SIST EN 60870-6-501:1997

Overview

EN 60870-6-501:1996 (TASE.1 Service definitions) specifies the services offered by the Telecontrol Application Service Element No. 1 (TASE.1) for exchanging process data in telecontrol and telemetry systems. Published as part of the EN 60870-6 family, this document defines the application-level service semantics for telecontrol protocols that are compatible with ISO standards and ITU‑T recommendations. The standard is equivalent to IEC 870-6-501:1995 and sets the foundation for interoperable exchange of operational data between control centres and remote substations or field devices.

Key topics and requirements

• Service definitions for TASE.1: formal description of the application‑service element used to exchange process data in telecontrol systems.
• Application‑level semantics: defines what services are available to applications (e.g., data exchange, status reporting) rather than lower‑level transport specifics.
• Protocol compatibility: aligns telecontrol services with relevant ISO and ITU‑T recommendations to promote standard interoperability across vendors and networks.
• Interoperability focus: supports consistent implementation of application services so different SCADA and telecontrol products can interoperate.
• Formal specification reference: the standard serves as the authoritative service definition for designers and implementers of TASE.1‑based solutions.

(Note: the standard defines service behaviour rather than implementation details; implementers map these services to underlying transport or profile standards.)

Practical applications

• Power utility SCADA and EMS: standardized exchange of telemetry, status and control information between control centres and substations.
• Telemetering and remote monitoring: sharing measured process data (e.g., voltages, currents, flow rates) across geographically distributed systems.
• Inter‑vendor integration: enabling interoperability when integrating equipment from different manufacturers using a common telecontrol application service.
• System procurement and specification: providing a clear service-level reference for RFPs, acceptance testing and conformance checks.

Who should use this standard

• Systems integrators and SCADA vendors implementing telecontrol application services.
• Utility communications engineers designing interoperable control and monitoring networks.
• Standards architects and compliance teams validating conformance with EN 60870‑6 family and ISO/ITU‑T compatibility requirements.
• Procurement specialists drafting technical requirements for telecontrol equipment.

Related standards

• EN 60870-6 (Part 6) - telecontrol protocols compatible with ISO/ITU‑T
• IEC 870-6-501:1995 - equivalent IEC publication
• Other TASE variants/profiles (see family references such as TASE.2 / ICCP) and relevant ISO/ITU‑T protocol recommendations for mapping and transport-layer profiles.

This standard is essential for achieving interoperable, standards‑based telecontrol communications in critical infrastructure and industrial automation. Keywords: EN 60870-6-501, TASE.1, telecontrol, telemetry, process data exchange, SCADA, ISO, ITU‑T.