes and North American paper users =

''(Note: Might write a separate article on North American paper sizes with more detail information at a later date.)''

Old drawings will frequently be found in the sizes common prior to the changeover to metric. These sizes are given in the table below.

{| cellpadding="0" border="0"
|-
|
'''Name'''

|
'''in × in'''

|
'''mm × mm'''

|
'''Ratio'''

|-
|
'''Emperor'''

|
48 × 72

|
1219 × 1829

|
1.5

|-
|
'''Antiquarian'''

|
31 × 53

|
787 × 1346

|
1.7097

|-
|
'''Grand eagle'''

|
28.75 × 42

|
730 × 1067

|
1.4609

|-
|
'''Double elephant'''

|
26.75 × 40

|
678 × 1016

|
1.4984

|-
|
'''Atlas*'''

|
26 × 34

|
660 × 864

|
1.3077

|-
|
'''Colombier'''

|
23.5 × 34.5

|
597 × 876

|
1.4681

|-
|
'''Double demy'''

|
22.5 × 35.5

|
572 × 902

|
1.5(7)

|-
|
'''Imperial*'''

|
22 × 30

|
559 × 762

|
1.3636

|-
|
'''Half Imperial'''

|
22 × 15

|
559 × 381

|
1.4672

|-
|
'''Double large post'''

|
21 × 33

|
533 × 838

|
1.5713

|-
|
'''Elephant*'''

|
23 × 28

|
584 × 711

|
1.2174

|-
|
'''Princess'''

|
21.5 × 28

|
546 × 711

|
1.3023

|-
|
'''Cartridge'''

|
21 × 26

|
533 × 660

|
1.2381

|-
|
'''Royal*'''

|
20 × 25

|
508 × 635

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Sheet, half post'''

|
19.5 × 23.5

|
495 × 597

|
1.2051

|-
|
'''Double post'''

|
19 × 30.5

|
483 × 762

|
1.6052

|-
|
'''Super royal'''

|
19 × 27

|
483 × 686

|
1.4203

|-
|
'''Medium*'''

|
17.5 × 23

|
470 × 584

|
1.2425

|-
|
'''Demy*'''

|
17.5 × 22.5

|
445 × 572

|
1.2857

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
16.5 × 21

|
419 × 533

|
1.(27)

|-
|
'''Copy draught'''

|
16 × 20

|
406 × 508

|
1.25

|-
|
'''Large post'''

|
15.5 × 20

|
394 × 508

|
1.2903

|-
|
'''Post*'''

|
15.5 × 19.25

|
394 × 489

|
1.2419

|-
|
'''Crown*'''

|
15 × 20

|
381 × 508

|
1.(3)

|-
|
'''Pinched post'''

|
14.75 × 18.5

|
375 × 470

|
1.2533

|-
|
'''Foolscap*'''

|
13.5 × 17

|
343 × 432

|
1.2593

|-
|
'''Small foolscap'''

|
13.25 × 16.5

|
337 × 419

|
1.2453

|-
|
'''Brief'''

|
13.5 × 16

|
343 × 406

|
1.1852

|-
|
'''Pott'''

|
12.5 × 15

|
318 × 381

|
1.2

|}

*The sizes marked with an asterisk are still in use in the United States. 

= Drawing boards =

Drawing boards are currently manufactured to fit A-size paper, while vertical and horizontal filing cabinets and chests have internal dimensions approximately corresponding to the board sizes listed in the table below. Boards, cabinets and chests designed for pre-metric paper sizes are still in use.

[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]
[[Category:Theory]]