IEC 61850-4:2011

IEC 61850-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2011-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 4: System and project management

Réseaux et systèmes de communication pour l'automatisation des systèmes
électriques –
Partie 4: Gestion du système et gestion de projet

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IEC 61850-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2011-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 4: System and project management

Réseaux et systèmes de communication pour l'automatisation des systèmes
électriques –
Partie 4: Gestion du système et gestion de projet

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX W
ICS 33.200 ISBN 978-2-88912-439-8

– 2 – 61850-4 © IEC:2011
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Abbreviations . 10
5 Engineering requirements . 11
5.1 Overview . 11
5.2 Categories and types of parameters . 12
5.2.1 Classification . 12
5.2.2 Parameter categories . 13
5.2.3 Parameter types . 14
5.3 Engineering tools . 15
5.3.1 Engineering process . 15
5.3.2 System specification tool . 17
5.3.3 System configuration tool . 17
5.3.4 IED configuration tool. 18
5.3.5 Documentation tool . 19
5.4 Flexibility and expandability . 19
5.5 Scalability . 20
5.6 Automatic project documentation . 20
5.6.1 General . 20
5.6.2 Hardware documentation . 22
5.6.3 Parameter documentation . 22
5.6.4 Requirements of the documentation tool . 23
5.7 Standard documentation . 23
5.8 System integrator's support . 24
6 System life cycle . 24
6.1 Requirements of product versions . 24
6.2 Announcement of product discontinuation . 26
6.3 Support after discontinuation . 26
7 Quality assurance . 27
7.1 Division of responsibility . 27
7.1.1 General . 27
7.1.2 Responsibility of the manufacturer and system integrator . 27
7.1.3 Responsibility of the customer. 29
7.2 Test equipment . 29
7.2.1 General . 29
7.2.2 Normal process test equipment . 29
7.2.3 Transient and fault test equipment . 29
7.2.4 Communication test equipment . 30
7.3 Classification of quality tests . 30
7.3.1 Basic test requirements . 30
7.3.2 System test . 30
7.3.3 Type test . 31
7.3.4 Routine test . 32
7.3.5 Conformance test . 32

61850-4 © IEC:2011 – 3 –
7.3.6 Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) . 32
7.3.7 Site Acceptance Test (SAT) . 32
Annex A (informative) Announcement of discontinuation (example) . 34
Annex B (informative) Delivery obligations after discontinuation (example) . 35
Bibliography . 36

Figure 1 – Structure of the UAS and its environment . 11
Figure 2 – Structure of UAS and IED parameters . 13
Figure 3 – Engineering tasks and their relationship . 16
Figure 4 – IED configuration process . 18
Figure 5 – Project related documentation of UAS . 21
Figure 6 – Two meanings of the system life cycle . 25
Figure 7 – Stages of quality assurance – Responsibility of manufacturer and system
integrator . 27
Figure 8 – Contents of system test . 30
Figure 9 – Contents of type test . 31
Figure 10 – Contents of routine test . 32
Figure 11 – Testing stages for site acceptance test . 33
Figure A.1 – Announcement conditions . 34
Figure B.1 – Periods for delivery obligations . 35

– 4 – 61850-4 © IEC:2011
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
COMMUNICATION NETWORKS AND SYSTEMS
FOR POWER UTILITY AUTOMATION –

Part 4: System and project management

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 internation-
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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) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61850-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 57: Power
systems management and associated information exchange.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2002. It constitutes a
technical revision to align the document more closely with the other parts of the IEC 61850
series, in addition to enlarging the scope from substation automation systems to all utility au-
tomation systems.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
57/1103/FDIS 57/1122/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.

61850-4 © IEC:2011 – 5 –
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the IEC 61850 series, under the general title: Communication networks and
systems for power utility automation, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
– 6 – 61850-4 © IEC:2011
COMMUNICATION NETWORKS AND SYSTEMS
FOR POWER UTILITY AUTOMATION –

