Table of Contents
- What is the IEC Standard?
- What is the Importance of IEC Standards?
- Why is IEC Needed?
- What is the Main Responsibility of the IEC?
- IEC Standards for Instrumentation and Control: A Comprehensive Reference Table
- What is the IEC Standard for Instrumentation?
- What are the Most Common IEC Standards?
- What is the Difference Between IEEE and IEC Standards?
- What is the Difference Between ISO and IEC Standards?
What is the IEC Standard?
- The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard is a globally recognized set of guidelines and specifications that ensure the safety, efficiency, and compatibility of electrical and electronic devices.
- These standards are developed by experts from different countries to facilitate international trade, ensuring that products meet consistent performance and safety criteria worldwide.
What is the Importance of IEC Standards?
- IEC standards are crucial because they provide a uniform framework that enhances the safety, efficiency, and interoperability of electronic and electrical devices across the globe.
- By adhering to these standards, manufacturers can ensure that their products can be used internationally, reduce the risk of accidents, and improve overall product reliability.
Why is IEC Needed?
- The IEC is essential because it creates globally accepted standards that ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of electrical and electronic devices.
- This helps facilitate international trade, improve product quality, and enhance user safety.
What is the Main Responsibility of the IEC?
- The main responsibility of the IEC is to develop and publish international standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies.
- These standards help ensure that products and systems are safe, reliable, and compatible with each other on a global scale.
What are the Benefits of IEC?
- The benefits of IEC standards include enhanced product safety, increased compatibility between devices from different manufacturers, facilitation of international trade, and assurance of product reliability.
- Adhering to these standards also helps companies meet regulatory requirements in various countries.
IEC Standards for Instrumentation and Control: A Comprehensive Reference Table
This below table summarizes key IEC standards for various types of instrumentation and control systems, detailing their specific applications and descriptions.
| Instrument/System Type | IEC Standard | Description |
| Pressure Measurement Instruments | IEC 61298 Series | Process measurement and control devices. General methods and procedures for evaluating performance. |
| IEC 60770 Series | Transmitters for use in industrial process control systems. | |
| IEC 62828 Series | Reference conditions and procedures for testing industrial and process measurement transmitters. | |
| Temperature Measurement Instruments | IEC 60584 Series | Thermocouples Reference tables. |
| IEC 60751 | Industrial platinum resistance thermometers and platinum temperature sensors. | |
| IEC 61140 | Protection against electric shock. Common aspects for installation and equipment. | |
| Flow Measurement Instruments | IEC 60041 | Field acceptance tests to determine the hydraulic performance of hydraulic turbines, storage pumps, and pump-turbines. |
| IEC 60534 Series | Industrial-process control valves. | |
| IEC 60044 Series | Instrument transformers for flow measurement applications. | |
| IEC 60079-27 | Intrinsically safe electrical systems for flow measurement in hazardous areas. | |
| Level Measurement Instruments | IEC 61298 Series | Process measurement and control devices. General methods and procedures for evaluating performance. |
| IEC 62937 | Ultrasonic level meters for liquids – General requirements and test methods. | |
| IEC 62056 Series | Electricity metering data exchange – The DLMS/COSEM suite for level measurement systems. | |
| Control Valves | IEC 60534-8-3 | Industrial-Process Control Valves – Noise Considerations. Requirements for control valves to minimize noise emissions. |
| IEC 60534-2-1 | Industrial Process Control Valves Flow Capacity. Methods for measuring flow capacity of control valves. | |
| IEC 60534-4 | Industrial Process Control Valves Inspection and Routine Testing. Specifications for inspection and testing of control valves. | |
| Explosion-Proof and Intrinsically Safe Systems | ||
| Explosion-Proof Systems | IEC 60079-0 | Explosive Atmospheres Equipment General Requirements. General requirements for equipment used in explosive atmospheres. |
| IEC 60079-11 | Explosive Atmospheres Equipment Protection by Intrinsic Safety “i”. Requirements for intrinsically safe equipment. | |
| IEC 60079-14 | Explosive Atmospheres Electrical Installations Design, Selection, and Erection. Guidelines for electrical systems in hazardous areas. | |
| IEC 60079-25 | Explosive Atmospheres Intrinsically Safe Electrical Systems. Requirements for designing and assembling intrinsically safe systems. | |
| IEC 60079-18 | Explosive Atmospheres Equipment Protection by Encapsulation “m”. Requirements for encapsulated electrical equipment. | |
| Instrument Control Panels and Junction Boxes | ||
| Instrument Control Panels | IEC 61439 Series | Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies. Specifies requirements for low voltage switchgear and control gear. |
| IEC 60204-1 | Safety of Machinery Electrical Equipment of Machines Part 1: General Requirements. Guidelines for the design, selection, and installation of control panels. | |
