BRITISH STANDARD BS EN

22768-1:1993
ISO 2768-1:
Licensed copy: University of Auckland Library, University of Auckland Library, Version correct as of 15/07/2012 07:51, (c) The British Standards Institution 2012

1989

General tolerances —
Part 1: Tolerances for linear and
angular dimensions without individual
tolerance indications

The European Standard EN 22768-1:1993 has the status of a

British Standard

UDC 621.713.12:744.4
 BS EN 22768-1:1993

Cooperating organizations
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The European Committee for Standardization (CEN), under whose supervision

this European Standard was prepared, comprises the national standards
organizations of the following countries:

Austria Oesterreichisches Normungsinstitut

Belgium Institut belge de normalisation
Denmark Dansk Standardiseringsraad
Finland Suomen Standardisoimisliito, r.y.
France Association française de normalisation
Germany Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.
Greece Hellenic Organization for Standardization
Iceland Technological Institute of Iceland
Ireland National Standards Authority of Ireland
Italy Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione
Luxembourg Inspection du Travail et des Mines
Netherlands Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut
Norway Norges Standardiseringsforbund
Portugal Instituto Portuguès da Qualidade
Spain Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación
Sweden Standardiseringskommissionen i Sverige
Switzerland Association suisse de normalisation
United Kingdom British Standards Institution

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Machine,
Engineers and Hand Tools
Standards Policy Committee,
was published under the
authority of the Standards
Board and comes into effect on Amendments issued since publication
15 November 1993

© BSI 12-1998 Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference MTE 24
Announced in
BSI News, October 1993

ISBN 0 580 22604 2

 BS EN 22768-1:1993

Contents
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Page
Cooperating organizations Inside front cover
National foreword ii
Foreword 2
Introduction 3
1 Scope 3
2 General 3
3 Normative references 3
4 General tolerances 3
5 Indications on drawings 4
6 Rejection 4
Annex A (informative) Concepts behind general tolerancing of
linear and angular dimensions 5
Annex ZA (normative) Normative references to international
publications with their relevant European publications 6
Table 1 — Permissible deviations for linear dimensions except
for broken edges 4
Table 2 — Permissible deviations for broken edges 4
Table 3 — Permissible deviations of angular dimensions 4
National annex NA (informative) Committees responsible Inside back cover
National annex NB (informative) Cross-reference Inside back cover

© BSI 12-1998 i
 BS EN 22768-1:1993

National foreword
Licensed copy: University of Auckland Library, University of Auckland Library, Version correct as of 15/07/2012 07:51, (c) The British Standards Institution 2012

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Machine,
Engineers and Hand Tools Standards Policy Committee and is the English
language version of EN 22768-1:1993 General tolerances — Part 1: Tolerances for
linear and angular dimensions without individual tolerance indications,
published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). It is identical
with ISO 2768-1:1989 published by the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO). This standard supersedes BS 4500-3:1973, which is
withdrawn.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the EN title page, pages 2 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

ii © BSI 12-1998
 EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 22768-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
Licensed copy: University of Auckland Library, University of Auckland Library, Version correct as of 15/07/2012 07:51, (c) The British Standards Institution 2012

EUROPÄISCHE NORM April 1993

UDC 621.713.12:744.4

Descriptors: Machine components, dimensional tolerances, angular tolerances, untoleranced dimensions, dimensional deviations,
specifications

English version

General tolerances — Part 1: Tolerances for linear and

angular dimensions without individual tolerance
indications
(ISO 2768-1:1989)

Tolérances générales — Partie 1: Tolérances Allegemeintoleranzen — Teil 1: Toleranzen für

pour dimensions linéaires et angulaires non Längen- und Winkelmaße ohne einzelne
affectées de tolérances individuelles Toleranzeintragung
(ISO 2768-1:1989) (ISO 2768-1:1989)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1993-04-15. CEN members

are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which
stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a
national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any
CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French,
German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and
United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels

