ISO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD 8439 First edition 1990-10-15 Forms design -- Basic layout Conception des formulaires -- Disposition de base Referencenumber ISO 8439:1990(E) ISO 8439:1990(E) Foreword IsO(theInternationalOrganizationforStandardization)isaworldwide federation of national standards bodies (isO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through Iso technicalcommittees.Eachmemberbodyinterestedinasubjectfor which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee.International organizations,govern- mental and non-governmental, in liaison with isO, also take part in the work.Iso coilaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission(lEC)onalfmattersofelectrotechnicalstandardization. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circuiated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an Inter- national Standard requires approval by at least 75% of the member bodies casting a vote. International StandardIso8439waspreparedbyTechnical Committee Iso/Tc 154,Documents anddata elements in administration,commerce and industry, in collaboration with the Universail Postal Union (UPU). IsO 1990 or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher. InternationalOrganizationforStandardization Case Postale 56·CH-1211Geneve 20·Switzerland Printed in Switzerland ii IS08439:1990(E) Introduction This International Standard aims at the creation of uniformity in the de- sign of forms in order to facilitate completion and information retrieval. The principles established in this International Standard will form the basis forfutureapplication standards.