TS EN 60848

TS EN 60848 concerns the GRAFCET specification language used to describe the sequential behaviour of a control system in functional terms. In automation and control engineering, it provides a common formalism for expressing sequence logic clearly and consistently through steps, transitions, and enabling conditions.

The technical role of GRAFCET

GRAFCET is a method for representing sequential control logic in a structured visual and formal way. In general technical practice, this makes it easier to model what state a system is in, which condition triggers the next state, and how parallel or branching sequences are coordinated. For that reason, it is widely associated with machine control, process automation, and other state-driven control applications.

By defining the specification language, the standard supports a more systematic, comparable, and interpretable way of documenting these functional behaviours. The focus is not on detailed hardware design, but on how the sequential part of the control system is expressed. That distinction matters because the same control intent can be understood and implemented across different platforms when its sequence logic is described in a common language.

What this standard frames

• The basis of the GRAFCET specification language
• Functional description of the sequential part of a control system
• Sequence logic expressed with step-transition concepts
• Common terminology for describing and documenting control behaviour

The value of TS EN 60848 is in standardising how sequential control is described and communicated. It helps engineering teams address automation logic within a shared framework, not only at the coding stage but also during design review, specification, and system discussion. That is especially useful when control sequences are complex and need to be understood with precision.