EN IEC 63206:2025

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2025
Nadzorni sistemi za industrijske procese - Zapisovalniki - Preskušanje in
vrednotenje lastnosti (IEC 63206:2024)
Industrial-process control systems - Recorders - Testing and performance evaluation
(IEC 63206:2024)
Systeme der industriellen Prozessleittechnik - Schreiber - Prüfung und Bewertung des
Betriebsverhaltens (IEC 63206:2024)
Systèmes de commande de processus industriels - Enregistreurs - Essais et évaluation
des performances (IEC 63206:2024)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 63206:2025
ICS:
25.040.01 Sistemi za avtomatizacijo v Industrial automation
industriji na splošno systems in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 63206

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM January 2025
ICS 25.040.40 Supersedes EN 60873-1:2004; EN 60873-2:2004
English Version
Industrial-process control systems - Recorders - Testing and
performance evaluation
(IEC 63206:2024)
Systèmes de commande de processus industriels - Systeme der industriellen Prozessleittechnik - Schreiber -
Enregistreurs - Essais et évaluation des performances Prüfung und Bewertung des Betriebsverhaltens
(IEC 63206:2024) (IEC 63206:2024)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2025-01-15. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 63206:2025 E
European foreword
The text of document 65B/1254/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 63206, prepared by SC 65B
"Measurement and control devices" of IEC/TC 65 "Industrial-process measurement, control and
automation" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2026-01-31
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2028-01-31
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60873-2:2004 and EN 60873-1:2004 and all of its amendments and
corrigenda (if any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 63206:2024 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 62008:2005 NOTE Approved as EN 62008:2005 (not modified)
IEC 61143-1:1992 NOTE Approved as EN 61143-1:1994 (not modified)
IEC 61987-13:2016 NOTE Approved as EN 61987-13:2016 (not modified)
IEC 61987-1:2006 NOTE Approved as EN 61987-1:2007 (not modified)
IEC 60654-2:1979 NOTE Approved as EN 60654-2:1997 (not modified)
IEC 61158 series NOTE Approved as EN 61158 series
IEC 61143-2:1992 NOTE Approved as EN 61143-2:1994 (not modified)
IEC 61298-1:2008 NOTE Approved as EN 61298-1:2008 (not modified)
IEC 61298-2:2008 NOTE Approved as EN 61298-2:2008 (not modified)
IEC 61298-3:2008 NOTE Approved as EN 61298-3:2008 (not modified)
IEC 61298-4:2008 NOTE Approved as EN 61298-4:2008 (not modified)
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 NOTE Approved as EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (not modified)
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60050-313 - International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - -
(IEV) - Electrical and electronic
measurements and measuring instruments
- Part 313: Types of electrical measuring
instruments
IEC 60050-351 - International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - - -
Part 351: Control technology
IEC 61003-1 2016 Industrial-process control systems - EN 61003-1 2016
Instruments with analogue inputs and two-
or multi-position outputs - Part 1: Methods
for evaluating performance
IEC 61010-1 2010 Safety requirements for electrical EN 61010-1 2010
equipment for measurement, control, and
laboratory use - Part 1: General
requirements
+ A1 (mod) 2016 + A1 2019
IEC 61326-1 2020 Electrical equipment for measurement, EN IEC 61326-1 2021
control and laboratory use - EMC
requirements - Part 1: General
requirements
IEC 62828-1 2017 Reference conditions and procedures for EN IEC 62828-1 2018
testing industrial and process
measurement transmitters - Part 1:
General procedures for all types of
transmitters
IEC 63206 ®
Edition 1.0 2024-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Industrial-process control systems – Recorders – Testing and performance

evaluation
Systèmes de commande de processus industriels – Enregistreurs – Essais et

évaluation des performances
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 25.040.40  ISBN 978-2-8327-0066-2