Part 4: System and project management

1 Scope
This part of IEC 61850 applies to projects associated with process near automation systems of
power utilities (UAS, utility automation system), like e.g. substation automation systems (SAS).
It defines the system and project management for UAS systems with communication between
intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) in the substation respective plant and the related system
requirements.
The specifications of this part pertain to the system and project management with respect to:
– the engineering process and its supporting tools;
– the life cycle of the overall system and its IEDs;
– the quality assurance beginning with the development stage and ending with discon-
tinuation and decommissioning of the UAS and its IEDs.
The requirements of the system and project management process and of special supporting
tools for engineering and testing are described.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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.
IEC 60848, GRAFCET specification language for sequential function charts
IEC 61082 (all parts), Preparation of documents used in electrotechnology
IEC 61175, Industrial systems, installations and equipment and industrial products – Designa-
tion of signals
IEC 61850-6, Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 6:
Configuration description language for communication in electrical substations related to IEDs
IEC 61850-7 (all parts), Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 7: Basic communication structure
IEC 81346 (all parts), Industrial systems, installations and equipment and industrial products –
Structuring principles and reference designations
IEC 81346-1, Industrial systems, installations and equipment and industrial products – Structur-
ing principles and reference designations – Part 1: Basic rules
IEC 81346-2, Industrial systems, installations and equipment and industrial products – Structur-
ing principles and reference designations – Part 2: Classification of objects and codes for clas-
ses
61850-4 © IEC:2011 – 7 –
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
supporting tools
those tools that support the user in the engineering, the operation and the management of the
UAS and its IEDs
NOTE These tools are usually a part of the UAS.
3.1.1
engineering tools
tools that support the creation and documentation of the conditions for adapting an automation
system to the specific plant (substation) and customer requirements
NOTE Engineering tools are divided into project management, configuration and documentation tools.
3.1.2
system specification tools
tools used to create a system requirement specification including the relation of system func-
tions to the plant/substation to be managed; especially a tool creating a specification in a for-
mally defined, standardized format for evaluation by other tools
3.1.3
system configuration tools
tools handling the communication between the IEDs in the system, configuration of issues
common for several IEDs, and the logical association of the IED’s functions to the process to
be controlled and supervised
NOTE See also “system parameters”.
3.1.4
IED configuration tools
tools handling the specific configuration and download of configuration data to a specific IED of
a specific type
3.2
expandability
criteria for the efficient extension of an automation system (hardware and functional) by use of
the engineering tools
3.3
flexibility
criteria for the fast and efficient implementation of functional changes including hardware
3.4
scalability
criteria for a cost effective system while recognizing various functionalities, various IEDs,
substation sizes and substation voltage ranges
3.5
parameters
variables which define the behaviour of functions of the automation system and its IEDs within
a given range of values
– 8 – 61850-4 © IEC:2011
3.5.1
system parameters
data which define the interaction of IEDs in the system
NOTE System parameters are especially important in the:
– configuration of the system;
– communication between IEDs;
– marshalling of data between IEDs;
– processing and visualization of data from other IEDs (for example, at the station level).
3.5.2
IED parameters
parameters defining the behaviour of an IED and its relation to the process
3.6
IED-parameter set
all parameter values and configuration data needed for the definition of the behaviour of the
IED and its adaptation to the substation conditions
NOTE Where the IED has to operate autonomously, the parameter-set can be generated without system parame-
ters using an IED-specific parameterization tool. Where the IED is a part of the system, the parameter set may
include the IED related or complete set of system parameters, which should be coordinated by a general parameter-
ization tool at the system level.
3.7
UAS-parameter set
all parameter values and configuration data needed for the definition of the behaviour of the
overall UAS and its adaptation to the substation conditions
NOTE The parameter set includes the IED-parameter sets of all participating IEDs.
3.8
remote terminal unit
RTU
used as an outstation in a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system
NOTE An RTU may act as an interface between the communication network to the SCADA system and the substa-
tion equipment. The function of an RTU may reside in one IED or may be distributed.
3.9
UAS product family
different IEDs of one manufacturer with various functionalities and with the ability to perform
within utility automation systems
NOTE The IEDs of a product family are unified in relation to the design, the operational handling, the mounting
and wiring conditions, and they use common or coordinated supporting tools.
3.10
UAS installation
the concrete instance of a substation automation system consisting of multiple interoperable
and connected IEDs of one or more manufacturers
3.11
configuration list
overview of all instances of IEDs and other installed products of a system, their hardware and
software versions including the software versions of relevant supporting tools
NOTE The configuration list also contains the configured communication connections and addresses.

