Titleblock Standards - Sunn-Starr Architectural, Inc. https://sunn-starr.com/SLD002.

HTM

Chapter Index TITLEBLOCK STANDARDS First Chapter

Most firms have a company titleblock which most probably originated as a manually or CADD-generated
document.  This same titleblock is probably the one that will be used in 90% of the work generated by that
particular office.   For the purpose of these company standards this titleblock will be referred to as
Titleblock Master and reside within the Company Standards Directory.

Each project office will have a copy of this master titleblock within a Project-Specific Directory created
according to the guidelines outlined below.  This copy of the titleblock will then be customized for that
specific project and x-referenced into each and every plot sheet of the project.  Different titleblocks may
be created for particular industry or government standards. The guidelines below apply to all titleblocks:

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W e b p a g e   C h a p t e r s

. . . . . . Company Standards Directory and Project Specific Directories . . . . . .

. . . . . . Basic Areas for Standard Sizes and Typical Scale Titleblocks . . . . . .

. . . . . . Titleblock Form and Project Specific Data In Separate Layers . . . . . .

. . . . . . Combining Client Logo Colors and Line Types On One Layer . . . . . .

. . . . . . Project Specific Titleblocks Cross-Referenced in Paper Space . . . . . .

. . . . . . Using Grid & Snap Commands to Establish Titleblock Margins . . . . . .

Back to Intro Company Standards Directory and Project Specific Directories Next Chapter

The main difference between 'Company Standard' and 'Project-Specific' directories is that titleblocks on
company standard servers are templates that are write-protected - while titleblocks copied to project
directories are meant to be edited by the Project Architect or by project managers in charge of each
project.  Here is an example of a typical commercial project titleblock with project data along the right:

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Residential project titleblocks may have a simpler project data strip along the bottom instead.  This type
of titleblock provides a wider 'active area' so that floor plans do not have to be divided with match-lines
unless absolutely necessary.  It is also the best format for smaller paper sizes.  Unless noted otherwise,
typical commercial projects will use Architectural 42" x 30" Titleblocks for construction documents.

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Project directories are initiated by the CADD Director or the project manager for each individual project.
The following "basics" are shown here for the benefit of new users who may not be acquainted with DOS or
Windows procedures and terminology. (Only portions in italics are actually typed-in on the keyboard by the
user.)
Experienced users may wish to skip over the next two sections to the 'Guidelines for Creating a Project-
Specific Directory' section below or jump to the next chapter.
Creating a "Company Standards Directory" in DOS:

Log-in to the local hard disk drive by typing c:<enter> (Note that your system may already be logged-
on to C: drive.)

Change directory to 'Root Directory' by typing cd \<enter> (Use the keyboard space-bar between the
'cd' and the '\' only.)

Make a new directory in 'root' by typing mkdir \ssa-stds<enter> (Be sure to use the space-bar after
the 'mkdir' command.)

Use the 'dir' command to list results by typing dir<enter> (Use 'dir /p' to list directories page by page
when many files are present.)

To 'remove' a directory just created, type rmdir \ssa-stds<enter> (A directory must be empty and
contain no files to be removed in DOS.)

Creating a "Company Standards Directory" in Windows:

Launch Windows by typing cd \windows<enter> followed by win<enter> (Unless Windows is set to

boot automatically.)

From your 'Desktop' find and double-click the My Computer icon. (Or open 'Windows Explorer' using
'Start, Programs and Accessories'.)

Select the 'Root Directory' by clicking on drive C:\ near the top. (Found on the directory tree at the
left side of the folder contents window.)

With the 'File' drop-down menu use New Folder and type SSA-stds in the name field. (Use capital
letters, a hyphen, and lower case letters, as shown.)

To remove a directory, Highlight a Folder, use the Delete Key, and say OK. (Or right-click on the
'Folder', click 'Delete', and say 'OK' in the pop-up menu.)