– 2 – IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and acronyms . 7
3.1 Terms and definitions . 7
3.2 Abbreviated terms and acronyms . 10
4 Classification . 10
4.1 General . 10
4.2 Pneumatic recorders . 11
4.3 Electrical recorders . 11
4.4 Paper medium recorders . 12
4.5 Digital medium recorders . 13
5 Performance requirements and test methods . 13
5.1 General . 13
5.1.1 Overview . 13
5.1.2 General requirements . 15
5.1.3 General testing procedures . 15
5.1.4 Conditions during tests . 17
5.2 Tests under reference conditions . 18
5.2.1 Test preparation . 18
5.2.2 Accuracy-related factors . 19
5.2.3 Step response . 23
5.2.4 Input lead resistance . 23
5.2.5 Insulation resistance . 24
5.2.6 Electric strength . 24
5.2.7 Electrical power consumption . 25
5.2.8 Pneumatic power consumption . 25
5.2.9 Start-up drift . 25
5.2.10 Long-term drift . 25
5.2.11 Switch output . 25
5.2.12 Mutual interference between input channels . 25
5.2.13 Channel synchronization and time resolution . 26
5.2.14 Scanning rate . 29
5.2.15 Alarms . 29
5.3 Effect of influence quantities . 30
5.3.1 General . 30
5.3.2 Ambient temperature . 30
5.3.3 Ambient relative humidity . 30
5.3.4 Vibration . 30
5.3.5 Shock, drop and topple . 30
5.3.6 Mounting position . 30
5.3.7 Over-range . 31
5.3.8 Supply voltage and frequency variations . 31
5.3.9 Reverse supply voltage protection (DC devices) . 31
5.3.10 Supply pressure variations (pneumatic recorders) . 31

IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024 – 3 –
5.3.11 Earthing . 31
5.3.12 EMC test . 31
5.3.13 Purge gas flow . 32
5.3.14 Accelerated operational life test (paper medium recorders) . 32
5.3.15 Effect of open-circuited input . 32
5.3.16 Effect of short-circuited input . 32
5.3.17 Recording medium storage conditions . 32
5.4 Quality of recording (paper medium recorders) . 33
5.4.1 General . 33
5.4.2 Long-term test . 33
5.4.3 Marking velocity . 33
5.4.4 Smear test . 33
5.4.5 Chart speed . 34
5.4.6 Parallax . 34
5.4.7 Time per point (multi-channel recorder) . 34
5.5 Function assessment . 34
6 Test report . 34
Annex A (informative) Function assessment . 36
A.1 General . 36
A.2 General assessment . 36
A.3 Interface . 37
A.4 Storage device . 38
Bibliography . 39

Figure 1 – Example of an electrical recorder functional model . 12
Figure 2 – Example of error curve . 21
Figure 3 – Test set-up for input resistance . 24
Figure 4 – Example of channel synchronization test . 27
Figure 5 – Example of time resolution test . 27
Figure 6 – Example of sequence of event test . 28

Table 1 – Performance requirements . 14
Table 2 – Settings of span and lower range value adjustments . 17
Table 3 – Example of error tabulation . 20
Table 4 – Example of function assessment report . 35
Table A.1 – Checklist for mapping general function assessment . 36
Table A.2 – Checklist for mapping interface . 37
Table A.3 – Checklist for mapping storage device . 38

– 4 – IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
INDUSTRIAL-PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS –
RECORDERS –
TESTING AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC Publication(s)”). Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). IEC takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in
respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, IEC had not received notice of (a) patent(s), which
may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent
the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at https://patents.iec.ch. IEC
shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 63206 has been prepared by subcommittee 65B: Measurement and control devices, of IEC
technical committee 65: Industrial-process measurement, control and automation. It is an
International Standard.
The IEC 63206 cancels and replaces the IEC 60873-1:2003 and IEC 60873-2:2004, of which it
proposes revisions and updates.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
65B/1254/FDIS 65B/1276/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024 – 5 –
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.
IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.

– 6 – IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024
INTRODUCTION
IEC 63206 is intended for use by manufacturers to determine the performance of their products
and by users or independent testing bodies to verify manufacturers’ performance specifications.
IEC 63206 has fully covered IEC 60873-1 and IEC 60873-2 which are withdrawn.

IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024 – 7 –
INDUSTRIAL-PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS –
RECORDERS –
TESTING AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

1 Scope
IEC 63206 specifies the characterization, the classification (e.g.: analogue chart recorder,
digital recorder, X-Y recorder, paperless recorder, event recorder, data logger, and data
acquisition device, etc.) and performance evaluation methods of recorders. It covers type tests
as well as routine tests.
This document is applicable to recorder devices and recorder modules for control systems.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
IEC 60050-313, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Electrical and electronic
measurements and measuring instruments – Part 313: Types of electrical measuring
instruments (available at )
IEC 60050-351, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Part 351: Control technology
(available at )
IEC 61003-1:2016, Industrial-process control systems – Instruments with analogue inputs and
two- or multi-position outputs – Part 1: Methods for evaluating performance
IEC 61010-1:2010, Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and
laboratory use – Part 1 General requirements
IEC 61010-1:2010/AMD1:2016
IEC 61326-1:2020, Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – EMC
requirements – Part 1: General requirements
IEC 62828-1:2017, Reference conditions and procedures for testing industrial and process
measurement transmitters – Part 1: General procedures for all types of transmitters
3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and acronyms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60050-313,
IEC 60050-351, IEC 62828-1 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp

– 8 – IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024
3.1.1
data acquisition device
DAQ
device for entering or collecting data
Note 1 to entry: Multifunction DAQ devices rely on an industrial computer (commercial PC, Industrial PC, Compact
PCI, notebook etc.) for control. These devices are designed to meet the needs of a general-purpose measurement
system. They are not designed for a specific type of measurement. DAQ generally provide multiple measurement
modes such as analogue input, analogue output, digital input, digital output, and counter-timer functionality.
[SOURCE: IEC 62008:2005 [1], 3.1.4, modified – In the note to entry, "personal computer" has
been changed to "industrial computer" and the last sentence has been deleted.]
3.1.2
data logger
system to measure a number of variables and write tabulations and/or records in a form suitable
for computer input
[SOURCE: IEC TS 61968-2:2011 [2], 2.63, modified – "and make written tabulations and/or
record in a form suitable for computer input" has been changed to "and write tabulations and/or
records in a form suitable for computer input".]
3.1.3
digital medium recorder
recorder whose recording medium is electronic media
Note 1 to entry: Magnetic disk, optical disk or solid-state disk are storage medium of a digital medium recorder.
3.1.4
error in timekeeping
value obtained by subtracting the true value of elapsed time from the recorded value of time
[SOURCE: IEC 61143-1:1992 [3], 3.7.5]
3.1.5
friction effect
in the case of continuous line recorders, effect that friction of the marking device produces on
the recording chart
3.1.6
hysteresis
phenomenon represented by a characteristic curve which has a branch, called ascending
branch, for increasing values of the input variable, and a different branch, called descending
branch, for decreasing values of the input variable
Note 1 to entry: The CDD code of this entry for Electronic Data Exchange is ABB661 and the hysteresis is defined
as the difference between consecutive upscale and downscale outputs for any single test cycle at the same input
test point.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-351:2013, 351-45-16, modified − Note to entry has been replaced.]

IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024 – 9 –
3.1.7
input range
region between the limits within which a quantity is measured, or received, expressed by stating
the lower and upper range values (for example, 0 mA, 100 mA)
Note 1 to entry: The zero value greater than the lowest range value is called "elevated"; and less than the lowest
range value is called "suppressed".
Note 2 to entry: Instruments can be supplied with manual or automatic means of adjusting the range. As used in
this document, the term "range" and the definitions below apply to the characteristics of the instruments for a specified
setting of the adjustment means.
3.1.8
non-linearity
deviation from ideal behaviour for devices that have a linear input/out relationship, determined
from the curve plotted using the overall average of corresponding upscale and downscale errors
Note 1 to entry: Non-linearity can be calculated and expressed in one of three ways:
– independent: line positioned so as to minimize the maximum deviation;
– terminal-based: line positioned so as to coincide with the actual characteristic curve at the upper and lower range-
values;
– zero-based: line positioned so as to coincide with the actual characteristic curve at the lower range-value.
Note 2 to entry: The corresponding properties are to be found in the CDD.
[SOURCE: IEC 61987-13 [4]:2016, 3.3.7]
3.1.9
output
position of the marking device of a recorder (for paper medium recorder) or stored data in
recording medium (for digital medium recorder)
Note 1 to entry: If an indicator is directly connected to the marking device, the indicated value is tested as a second
output.
3.1.10
paperless recorder
recorder in which the chart is displayed on an electronic screen
Note 1 to entry: In industry it is not uncommon to refer these kinds of recorders as "chartless".
3.1.11
paper medium recorder
recorder whose display medium is a type of paper
Note 1 to entry: Example of recorders: dotted line recorder, strip chart recorder, stylus recorder, (ink) jet recorder,
printing recorder, spot recorder, thermal recorder.
Note 2 to entry: Example of papers: regular paper, light-sensitive medium, heat-sensitive paper, dielectric-coated
paper or other papers.
3.1.12
record
trace or event marked on the instrument chart, text or stored electromagnetic information in
response to a signal
– 10 – IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024
3.1.13
recorder
measuring instrument which records on a recording medium information corresponding to the
values of the measurand
Note 1 to entry: Some recording instruments can incorporate an indicating device.
Note 2 to entry: Some recording instruments can record information corresponding to more than one measurand.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-312:2001 [5], 312-02-11]
3.1.14
multiple-channel recorder
recorder for more than one signal to the recorder
3.1.15
multiple-pen recorder
recorder for more than one signal providing an individual pen or other marking device for each
signal
3.1.16
time per point
time interval between two immediately successive readings of the same or different signals
Note 1 to entry: Sample time, time interval, sample hold time are different ways to express the definition.
3.1.17
time resolution
the minimum time by which two events are separated in order that the corresponding time tags
be different
Note 1 to entry: The time resolution cannot be shorter than the time per point.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-371:1984 [6], 371-05-03, modified – "must be" has been changed to
"are".]
3.1.18
zero adjustment
means provided in an instrument to cause a parallel shift in the input-output relation
[SOURCE: IEC 61987-1:2006 [7], 3.56, modified – "curve" has been changed to "relation".]
3.2 Abbreviated terms and acronyms
DAQ data acquisition device
DUT device under test
HHT hand held terminal
HMI human machine interface
PC personal computer
4 Classification
4.1 General
Recorders can be classified by the way they are powered (e.g.: pneumatic recorder and
electrical recorder), by recording medium (e.g.: paper medium recorder and digital medium
recorder) or by function (e.g.: continuous signal recorder and event recorder).

IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024 – 11 –
4.2 Pneumatic recorders
Pneumatic recorders record pneumatic signals and use paper as recording medium; their
marking device and the recording medium are driven by compressed air or electrical motor.
NOTE A typical recording range is 20 kPa to 100 kPa.
4.3 Electrical recorders
Electrical recorders record electric signals and are electrically powered. Electrical recorders
can be classified by:
– mechanical structure as: desktop type, rail mounted type, panel mounted type, portable or
board card type;
– function as: chart recorder, X-t recorder (or trend recorder), X-Y recorder, paperless
recorder, event recorder, data logger and data acquisition device.
In control systems, the recorder function could also be done by software with no hardware
dedicated elements.
The functional model for an electrical recorder is as shown in Figure 1. The electrically power
supply unit, the input channel unit and the data processing unit are basic modules of a recorder
(for example: a data logger). There should be at least one module of paper medium recording
unit, digital medium recording unit (magnetic or CD-RW disk and solid state medium) or
communication unit. Display unit, alarm unit and switch output unit are optional.
Electrical recorder functions include:
– electrical power supply unit, to provide the recorder with the energy from a power regulator
unit that is supplied by AC or DC power supply or a set of rechargeable batteries;
– input channel unit, to receive the signals from process field, it is the interface between the
recorder and the external world;
– data processing unit, it is the most important part of an electrical recorder. Its main function
is to provide and process the measured signals, write tabulations and records in a form
suitable for digital medium recording units, communication unit or paper medium recording
unit. Besides the main measurement function, it can be equipped with a number of additional
functions: configuration, adjustment, self-testing, diagnostics, condition monitoring, external
process control function, internal data storage, etc. An event recorder, besides the above
functions, also contains a clock with sufficient time resolution to associate to all input events
a time stamp to distinguish their precedence relationship.

