What is PD IEC/TS 62720 - Measurement units for computer-based processing about?
For the interpretation of documents such as datasheets, catalogues, or other product-related documentation, units of measure play an important role. All quantitative data can be prone to misinterpretation if its unit of measure is unclear or wrong. Thus, there is a strong requirement to unambiguously identify units of measure and ensure that each unit of measure and its underlying quantity is clearly specified.
PD IEC/TS 62720 specifies identifiers for units to support computer-based processing of product data. PD IEC/TS 62720 provides a survey of quantities with associated collections of internationally standardized as well as non–standardized units used in business and science.
Note: The standardization of units or parts is not covered in PD IEC/TS 62720.
Who is PD IEC/TS 62720 - Measurement units for computer-based processing for?
PD IEC/TS 62720 on measurement units for computer-based processing is useful for:
- Software developers/engineers
- The IT industry
- Software companies
- Software programmers
- Industries and business organizations that extensively use data processing systems
Why should you use PD IEC/TS 62720 - Measurement units for computer-based processing?
All characters, numbers, symbols, images, sounds, animations, videos, and everything is converted into suitable binary code to store on a computer or processed by computer.
There is a need to provide computer interpretable identifiers for units of measure. PD IEC/TS 62720 assigns identifiers to many standard or non-standard units of measure currently in use.
PD IEC/TS 62720 collects units commonly used in business data. To ensure timely and fast maintenance of the collection, PD IEC/TS 62720 is provided in the IEC Common Data Dictionary (CDD), thus making possible easy maintenance and fast introduction of missing units of measure and quantities.
PD IEC/TS 62720 guidelines help you to have a better understanding of measurement units of data.
What’s changed since the last update?
PD IEC/TS 62720:2017 supersedes PD IEC/TS 62720:2013, which is withdrawn. PD IEC/TS 62720:2017 includes some technical changes with respect to PD IEC/TS 62720:2013. These include:
- The detailed description of the units is contained in the IEC CDD and removed from this document
- Annex B contains the reference to the IEC CDD
- Annex C contains an abridged listing of quantities, units and their identifying codes
- Annexes D and E are removed