© 1993 Copyright reserved to CEN members

Ref. No. EN 22768-1:1993 E
 EN 22768-1:1993
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Foreword
In 1991, the International Standard
ISO 2768-1:1989 General tolerances —
Part 1: Tolerances for linear and angular
dimensions without individual tolerance indications
was submitted to the CEN Primary Questionnaire
procedure.
Following the positive result of the CEN/CS
Proposal, ISO 2768-1:1989 was submitted to the
Formal Vote.
The result of the Formal Vote was positive.
This European Standard shall be given the status of
a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by
October 1993, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by October 1993.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations, the following countries are bound to
implement this European Standard: Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, United Kingdom.
NOTE The European references to international publications
are given in annex ZA (normative).

2 © BSI 12-1998

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Introduction
All features on component parts always have a size
and a geometrical shape. For the deviation of size
and for the deviations of the geometrical
characteristics (form, orientation and location) the
function of the part requires limitations which,
when exceeded, impair this function.
The tolerancing on the drawing should be complete
to ensure that the elements of size and geometry of
all features are controlled, i.e. nothing shall be
implied or left to judgement in the workshop or in
the inspection department.
The use of general tolerances for size and geometry
simplifies the task of ensuring that this prerequisite
is met.
1 Scope
This part of ISO 2768 is intended to simplify
drawing indications and it specifies general
tolerances for linear and angular dimensions
without individual tolerance indications in four
tolerance classes.
NOTE 1 The concepts behind the general tolerancing of linear
and angular dimensions are described in annex A.
It applies to the dimensions of parts that are
produced by metal removal or parts that are formed
from sheet metal.
NOTE 2 These tolerances may be suitable for use with
materials other than metal.
NOTE 3 Parallel International Standards exist or are planned,
e.g. see ISO 80621) for castings.
This part of ISO 2768 only applies for the following
dimensions which do not have an individual
tolerance indication:
a) linear dimensions (e.g. external sizes, internal
sizes, step sizes, diameters, radii, distances,
external radii and chamfer heights for broken
edges);
b) angular dimensions, including angular
dimensions usually not indicated, e.g. right
angles (90°), unless reference to ISO 2768-2 is
made, or angles of uniform polygons;
c) linear and angular dimensions produced by
machining assembled parts.
It does not apply for the following dimensions:
a) linear and angular dimensions which are
covered by reference to other standards on
general tolerances;
b) auxiliary dimensions indicated in brackets;
c) theoretically exact dimensions indicated in
rectangular frames.
1)
ISO 8062:1984, Castings — System of dimensional tolerances.
© BSI 12-1998
EN 22768-1:1993
2 General
When selecting the tolerance class, the respective
customary workshop accuracy has to be taken into
consideration. If smaller tolerances are required or
larger tolerances are permissible and more
economical for any individual feature, such
tolerances should be indicated adjacent to the
relevant nominal dimension(s).
General tolerances for linear and angular
dimensions apply when drawings or associated
specifications refer to this part of ISO 2768 in
accordance with clauses 4 and 5. If there are general
tolerances for other processes, as specified in other
International Standards, reference shall be made to
them on the drawings or associated specifications.
For a dimension between an unfinished and a
finished surface, e.g. of cast or forged parts, for
which no individual tolerance is directly indicated,
the larger of the two general tolerances in question
applies, e.g. for castings, see ISO 80621).
3 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which,
through reference in this text, constitute provisions
of this part of ISO 2768. At the time of publication,
the editions indicated were valid. All standards are
subject to revision, and parties to agreements based
on this part of ISO 2768 are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most
recent editions of the standards indicated below.
Members of IEC and ISO maintain registers of
currently valid International Standards.
ISO 2768-2:1989, General tolerances —
Part 2: Geometrical tolerances for features without
individual tolerance indications.
ISO 8015:1985, Technical drawings —
Fundamental tolerancing principle.
4 General tolerances
4.1 Linear dimensions
General tolerances for linear dimensions are given
in Table 1 and Table 2.
4.2 Angular dimensions
General tolerances specified in angular units
control only the general orientation of lines or line
elements of surfaces, but not their form deviations.
The general orientation of the line derived from the
actual surface is the orientation of the contacting
line of ideal geometrical form. The maximum
distance between the contacting line and the actual
line shall be the least possible value (see ISO 8015).
3
 EN 22768-1:1993
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The permissible deviations of angular dimensions EXAMPLE