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Guidelines for Creating a "Project-Specific Directory" using a Pyramid Configuration
A project-specific directory must be created for each new project.  Following procedures similar to the
ones outlined above, a Directory Pyramid can be created within a main Projects Directory, either on the
company server or on a designated project workstation, as shown below.
The following Six-Level Pyramid example is shown as a guideline to illustrate a typical Project Subdirectory
Scheme:
C:\

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C:\Projects
C:\Projects\UCLA-96
C:\Projects\UCLA-96\dd-dwgs
C:\Projects\UCLA-96\dd-dwgs\arch-ph1
C:\Projects\UCLA-96\dd-dwgs\arch-ph1\*.dwg
Typical level 5 subdirectories are: arch-ph1, elec-ph1, ints-ph1, lscp-ph1, mech-ph1, strc-ph1.
Level 1 of the pyramid can be a local C: drive or a "mapped" network drive on a centralized server.  A
natural letter to map this drive to is "P:" for projects.  For additional information on centralized server
drive mapping, typical directory, subdirectory and file naming standards see the web page labeled
'Alphabetical Naming Conventions', by clicking on the link below:

Alphabetical Naming Conventions

Level 2 of the pyramid is suggested to be P:\PROJECTS on central servers for several reasons.  Not only is
this an extremely convenient place to perform backups from, but it also makes it easier for an operator to
find all of the current projects on-line in one place.  It also makes it much easier to control and assign
permissions for an entire directory on a project by project basis.  (Using all capital letters for the central
server and caps-and-lower-case on workstations will also help to avoid costly mistakes when synchronizing
projects back to central while burning the midnight oil - as so many of us love to do from time to time.)
Level 3 of the pyramid is a self-contained PROJECT DIRECTORY.  This directory should contain "all" of the
elements required for that particular project.  A backup of this directory should not require drawings,
documents or databases from any other directory in order to restore the project from an archive to it's
original state.  The number "96" in the sample above refers to the year. (Assuming that more projects will
be performed for a particular client on a yearly basis or at some future date.)  This directory could also be
renamed as UCLA-96a to identify multiple buildings or multiple contracts within the same year if needed.
Level 4 of the pyramid refers to the PROJECT DEVELOPMENT LEVEL.  This includes sk-dwgs for Sketches
and/or Schematic Design Drawings, dd-dwgs for Design Development Drawings and cd-dwgs for
Construction Document Drawings.   Other significant directories at this level may include ar-stds for
Architectural Standards and id-stds for Interior Design Standards - as well as the tb-stds directory for the
Project-Specific Titleblocks.  Only organizational directories belong at Level 4.  Under no circumstances
should any drawings be placed here.
Level 5 of the pyramid is the PROJECT PHASE AND PLOT SHEET DIRECTORY.   Here is one of the most
important control points in the backup and archive process of any given project.  By simply adding the
three (3) letters "ph1" to a standard four (4) letter plot sheet directory (i.e. ints-ph1), different phases or
versions of a design can be properly documented, then backed-up and archived for future use.  These
titleblocks would then be X-referenced into each of the final assembled "Plot Sheets", with consistent text
and logos clearly identifying the project phase.  Only plot sheets belong at this level.  This directory must
be kept absolutely clean and reflect the actual drawing index. (If there are twelve final drawings on paper,
then there should be twelve drawing files in this directory.)
Level 6 is the final PROJECT BASE DRAWING AND DETAIL CELL SUB-DIRECTORY.  This is where the actual
base drawings used to assemble plot sheets in the directory above reside.  All of these base drawings will
eventually be X-referenced into one or more plot sheets.  Even if at first glance it seems that six levels of
sub-directories is excessive, it should be noted that once all of these directories and subdirectories are
created, a simple point-and-click operating system is all that is needed to find and access any drawing
necessary.  The days of command line full-path typing are over and only the most die-hard DOS and Unix
users still insist on short "cryptic and hard to interpret" file and directory names.

Pyramid Configuration Summary

Using any more than six levels of subdirectories should be avoided as much as possible.  Consistency from
one project to another is highly desirable and maintaining each of these levels as shown above is one of
the most basic ways to achieve this.
Firms that have to do without a dedicated CADD Director (i.e. A combination Project Architect and Cadd
Manager.) often end up overloading Office Managers, Cadd Operators, or Secretaries with the responsibility

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of performing backups and archives.

Without simple an logical safeguards in place, this is usually a formula for disaster.  Using the pyramid
system and naming conventions mentioned should provide these firms with food for thought and a place to
start getting organized, at the very least.

