The BSI has published the latest update to the UK’s national framework for engineering design, drawing practices, and geometrical tolerancing.
The standard, Technical product specification and documentation (BS 8888:2025), plays a pivotal role in helping UK industry transition more fully to the international ISO system of geometrical product specification (ISO GPS) and technical product documentation (TPD).
Together they provide a suite of over 200 interconnected international standards that underpin global manufacturing and engineering communication.
The BSI states that the tenth edition of BS 8888 arrives at a key moment for UK manufacturing, as industry accelerates toward digital design and model-based definition (MBD) and shifts away from 2D drawings, saying that the new standard provides updated guidance, structure, and accessibility for engineers, designers, and manufacturers of all scales.
BS 8888:2025 is the UK’s single reference point for technical product specification and documentation, used across mechanical, electrical, automotive, nuclear, aerospace, and defence industries. It enables engineers to specify and communicate design intent clearly and consistently, both nationally and internationally.
The updated edition includes integration of new and revised ISO standards, such as ISO 5459 on datums and datum systems, as well as a new section on general tolerances referencing ISO 22081 and ISO 2768-1. It also provides expanded guidance on model-based definition (MBD) and model-based enterprise (MBE), referencing ISO 16792, reflecting the growing shift toward digital, 3D design environments.
In addition, the standard introduces new material on surface texture aligned with the ISO 21920 series and updated guidance for additive manufacturing applications. Finally, the document has been restructured throughout to improve clarity and usability for real-world design and manufacturing workflows.
Rob Turpin, head of sector at BSI, said: “The 2025 edition of BS 8888 strengthens the UK’s link to international design and manufacturing standards, supporting the shift to digital, model-based engineering and helping ensure UK industry remains competitive on the global stage.”
Developed by the expert committee TPR/1/8 – Technical product realisation: Technical product specification, BS 8888 draws expertise from across UK industry and academia, representing all four nations and sectors such as aerospace, defence, automotive (including Formula 1), rail, shipbuilding, nuclear, and medical devices.