61850-4 © IEC:2011 – 9 –
3.12
configuration compatibility list
overview of all compatible hardware and software versions of components and IEDs, including
the software versions of relevant supporting tools operating together in an UAS-product family
NOTE The configuration compatibility list also contains the supported transmission protocols and protocol ver-
sions for communication with other IEDs.
3.13
manufacturer
the producer of IEDs and/or supporting tools
NOTE A manufacturer may be able to deliver an UAS solely by use of his own IEDs and supporting tools (UAS
product family).
3.14
system integrator
a turnkey deliverer of UAS installations
NOTE The responsibility of system integration includes the engineering, the delivery and mounting of all participat-
ing IEDs, the factory and site acceptance tests and the trial operation. The quality assurance, the maintenance and
spare delivery obligations and the warranty are agreed in the contract between the system integrator and the cus-
tomer. A system integrator may use IEDs from several different manufacturers.
3.15
system life cycle
the term has two specific meanings:
a) for the manufacturer, the time period between the start of the production of a newly
developed UAS product family and the discontinuation of support for the relevant IEDs;
b) for the customer, the time period between the commissioning of the system installation and
the decommissioning of the last IED of the system installation
3.16
test equipment
all tools and instruments which simulate and verify the input/outputs of the operating environ-
ment of the automation system such as switchgear, transformers, network control centres or
connected telecommunication units on one side, and the communication channels between the
IEDs of the UAS on the other side
3.17
conformance test
verification of data flow on communication channels in accordance with the standard conditions
concerning access organization, formats and bit sequences, time synchronization, timing, sig-
nal form and level, reaction to errors
NOTE The conformance test can be carried out and certified for the standard or specially described parts of the
standard. The conformance test should be carried out by an ISO 9001 certified organization or system integrator.
3.18
system test
validation of correct behaviour of the IEDs and of the overall automation system under various
application conditions
NOTE The system test marks the final stage of the development of IEDs as part of a UAS product family.
3.19
type test
verification of correct behaviour of the IEDs of the automation system by use of the system
tested software under the environmental test conditions corresponding with the technical data

– 10 – 61850-4 © IEC:2011
NOTE This test marks the final stage of the hardware development and is the precondition for the start of the
production. This test is carried out with IEDs that have been manufactured through the normal production cycle, and
not with prototype HW.
3.20
factory acceptance test
FAT
customer agreed functional tests of the specifically manufactured system or its parts, using the
parameter set for the planned application
NOTE This test is typically performed in the factory of the system integrator by the use of process simulating test
equipment.
3.21
site acceptance test
SAT
verification of each data and control point and the correct functionality inside the automation
system and between the automation system and its operating environment at the whole
installed plant by use of the final parameter set
NOTE The SAT is a precondition for the automation system being put into operation.
3.22
system requirements specification
the specification of all requirements including functions, technical quality, and interfaces to the
surrounding world
NOTE The requirement specification is typically supplied by the customer.
3.23
system design specification
a description of a system design showing how a system requirement specification is fulfilled
with selected products, and how the required functions are implemented on them
NOTE The system design specification is typically provided by the system integrator.
4 Abbreviations
ASDU application service data unit
CD ROM compact disc read only memory
CAD computer aided design
CT current transformer
FAT factory acceptance test
HMI human machine Interface
IED intelligent electronic device
PE process environment
RTU remote terminal unit
SAS substation automation system
SAT site acceptance test
SCADA supervisory control and data acquisition
TE telecommunication environment
UAS utility automation system
VT voltage transformer
61850-4 © IEC:2011 – 11 –
5 Engineering requirements
5.1 Overview
The engineering of a utility automation system is based on a system requirement specification,
which defines the scope, functions, boundaries and additional restrictions and requirements for
the system, and includes:
– the definition of the necessary hardware configuration of the UAS: i.e. the definition of the
IEDs and their interfaces with one another and to the environment as shown in Figure 1;
– the adaptation of functionality and signal quantities to the specific operational requirements
by use of parameters;
– the documentation of all specific definitions (i.e. parameter set, terminal connections, etc.).
Network control centre(s)
Human
telecommunication
IEDi
IED
2 IED
j
IED IED
1 Communi- k
cation
IED IED
y m
Sublevel
IED IED
x n
telecommunication
Primary equipment
and auxiliaries
Teleprotection
UAS
UAS-environment
IEC  104/02
Figure 1 – Structure of the UAS and its environment
As shown in Figure 1, the UAS consists of different IEDs which communicate with each other
via communication channels and which execute tasks concerning interactions with the environ-
ment of the automation system, such as:
– telecommunication environment (TE);
• network control centre(s);
• subordinate systems;
• teleprotection;
– the human as a local operator;
– process environment (PE) like switchgear, transformer, auxiliaries.
Typical IEDs may be:
– for the telecommunication environment:
• gateways;
• converters;
• RTUs (telecommunication side);

