BRITISH STANDARD BS EN ISO

5458:1999

Geometrical Product
Specifications (GPS) —
Geometrical
tolerancing —
Positional tolerancing

The European Standard EN ISO 5458:1998 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 17.040.01
BS EN ISO 5458:1999

National foreword

This British Standard is the English language version of EN ISO 5458:1998. It

is identical with ISO 5458:1998. It partially supersedes BS 308-3:1990 which
is expected to be finally withdrawn on 2000-06-30.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee
TDE/4, Engineering drawing, metrology, precision measurement and all
related documentation, which has the responsibility to:
— aid enquirers to understand the text;
— present to the responsible international/European committee any
enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the UK
interests informed;
— monitor related international and European developments and
promulgate them in the UK.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on
request to its secretary.
Cross-references
The British Standards which implement international or European
publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Standards
Catalogue under the section entitled “International Standards Correspondence
Index”, or by using the “Find” facility of the BSI Standards Electronic
Catalogue.
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 ISO title page, page 2, the ISO title page, pages ii to iv, pages 1 to 10
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.

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the Amendments issued since publication
direction of the Engineering
Sector Committee, was
published under the
Amd. No. Date Comments
authority of the Standards
Committee and comes
into effect on
15 May 1999

© BSI 03-2000

ISBN 0 580 32487 7

 BS EN ISO 5458:1999

Contents

Page
National foreword Inside front cover
Foreword 2
Foreword iii
Text of ISO 5458 1

© BSI 03-2000 i
ii blank
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 5458
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 1998
EUROPÄISCHE NORM

ICS 01.100.01

English version

Geometrical product specifications (GPS) — Geometrical

tolerancing — Positional tolerancing
(ISO 5458:1998)

Spécification géométrique des produits (GPS) — Geometrische Produktspezifikation (GPS) —

Tolérancement géométrique — Tolérancement de Form- und Lagetolerierung
localisation (ISO 5458:1998) Positionstolerierung (ISO 5458:1998)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 15 December 1998.

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,
Czech Republic, 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

© 1998 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national
Members.
Ref. No. EN ISO 5458:1998 E
EN ISO 5458:1998

Foreword
The text of the International Standard
ISO 5458:1998 has been prepared by Technical
Committee ISO/TC 213 “Dimensional and
geometrical product specification and verification”
in collaboration with Technical Committee
CEN/TC 290 “Dimensional and geometrical product
specification and verification”, the secretariat of
which is held by DIN.
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
June 1999, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by June 1999.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations, the national standards organizations
of the following countries are bound to implement
this European Standard: Austria, Belgium,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the
United Kingdom.
The Annex A, Annex B, Annex C and Annex D of
this European Standard are informative only.

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard
ISO 5458:1998 has been approved by CEN as a
European Standard without any modification.

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EN ISO 5458:1998

Contents
Page
Foreword iii
Introduction 1
1 Scope 1
2 Normative reference 1
3 Definitions 1
4 Establishment of positional tolerances 1
5 Tolerance combinations 7
Annex A (informative) Definitions 8
Annex B (informative) Former practice 8
Annex C (informative) Relation to the GPS matrix model 9
Annex D (informative) Bibliography 10
Figure 1 2
Figure 2 a) 3
Figure 2 b) 3
Figure 3 a) 4
Figure 3 b) 4
Figure 4 a) 5
Figure 4 b) 5
Figure 5 a) 6
Figure 5 b) 6
Figure 6 6
Figure 7 a) 7
Figure 7 b) 7
Figure 7 c) 7
Figure B.1 8
Figure C.1 9

Descriptors: Drawings, technical drawings, dimensioning, geometrical tolerances, tolerances of

position.

ii © BSI 03-2000
 EN ISO 5458:1998

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.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are
circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
International Standard ISO 5458 was prepared by Technical Committee
ISO/TC 213, Dimensional and geometrical product specifications and
verification.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 5458:1987), which
has been technically revised.
Annex A, Annex B, Annex C and Annex D of this International Standard are for
information only.