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Chapter Index Basic Areas for Standard Sizes and Typical Scale Titleblocks Next Chapter

Although most offices regularly use letters to signify different paper sizes, most offices do not have
adequate standards for organizing CADD titleblocks according to paper size.
By incorporating this 'single letter' into their titleblock file names, a simple and elegant in-house standard
can be developed.  An intuitive standard that will require very little explanation.
The following chart is provided as a quick-reference guide to selecting the appropriate size and titleblock
name to match a specific X-axis by Y-axis building footprint.
(Note: allow for margin space. Sizes shown are to actual edge of paper.)

< File Name > < 1" = 1" > < 1/2" = 1'-0" > < 1/4" = 1'-0" > < 1/8" = 1'-0" > < 1/16" = 1'-0" >

tba-mstr.dwg 11" x 8.5" 22' x 17' 44' x 34' 88' x 68' 176' x 136'

tbb-mstr.dwg 17" x 11" 34' x 22' 68' x 44' 136' x 88' 272' x 176'

tbc-mstr.dwg 24" x 18" 48' x 36' 96' x 72' 192' x 144' 384' x 288'

tbd-mstr.dwg 36" x 24" 72' x 48' 144' x 96' 288' x 192' 576' x 384'

tbe-mstr.dwg 42" x 30" 84' x 60' 168' x 120' 336' x 240' 672' x 480'

tbf-mstr.dwg 48" x 36" 96' x 72' 192' x 144' 384' x 288' 768' x 576'

< File Name > < 1" = 1" > < 1" = 20'-0" > < 1" = 30'-0" > < 1" = 40'-0" > < 1" = 50'-0" >

tba-mstr.dwg 11" x 8.5" 220' x 170' 330' x 255' 440' x 340' 550' x 425'

tbb-mstr.dwg 17" x 11" 340' x 220' 510' x 330' 680' x 440' 850' x 550'

tbc-mstr.dwg 24" x 18" 480' x 360' 720' x 540' 960' x 720' 1200' x 900'

tbd-mstr.dwg 36" x 24" 720' x 480' 1080' x 720' 1440' x 960' 1800' x 1200'

tbe-mstr.dwg 42" x 30" 840' x 600' 1260' x 900' 1680' x 1200' 2100' x 1500'

tbf-mstr.dwg 48" x 36" 960' x 720' 1440' x 1080' 1920' x 1440' 2400' x 1800'

Although many of our projects are international in nature, no attempt has been made here to address
metric paper sizes and standards.  Most standards can be converted easily, without much modification.

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In reality, the metric paper sizes are more modular and scale between each other more gracefully.  As with
all things in life, there are pros and cons to using imperial vs. metric standards.
Please contact us if you require additional information for either imperial or metric titleblock standards.

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Chapter Index Titleblock Form and Project Specific Data in Separate Layers Next Chapter

To make the titleblock absolutely simple, only two (2) layers are actually required.  One using a thin line-
weight color (light grey for instance) to signify the equivalent of a pre-printed 'blank titleblock'.  The other
using a medium-weight color (cyan for instance) to clearly identify the project-specific textual and client
logo information (usually added by hand on pre-printed titleblocks).
Note that any text labels normally found on a pre-printed titleblock should be placed within the
"titleblock" layer and that both layers may contain more than one color. (see diagram below)

The 'blank' project titleblock illustrated above is in one layer, project-specific labels are on another layer,
with model space contents illustrated below.  For additional information, see the web page linked below:
Drafting Layer Standards

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Chapter Index Combining Client Logo Colors and Line Types On One Layer Next Chapter

Most new CADD programs currently available will allow you to use multiple colors within a single layer, and
that feature may very well be desirable to create a multi-color logo for instance.
There is no way that using ten different layers to create a single logo is justified given the added overhead
and confusion that this creates.  A logo should be created as a separate drawing and then inserted on the
titleblock drawing as a 'block' on a single layer.
Patterns and crosshatching used in a logo should be minimal and optimized for the final size to be used. If
the need arises for a much larger sized logo, another version of the logo should be generated.

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A sample name for a basic company logo is SSA-logo.dwg, where the first three (3) letters are a
standardized abbreviation for the company name.
All logo blocks should be placed in the Titleblock Standards Subdirectory.  Company logos on tilteblocks
need to be consistent from project to project.
Both the Client Logo and the Project Title Header are items that will appear on each and every titleblock
of the project.  As such, they should be created with great care and attention to detail.
Logos all reside on a layer separate from the 'titleblock line-work layer'.  (i.e. on layer 190-dwgtext not on
layer 100-titlblk.)  The logo may use multiple colors for visual or plotter line-weight effects.
Fonts used for the Project Title Header should be standard system fonts in order to avoid conflicts when
transferring files to Project Consultants.  All text not related to the logo should use standard text sizes and
colors.  Only "logo-related text" is allowed to use odd sizes or to utilize multiple colors for accuracy.