| Junction Boxes for Hazardous Areas | IEC 60079-7 | Explosive Atmospheres Equipment Protection by Increased Safety “e”. Requirements for junction boxes in hazardous areas. |
| IEC 60529 | Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP Code). Defines the protection levels provided by enclosures for electrical equipment. | |
| Erection and Commissioning Standards for Instruments | ||
| Erection and Commissioning | IEC 62337 | Commissioning of Electrical, Instrumentation, and Control Systems in the Process Industry. Specific procedures for commissioning. |
| IEC 60079-14 | Explosive Atmospheres Electrical Installations Design, Selection, and Erection. Includes procedures for installation in hazardous areas. | |
| IEC 60364-6 | Low Voltage Electrical Installations Verification. Requirements for the inspection and testing of electrical installations. | |
| IEC 61508-1 | Functional Safety of Electrical/Electronic/Programmable Electronic Safety-Related Systems – General Requirements. Guidelines for installation and commissioning to ensure safety integrity levels are met. | |
| IEC 60079-17 | Explosive Atmospheres Electrical Installations Inspection and Maintenance. Procedures for ongoing inspection and maintenance of instrumentation in hazardous areas. | |
| Electrical and Instrumentation Enclosures | ||
| Enclosures for Electrical and Instrumentation Equipment | IEC 60529 | Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP Code). Defines protection levels against ingress of solid objects and water. |
| IEC 62208 | Empty Enclosures for Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies – General Requirements. Standards for enclosures used in control systems. | |
| Analytical Instruments | IEC 61010 Series | Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use. |
| IEC 61326 Series | Electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use EMC requirements. | |
| IEC 61207 Series | Gas analyzers Expression of performance. | |
| IEC 61529 | Measurement of hazardous substances in ambient air Requirements and test methods. | |
| Control Systems and Controllers | IEC 61131 Series | Programmable controllers. |
| IEC 61512 Series | Batch control. | |
| IEC 62443 Series | Industrial communication networks. Network and system security for industrial automation and control systems. | |
| IEC 62264 Series | Enterprise control system integration. | |
| Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) | IEC 61508 Series | Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety related systems. |
| IEC 61511 Series | Functional safety Safety instrumented systems for the process industry sector. | |
| IEC 62061 | Safety of machinery Functional safety of safety related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems. | |
| Electrical and Electronic Instruments | IEC 61869 Series | Instrument transformers. |
| IEC 61000 Series | Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). | |
| IEC 61340 Series | Electrostatics Standard test methods for specific applications. | |
| Vibration and Condition Monitoring | IEC 60034-14 | Rotating electrical machines Mechanical vibration of certain machines with shaft heights 56 mm and higher Measurement, evaluation, and limits of vibration severity. |
| IEC 60812 | Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA and FMECA). | |
| IEC 60529 | Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code). | |
| Position and Displacement Instruments | IEC 61298 Series | Process measurement and control devices General methods and procedures for evaluating performance. |
| IEC 62047 Series | Semiconductor devices Micro electromechanical devices for position sensing. | |
| IEC 61800 Series | Adjustable speed electrical power drive systems. | |
| Industrial Communication Networks | IEC 61784 Series | Industrial communication networks Profiles. |
| IEC 61158 Series | Industrial communication networks Fieldbus specifications. | |
| IEC 62591 | Wireless systems for industrial automation: Process control and related applications. | |
| Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) | IEC 62023 | Structuring of technical information and documentation. |
| IEC 62027 | Preparation of parts lists. | |
| IEC 61069 Series | Industrial process measurement, control, and automation Evaluation of system properties for the purpose of system assessment. | |
| Alarm and Event Management | IEC 62682 | Management of alarm systems for the process industries. |
| IEC 62241 | Alarm systems used in process control. | |
| Instrumentation Cables and Wiring | IEC 60331 Series | Tests for electric cables under fire conditions Circuit integrity. |
| IEC 60502 Series | Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated voltages. | |
| IEC 60092 Series | Electrical installations in ships Specific for instrumentation cabling in marine environments. | |
| Environmental Conditions and Testing | IEC 60068 Series | Environmental testing. |
| IEC 60721 Series | Classification of environmental conditions. | |
| Explosion Protection | IEC 60079 Series | Explosive atmospheres Equipment and certification for instrumentation used in hazardous areas. |
| Calibration and Testing | IEC 17025 | General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. |
| IEC 61326 Series | Electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use EMC requirements. | |
| Data and Signal Processing | IEC 61158 Series | Industrial communication networks. Fieldbus specifications. |
| IEC 62541 Series | OPC Unified Architecture for industrial communication and data processing. | |
