NCS Basics - Modular sheet numbering system

Simplified version from AU presentation several years ago.

Sample overview of modular sheet ID system based on the NCS which can be applied to projects large or small. This focuses on Revit as a platform but can be extended to CAD and Navigator. The system uses natural sorting within disciplines to maintain sheet order with placeholders for certain key elements not directly addressed by the NCS. This modular system is adaptable to fit both large and small projects. Modules allow for direct cross-pollination and re-use of content with other projects to provide a jump start for Units or other modular components from the library. Each Unit link contains options and variations for that unit which may include FHA, ADA, SoCal, or municipalities; or linked in standardized Kitchens, bathrooms, or other smaller modules for assembly. This content is "ready to go" pre-setup on sheets, ready for printing.

Additional content, modifications or revisions is returned and updated through the library content after content vetting for re-use on future projects

Determining the project size

Project size drives the size and number of sheets, and the number of digits in the identifier.

Sheet prefix

One project may have sheets A1-A9 while more complex projects involving other disciplines and multiple stories may look more like  "AE401.A1.1" to cover different units, sectional building plans, etc. The NCS allows for total flexibility within the same framework to support both, just not all pieces are used.

The sheet prefix determines the discipline managing the content or creating the sheet. Architecture uses "A". The second letter determines the subset of the sheet- for Architecture typically this is "D" for demo, "E" for general, "I" for interiors built in casework, ornamental stairs, etc., or "G" for graphic signage. Typically, most sheets are represented under the "AE" Prefix. 

Number of floors 000 or 0000 digits

The last digit(s) generally represent the floor level in horizontal views or a sequence in other series.

AE101       For projects less than 9 total levels typically use 2 letters + three digits

AE1001     For projects more than 9 total levels use 2 Letters + 4 digits

Sheets should coincide from discipline to discipline. Where AE101  is the first-floor plan for architecture ME101 is the same sheet and layout and scale in mechanical for their overall plans so flipping between sheets in the set the plans align for quick visual check in the field.

Basic number prefixes NCS

After the discipline prefixes the sheet numbers follow series numbers:

0    General sheets, symbols
1    Plans (Horizontal views)
2    Elevations (Vertical views)
3    Wall sections
4    Enlarged plans
5    Details
6    door schedules
7    wall partitions
8    User defined
9    3D Representations

The next two to three digits are mostly sequence. A more adaptive system borrows the 2nd digit to set to save locations for (i.e. ceiling plans) based on experience with number of sheets in a set.

Extended NCS sheet organization (recommended)

Extending the NCS placeholders ID extended series dedicated like horizontal views for plans and RCPs.

00  General

10  Plans (Horizontal views-last 2 digits=floor)

  15 Reflected ceiling plans

  18 Roof Plans

20  Elevations (Vertical views)

30  Sections (Building Sections)

  31 Wall sections (Partial section)

  32 Wall sections (Partial sections)

40  Enlarged plans

  41 Large-Scale Views (plans, elevations, stair sections, or sections that are not details)

  46 Enlarged interior elevations (Specialized corridors, entry/reception/etc.)

  48 Enlarged interior elevations (Specialized corridors, entry/reception/etc.)

50  Details

60  Schedules and Diagrams

  61 Door schedules

  62 window, door types, storefront, curtain wall, hollow metal details

70  wall partition sheets
Note: GSA:3-D representations to scale such as axonometric drawings

80  User Defined for types that do not fall in other categories
Note: GSA:Other, such as photographs, scanned images, animation stills, multimedia, etc. not generated from the building information model. _

90  3D Representations, isometrics, perspectives, photographs
Note: GSA:3-D representations not to scale.  Also, generated from the building information model. )

The extended sheet ID

For wide, spread out buildings, or files with a lot of sub pieces like kitchen plans, units, special rooms, etc. that spread out horizontally rather than vertically - use extended sheet IDs.

An extended ID May be AE101a, AE101b, AE101c, AE101d, for large-scale(i.e. 1/8"/ft) plans that run off a sheet, in this case, broken up into four parts to fit on sheets using scopes.

For unit IDs, add the Unit ID to the end of the sheet sequence. AE411-A1.1; AE412-A2; AE413-A3

Numbers can be conserved by dripping the last 1 or 2 digits: AE41-A1.1, AE41-A2

The sort associated with the sheets can drive and help conform the sheet order and force sorting if the sets get out of order.

Natural Sort Order

Note: Because Revit sorts sheet numbers as numbers so a dash or a dot helps keep the sheet sequence in order. So, sheet AE1011 you would expect to see behind AE101, but 1011 is much larger number as 101 so it sorts further down in the sort order.