– 12 – IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024

NOTE Grey boxes with bold-type letter means removable modules.
Figure 1 – Example of an electrical recorder functional model
– Paper medium recording unit, normally consists of paper driving machine, marking device
and paper medium.
– Magnetic or optical disk unit have dedicated drivers for recording media disks.
– Solid state medium unit, features different interfaces depending on the solid-state medium,
e.g. USB.
– Communication unit, to exchange information with any external system.
EXAMPLE Sending real time information, receiving external command, or reading internal data storage.
– Display or HMI unit, to display chart, trending, data list or to locally operate recorder; it can
be realized in many different ways: with display unit, without display unit, and with display
unit separate or removable.
– Alarm unit, can be used to alert the human operator with different patterns of sound, light,
and/or any other signals.
– Switch output unit, provides on/off signal to any external system.
A PC has most of Figure 1 modules; adding an input module, it becomes a data acquisition
device (DAQ).
4.4 Paper medium recorders
Paper medium recorders are characterized by:
– recording medium shape: strip chart recorders, drum recorders and (paper) disc recorders;
– marking device: pen recorders, stylus recorders, array recorders, spot recorders; thermal
recorders, light beam recorders, (ink) jet recorders and printing recorders;
– quantity of marking devices: single-pen recorders, multiple-pen recorders;
– recording trace: continuous line recorders, dotted line recorders.

IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024 – 13 –
4.5 Digital medium recorders
Digital medium recorders can be used with an external computer which has dedicated software.
Their information storage and access can be:
– external storage media, including magnetic disks, optical disk units, non-volatile read-write
memories, etc., using external computer reading information and display historical chart,
trending or data list;
– communication interface, using external computer display real time chart, trending, data list
and storing information in external computer store media, or accessing internal data storage,
similar to reading an external store media;
– display device, that shows the real time chart, the trend and all the recorded parameters of
the event, or accessing internal data storage to show historical scenario.
5 Performance requirements and test methods
5.1 General
5.1.1 Overview
The following Table 1 lists all the type and routine tests for different types of recorders. In
general, if a full evaluation report is planned, each applicable test should be conducted on a
given recorder. If a test has been omitted this should be stated, together with the reason.
For all tests, see Table 1.
– 14 – IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024
Table 1 – Performance requirements
Electrical recorders type test
Pneumatic
Special Special
Test Routine
Common Special
No. Test recorders
for for
method test
to all for event
type test
multiple- paper
families recorder
channel medium
Tests under reference conditions
1 Measured error 5.2.2.2 √ √  √
2 Dead band 5.2.2.3 √  √ +
Error in
3 5.2.2.4  + √ +
timekeeping
4 Step response 5.2.3 √ √
Input lead
5.2.4 √
resistance
Insulation
6 5.2.5 √  √
resistance
Dielectric
7 5.2.6 √
strength
Electrical power
8 5.2.7 √
consumption
Pneumatic
9 power 5.2.8 √
consumption
10 Start-up drift 5.2.9 √ √
11 Long-term drift 5.2.10 √ √
12 Switch output 5.2.11 +
Mutual influence
13 between input 5.2.12  √
channels
Channel
14 5.2.13.2  + +
synchronization
15 Time resolution 5.2.13.3  √ +
Sequence of
16 5.2.13.4  √ √
event
17 Scanning rate 5.2.14  √
18 Alarm patterns 5.2.15.1 +
Alarm response
19 5.2.15.2 + √
time
Effects of influence quantities
Ambient
20 5.3.2 √ √
temperature
Ambient relative
21 5.3.3 √ √
humidity
22 Vibration 5.3.4 √ √
Shock, drop and
23 5.3.5 √ √  +
topple
Mounting
24 5.3.6 √ √  +
position
25 Over-range 5.3.7 √ √  √
Supply voltage
26 and frequency 5.3.8 √  √
variations
IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024 – 15 –
Electrical recorders type test
Pneumatic
Special Special
Test Routine
Common Special
No. Test recorders
for for
method test
to all for event
type test
multiple- paper
families recorder
channel medium
Reverse supply
27 voltage 5.3.9 √
protection
Supply pressure
28 5.3.10 √
variations
29 Earthing 5.3.11 √
EMC immunity
30 5.3.12.1 √
test
EMC emission
31 5.3.12.2 √
test
32 Purge gas flow 5.3.13 √
Accelerated
33 operational life 5.3.14 √  √
test
Effect of open-
34 5.3.15 √
circuited input
Effect of short-
35 5.3.16 √
circuited input
Recording media
36 storage 5.3.17   √
conditions
Quality of recording
37 Long-term test 5.4.2   √ √
38 Marking velocity 5.4.3   √ √
39 Smear test 5.4.4   √ √
40 Chart speed 5.4.5   √ √
41 Parallax 5.4.6   √
42 Time per point 5.4.7  √ √
NOTE 1 "√" mark means it is a common basic item for all similar type recorders.
NOTE 2 "+" mark means it is an optional test for some of recorders.