– 12 – 61850-4 © IEC:2011
• protection relays (teleprotection side);
– for the human machine interface (HMI):
• gateways;
• personal computers;
• workstations;
• other IEDs with integrated HMIs;
– for the process environment (PE):
• bay control units;
• protection relays;
• RTUs (process side);
• meters;
• autonomous controllers (i.e. voltage controllers);
• transducers;
• digital switchgear interface;
• digital power transformer interface;
• digital VTs and CTs.
5.2 Categories and types of parameters
5.2.1 Classification
Parameters are data, which control and support the operation of:
– hardware configuration (composition of IEDs);
– software of IEDs;
– process environment (primary equipment and auxiliaries);
– HMI with different supporting tools; and
– telecommunication environment
in an automation system and its IEDs in such a way that the operations of the plant and cus-
tomer specific requirements are fulfilled.
The total set of parameters and configuration data of an UAS is termed the UAS-parameter set.
It consists of the used parts of the parameter sets of all participating IEDs.
With respect to handling methods and input procedure, parameter set contents is divided into
two categories:
– configuration parameters;
– operating parameters.
With respect to origin and function, the parameters are divided into types:
– system parameters;
– process parameters;
– functional parameters.
In Figure 2, the overview of the parameter structure is given.

61850-4 © IEC:2011 – 13 –
UAS - parameter set
…
IED - parameter set
n
IED - parameter set
Configuration parameters Operating parameters
System parameters Process parameters Functional parameters
Switchable parameters
Non-switchable parameters
IEC  105/02
Figure 2 – Structure of UAS and IED parameters
The categories and types of parameters in Figure 2 are described below.
5.2.2 Parameter categories
5.2.2.1 Configuration parameters
The configuration parameters define the global behaviour of the whole UAS and its IEDs. As a
rule, they are only assigned a value during the initial parameterization, but they should be up-
dated when extending or functionally changing the UAS.
The generation and modification of the configuration parameters should be carried out off-line,
i.e. separately from the operation of the automation system. During the input of configuration
parameters, a temporary restriction of the system operation is allowed.
Observe that the term parameter in a more narrow sense means some variables, whose setting
defines the wanted behaviour. System and IED configuration needs however often more than
just setting of values. If we want to differentiate these different kinds of configuration, we talk
about “configuration data” meaning more complex parameterizations, while “configuration pa-
rameters” means an adjustment by value setting alone.
The configuration parameters of an IED usually include system and process parameters. Ob-
serve that UAS configuration parameters are typically defined at system level. They contain or
specify IED related system parameters.
5.2.2.2 Operating parameters
The operating parameters define the behaviour of partial functions of the system. They shall be
changeable on-line during the normal operation of the system. The modification is allowed
without restricting the system operation and within a framework of ranges of parameter values.
Protection functions, as far as combined in IEDs with other functions, shall not be influenced
during the parameterization of these functions.
The range and the basic settings of these parameters are determined at the initial parameteri-
zation or at a modification stage, separate from the operation of the system. The operating
parameters can be put on-line into the system via:
– telecommunication interface;

