INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 3098-1

Second edition
2015-03-01

Technical product documentation —

Lettering —
Part 1:
General requirements
Documentation technique de produits — Écriture —
Partie 1: Exigences générales
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Reference number
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Contents Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
4 General requirements...................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
5 Dimensions.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
5.1 Nominal size............................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
5.2 Location of central lines................................................................................................................................................................... 3
5.3 Range of nominal sizes...................................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.4 Lettering angle......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
5.5 Types of lettering................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
5.6 Underlined and overlined texts or text fields................................................................................................................ 7
6 Designation................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Bibliography................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2. www.iso.org/directives
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received. www.iso.org/patents
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
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to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee
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responsible for this document is ISO/TC 10, Technical product documentation,
Subcommittee SC 1, Basic conventions. This second edition of ISO 3098-1 cancels and replaces the first
edition of ISO 3098-0:1997, of which it constitutes ISOa 3098-1:2015
minor revision.
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ISO 3098 consists of the following parts, under the general title Technical product documentation — Lettering:
d9862272bde8/iso-3098-1-2015
— Part 1: General requirements
— Part 2: Latin alphabet, numerals and marks
— Part 3: Greek alphabet
— Part 4: Diacritical and particular marks for the Latin alphabet
— Part 5: CAD lettering of the Latin alphabet, numerals and marks
— Part 6: Cyrillic alphabet

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 3098-1:2015(E)

Technical product documentation — Lettering —

Part 1:
General requirements

1 Scope
This part of ISO 3098 specifies the general requirements for lettering, in accordance with the other parts
of ISO 3098, to be used in technical product documentation (in particular on technical drawings). It
includes basic conventions as well as rules for the application of lettering using the following techniques:
a) free-hand lettering (by means of an underlaid “grid”);
b) templates and manual lettering instruments;
c) dry transfer systems;
d) numerically controlled lettering and draughting systems.

2 Normative references
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The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 3098-1:2015
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ISO 128-20, Technical drawings — General principles of presentation — Part 20: Basic conventions for lines
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3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
central line
imaginary line in the middle of each line or line element which is a constitutive part of a graphic character set
Note 1 to entry: Lines may be drawn by means of tubular technical pens conforming with ISO 9175-1.

Note 2 to entry: The central line is the basic datum for the design of tools for lettering, e.g. engraving tools for
templates, programs for lettering generators.

3.2
graphic character set
finite set of different graphic characters in a fixed type of lettering, including letters of a certain alphabet,
numerals, diacritical marks, punctuation marks and additional graphical symbols, that is considered
complete for a given purpose
Note 1 to entry: See ISO/IEC 2382-4:1999, 04.03.

3.3
lettering

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3.3.1
lettering
procedure of writing graphic characters taken from a graphic character set on a (technical) drawing
carrier (in addition to the graphical representation)
3.3.2
lettering
whole of the nongraphical information on a (technical) drawing carrier (text, instructions, dimensions, etc.)
3.3.3
lettering
whole of the graphic characters of a graphic character set which can be used for transferring non-
graphical information on to a (technical) drawing carrier

4 General requirements

4.1 The basic characteristics required of lettering are given in 4.2 to 4.4.

4.2 Legibility, which shall be maintained by a space between characters of twice the line width used for
lettering. This spacing may be reduced to one line width for a better visual effect with combinations of
particular characters.
EXAMPLE LA, TV or Tr

4.3
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Suitability for the generally used copying processes (diazo copying, microfilming, telefax, etc.).
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4.4 Suitability for numerically controlled draughting systems.
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5 Dimensions d9862272bde8/iso-3098-1-2015

5.1 Nominal size

The nominal size of lettering is defined by the height (h) of the outline contour of the upper-case (upper
case) letters (see Figure 1 and Tables 1 and 2).
The dimensions shown in Figures 1 to 3 as applied to the Latin (L) alphabet shall also be applied to the
Cyrillic (C) and Greek (G) alphabets.

Figure 1

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Figure 2

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Figure 3

ISO 3098-1:2015
5.2 Location of https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/1c5b32d7-4cfd-4b8a-ae60-
central lines
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The nominal size (h) and the spacing between characters (a) shall be taken as the basis for defining the
central line (see Figures 4 and 5). For other dimensions, see Tables 1 and 2.
h1 = h – d

a1 = a + d

When CAD lettering is used (see ISO 3098-5), the same sizes are required as for other techniques.

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Key
1 baseline

Figure 4

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Key
1 baseline

Figure 5

5.3 Range of nominal sizes

The range of nominal sizes is specified as follows:
     1,8 mm; 2,5 mm; 3,5 mm; 5 mm; 7 mm; 10 mm; 14 mm; 20 mm
The multiple of √2 in the range of heights for lettering is derived from the standardized progression of
dimensions for paper sizes (see ISO 216).
The line widths shall be in accordance with ISO 128-20 and the same line width shall be used for both
upper-case and lower-case letters.

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5.4 Lettering angle

The lettering may be vertical (upright), see Figures 1 to 5, or inclined (sloped) to the right at 75° from
the horizontal (see Figure 6).

Key
1 inclination (slope)
2 baseline

Figure 6

5.5 Types of lettering iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW

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The types of lettering are as follows:
—     lettering type A, vertical (V)
ISO 3098-1:2015
   Dimensions specified in Table 1
—     lettering type A, sloped (S)
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—     lettering type B, vertical (V)

             (preferred application)    Dimensions specified in Table 2
—     lettering type B, sloped (S)

—     lettering type CA, vertical (V)

—     lettering type CA, sloped (S)    See ISO 3098-5

—     lettering type CB, vertical (V)      (for application of numerically controlled
             (preferred application)      draughting via CAD)

—     lettering type CB, sloped (S)

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