IEC 61175-1-2015 PDF

Full title and description

Industrial systems, installations and equipment and industrial products — Designation of signals — Part 1: Basic rules. This international standard gives the rules for composing designations used to identify signals and signal connections (including power supply) within industrial systems, installations, equipment and industrial products. It is published in English and French and is intended as a horizontal (cross‑sector) standard to guide technical committees and product documentation.

Abstract

IEC 61175-1:2015 establishes principles and a structured syntax for signal designations so that information about signals (the information aspect) is separated from their physical implementation. It updates and replaces the previous IEC 61175 edition and provides guidance for consistent naming of signals, signal connections and power supply designations across industrial documentation and standards development.

General information

• Status: Published (horizontal international standard; current at publication).
• Publication date: 21 May 2015.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 29.020 — Electrical engineering in general.
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2015).
• Number of pages: 107 (bilingual English/French publication pagination as listed by the IEC).

Scope

Provides rules for the composition of designations for the identification of signals and signal connections, including power supply designations. The part addresses the information aspect of signals rather than their physical implementation and is applicable to all types of signals used in industrial systems, installations, equipment and industrial products. It is intended as a horizontal reference for standards development and for use by documenters and designers creating consistent signal identification schemes. The standard explicitly excludes general rules for presentation of information in human‑machine interfaces and is not a wiring/terminal marking specification (see IEC 62491 for wire marking).

Key topics and requirements

• Principles for composing signal and connection designations (syntax, allowed characters and structure).
• Separation of the information aspect of a signal from its physical implementation (logical vs physical identification).
• Rules for including power supply and related circuit identification within signal designations.
• Guidance for application across different types of industrial systems and product documentation.
• Intended use as a horizontal basis for preparing or harmonizing other standards (IEC Guide 108 approach).
• Notes on exclusions and cross‑references to wire/terminal marking standards (for example IEC 62491).

Typical use and users

Used by standards committees, control and automation engineers, electrical designers, technical authors, CAD/E-CAD administrators, panel builders and maintenance documentation teams to create consistent, unambiguous signal naming in drawings, schematics, documentation and data models. It is also used by consultants and tool vendors who implement naming schemes in software (schematic editors, PLM/ERP, wiring/label printers).

Related standards

Supersedes IEC 61175:2005 (withdrawn when this part was published). It is linked to other identification/marking standards such as IEC 62491 (wire marking) and is adopted nationally as EN/BS/ISO equivalents in many markets. The document is intended to serve as a horizontal reference for committees preparing related equipment or documentation standards.

Keywords

signal designation, signal identification, connection naming, power supply designation, IEC 61175, basic rules, industrial documentation, signal syntax, horizontal standard, documentation principles

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61175-1:2015 is Part 1 (Basic rules) of the IEC standard that defines how to compose designations used to identify signals and signal connections in industrial systems and products.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the information aspect of signals: naming conventions, syntax and principles for forming clear, consistent signal and connection identifiers (including power supply designations), but not the physical wiring implementation or HMI presentation rules.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Engineers (electrical, control and automation), technical authors, CAD/E-CAD administrators, standards committees, panel builders and software/tool vendors who need standardized signal naming across documentation and systems.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC 61175-1:2015 is the first edition of Part 1 and replaced IEC 61175 (2005) when published on 21 May 2015; it was published as an IEC international standard with a listed stability horizon (as published by the IEC). Users should check with the IEC or their national body for any amendments or later revisions beyond 2015.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — the "Part 1" designation indicates this publication is the basic‑rules part of the IEC 61175 set. It is intended as a horizontal base for other parts or national adoptions and for use by technical committees when preparing related standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Signal designation, connection identification, power supply designation, naming syntax, documentation, IEC 61175, horizontal standard.