As of May 2026, the industry is transitioning to , a major update designated as BS EN IEC 61298-2:2024 (draft) with a forecasted final publication date of August 12, 2026 . Understanding the New IEC 61298-2 Framework
The "Part 2" of the IEC 61298 series focuses strictly on , which are controlled lab environments designed to isolate a device's inherent performance from external environmental noise. 1. Scope and Applicability
For manufacturers and R&D engineers, early adoption of these procedures—even in their draft stage—is recommended to ensure future compliance and market access.
The standard is the international benchmark for testing the performance of process measurement and control devices under standardized "reference conditions". It ensures that industrial sensors—like those for pressure, temperature, and flow—provide accurate and comparable data across the global automation industry.
Standardizes how to select test ranges, use preconditioning cycles, and calculate error curves.
Specifies procedures to measure both start-up drift and long-term drift to predict maintenance cycles. Significant Updates in Edition 3.0
The standard provides a "testing playbook" for evaluating four main categories of device behavior:
Covers electrical insulation, power/air consumption, and pneumatic airflow characteristics.
Enhanced procedures for digital I/O devices reflect the shift toward Industry 4.0 and smart sensors.