IEC 61987-1:2024

Overview

IEC 61987-1:2024 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that defines generic data structures for industrial process measurement equipment catalogues. This standard establishes a comprehensive framework for organizing product features of measuring devices used in industrial process measurement and control. Its primary purpose is to promote consistent and clear product descriptions that can be easily understood and transferred between manufacturers, suppliers, and users.

This standard targets manufacturers producing catalogues for process measuring devices and assists users in specifying their requirements efficiently. Additionally, IEC 61987-1:2024 serves as a foundational reference for future standards related to process control equipment, such as actuators and infrastructure devices.

Significant updates in this edition include the introduction of a dedicated subclause on digital communication interfaces enabling more detailed descriptions of communication-related device properties and alignment of clause headings with the IEC Common Data Dictionary (CDD).

Key Topics

• Generic Data Structures: Establishes standardized formats to present features of process measuring equipment, helping to unify catalog content.
• Product Identification: Details on how to specify product attributes including product type, name, version, manufacturer, and date of issue.
• Application and Functionality: Guidance on cataloguing the measuring principle, equipment architecture, communication capabilities, and dependability factors.
• Input and Output Characteristics: Specifications for measured variables, measuring range, output signals, alarm signals, and load conditions.
• Digital Communication: Enhanced description of communication protocols, variables, and physical layer attributes to reflect modern device interfaces.
• Performance Characteristics: Defines parameters such as accuracy, measured error, hysteresis, start-up and long-term drift, and response times.
• Operating Conditions: Covers installation environments, temperature influences, and process compatibility to ensure reliability under various conditions.
• Mechanical and Electrical Construction: Standardizes documentation of device design, dimensions, weight, materials, electrical connections, and protective measures.
• Operability and Power Supply: Information relevant to device usability and power requirements.
• Certification and Documentation: Inclusion of relevant certifications, approvals, ordering information, and accompanying documentation.

Applications

IEC 61987-1:2024 is essential for:

• Manufacturers: Streamlining the creation of detailed, consistent product catalogues for measurement equipment used in process automation.
• Procurement Specialists: Facilitating clear communication of device requirements, helping to select suitable measuring instruments.
• System Integrators and Engineers: Ensuring accurate interpretation of equipment specifications and compatibility during system design and implementation.
• Standard Development: Providing a key reference model for upcoming standards involving measurement and control equipment data structures.
• Digital Communication Implementations: Supporting the integration of devices with digital communication interfaces in industrial networks.

This standard helps to reduce ambiguity and improves interoperability in industrial automation processes by standardizing how equipment characteristics are described and shared.

Related Standards

• IEC CDD (Common Data Dictionary): Aligns nomenclature and clause headings with this dictionary to promote consistency across IEC documentation.
• ISO 3511-1: Provides letter codes and classification schemes referenced within IEC 61987-1 related to measuring equipment functions.
• Future IEC Standards on Process Control Devices: This standard lays the groundwork for subsequent IEC standards addressing actuators, infrastructure equipment, and other components in process control.
• Other IEC Industrial Measurement Standards: Complements IEC standards covering specific measurement principles such as flow, level, pressure, temperature, and density.

Conclusion

IEC 61987-1:2024 is a critical standard for the industrial automation and process control sectors, ensuring universal clarity and quality in cataloguing process measurement equipment data. Its comprehensive, generic data structure framework supports manufacturers and users alike by enhancing the accuracy and usability of product information. Incorporating digital communication descriptions further modernizes this standard, making it pivotal for current and future industrial measurement technologies.

Keywords: IEC 61987-1:2024, industrial process measurement, data structures, process equipment catalogues, measuring equipment, digital communication, process control, performance characteristics, industrial automation standards, IEC CDD, equipment specifications.