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 EN ISO 5458:1998

Introduction
This International Standard is a geometrical product specification (GPS) standard and is to be regarded as
a general GPS standard (see ISO/TR 14638). It influences chain links 1 and 2 of the chain of standards on
location.
For more detailed information of the relation of this standard to the GPS matrix model, see Annex C.
This International Standard is intended to promote the relationship between the designer and the
manufacturer.
The concept of positional tolerancing, as described in ISO 1101, is further elaborated in this
International Standard.
The figures in this International Standard serve to illustrate the subject matter only and are not
necessarily complete.
Other relevant International Standards, such as those dealing with the maximum material requirement
(ISO 2692), datums and datum systems (ISO 5459), should be taken into consideration when using this
International Standard.
For the purposes of this International Standard, all dimensions and tolerances on the drawings have been
shown in vertical lettering. It should be understood that these indications could just as well be written in
free-hand or inclined (italic) lettering without altering the meaning of the indications.
For the presentation of lettering (proportions and dimensions), see ISO 3098-1.

1 Scope
This International Standard describes positional tolerancing. This tolerancing method is applied to the
location of a point, of a line nominally straight and of a surface nominally plane, e.g. the centre of a sphere,
the axis of a hole or shaft and the median surface of a slot.
NOTE Profile tolerancing is used when lines are not intended to be straight or surfaces are not intended to lie in a plane;
see ISO 1660.

2 Normative reference
The following standard contains provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this International Standard. At the time of publication, the edition indicated was valid. All standards are
subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent edition of the standard indicated below. Members of
IEC and ISO maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO 1101:—, Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) — Geometrical tolerancing — Generalities,
definitions, symbols, indication on drawings1).

3 Definitions
Definitions related to features are under development and will be issued as ISO 14660-1. This work will
result in new terms that are different from those used in this International Standard. These new terms are
defined in Annex A and appear in the main body of this International Standard in parentheses next to the
currently used term.

4 Establishment of positional tolerances

4.1 General
The primary constituents are theoretically exact dimensions, tolerance zones and datums.
4.2 Fundamental requirement
Positional tolerances are associated with theoretically exact dimensions and define the limits for the
location of actual (extracted) features, such as points, axes, median surfaces, nominally straight lines and
nominally plane surfaces relative to each other or in relation to one or more datums. The tolerance zone is
symmetrically disposed about the theoretically exact location.

1) To be published. (Revision of ISO 1101:1983)

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EN ISO 5458:1998

NOTE Positional tolerances do not accumulate when theoretically exact dimensions are arranged in a chain (see Figure 4).
(This contrasts with dimensional tolerances that are arranged in a chain.) Positional tolerancing allows clear reference to be made to
one or more datums.
4.3 Theoretically exact dimensions
Theoretically exact dimensions, both angular and linear, are indicated by being enclosed in a rectangular
frame in accordance with ISO 1101. This is illustrated in Figure 2 a), Figure 2 b), Figure 3 a), Figure 4 a),
Figure 5 a) and Figure 7 a).
The theoretically exact dimensions 0° and 90°, 180° or distance 0 between
— positionally toleranced features not related to a datum [see Figure 4 a) and Figure 5 a)],
— positionally toleranced features related to the same datum(s) [see Figure 2 a)],
— positionally toleranced features and their related datums (see Figure 1),
are implied without specific indication.
When the positional tolerance features share the same centreline or axis they are regarded as theoretically
exactly related features, unless otherwise specified, e.g. in relation to different datums or other reason
indicated by an appropriate note on the drawing as shown in Figure 2 b).

