Status of standardization work on the multi-part standard IEC/ISO 82079

Standardization work is currently underway on four parts of the IEC/ISO 82079 standard “Preparation of information for use (instructions for use) of products”, which is jointly supported by IEC and ISO. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) is also involved as a third international organization: Part 1 has been adopted by IEEE or its Computer Society, Systems and Software Engineering Standards Committee and has already been published as a so-called triple logo standard by IEC, ISO, and IEEE in Edition 2.0. Parts 2 to 4 are still being drafted; which of the three organizations will support the respective part will be decided with the final votes. 

In the following, we would like to provide a brief overview of the status of international standardization work. The standardization work is carried out in Joint Working Group 16 (JWG 16) of IEC TC 3 and ISO/TC10/SC 1. We have several experts in tekom Europe who are also members in JWG 16, ensuring that the interests of our community are represented.

Part 1: Principles and general requirements

The revision of Edition 2.0 of "IEC/IEEE 82079-1 Preparation of information for use (instructions for use) of products - Part 1: Principles and general requirements" from 2019 started in spring 2023. The last meeting of JWG 16 took place in March 2025. The members discussed the newly developed and revised concepts and content, which had been prepared in intensive work by smaller groups.

The next step will be to merge all the texts into a Working Draft (WD). The members of JWG 16 will then assess whether the WD is ready to be transferred to the next stage – the Committee Draft (CD). The next meeting of JWG 16 on Part 1 will take place on May 11, 2025.         

Part 2: Assembly of self-assembly products

Part 2 is currently in progress and not yet published. The standardization project was launched in 2021 by the British Standards Institute BSI via ISO, supported by IEC and IEEE. In 2024, the ballot on the Draft International Standard (DIS) "ISO/IEEE 82079-2 Preparation of information for use (instructions for use) of products. Part 2: Assembly of self-assembly products" took place.

The DIS was accepted by ISO but rejected by IEC. The JWG 16 members have processed these comments on the DIS vote.

The document is currently being prepared for the second DIS ballot. There is a time delay because Part 2 has to be restarted as a project on the ISO side, as the project period has expired. As soon as the restart has taken place, the second DIS ballot will be initiated.

Part 3: Specific provisions for complex systems

Part 3 is also being drafted and has not yet been published. The standardization project was submitted by Germany and launched via IEC. In 2024, the project was approved by both IEC and ISO. As with Part 1, IEEE is also supporting development. The first meeting of JWG 16 took place at the end of 2024. The next meetings are planned for fall 2025.

Part 4: Digital Interactive Fault Diagnosis Manual

Part 4 is currently being drafted and has not yet been published either. The standardization project was started in 2024 by China via IEC – ISO supports the development. No international meeting has yet taken place.