| Robotics and Automation | IEC 60204-1 | Safety of machinery Electrical equipment of machines Part 1: General requirements. |
| IEC 62061 | Safety of machinery Functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems. | |
| IEC 61499 Series | Function blocks for industrial process measurement and control systems. | |
| Control Technology | IEC 60050-351:2017 | Provides a comprehensive vocabulary of terms and definitions related to control technology, ensuring consistent terminology across different systems. |
| Industrial-Process Control Valves | IEC 60534-1:2013 | Provides guidelines for the terminology, design, and application of industrial process control valves, ensuring correct selection and application. |
| Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use | IEC 61010-1:2010 | Provides safety requirements for electrical equipment, covering aspects such as insulation, protective measures, and temperature limits. |
| Safety-Related Systems (Electrical/Electronic/Programmable Electronic) | IEC 61508:2010 | Provides guidelines for the design, installation, and maintenance of safety related systems, focusing on safety lifecycle and risk assessment. |
| Enterprise-Control System Integration | IEC 62264-1:2003 | Provides models and terminology for the integration of control systems with enterprise systems, facilitating effective system integration. |
| Optical and Photonic Instruments | IEC 61280 Series | Fiber optic communication subsystem test procedures. |
| IEC 61300 Series | Fiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components Basic test and measurement procedures. | |
| Acoustic and Noise Measurement | IEC 61672 Series | Electroacoustics Sound level meters. |
| IEC 61260 Series | Electroacoustics Octave band and fractional octave band filters. | |
| Radiation Measurement Instruments | IEC 60846 Series | Radiation protection instrumentation Ambient and/or directional dose equivalent (rate) meters and/or monitors for beta, X and gamma radiation. |
| IEC 61005 | Radiation protection instrumentation -Neutron ambient dose equivalent (rate) meters. | |
| Hydraulic and Pneumatic Instruments | IEC 61674 | Medical electrical equipment Dosimeters with ionization chambers and/or semiconductor detectors as used in Xray diagnostic imaging. |
| IEC 60770 Series | Transmitters for use in industrial process control systems Performance assessment methods. | |
| Software for Instrumentation and Control | IEC 61508-3 | Functional safety Software requirements. |
| IEC 60880 | Nuclear power plants Instrumentation and control systems important to safety Software aspects for computer based systems performing category A functions. | |
| IEC 62304 | Medical device software Software life cycle processes. | |
| Project Management and Engineering | IEC 60300 Series | Dependability management Application guide for dependability management throughout the life cycle of products and systems. |
| IEC 62079 | Preparation of instructions Structuring, content, and presentation. | |
| IEC 60812 | Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA and FMECA). | |
| IEC 62402 | Obsolescence management – Application guide. | |
| IEC 62198 | Managing risk in projects Application guidelines. | |
| IEC 61355 | Classification and designation of documents for plants, systems, and equipment. | |
| IEC 62014 Series | Methods and techniques for electronic and electrical engineering project management. | |
| Documentation and Traceability | IEC 82045 Series | Document management Document control and traceability in project engineering. |
| IEC 61355 | Classification and designation of documents for plants, systems, and equipment. | |
| IEC 62708 | Documentation in the process industry Engineering work processes and data exchange | |
What is the IEC Standard for Instrumentation?
- IEC 61511 is specifically designed for the process industry, providing guidelines for implementing safety instrumented systems (SIS).
- It helps ensure that these systems operate safely throughout their lifecycle, from design to decommissioning, by meeting specific safety integrity levels (SIL).
What are the Most Common IEC Standards?
Some of the most widely used IEC standards include:
- IEC 61508: Functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems.
- IEC 61511: Safety instrumented systems for the process industry sector.
- IEC 61010: Safety requirements for electrical equipment used for measurement, control, and laboratory use.
- IEC 60079: Explosive atmospheres, focusing on equipment used in hazardous areas.
What is the Difference Between IEEE and IEC Standards?
- IEEE standards primarily focus on technology and industries in North America, whereas IEC standards have a global scope.
- While both organizations develop standards for electrical and electronic systems, IEC standards are often adopted internationally, making them more widely recognized outside of North America.
What is the Difference Between ISO and IEC Standards?
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization) develops standards for a broad range of industries, while IEC focuses specifically on electrical, electronic, and related technologies.
- Although both organizations sometimes collaborate on standards, ISO standards have a wider scope covering more industries, whereas IEC standards are more specialized.
- These differences in focus and application make both ISO and IEC standards important, depending on the industry and product being developed.
