AIA Guidelines for Naming Files Page 1 of 6

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AIA CAD Layer Guidelines

AIA Guidelines for File Naming
Architecture
Civil and Site Work
Electrical AIA Naming guidelines are defined for both models and sheets.
Existing Conditions
Model file names start with the discipline code, followed by a two-letter drawing type, followed a by
Fire Protection
Landscape Architecture a user-definable field.
Mechanical For example, A-FP01-T for architectural, floor plan, first floor, tower.
Plumbing
Structural
Sheet file names start with the discipline code, followed by a user-definable numerical field that
closely corresponds to the sheet sequence number.
Keyword Search For example, A-101 for architectural, floor plans, first floor.
File Naming

KMD ADT Standards

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Note: KMD uses the AIA Guidelines for File Naming for model files only. Sheet filenames should
KMD News
KMDnet Orientation reflect the number and the name of the sheet, and are managed through the use of the Sheet Set
Manager.
Human Resources
KMD Library
Professional Development
Ask the Experts File Names and Project References
Technology
Many consultants have long used the practice of incorporating project codes in their file names. For
Agreements example, 9718A1 might represent project 9718, sheet A1. Although this practice has benefits in a
CAD Standards traditional architecture or engineering practice, it is problematic in an environment in which CAD
Detail Library
information is exchanged between consultants and where CAD files become the graphic database for
Job Numbers
ongoing facility management. When files are used as reference files, their names become hardwired in
Payroll and Benefits Forms
the layer and file settings. When the project progresses to another stage, such as a later remodeling, it
Project Images
Templates is extremely difficult to revise these references. In such a case, a base drawing for a remodeling project
might contain references to a variety of historical project numbers.
Home In order to avoid embedding project specific references within CAD drawing file names, project
Search Tips designations should not be included in file names. Instead, directories or folders should be used to
Site Map separate and identify projects. A sample directory structure (taken from the GM Tech Center project) is
Help shown below:

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A-FP01-T Architectural, Floor plan, floor 1, tower

A-CR01-T Architectural, Core plan, floor 1, tower
A-IN01-T Architectural, Floor plan, floor 1, tower
A-SG01-T Architectural, structural grid, floor 1, tower
A-EW01-T Architectural, exterior wall, floor 1, tower

Guidelines for Model File Names

Discipline Codes

A Architectural
C Civil
E Electrical
F Fire Protection
G General
H Hazardous Materials
I Interiors
L Landscape
M Mechanical
P Plumbing
Q Equipment
R Resource
S Structural
T Telecommunications
X Other disciplines
Z Contractor/shop drawings

Drawing Type Codes that Apply to All Discipline

*-FP Floor plan

*-SP Site plan
*-DP Demolition plan
*-QP Equipment plan
*-XP Existing plan

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*-EL Elevation
*-SC Section
*-DT Detail
*-SH Schedule
*-3D Isometric/3D
*-DG Diagrams

Drawing Type Codes Specific to Particular Disciplines

Architectural

A-CR Core plan

A-RC Ceiling plan
A-EW Exterior wall plan
A-FP Floor plan
A-IN Interior wall plan
A-SG Structural grid plan
A-SP Site Plan
A-EP Enlarged plan
A-NP Finish plan
A-RP Furniture plan
A-XP Existing plan
(Note: Blue Codes indicate KMD additions/modifications to the AIA standard)

Architectural Details

A-DTBG- Below Grade Detail

A-DTCL- Ceiling Detail
A-DTDR- Door Detail
A-DTEW- Exterior Wall Detail
A-DTFN- Furniture Detail
A-DTGL- Glazing Detail
A-DTIN- Interior Detail
A-DTPA- Parapet Detail
A-DTRF- Roofing Detail

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A-DTST- Stair Detail

A-DTVT- Elevator Detail
A-DTWC- Toilet Details
A-DTWL- Wall Detail
A-DTWP- Waterproofing Detail

Civil

C-EP Environmental
C-GP Grading
C-RP Roads/topographic
C-SV Survey
C-UP Utility

Electrical

E-CP Communication
E-GP Grounding
E-LP Lighting
E-PP Power

Fire Protection

*-VP Evacuation plan (may be by other discipline)

F-KP Sprinkler plan

Interiors

I-CP Ceiling plan

I-EP Enlarged plan
I-RP Furniture plan
I-NP Finish plan

Mechanical

M-CP Control plan

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M-HP HVAC ductwork plan

M-PP Piping plan

Plumbing

P-PP Plumbing plan

Structural

S-FP Framing plan

S-NP Foundation plan

Telecommunications

T-DP Data
T-TP Telephone

Guidelines for Sheet File Names

Sheet file guidelines have been developed by the Uniform Drawing Systems Task Team of the
Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). Please refer to the Uniform Drawing System publication from
CSI for more information.

Discipline Codes

A Architectural
C Civil
E Electrical
F Fire Protection
G General
H Hazardous Materials
I Interiors
L Landscape
M Mechanical
P Plumbing
Q Equipment
R Resource

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S Structural
T Telecommunications
X Other disciplines
Z Contractor/shop drawings

Sheet Type Designations

0 General (symbols, legend, notes, etc.)

1 Plans (horizontal views)
2 Elevations (vertical views)
3 Sections (sectional views)
4 Large scale (plans, elevations or sections that are not details)
5 Details
6 Schedules and diagrams
7 User defined
8 User defined
9 3D views (isometrics, perspectives, photographs)

Sheet Sequence Numbers

Sheet numbers should be designated sequentially starting at “01” and continuing through “99”.

Examples

A-101 Architectural, first floor plan, sheet 1-1

A-102 Architectural, second floor plan, sheet 1-2
A-103 Architectural, first floor reflected ceiling plan, sheet 1-3
A-104 Architectural, first floor reflected ceiling plan, sheet 1-4
A-201 Architectural, elevations, sheet 2-1
A-501 Architectural details, sheet 5-1

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