IEC 61987-11:2016

Overview

IEC 61987-11:2016 is an international standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that focuses on industrial-process measurement and control. Specifically, it defines data structures and elements in process equipment catalogues, providing a comprehensive framework for the lists of properties (LOPs) of measuring equipment used for electronic data exchange. This standard, the 2016 edition, supersedes the earlier 2012 version and introduces updated generic structures to enhance compatibility with the Common Data Dictionary (CDD).

The scope of IEC 61987-11:2016 includes:

• Characterising industrial process measuring equipment within a device type dictionary.
• Defining generic structures for operating lists of properties (OLOP) and device lists of properties (DLOP) in alignment with IEC 61987-10.

This edition also incorporates important technical updates to classification schemes reflecting the development of related standards IEC 61987-14, IEC 61987-15, and IEC 61987-16.

Key Topics

IEC 61987-11:2016 systematically addresses the following key areas:

• Data Structures for Measuring Equipment: Establishes generic block structures and rules for creating comprehensive lists of properties for measuring devices.
• Operating Lists of Properties (OLOP): Defines the conditions under which devices operate, including base, process, environmental, and design parameters.
• Device Lists of Properties (DLOP): Details identification, application, function, input/output, digital communication features, performance criteria, mechanical and electrical construction, operability, power supply, and certifications.
• Classification and Characterisation Scheme: Updates the classification of process measuring equipment to ensure consistency with evolving technical standards.
• Composite Devices and Components: Provides structures for cataloguing composite measuring devices and their components systematically.
• Additional Aspects: Covers administrative information, calibration, accessories, documentation, packaging, and digital communication parametrization.

By focusing on generic structures for data exchange, the standard supports interoperability and uniformity across electronic process equipment catalogues.

Applications

IEC 61987-11:2016 serves as an essential reference for multiple stakeholders in the industrial automation and process control sectors:

• Manufacturers of Measuring Equipment: Enables standardized electronic data exchange for product catalogues, facilitating integration with customers’ systems.
• Process Automation Engineers: Assists in selecting and configuring measuring instruments by providing structured, detailed property lists to match operational and environmental conditions.
• Software Developers: Guides the development of enterprise asset management (EAM), process control, and device management software by defining consistent data models for measuring equipment.
• Standardization Bodies and Industry Consortia: Offers a harmonized framework to align industry practices related to process instrument characterization and data handling.
• Procurement and Maintenance Teams: Enhances traceability, device identification, and interoperability through standardized data about device capabilities and certifications.

Applying IEC 61987-11:2016 improves accuracy, reliability, and compatibility of industrial measurement data, promoting efficient electronic data exchange within and across industrial sites.

Related Standards

IEC 61987-11:2016 is part of a broader suite of IEC standards addressing industrial-process measurement and data structures:

• IEC 61987-1: General principles and overview of device identification and catalogue data.
• IEC 61987-10: Fundamentals of lists of properties (LOPs) for process equipment.
• IEC 61987-14, IEC 61987-15, IEC 61987-16: Expanded classifications and functionality specific to subcategories of measuring equipment, refining the characterisation scheme utilized in IEC 61987-11.
• IEC 62714 (AutomationML): Complementary for engineering data exchange formats in industrial automation.
• IEC 61508 / IEC 61511: Functional safety standards for process industries which may reference measurement device data for dependable operation.

Together, these standards enable comprehensive and interoperable frameworks for industrial measurement equipment cataloguing, configuration, and communication.

Keywords: IEC 61987-11, industrial-process measurement, data structures, measuring equipment, electronic data exchange, Common Data Dictionary, lists of properties, process equipment catalogues, operating lists of properties, device lists of properties, industrial automation standards.