are given in Table 3. ISO 2768-m
5 Indications on drawings 6 Rejection
If general tolerances in accordance with this part of Unless otherwise stated, workpieces exceeding the
ISO 2768 shall apply, the following information general tolerance shall not lead to automatic
shall be indicated in or near the title block: rejection provided that the ability of the workpiece
a) “ISO 2768” to function is not impaired (see clause A.4).
b) the tolerance class in accordance with this part
of ISO 2768.
Table 1 — Permissible deviations for linear dimensions except for broken edges
(external radii and chamfer heights, see Table 2)
Values in millimetres
Tolerance class Permissible deviations for basic size range
Designation Description a over over over over over over over
0,5
up to 3 6 30 120 400 1 000 2 000
up to up to up to up to up to up to up to
3
6 30 120 400 1 000 2 000 4 000
f fine ± 0,05 ± 0,05 ± 0,1 ± 0,15 ± 0,2 ± 0,3 ± 0,5 —
m medium ± 0,1 ± 0,1 ± 0,2 ± 0,3 ± 0,5 ± 0,8 ± 1,2 ±2
c coarse ± 0,2 ± 0,3 ± 0,5 ± 0,8 ± 1,2 ±2 ±3 ±4
v very coarse — ± 0,5 ±1 ± 1,5 ± 2,5 ±4 ±6 ±8
aFor nominal sizes below 0,5 mm, the deviations shall be indicated adjacent to the relevant nominal size(s).

Table 2 — Permissible deviations for broken edges (external radii and chamfer heights)
Values in millimetres
Tolerance class Permissible deviations for basic size range
Designation Description a over 3 up to 6 over 6
0,5 up to 3
f fine
± 0,2 ± 0,5 ±1
m medium
c coarse
± 0,4 ±1 ±2
v very coarse
aFor nominal sizes below 0,5 mm, the deviations shall be indicated adjacent to the relevant nominal size(s).

Table 3 — Permissible deviations of angular dimensions

Tolerance class Permissible deviations for ranges of lengths, in millimetres,
of the shorter side of the angle concerned
Designation Description up to 10 over 10 up to 50 over 50 up to 120 over 120 up to 400 over 400
f fine
± 1° ± 0°30′ ± 0°20′ ± 0°10′ ± 0°5′
m medium
c coarse ± 1°30′ ± 1° ± 0°30′ ± 0°15′ ± 0°10′
v very coarse ± 3° ± 2° ± 1° ± 0°30′ ± 0°20′

