IEC 61500:2018 establishes requirements for data communication which is used in systems performing category A functions in nuclear power plants. It covers also interface requirements for data communication of equipment performing category A functions with other systems including those performing category B and C functions and functions not important to safety. This document gives requirements for functions and properties of on-line plant data communication by reference to IEC 60880 and IEC 60987, produced within the framework of IEC 61513. It requires categorisation of the communication functions in accordance with IEC 61226. This new edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- the changes introduced to previously referenced standards have been confirmed to apply;
- relevant newly published standards have been referenced;
- lessons learned from several industrial applications have been incorporated.