– 14 – 61850-4 © IEC:2011
– HMI;
– integrated service interface of the IEDs.
The operating parameters usually include process and functional parameters, for example limit
values, target values, command output times, delay times in switching sequences, etc.
5.2.3 Parameter types
5.2.3.1 System parameters
System parameters consist of configuration data which determines the co-operation of IEDs
including the internal structures and procedures of the system in relation to its technological
limits and available components.
For example, the system configuration data determines the configuration of hardware compo-
nents in the system (IEDs and their physical connections), the communication procedure be-
tween the IEDs (protocol, baud rate) and the scope of required and available functions in the
software of IEDs at the station level.
Additionally, the system configuration data describes data flow relations between functions on
different IEDs, for example interlocking, visualization of information in the substation single line
diagram and others.
Furthermore, the system configuration data includes the assignment of texts to events at the
station level and the determination of data flows in the system, for example to
– HMI (display, event report);
– printer;
– archive;
– telecommunication with network control centre or further substations.
System parameter values should be consistent in all parts of the system and its IEDs. The con-
sistency of the system parameter values should be maintained and validated by a general sys-
tem configuration and parameterisation tool at the system level.
5.2.3.2 Process parameters
Process parameters describe all types of information that is exchanged between the PE and
the UAS.
The process parameters are responsible for qualitative features at the process interface such
as command output times, suppression of transient events (filter time), measured value damp-
ing (threshold value), and of the process itself, e.g. switch run times.
Furthermore, the process parameters include the assignment of texts to events for visualization
at the IED-level.
5.2.3.3 Functional parameters
Functional parameters describe the qualitative and quantitative features of functionality used by
the customer. Normally, the functional parameters are changeable on-line.
For example, the functional parameters determine the target values (set points) of controllers,
the starting and tripping conditions of protection relays, automatic sequences such as opera-
tions after measurement overflow or commands in relation to specific events. The functional
parameters are responsible for algorithms of automatic control, protection, blocking and ad-
justment.
61850-4 © IEC:2011 – 15 –
The functional parameters are divided into switchable and non-switchable parameter value
groups.
A set of functional parameter values for a group of functional parameters can be resident in an
IED in parallel with other sets of functional parameter values. In this case, only one set of these
functional parameter values is active at a time. It shall be possible to switch between the sets
on-line.
5.3 Engineering tools
5.3.1 Engineering process
The system engineering process creates the conditions for designing and configuring an auto-
mation system to the specific plant (e.g. substation) and to the operating philosophy of the cus-
tomer based on the system requirements specification from the customer.
Within the engineering process, we can distinguish different actor roles:
– The project requirement engineer sets up the scope of the project, its boundaries, interfac-
es, functions and special requirements ranging from needed environmental conditions, reli-
ability and availability requirements up to process related naming and eventual specific ad-
dress range restrictions or product usage. He defines what he wants to have application
wise and how he wants to operate the system (project requirement specification). He finally
accepts the delivered system.
– The project design engineer defines, based on the requirements specification, how the sys-
tem shall look like; its architecture, requirements on the products needed to fulfil the re-
quired functions, how the products should work together. He thus defines the system de-
sign specification.
– The manufacturer supplies the products from which the system is built. If necessary, he
supplies a project specific IED configuration.
– The system integrator builds the system, engineers the interoperation between its compo-
nents based on the system design specification and the concretely available products from
the manufacturers, and integrates the products into a running system. This results in a sys-
tem configuration description.
– The IED parameterizing engineer uses the set-up possibilities of the system and device
configuration to adjust the process, functional and system parameters of an IED to the pro-
ject-specific characteristics.
– The testing and commissioning engineer tests the system on the basis of the system con-
figuration description, system design and requirements specification and additional docu-
mentation, and puts the system into operation.
It can be that the same person or organisation has more than one role, e.g. a manufacturer is
also system integrator, or a customer does system integration by himself. This influences the
packaging and formal organisation, however not the tasks which have principally to be per-
formed.
The concrete engineering process is dependent also on responsibilities for parts of the system,
and how they relate together. Even if a system integrator is also manufacturer, he might have
to integrate products from other manufacturers. A customer might want to have a system with
interfaces to a system of another customer. Across these organisational interfaces a data ex-
change in a standardized form should be possible.
A typical project will start with the project requirement engineer creating a project requirement
specification that defines the scope of the project, single line diagrams, device ratings and oth-
er required data. The aim is to create a set of technical specifications that can be used for ten-
dering and engineering, irrespective of whether design and installation work will be done in-
house or by external parties. Beneath general interfacing requirements, this includes also the
identification or at least naming rules for primary and secondary equipment, and any communi-

– 16 – 61850-4 © IEC:2011
cation addresses or addressing schemes needed to interface with other systems of the cus-
tomer. Further needed redundancy requirements, response times, availability and safety
measures have to be stated beneath the environmental, physical and geographical restrictions
for the project.
IEC 61850-6 provides a formal means to define the single line diagram with customer’s func-
tional names and the intended automation system functionality at the primary equipment identi-
fied in the single line description (SSD, system specification description). This formal descrip-
tion is based on the hierarchical structure of IEC 81346-1, allows however instead of identifica-
tions according to IEC 81346-2 also customer specific identifications, and additionally customer
specific descriptive text. It further defines a formal way to exchange function and communica-
tion related interface descriptions between systems respective between system projects (by
means of an SED, system exchange description).
Based on this requirement specification and its knowledge about existing solutions and prod-
ucts, the project design engineer designs the functional and physical system architecture inclu-
sive communication system to reach the needed response times and reliability, and produces
the specifications for the products to be used. The details form a system design specification,
which is typically approved by the project requirement engineer, and is then used as a base for
the product manufacturer to deliver the needed products with the specified configuration. The
resulting system design specification can be supported by a formal description of IEDs, the
functions on them, and their relation to the process functionality as defined in IEC 61850-6
(SCD, system configuration description). The system integrator uses this specification to order
the fitting products and to build the system from the products. The manufacturer supplied IEDs,
before integration into the system, come with a formal description of their functional and com-
munication engineering capability (ICD, IED capability description), which is then used as base
to engineer the system configuration.
Often a part of the system design specification is produced by the project design engineer dur-
ing the tendering process. This first order system design specification together with the system
requirement specification is then the start for the project system design.
The basic engineering process shown in Figure 3 starts with producing the system design
specification (system design) based on the tender specification already approved
...