Glossary · Semantic interoperability and information models
Handover Documentation submodel (Asset Administration Shell)
Also known as: Handover Documentation, AAS Handover Documentation submodel, IDTA 02004, HandoverDocumentation
In the Asset Administration Shell, the Handover Documentation submodel is the IDTA submodel template IDTA 02004 that describes the documentation of an asset — its documents and document versions with identifiers, classification, languages, status and digital files — based on the metadata and document categories of VDI 2770 Blatt 1, so that the receiving party's systems can take the documentation over automatically.
- Information models
- Standards
- Technical documentation
In one sentence
The AAS Handover Documentation submodel (IDTA 02004) carries an asset's documents with VDI 2770 metadata and classes inside the digital twin.
Example
A valve manufacturer delivers the AAS of a control valve with a HandoverDocumentation submodel listing the operating instructions in three languages, the data sheet and the EU declaration of conformity, each classified by VDI 2770 and linked to its PDF/A file.
How it applies
- Versions: Version 1.2 was the first official release (March 1, 2023). Version 2.0 was released on June 11, 2025 and updates all semantic IDs to ECLASS Release 15 IRDIs; IDTA's repository also holds template files 2.0.1 and 2.0.2, including variants for AAS metamodel 3.1. The submodel's semantic ID is
0173-1#01-AHF578#003. - Structure: The submodel holds a list of documents. Each document has an ID within a document domain, one or more classifications and one or more document versions; each document version has languages, title and description, status (for example released) with its date and at least one digital file. If a document exists in several languages, each language version is a document of its own.
- Files: Digital files are PDF/A as required by VDI 2770; further formats may be added and must have the same content. A file can be embedded in the AASX package or referenced by a link.
- Classification: The classification according to VDI 2770 Blatt 1, with the classification system name "VDI 2770 Blatt 1:2020" and class identifiers such as 03-02, is mandatory; other systems such as IEC 61355-1:2008 can be added.
- Supplied parts: Instead of nested ZIP containers, supplier parts are modeled as entities in the submodel or as separate AAS; references link the main document of an asset to its subordinate documents. The container format of VDI 2770 is not used.
- Topics: The IDTA submodel Intelligent Information for Use (IDTA 02063) builds on Handover Documentation and describes the activity-specific documents (categories 03-01 to 03-06) as topics with iiRDS metadata.
- Limits: The submodel standardizes how documentation is described and exchanged. Providing it does not show that the documents meet legal requirements; for instructions that legislation requires, the file and any linked information must be identical.
Handover Documentation submodel vs. VDI 2770 documentation container
Both carry the same kinds of metadata and the same classes. The VDI 2770 documentation container is a set of ZIP files handed over once. The Handover Documentation submodel is part of the asset's digital twin and can be read through AAS interfaces together with the digital nameplate, technical data and other submodels.