TS EN IEC 81355-1

TS EN IEC 81355-1 addresses how information used in industrial systems, installations, equipment and related technical products is classified and designated. Its focus is on the information itself, not merely on the document that carries it, which makes it relevant to technical documentation, data organisation and information exchange across engineering disciplines.

The standard applies to information used throughout the life cycle of a system and defines classes of information together with the Information Kind Classification Code (ICC). It also distinguishes between an information container and a document perceived by humans, an important distinction when drawings, reports, records and digital datasets must be organised consistently within one information architecture.

How information classification works in this context

In general technical practice, classification rules help create a common structure across mechanical, electrical, construction and process engineering. In complex projects, many types of information coexist, each with a different purpose and form. This standard provides a content-based framework so that metadata can describe what the information is, rather than only what form it takes.

• Introduces an information-focused approach instead of a document-kind approach.
• Defines the Information Kind Classification Code (ICC).
• Separates the concept of an information container from the human-readable document.
• Is applicable across multiple technical fields and mixed-technology systems.
• Supports metadata use in information management systems aligned with IEC 82045-1 and IEC 82045-2.

What this edition changes in principle

This edition replaces IEC 61355-1:2008 and represents a technical revision. The main shift is from document-kind classification to classification based on the inherent content of information, reflecting the way digital engineering information is now managed. It therefore provides a common foundation for technical committees and documentation structures.

It is also a horizontal publication, meaning it is intended to be used across sectors rather than in a single industrial domain. That makes it a broad reference for organising technical product information, plant data and system documentation in a consistent way.

The edition includes major technical changes such as the content-based classification approach, an information model for the concepts involved, and a conversion table to support migration from DCC usage to ICC usage.