Standards developed by EPISTLE

ISO 10303-221 "Functional data and schematic representation for process plants"

Background

EPISTLE has played a major, leading role in the development of ISO 10303-221 (generally known as "AP221").

STEP (ISO 10303) is a large, complex standard designed to support the needs of many different industries and disciplines to exchange product data between different software applications. Each Application Protocol (or "AP") is a component of the STEP standard that addresses the specific product data exchange needs of a particular industry sector, engineering discipline, or software technology area.

Each Application Protocol defines a basis for implementing interfaces that enable exchange of data between applications from different software suppliers, and also defines the basis for assessing such interfaces for conformance to the requirements of the standard.

Status

AP221 was balloted and approved as an ISO Committee Draft in 1997. Subsequent development has been delayed by the need for harmonization with the POSC Caesar product model. This harmonization work was carried out by the EPISTLE Data Modelling Group, consisting of experts nominated by PISTEP, POSC Caesar, and USPI-NL. The Data Modelling Group produced the EPISTLE Core Model version 3 and ISO/CD 15926-2 as interim deliverables of this harmonization process and the EPISTLE Core Model version 4 as the final deliverable. Version 4 is being published for international balloting as ISO/DIS 15926-2 and forms the basis for the Application Reference Model of the Draft International Standard version of AP221.

The Draft International Standard of AP221 is expected to be completed and published before the end of 2001. This will make use of STEP application modules; a draft version of the modular form of AP221 was presented at the ISO TC184/SC4 and WGs meeting in San Francisco (June 2001).

E&OE. Copyright © 2001 European Process Industries STEP Technical Liaison Executive

Last modified: 2000-07-31