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STANDARD ALPHABETS
METRIC UNITS
AS 1744—1975
This standard, prepared under the direction of the Australian Committee on Road
Devices, was approved on behalf of the Council of the Standards Association of
Australia on 20 January 1975.
Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australi an Standards are subject
to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editi ons as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest editi on, and any
amendments thereto.
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and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.
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AS 1744—1975
Australian Standard
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known as
STANDARD ALPHABETS
FOR ROAD SIGNS
PREFACE
because of its occasional use where space is limited, and includes narrow and
medium spacings in addition to the wide spacing used in the Californian Traffic
Manual.
The revision differs from the AS E37 — 1960 in the following respects:
(a) Two additional alphabets have been included, viz the Modified Series E
alphabet, and the Lower Case alphabet.
(b) Undimensioned outlines of each character are given. The only dimensions
now included are tables of heights and widths.
(c) Three standard spacings — narrow, medium and wide — have been included.
(d) Letter spacings now vary according to the stroke width of the letter series
used, as well as with letter size in each of the three standard spacings.
It is recommended that the new alphabets and spacings should be used on all
new signs, and on all replacements of existing signs which have outlived their
usefulness.
The Association wishes to acknowledge the assistance received from the U.S.
Department of Commerce and the Californian Department of Public Works in
regard to the documents used as a basis for the standard, from the National
Association of Australian State Road Authorities in regard to the drafting of the
standard, and from the Department of Main Roads, N.S.W. in regard to the
preparation of the drawings of character outlines and computation of the tables.
3 AS 1744—1975
CONTENTS
Page
SP EC IFICATION
1 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . 4
2 Forms and Sizes of Letters and Numerals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... 4
3 Spacings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... 4
4 Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... 4
4.1 Series A to F Alphabets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . 4
4.2 Modified Series E and Lower Case Alphabets . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . 4
4.3 Spacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... 4
4.4 Calculation of Word Lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 4
ALPH AB ETS
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1 SCOP E. This specification gives the forms and 3. SPA CINGS . Spacings are shown as follows:
dimensions of a range of letters and numerals to be Table 9 Series A to F Letter and Numeral
used on standard road signs specified in AS 1743, Spacings
Road Signs, and AS 1742, Manual of Uniform Traffic
Control Devices. The specification also gives the Table 10 Modified Series E and Lower
spacings to be used in setting out the letters and Case Letter Spacings
numerals. The spacings dimensions given are for the 640 mm
The specification comprises: Series E alphabet and numerals with wide spacing, and
the 640 mm Modified Series E and 480 mm Lower
(a) Six alphabets of capital letters and sets of Case alphabets. To obtain other spacings multiply by
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numerals ranging in width from narrow letters the appropriate factor shown in the tables.
(Series A) to board letters (Series F),
together with tables giving the height and Spacing between letters or numerals is the horizontal
width of these letters and numerals in distance between the extreme right edge of the
seventeen standard sizes ranging from preceding letter or numeral, and the extreme left edge
40 mm to 640 mm in height. of the following letter or numeral.
(b) One alphabet of Modified Series E capital NOTES:
letters and set of numerals, and one alphabet 1. Medium and narr ow spacings are respectively
of lower-case letters, together with tables 0.75 and 0.50 ti mes wide spacing.
giving the height and width of these letters 2. Spacing factors (Table 9.2) are derived from the
and numerals in thirteen standard sizes rati os of lett er height, stroke width and type of
spacing;
ranging from 120 mm to 640 mm in height for
the capital letters and numerals, and 90 mm e.g. for Series A 560 mm letters medium spacing—
to 480 mm in height for the lower-case
letters. These alphabets are for use Spacing factor =
conjointly.
= 0.358
NOTE: The modif ied Series E capital alphabet is the
Seri es E capital alphabet with the str oke width widened 4. APP LICATION.
to one-fift h of the letter height. 4.1 Series A to F Alphabets. Different series of
(c) Spacing tables for the Series A to F letters capital alphabets may be combined on the one sign
and numerals. provided that the same series is used in each line of
(d) Spacing tables for Modified Series E and the legend.
Lower Case letters. Series A to F alphabets shall not be used with the
2. FORMS AND SIZES OF LETTERS AND Lower Case alphabet, except where the Lower Case
NU MER ALS. The forms of letters and numerals, and alphabet is required to denote a unit, e.g. m, km, and
their dimensions, are shown as follows: t denoting metres, kilometres and tonnes, respectively.
In this case the stroke width of the Lower Case
Series A — Tables 1 alphabet shall not exceed the stroke width of the
Series B — Tables 2 numeral preceding it.
Series C — Tables 3
Series D — Tables 4 4.2 Modified Series E and Lower Case Alphabets.
Series E — Tables 5 The Modified Series E alphabet shall be used in
Series F — Tables 6 conjunction with the Lower Case alphabet. It may also
Modified Series E — Tables 7 be used separately as for other capital alphabets.
Lower Case — Tables 8 Lower case letter heights shall be 0.75 times capital
The forms are shown in characters 50 mm high on letter heights.
5 mm squares. To obtain forms in other heights, 4.3 Spacing. Narrow, medium and wide spacings may
increase the size of the squares proportionately and be used with Series A to F letters and numerals. Wide
transfer manually, or use any enlarging process which spacing only as given in Table 10 should be used with
maintains the correct proportions. As line width Modified Series E letters and numerals and Lower Case
becomes significant when the characters are enlarged letters.
the centre-line of the line forming the outline should be For spacing between words see AS 1743.
used to obtain the true shape of the form in
enlargements. 4.4 Calculation of Word Lengths. Word lengths are
calculated by adding the letter widths and spacings.
The stroke width and letter height of each alphabet, The calculations may be greatly reduced by generating
including the Lower Case alphabet, equals the width tables combining the letter widths and spacings for
and height respectively of the letter ‘I’ or ‘i’ of the each possible combination of letters or numerals.
alphabet, whichever is appropriate. All letters and
numerals having an arc top or bottom are extended
slightly above and below this basic size.
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