How Modern Standards for 3D Plant Modeling Transform Industrial Automation

Digital transformation is reshaping the manufacturing sector, and accurate, consistent 3D representation of electrical and instrument objects is now essential to efficiency, safety, and productivity. Behind every reliable digital plant model stands a robust standard that ensures all stakeholders—engineers, plant managers, designers, and automation professionals—work from a common language. Among these, IEC 63261:2024/COR1:2025 stands as the gold standard for digital 3D plant modeling in industrial automation, offering businesses the foundation to scale, secure, and optimize their operations.

More than just a compliance checkbox, embracing international standards for industrial automation systems enables seamless collaboration, reduces costly errors, and accelerates time-to-market. This article dives into the latest corrigendum to IEC 63261, covering the technical requirements and practical implications for organizations aiming to excel in digital plant engineering.

Overview / Introduction

Industrial automation is the engine driving the next generation of manufacturing—automation systems, digital twins, and advanced plant modeling tools are becoming everyday staples. However, as factories go digital, so too does the complexity of engineering projects grow. Without standardized specifications for representing devices and subsystems, the risks of miscommunication, integration failures, and safety hazards increase.

International standards, such as IEC 63261:2024/COR1:2025, provide the detailed guidance needed to describe electrical and instrument objects within digital 3D environments. These standards are crucial for:

• Enabling reliable, unambiguous data exchange across platforms
• Reducing design inconsistencies and rework
• Supporting lifecycle management from engineering to maintenance

By following best-in-class automation system standards, companies future-proof their infrastructure for scalability, operational security, and streamlined collaboration with global partners. In this article, you'll learn how the latest IEC standard influences your business, what requirements it introduces, and practical steps to implement its best practices.

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC 63261:2024/COR1:2025 – Corrigendum 1 for 3D Modeling of Electrical and Instrument Objects

Corrigendum 1 - Representation of electrical and instrument objects in digital 3D plant models during engineering

This fundamental international standard from the IEC addresses the digital representation of electrical and instrument (E&I) objects in 3D plant models throughout the engineering process. The aim is to provide uniform requirements and recommendations, ensuring every aspect of a plant—from control valves to electrical cable trays—is modeled accurately and efficiently.

What Does This Standard Cover?

• How to represent different E&I objects (like automated valves, instruments, valves, transformers, motors, cable trays, and electrical panels) inside a digital 3D plant model.
• Specifies for each object whether its representation is a requirement, recommendation, or permission, helping prioritize design efforts and compliance.
• Modifies (corrigendum) earlier clause tables to clarify the minimum geometrical and functional data needed for digital plant engineering.

Key Requirements and Specifications:

IEC 63261:2024/COR1:2025 distinguishes several categories for digital representation:

1. Instruments and Valves: All in-line, flange-mounted, surface-mounted, and externally mounted devices—defining minimum required geometric data for design and interference checks. Specific focus is given to installation and removal space, ensuring maintainability.
2. Electrical and Cable Trays: Requires detailed modeling of transformers, motors, cable trays (over/under 200mm), cable routing, major supports, ducts, and electrical heat tracing. Ensures all major electrical pathways are accounted for, reducing on-site integration issues.
3. Panels and Cabinets: Compulsory depiction of panels, switch room cabinets, analyzer cabinetry, junction, and grounding boxes, each supporting accurate cable routing and hazard avoidance.
4. Lighting and Communication: Lays out recommendations and permissions for lighting, emergency systems, fire alarms, PA systems, video systems, and WLAN access, helping integrate safety and IT systems from the start.
5. Installation and Other Components: Outlines treatment for control stations, power sockets, air distribution, and hazardous area zoning.

Target Industries:

• Process plant engineering (oil & gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage)
• Power generation and distribution
• Industrial automation and manufacturing
• Engineering procurement and construction (EPCs)

Organizations responsible for the design, integration, and operation of complex automated plants benefit from adopting this standard, as do software vendors and consultants supporting these industries.

Practical Implications for Implementation:

• Ensures that all critical field devices and subsystems are consistently represented, eliminating gaps that could cause clashes, interferences, or safety issues.
• Facilitates smoother data handover between engineering, construction, and operations teams.
• Reduces ambiguity in cross-discipline collaboration and documentation.
• Encourages early identification of conflicts in routing and installation by enforcing geometric and spatial accuracy.

