Monday, January 28, 2008

NCS Version 4.0 Now Available

On 22 January 2008 The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) announced the release of NCS version 4.0. According to their website, the latest edition provides the following improvements on Version 3.1:
-Expanded and reorganized CAD Layer Guidelines make it easier to locate layer names, including new telecommunications and electrical discipline layer names.
-Appendix A added with all groups and fields alphabetized into one easy to read list.
-Disciplines and lists alphabetized.
-Telecommunications discipline contains new items as well as many that were moved from the Electrical discipline.
-Major and Minor group definitions made more generic to allow broader usage.
-Major and Minor group abbreviations coordinated with UDS section of NCS.
-Civil Works discipline deleted.
-Updated Uniform Drawing System includes new and revised symbols for geotech, security, fire suppression, masonry, plaster and other areas. Common drawing practices also have been updated and clarified.
-Abbreviated sheet identification eliminated.
-Dash after Level 2 discipline designator eliminated.
-Level 2 discipline designators for model file names are now allowed.
-Required location for drawing area coordinates revised.
-Clarified user-defined north arrows.
-New symbols—geotech, security, fire suppression, and elevation target.
-Use of arrowheads for dimension terminators if used throughout the drawing set allowed.
-Revised symbols—masonry, plaster, and elevation indicator.
-Option to repeat text description appearing next to reference keynote symbols eliminated.
-Completely re-written Plotting Guidelines reflect that line widths are no longer required to be mapped to color numbers.
-Color to line weight removed
-New tables—gray scale table, color table, line width table.
-Version 4.0 now includes PDF, Excel and .dwg files making it easier to search and integrate the standard into your CAD, BIM, costing, and other software.

NCS version 4.0 may be ordered at www.nationalcadstandard.org or www.csinet.org

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