If you have searched for an , you are likely an engineer, project manager, or student looking to implement or understand a structured referencing system like RDS (Reference Designation System) for power plants, factories, or ships. This article explains everything you need to know about the standard, where to find legitimate copies, and how to apply its principles.
Organizations like DIN (Germany), BSI (UK), ANSI (USA), or DS (Denmark) sell localized adoptions of the standard.
Break down physical spaces:
IEC 61346-1 includes specific letter codes to classify products based on their intended purpose: Relays and contactors M: Motors and actuators
If you have ever struggled with data handover from E-CAE to ERP, or mapped control logic back to a physical asset, this post is for you. Let’s dig into the original PDF (IEC 61346-1:1996) and uncover why its principles are more relevant today than when it was written. iec 61346-1 pdf
The standard uses specific prefix signs to distinguish these three distinct viewpoints: 1. The Function-Oriented Aspect (Prefix: = )
A system is divided into subsystems, which are divided into assemblies, which are finally divided into individual components. The standard allows reference designations to be grouped sequentially to show this hierarchy. For instance, -QA1-F1 represents a specific fuse ( -F1 ) located inside a specific switchgear assembly ( -QA1 ). Main Letter Codes for Object Classes If you have searched for an , you
The single-letter classification tables were overhauled into a more comprehensive, multi-letter classification scheme (e.g., QA for switching electrical power, QB for disconnecting electrical power).
A typical reference designation follows a hierarchical structure: =Function +Location -Product Letter Codes for Component Types Break down physical spaces: IEC 61346-1 includes specific