IEC 61987-12:2016

Overview

IEC 61987-12:2016 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that focuses on industrial-process measurement and control. This part of the IEC 61987 series specifies lists of properties (LOPs) for flow measuring equipment, aimed specifically at electronic data exchange. The standard provides a comprehensive operating list of properties (OLOP) for describing operating parameters and device lists of properties (DLOP) for various types of flow measuring equipment.

This standard facilitates standardized data structures and elements within process equipment catalogues, enabling seamless communication and data exchange between manufacturers, suppliers, engineering firms, and end-users. It is an essential tool for optimizing workflows in engineering, maintenance, purchasing, and control system integration involving flow measurement devices.

Key Topics

• Standardized Data Structures: IEC 61987-12 defines standardized blocks of properties that represent device characteristics and operating parameters for various flow measurement devices, ensuring uniform data formats.
• Operating and Device Lists of Properties (OLOPs and DLOPs): The standard includes detailed lists describing the operational and device-specific properties relevant to numerous flow measuring equipment types.
• Polymorphic Area Definition: It introduces the concept of polymorphic areas within the data model, allowing flexible and modular descriptions of device attributes adaptable to different flow equipment types.
• Device Types Covered: The LOPs encompass a broad range of flow measuring instruments including Coriolis, thermal mass, orifice/differential pressure, electromagnetic, turbine, ultrasonic, vortex, positive displacement, and more.
• Electronic Data Exchange: Focuses on enabling efficient electronic data interchange between IT systems, business systems, engineering tools, and control systems.
• Integration with Other IEC Standards: Part of the IEC 61987 series, it builds on the foundation of IEC 61987-10 (data structures) and IEC 61987-11 (generic LOP structures), providing a dedicated profile for flow measurement devices.

Applications

• Engineering and Design: Facilitates clear, consistent cataloguing of flow measurement devices, aiding design engineers in selecting, specifying, and integrating equipment.
• Procurement and Vendor Communication: Standardized data exchange simplifies inquiries, quotations, and order processing by ensuring both suppliers and customers use a common terminology and data model.
• System Integration: Enables smooth data flow between measurement devices, process control systems, and enterprise IT infrastructure, enhancing automation and operational efficiency.
• Maintenance and Asset Management: Provides detailed, structured device information that supports device management, diagnostics, and lifecycle tracking in maintenance systems.
• Workflow Optimization: Reduces duplications and errors by capturing device information once and sharing across various company departments and external partners.

Related Standards

• IEC 61987-10: Defines the data structures and elements for constructing lists of properties applicable to various industrial process equipment.
• IEC 61987-11: Specifies the generic structure and framework for operating lists of properties (OLOPs) and device lists of properties (DLOPs).
• Other IEC 61987 Series Parts: Deal with similar structured data models for different types of industrial process measurement and control equipment.
• ISO/IEC Directives: The development and maintenance of the IEC 61987 series comply with the ISO/IEC Directives, ensuring harmonization and international acceptance.

By adopting IEC 61987-12:2016, organizations involved in the industrial-process measurement and control domain can achieve greater interoperability, data consistency, and efficiency in handling flow measurement equipment data. This leads to improved communication between stakeholders, reduced time-to-market for solutions, and better integration of process instrumentation into modern digital systems.