ISO 13567-2:2017

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.