Indication on the drawing Explanation

Cases a), b), c) or d) may apply at each individual hole:

a) axis of hole coincident with theoretically exact location
(zero deviation);
b) axis of hole at maximum position deviation with zero
perpendicularity deviation;
c) axis of hole at maximum position deviation with maximum
perpendicularity deviation;
d) axis of hole at maximum position deviation; in this case a
combination of geometrical deviations.
Figure 1
4.4 Positional tolerances on a complete circle
When positionally toleranced features are arranged in a complete circle it is understood that the features
are equally spaced, unless otherwise stated, and that their locations are theoretically exact.
If two or more groups of features are shown on the same axis, they shall be considered to be a single pattern
when
— they are not related to a datum;
— they are related to the same datum or datum system (datums in the same order of precedence or under
the same material conditions) [see Figure 2 a)];
unless otherwise stated [see Figure 2 b)].

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 EN ISO 5458:1998

Figure 2 a)

Figure 2 b)
4.5 Directions of positional tolerances
4.5.1 Positional tolerances in one direction only
The tolerance value can be specified in one direction. The orientation of the width of the tolerance zone is
based on the pattern of the theoretically exact dimensions and is at 0° or 90° as indicated by the direction
of the arrow line [see Figure 3 a) and Figure 3 b)] unless otherwise indicated.

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EN ISO 5458:1998

Indication on the drawing

Figure 3 a)
Explanation

Key
1 Simulated datum A
2 Simulated datum B
Each of the scale lines shall be contained within a tolerance zone defined by two parallel straight lines 0,1 apart which are
symmetrically disposed about the theoretically exact position of each scale line relative to each other.
Figure 3 b)

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 EN ISO 5458:1998

4.5.2 Positional tolerances in two directions

The tolerance value can be specified in two directions perpendicular to each other, reference being made to
unequal values [see Figure 4 a) and Figure 4 b)] or equal values.

Indication on the drawing

Figure 4 a)
Explanation

Figure 4 b)

The rectangular pattern consisting of the eight tolerance zones, placed 30 mm apart from each other, is a
floating one, the location and orientation of which depends on the considered actual (extracted) features of
the workpiece.
Each of the holes shall be:
— measured in the direction of the theoretically exact dimension 30; its actual (extracted) median
surface lies within a tolerance zone with a rectangular cross section 0,3 × actual length of the feature;
— measured in the direction of the theoretically exact dimension 28; its actual (extracted) median
surface lies within a tolerance zone with a rectangular cross section 0,1 × actual length of the feature;
— the median planes of the tolerance zones are fixed by theoretically exact dimensions.

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EN ISO 5458:1998

4.5.3 Multi-directional positional tolerances

The tolerance is specified as a cylindrical zone [see Figure 5 a) and Figure 5 b)]. The “rigid rectangular
pattern” consisting of the eight tolerance zones, placed 30 mm apart from each other, may be implied by a
best fit (rotations and translations) to the centre point/line data from the actual (extracted) features of the
workpiece.

Indication on the drawing

Figure 5 a)
Explanation

The actual (extracted) axis of each hole shall lie within a cylindrical tolerance zone of diameter 0,1 mm; the axes of the cylindrical
tolerance zones are fixed by theoretically exact dimensions.
Figure 5 b)
NOTE For cylindrical features of mating parts, the tolerance zone is usually cylindrical, as the positional tolerance is
multi-directional from the theoretically exact location. In these cases the positional tolerancing method achieves a larger tolerance
zone than in the two directions method which can only generate a square (or rectangular) two dimensional tolerance zone;
see Figure 6. The choice between “multi-directional” and “in two directions” tolerance zone should be made according to the function
of the toleranced feature.

Key
1 57 % larger zone
Figure 6

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 EN ISO 5458:1998

5 Tolerance combinations
5.1 If a group of features is individually located by positional tolerancing and their pattern location is also
located by positional tolerancing, each requirement shall be met independently [see Figure 7 a)].
5.2 The actual (extracted) axis of each of the four holes shall lie within the cylindrical tolerance zone of
diameter 0,01; the positional tolerance zones are located in their theoretically exact positions to each other
and perpendicular to datum A [see Figure 7 b)].
5.3 The actual (extracted) axis of each holes shall lie within the cylindrical tolerance zone of diameter 0,2;
the positional tolerance zones are perpendicular to datum A and located in their exact theoretical positions
in relation to each other and to the datums B and C [see Figure 7 c)].

