Glossary Updates10 new terms added to the glossaries · October 12, 2026, 11:42 CEST
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Glossary · Semantic interoperability and information models

ECLASS

Also known as: ECLASS standard, eCl@ss, ECLASS dictionary

ECLASS is a cross-sector standard for the classification and description of products and services, maintained by the association ECLASS e.V., which provides classification classes on four hierarchy levels together with standardized properties, values and units, each identified by a globally unique IRDI, so that product master data can be exchanged between companies and systems.

  • Information models
  • Standards

In one sentence

ECLASS is a cross-sector product classification and property standard with IRDIs, used for master data, AAS semantic IDs and iiRDS classifications.

Example

A proximity switch is classified with an eight-digit ECLASS class code, and its net weight is given with the ECLASS property whose IRDI begins with 0173-1#02-, so a purchasing system and an engineering tool read the same value the same way.

How it applies

  • Structure: ECLASS describes every product or service with an eight-digit class code on four classification levels and adds properties such as supplier name, type designation or ratings. According to ECLASS e.V., the standard offers about 48,000 product classes and more than 23,000 unique properties; a new release appears every year, Release 16.0 being current as of October 2026.
  • Identifiers: Every element — class, property, value, unit, value list — has an IRDI (International Registration Data Identifier) based on ISO/IEC 11179-6, ISO 29002 and ISO/IEC 6523. An IRDI such as 0173-1#02-AAC895#008 consists of the organization code 0173 for ECLASS, a code space identifier (01 class, 02 property, 05 unit, 07 value …), a concept code and a version.
  • Basic and Advanced: ECLASS Basic has a flat property structure and is common in purchasing and sales; ECLASS Advanced adds blocks, aspects, cardinality and polymorphism and is mainly used in engineering.
  • Asset Administration Shell: Submodel elements of the AAS refer to ECLASS IRDIs as semantic IDs; the Handover Documentation submodel 2.0, for example, uses IRDIs of ECLASS Release 15.
  • iiRDS: An iiRDS ExternalClassification can carry an ECLASS class or property, with the classification types iirds:EclassIRDI (IRDI path) or iirds:EclassCodedName (eight-digit class code). Documentation and product data then share one vocabulary.
  • Status: ECLASS is a standard of an industry association, not a law; its use is subject to ECLASS license terms. Classifying a product with ECLASS does not show conformity with any requirement.

ECLASS vs. IEC Common Data Dictionary

Both are dictionaries of classes and properties with globally unique identifiers. The IEC Common Data Dictionary (IEC 61360) is maintained by IEC; ECLASS is maintained by ECLASS e.V. and covers products and services across sectors. iiRDS names both as examples of external product classifications.

External references

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published October 11, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: ECLASS e.V., ECLASS Standard and technical specification (IRDI)

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Knowledge and are not part of any standard.

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