Requirements and rules for layout and preparation of documents have, beside the forming of graphical symbols, been one of the core elements of the work of IEC TC 3. They are still important, but the focus of the committee is now more directed towards handling of information and documentation in general.

A common set of rules and requirements for preparation of documents are essential for an easy recognizable of the concepts described in an information container or document.

The activities in this area are concerned with rules for the preparation of documents, that are customary as part of the documentation of electrotechnical equipment and installations. The rules focus on the information to be included and how it should be presented to a user, in order to be correctly understood, and are therefore basically independent of the medium used for the documents

Publications

IEC 60848 “GRAFCET specification language for sequential function charts ”
This publications specifies a document kind to be used for the earliest phase of the life cycle of a product or plant: the functional specification.

IEC 61082-1 “Preparation of documents used in electrotechnology – Part 1: Rules ”
This publications is adopted in most countries in the world, and also practically applied, with the exception of areas where the impact of (old) ANSI for some application areas are still strong.

The publication was first published in 1990, replacing an old publication , IEC 60113 from 1973, and consisted of 4 parts. In these first editions, the rules and methiods were very much related to “how to prepare the document”. In the revision work leading to the consolidated version IEC 61082-1 in 2006, the mindset was focusing on “how the result shall look like”; thus the rules were focusing on the legibility and the clear understanding when reading or studying a document.

The publication provides general rules for the preparation of documents and specific rules for a number of document kinds like: (schematic) diagrams (overview diagram, circuit diagram, function diagram, …), connection documents, installation documents, etc.

IEC 62027 “Preparation of parts lists ”
This publications deals with all common kinds of component listings for engineering purposes.

IEC TS 63266 “Representation of communication in power utility automation ”
This publications specifies a structure for representation of exchanged information that is essential for testing and maintenance of the devices in power utility automation systems.

The publication is developed in a common work between IEC TC 3 and IEC TC 57.

IEC/IEEE/ISO 82079 Internaltional standard series “Preparation of information for use (instructions for use) of products ”
This series of publications are a common work between IEC TC 3, ISO TC 10 and partly also IEEE SA. The series deals with requirements for the design and formulation of all types of instructions for use that will be necessary or helpful for users of products of all kind.

IEC/IEEE 82079-1 “Part 1: Principles and general requirements”
This publications provides principles and general requirements for information for the use of products.The publication provides the common and fundamental aspects serving as the binding and generic framework for prospective additional parts of this standard series, and is applicable to information for use whether provided as electronic or printed information products