A reference designation is the identifier of an object which is used to track it across documentation, it-systems and its lifecycle

All reference designations are tags, but not all tags are reference designations. A reference designation have to identify the object unambiguously within a context. A tag provides identification information about the object

The 81346 international standard series is a self contained standard which provides both the structuring rules and the classification system for creating a system hierarchy which unambiguously identifies object based on one of its aspects

The standard contains many parts of which part 1 and part 2 are fundamental for all industries.

Part 1 contains the general rules and structuring principles as well as how the RDS syntax is constructed.

Part 2 contains classes for components and locations and spaces which are shared across industries.

RDS-PP (Reference Designations System for Power Plants) is a depreciated technical specification from 2015. It builds on the legacy KKS system and is no longer maintained by ISO.

RDS-PS (Reference Designation System for Power supply Systems) from 2022 is the current published international standard for creating reference designations for all power systems. This includes renewables as well as nuclear and fossil fuel power.

The updated standard introduces many new tools to address modern requirements for digitization and plant complexity

81346 structures technical systems via reference designations. IEC 81355 classifies documents/information. IEC 61175 designates signals. ISO/IEC/IEEEE 15288 defines life‑cycle processes. We use them together to align structure, information, and delivery.