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Chapter Index Project-Specific Titleblocks Cross-Referenced in Paper Space Next Chapter

Project-Specific Titleblocks are titleblocks customized for a specific client and a specific project.  The use
of X-ref titleblocks in paper space can make updating drawings an automatic and simple process.

Having discussed Directory Structures at the macro level, from a bird's eye view if you will - we now move
on to examine the very simple concept of the 'Four (4) Folder' directory sub-structure at the micro level:

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Projects Architectural
In capitals and lower-case The folder where drawings
tell us this is a workstation initially reside until moved
and not a central server. to working-phase folders.

~Folder Templates DD-dwgs

A temporary 'place-holder' Folder to become CD-dwgs
for a project folder name.  and remain as an archive.
( example: ES-Singapore-07 )
- Base Xrefs
~Correspondence Titleblocks + base plans.
The plus (+) signs along - Blocks
the left signify that there CADD symbols and blocks.
are subdirectories present.
- Details
3d-images Project-specific details.
Primary 3D model drawings - Ref Images
folder with an easy access Client logos, renderings,  
'_Current Images' subdirectory. vicinity maps, etc.

Guidelines for Creating "Project-Specific Titleblocks" using Paper Space

After creating a company standards folder (i.e. C:\SSA-stds), a set of Company Master Titleblocks can be
created in accordance with the 'Sunn-Starr Interactive CADD Standard Guidelines' shown in this sample document:

Download document in Adobe pdf format to view or print

                                   

Ti t le bl ock Pro ce du re I m ag es c ou r te sy of : F + A Ar ch i te c ts - Gl e ndal e, Ca li fo rn ia

Chapter Index Using Grid & Snap Commands to Establish Titleblock Margins Back to Intro

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Due to nature of assembling detail sheets from 'detail cells' located within a detail-cell-grid in the active
area of a tilteblock, it is absolutely necessary to establish titleblock margins to line up the selected detail
cell grid by using the Grid and Snap commands in AutoCad.
Although most of the time titleblocks will be placed in paper space at 1:1 (or actual size), it may become
necessary at times to use titleblocks created in model space at a specific scale.
The following chart illustrates the various settings used for Grid and Snap (and corresponding text sizes
required) for titleblocks drawn at the scales specified below:

< Scale > < Grid > < Snap > < Text 1 > < Text 2 > < Text 3 >

1" = 1" .2 .1 3/32" 1/8" 3/16"

6" = 1'-0" .4 .2 3/16" 1/4" 3/8"

3" = 1'-0" .8 .4 3/8" 1/2" 3/4"

1 1/2" = 1'-0" 1.6 .8 3/4" 1" 1 1/2"

1" = 1'-0" 2.4 1.2 1 1/8" 1 1/2" 2 1/4"

3/4" = 1'-0" 3.2 1.6 1 1/2" 2" 3"

< Scale > < Grid > < Snap > < Text 1 > < Text 2 > < Text 3 >

1/2" = 1'-0" 4.8 2.4 2 1/4" 3" 4 1/2"

3/8" = 1'-0" 6.4 3.2 3" 4" 6"

1/4" = 1'-0" 9.6 4.8 4 1/2" 6" 9"

3/16" = 1'-0" 12.8 6.4 6" 8" 1'-0"

1/8" = 1'-0" 19.2 9.6 9" 1'-0" 1'-6"

1/16" = 1'-0" 38.4 19.2 1'-6" 2'-0" 3'-0"

Remember that drawings will require different Grid and Snap settings to be coordinated with each other in
both paper and model space.  Consistent text label sizes, line spacing, and notation alignments can be
easily accomplished once these simple settings are mastered and put to good use. 

For additional information regarding detail cell conventions, see the web page labeled:

Detail Cell Standards

-oOo-

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For internal service requests please forward your e-mail to cadd director at the link below :

cadd-director@sunn-starr.com

Copyright © Sunn-Starr Architectural, Inc. Lookinglass Systems Division ® 1984

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