This part of IEC 61850 specifies a file format for describing communication-related IED (Intelligent Electronic Device) configurations and IED parameters, communication system configurations, switch yard (function) structures, and the relations between them. The main purpose of this format is to exchange IED capability descriptions, and SA system descriptions between IED engineering tools and the system engineering tool(s) of different manufacturers in a compatible way.

The defined language is called System Configuration description Language (SCL). The IED and communication system model in SCL is according to IEC 61850-5 and IEC 61850-7-x. SCSM specific extensions or usage rules may be required in the appropriate parts.

The configuration language is based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML) version 1.0 (see XML references in Clause 2).

This standard does not specify individual implementations or products using the language, nor does it constrain the implementation of entities and interfaces within a computer system. This part of the standard does not specify the download format of configuration data to an IED, although it could be used for part of the configuration data.