Indication on the drawing

Figure 7 a)
Explanation

Key Key
1 Simulated datum A 1 Simulated datum A
2 Simulated datum B
3 Simulated datum C
Figure 7 b) Figure 7 c)

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EN ISO 5458:1998

Annex A (informative)
Definitions
For full details, see ISO 14660-1.
feature
point, line or surface
integral feature
surface or line on a surface
derived feature
centre point, median line or median surface derived from one or more integral features
feature of size
geometric shape defined by a linear dimension which is a size
nominal integral feature
theoretically exact integral feature as defined by a technical drawing or by other means
nominal derived feature
centre point, median straight line or median plane derived from one or more nominal integral features
real surface of a workpiece
set of features which physically exist and separate the entire workpiece from the surrounding medium
real (integral) feature
integral feature part of a real surface of a workpiece limited by the adjacent real (integral) features
extracted integral feature
approximated representation of the real (integral) feature, obtained by extracting a finite number of points
from the real (integral) feature
NOTE This extraction is performed in accordance with specified conventions.
extracted derived feature
centre point, median line or median surface derived from one or more extracted integral features
associated integral feature
integral feature of perfect form associated to the extracted integral feature in accordance with specified
conventions
associated derived feature
centre point, median straight line or median plane derived from one or more associated integral features

Annex B (informative)
Former practice
The former practice involved individually locating a group of features by positional tolerancing and their
pattern location by coordinate tolerances (see Figure B.1).

Indication on the drawing

Figure B.1

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 EN ISO 5458:1998

Such a practice is no longer recommended, because the meaning of the toleranced distances 16 ± 0,5
and 18 ± 0,5 is not standardized. The tolerancing according to clause 5 should be used instead.

Annex C (informative)
Relation to the GPS matrix model
For full details about the GPS matrix model, see ISO/TR 14638.
C.1 Information about this International Standard and its use
This International Standard defines the methods for the indication of positional tolerances on technical
drawings. It also further elaborates the concepts of positional tolerancing as described in ISO 1101.
C.2 Position in the GPS matrix model
This International Standard is a General GPS standard, which influences chain links 1 and 2 of the chain
of standards on location in the General GPS matrix, as graphically illustrated in Figure C.1.

Global GPS standards

General GPS matrix

Chain link number 1 2 3 4 5 6
Size
Distance
Radius
Angle
Form of line independent on datum
Form of line dependent on datum
Fundamental Form of surface independent of datum
GPS
standards Form of surface dependent on datum
Orientation
Location
Circular run-out
Total run-out
Datums
Roughness profile
Waviness profile
Primary profile
Surface imperfections
Edges
Figure C.1

C.3 Related International Standards

The related International Standards are those of the chains of standards indicated in Figure C.1.

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EN ISO 5458:1998

Annex D (informative)
Bibliography
[1] ISO 1660:1987, Technical drawings — Dimensioning and tolerancing of profiles.
[2] ISO 2692:1988, Technical drawings — Geometrical tolerancing — Maximum material principle.
[3] ISO 3098-1:—, Technical drawings — Lettering — Part 1: Latin alphabet, numerals and marks2).
[4] ISO 5459:1981, Technical drawings — Geometrical tolerancing — Datums and datum-systems for
geometrical tolerances.
[5] ISO/TR 14638:1995, Geometrical product specifications (GPS) — Masterplan.
[6] ISO 14660-1:—, Geometrical product specification (GPS) — Geometric features — Part 1: General terms
and definitions3).

2)
To be published. (Revision of ISO 3098-1:1974)
3) To be published.

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BS EN ISO
5458:1999
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