Overview - IEC TR 63358-1:2023 (Graphical symbols for diagrams)
IEC TR 63358-1:2023 is a Technical Report from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that collects and classifies graphical symbols for diagrams. It provides a curated set of generic, general, and qualifying symbols drawn from the IEC 60617 database, with clarified or annotated wording where helpful. The report explains terminology and proposes a classification scheme to improve consistency in naming and use of diagram symbols across electrotechnical documentation.
Key topics and technical content
- Classification of symbols: clear definitions and relationships for general symbols, qualifying symbols, and generic symbols used in diagrams.
- Terminology and definitions: concise meanings for terms such as graphical symbol, basic symbol, name, and others (referencing established definitions where applicable).
- Examples and tables: extensive example tables (e.g., Tables 1–4) listing symbol IDs and names taken from IEC 60617, including domain‑neutral examples and domain‑specific sets (binary logic elements).
- Annotation for clarity: selected IEC 60617 entries are annotated or wording-modified to remove ambiguity and to align naming conventions.
- Informative figures: illustrations like the relationship diagram among symbol types aid understanding of how symbols combine or qualify one another.
- Non‑normative nature: the document is a Technical Report (informative), not a normative standard - it assists harmonization and maintenance of IEC 60617.
Practical applications and intended users
IEC TR 63358-1 is valuable for anyone who creates, interprets or manages technical diagrams and schematic symbols:
- Electrical, electronic and systems engineers designing schematics and circuit diagrams
- Technical writers and documentation specialists standardizing symbol names and usages
- CAD and diagram software developers implementing symbol libraries aligned with IEC conventions
- Standards committees and maintenance teams (e.g., those updating IEC 60617)
- Educators, trainers and technical publishers producing consistent teaching and reference materials
Benefits include improved consistency in symbol naming, easier cross-domain reuse of generic symbols, and clearer qualification of symbol meaning in documentation and tooling.
Related standards and resources
- IEC 60617 (graphical symbols for diagrams - primary database/source)
- ISO/IEC terminology resources and ISO 81714‑1 (related definitions for graphical symbols)
- IEC Electropedia and IEC webstore for access to up‑to‑date symbol entries and publications
Keywords: IEC TR 63358-1, graphical symbols for diagrams, IEC 60617, generic symbols, general symbols, qualifying symbols, diagram symbols, electrotechnical documentation, symbol classification.