4 © BSI 12-1998

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Annex A (informative)
Concepts behind general tolerancing
of linear and angular dimensions
A.1 General tolerances should be indicated on the
drawing by reference to this part of ISO 2768 in
accordance with clause 5.
The values of general tolerances correspond to
tolerance classes of customary workshop accuracy,
the appropriate tolerance class being selected and
indicated on the drawing according to the
requirement for the components.
A.2 Above certain tolerance values, there is usually
no gain in manufacturing economy by enlarging the
tolerance. For example, a feature having a 35 mm
diameter could be manufactured to a high level of
conformance in a workshop with “customary
medium accuracy” Specifying a tolerance of ± 1 mm
would be of no benefit in this particular workshop,
as the general tolerance values of ± 0,3 mm would be
quite adequate.
However, if, for functional reasons, a feature
requires a smaller tolerance value than the “general
tolerances”, then that feature should have the
smaller tolerance indicated individually adjacent to
the dimension defining its size or angle. This type of
tolerance falls outside the scope of general
tolerances.
In cases where the function of a feature allows a
tolerance equal to or larger than the general
tolerance values, these should not be indicated
adjacent to the dimension but should be stated on
the drawing as described in clause 5. This type of
tolerance allows full use of the concept of general
tolerancing.
There will be “exceptions to the rule” where the
function of the feature allows a larger tolerance
than the general tolerances, and the larger
tolerance will provide manufacturing economy. In
these special cases, the larger tolerance should be
indicated individually adjacent to the dimension for
the particular feature, e.g. the depth of blind holes
drilled at assembly.
A.3 Using general tolerances leads to the following
advantages:
a) drawings are easier to read and thus
communication is made more effective to the user
of the drawing;
b) the design draughtsman saves time by
avoiding detailed tolerance calculations as it is
sufficient only to know that the function allows a
tolerance greater than or equal to the general
tolerance;
© BSI 12-1998
EN 22768-1:1993
c) the drawing readily indicates which feature
can be produced by normal process capability,
which also assists quality engineering by
reducing inspection levels;
d) those dimensions remaining, which have
individually indicated tolerances, will, for the
most part, be those controlling features for which
the function requires relatively small tolerances
and which therefore may require special effort in
the production — this will be helpful for
production planning and will assist quality
control services in their analysis of inspection
requirements;
e) purchase and sub-contract supply engineers
can negotiate orders more readily since the
“customary workshop accuracy” is known before
the contract is placed; this also avoids arguments
on delivery between the buyer and the supplier,
since in this respect the drawing is complete.
These advantages are fully obtained only when
there is sufficient reliability that the general
tolerances will not be exceeded, i.e. when the
customary workshop accuracy of the particular
workshop is equal to or finer than the general
tolerances indicated in the drawing.
The workshop should, therefore
— find out by measurements what its customary
workshop accuracy is;
— accept only those drawings having general
tolerances equal to or greater than its customary
workshop accuracy;
— check by sampling that its customary
workshop accuracy does not deteriorate.
Relying on undefined “good workmanship” with all
its uncertainties and misunderstandings is no
longer necessary with the concept of general
geometrical tolerances. The general geometrical
tolerances define the required accuracy of “good
workmanship”.
A.4 The tolerance the function allows is often
greater than the general tolerance. The function of
the part is, therefore, not always impaired when the
general tolerance is (occasionally) exceeded at any
feature of the workpiece. Exceeding the general
tolerance should lead to a rejection of the workpiece
only if the function is impaired.
5
 EN 22768-1:1993
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Annex ZA (normative)
Normative references to international publications with their relevant
European publications
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications.
These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed
hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply
to this European Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references
the latest edition of the publication referred to applies (including amendments).

Publication Title EN/HD

ISO 2768-2 General tolerances — Part 2: Geometrical tolerances for features EN 22768-2
without individual tolerances indications
ISO 8015 Technical drawings — Fundamental tolerancing principle

6 © BSI 12-1998
 BS EN 22768-1:1993

National annex NA (informative)

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Committees responsible
The United Kingdom participation in the preparation of this European Standard was entrusted by the
Machine, Engineers and Hand Tools Standards Policy Committee (MTE/-) to Technical Committee
MTE/24, upon which the following bodies were represented:
British Cast Iron Research Association
British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association
British Foundry Association
Federation of British Engineers Tool Manufacturers
Railway Industry Association of Great Britain
Society of British Aerospace Companies Ltd.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.
Zinc Development Association
Coopted members

National annex NB (informative)

Cross-reference
Publication referred to Corresponding British Standard
ISO 2768-1:1989 BS EN 22768-2:1993 General tolerance
Part 2: Geometrical tolerances for features without individual tolerance
indications

© BSI 12-1998
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