Notable Features or Requirements:

• New, clarified table of E&I object requirements—distinguishing between required, recommended, and permitted elements for inclusion in 3D models.
• Specific focus on maintainability—consideration of room needed for installation and removal in design.
• Broader coverage of communication and emergency systems—reflecting the increasing complexity and integration needs of modern digital plants.

Key highlights:

• Provides an authoritative checklist for E&I object digital representation in 3D plant models
• Improves cross-discipline collaboration by reducing ambiguity in modeling
• Enables companies to reduce costly reworks by identifying interference issues early

Access the full standard:View IEC 63261:2024/COR1:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Why Are 3D Plant Modeling Standards a Must for Modern Businesses?

The benefits of standardized electrical and instrument object representation in 3D modeling are both immediate and far-reaching:

• Productivity: Enables engineering teams to automate repetitive modeling tasks and reuse libraries of compliant objects, reducing design time and error rates.
• Security: Consistent modeling helps ensure no unauthorized overlaps or conflicts occur, leading to improved safety, easier regulatory compliance, and lower risks of hazardous installations.
• Scalability: When organizations expand facilities or adapt existing ones, standardized digital models make it easy to integrate new systems without reworking core designs.

By making such standards mandatory company-wide, businesses can:

• Ensure a single source of truth for digital plant models
• Support machine-readable, high-quality data exchange throughout the plant lifecycle
• Strengthen their ability to win contracts by demonstrating compliance and engineering rigor
• Reduce rework, downtime, and change orders during both greenfield and brownfield projects

Non-Compliance Risks

• Increased errors and delays from miscommunication
• Regulatory failures during health, safety, or environmental audits
• Limitations in interoperability between engineering tools or teams
• Reduced competitiveness in global tenders

Implementation Guidance

Steps for Adopting IEC 63261:2024/COR1:2025 in Your Organization

1. Assessment: Review existing engineering, design, and modeling workflows to identify gaps regarding E&I object representation.
2. Training and Awareness: Educate design, engineering, and procurement teams on the requirements and benefits of the standard. Include relevant examples and case studies.
3. Tool Alignment: Ensure 3D design platforms and software libraries are updated or customized to comply fully with standard requirements, particularly for required object representations and interface specifications.
4. Documentation: Establish standardized modeling practices, documentation templates, and digital libraries that align with the latest IEC guidelines.
5. Continuous Review: Set up periodic audits and design reviews to maintain compliance as projects evolve and as new corrigenda or updates are published.

Best Practices

• Integrate standard requirements early—in the pre-design and FEED (front-end engineering design) phases
• Use object libraries vetted for compliance to avoid inconsistencies across projects
• Leverage automation features in modern CAD/BIM tools to enforce modeling rules from the standard
• Maintain close collaboration among electrical, instrument, mechanical, and IT disciplines
• Keep up-to-date with changes (like this corrigendum) to avoid using outdated data or specs

Resources for Implementation

• Webinars and online training modules from IEC and iTeh Standards
• Sample digital object libraries and templates
• Reference documentation and checklists for model validation
• Consulting services or technology partners with experience in standard-based plant modeling

Conclusion / Next Steps

In today’s automation-driven manufacturing world, adhering to internationally recognized standards like IEC 63261:2024/COR1:2025 is more than a technical formality—it is a strategic investment. Not only does standardizing 3D modeling practices improve productivity and safety, it also establishes your business as a competitive, compliant, and future-ready operation.

Key Takeaways:

• Adopting the latest IEC 3D modeling standards accelerates digital transformation and lifecycle management.
• Implementation leads to better collaboration, fewer errors, and streamlined engineering workflows.
• Staying current on corrigenda and revisions ensures ongoing compliance and optimal plant performance.

Recommendation: Invest time in educating your teams, updating tools, and reviewing procedures to benefit fully from the new requirements. Explore the iTeh Standards platform for access to the most up-to-date specifications, additional guidance materials, and expert support.

Ready to take your digital plant engineering to the next level? Stay informed, implement best practices, and let standards guide your success.

https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/iec/225795c4-51cc-4b53-be17-2685d0f11f90/iec-63261-2024-cor1-2025