Overview
ISO 13567-2:2017 specifies concepts, formats and codes for organizing and naming CAD layers used in construction documentation. It is the construction‑project complement to ISO 13567-1 and provides a standardized, machine‑ and human‑readable layer naming structure to support communication, management and data exchange in CAD and BIM workflows.
Keywords: ISO 13567-2, CAD layer naming, construction documentation, layer naming convention, CAD layers, ISO standard.
Key Topics
- Layer name structure: Layer names are divided into fixed fields, each representing a single concept (e.g., Agent Responsible, Element, Presentation). Fields are left‑justified and use a fixed number of characters to enable wildcard selection.
- Mandatory fields:
- Agent Responsible (2 characters): project-specific code for the discipline/party responsible (manufacturers may use “__”).
- Element (6 characters): element classification (use national/international element tables where available; unused characters filled with “_”; non‑specific characters with “-”).
- Presentation (2 characters): hierarchical presentation codes; the first character has reserved codes (e.g., M = Model, P = Page/Paper) and can be further subdivided (E = Element graphics, A = Annotation, T = Text, H = Hatching, D = Dimension, etc.).
- Optional fields: Status, Sector, Phase, Projection, Scale, Work package, User‑defined. These allow temporal, spatial and drawing‑specific subdivisions.
- Coding rules:
- Allowed characters: A–Z, 0–9, hyphen (-) and underscore (_).
- Use underscore “_” for unused positions or undecided fields; hyphen “-” to indicate “all values” or no further subdivision.
- The first three fields should always be provided (exceptions for manufacturer catalogs).
Applications
ISO 13567-2 is useful for:
- Architects, engineers, CAD/BIM managers and contractors implementing consistent CAD layer naming on construction projects.
- Manufacturers and component library creators who need interoperable layer codes across projects.
- Facility managers and asset information teams that require reliable layer-based data extraction and long‑term retrieval.
Practical benefits include improved interoperability, easier layer selection via wildcards, clearer responsibility assignment, and consistent handling of phases, projections and scales across CAD/BIM exchanges.
Related Standards
- ISO 13567-1: Overview and principles for organization and naming of layers for CAD (use together with ISO 13567-2 for full implementation).
For project adoption, teams should agree on project‑specific codes and document any deviations to ensure consistent future retrieval and exchange of CAD layer‑structured information.
Open preview (PDF)Technical product documentation — Organization and naming of layers for CAD — Part 2: Concepts, format and codes used in construction documentation