5.1.2 General requirements
Unless otherwise stated in this subclause, technical indicators shall conform to the
manufacturer’s specifications.
5.1.3 General testing procedures
5.1.3.1 Overview
An adequate time, as specified by the manufacturer, shall be given after switching on the power
supply in order to allow temperature within the recorder to stabilize. In the absence of a
manufacturer’s specification, a period of 30 min shall be used.

– 16 – IEC 63206:2024 © IEC 2024
In performing tests on a multiple-channel recording instrument, the measured quantity shall be
applied to the recorder under test and to a reference instrument and shall be varied so that the
required value is also shown on the reference instrument. The determination of deviations shall
be carried out by using first one of the channels and then, successively, the other channels.
Input values should generally be selected in such a way that the recorded values are produced
on different points on the chart to provide best discrimination between the recorded values (in
the case of certain tests, such as checking zero and span, this is not possible).
NOTE For multiple-channel recorders, it is generally more convenient to adjust the input to obtain the true output
values and then record the value of the input.
Errors shall be determined as departure from the input/output relationship specified by the
manufacturer, where the manufacturer’s settings before delivery are used. In other cases,
reference shall be made to the adjustments and settings put in by the tester.
5.1.3.2 Selection of test ranges
Where there are switched ranges (or dial settings), for example, gain, the tests shall be
repeated to cover all ranges. Where the DUT is supplied calibrated for use, the first set of tests
shall be carried out without adjustment.
Three different types of adjustment are explained below:
a) The recorder shall be put into operation according to the manufacturer's instructions; in
particular, those relating to the preliminary adjustments.
The chart and ink supplied by the manufacturer for the recorders should be used for all
tests.
b) Unless otherwise stated, where the span is adjustable other than to take up manufacturing
tolerances, the tests should be carried out with the span adjustment set approximately at
the manufacturer's stated minimum and maximum and at an intermediate value.
c) Unless otherwise stated, where the zero adjustment is adjustable other than to take up
manufacturing tolerances, such as devices equipped with means for suppression or
elevation of zero, the tests should be carried out with the elevation/suppression adjustment
set for its minimal effect, then at its extreme values.
If the extent of adjustment is more than twice the maximum span, tests should also be carried
out with the adjustment set approximately at the arithmetic mean of the two extreme values of
elevation and/or suppression (see 5.1.3.4).
Testing of a recorder with provision for substantial adjustment of both span and zero in
accordance with b) and c) above can require an impractically large number of tests. Preliminary
tests should be conducted to determine the effect of changing span and zero adjustments on
the characteristic being measured so that redundant tests can be eliminated from the test
program in cases where the characteristic can be inferred reliably from fewer tests. For example,
it is possible that hysteresis and dead band are not significantly affected by selection of
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