STANDARD

ISAS71.021991

Environmental Conditions
for Process Measurement
and Control Systems:
Power

Approved 30 June 1991

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ISA-S71.02 Environmental Conditions for Process Measurement and Control Systems: Power
ISBN 1-55617-324-5

Copyright 1991 by the Instrument Society of America. All rights reserved. Printed in the United
States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher.
ISA
67 Alexander Drive
P.O. Box 12277
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

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Preface

This preface is included for informational purposes and is not part of the standard.
This standard has been prepared as part of the service of ISA toward a goal of uniformity in the
field of instrumentation. To be of real value, this document should not be static, but should be
subject to periodic review. Toward this end, the Society welcomes all comments and criticisms,
and asks that they be addressed to the Secretary, Standards and Practices Board, ISA, 67
Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12277, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, Telephone (919) 5498411, e-mail: standards@isa.org.
The ISA Standards and Practices Department is aware of the growing need for attention to the
metric system of units in general, and the International System of Units (SI) in particular, in the
preparation of instrumentation standards. The Department is further aware of the benefits to
USA users of ISA standards of incorporating suitable references to the SI (and the metric
system) in their business and professional dealings with other countries. Toward this end, this
Department will endeavor to introduce SI-acceptable metric units in all new and revised
standards to the greatest extent possible. The Metric Practice Guide, which has been published
by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as ANSI/IEEE Std. 268-1982, and future
revisions will be the reference guide for definitions, symbols, abbreviations, and conversion
factors.
It is the policy of ISA to encourage and welcome the participation of all concerned individuals and
interests in the development of ISA standards. Participation in the ISA standards-making
process by an individual in no way constitutes endorsement by the employers of the individual, of
ISA, or of any of the standards that ISA develops.
The information contained in the preface, footnotes, and appendices is included for information
only and is not a part of the standard.
This document is one of several standards that cover various environmental conditions affecting
process measurement and control systems. In developing this standard the committee goals
include the following:
1)

To provide a practical standard that can be applied with minimum research and
technical effort by the user.

2)

To provide a concise method of stating environmental classifications for convenient

communications between users of the standard.

3)

To cover real-world ranges of each classified parameter.

This standard is limited to power considerations only, covering power considerations that affect
industrial process measurement and control systems.
In order to make S71.02 compatible with international standards, the SP71 committee used the
same limit values, except as noted below, as presented in Publication 654-2, first edition (1979),
of the International Electrotechnical Commission: Operating Conditions for Industrial Process
Measurement and Control Equipment, Part 2: Power. The following exceptions were made:
AC voltage unbalanced for polyphase systems was added to bring this standard into compliance
with an existing ANSI standard.

ISA-S71.02-1991
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DC voltage tolerance, range 2, was adjusted to reflect tighter tolerance limits introduced since
1979.
The number of pneumatic power supply levels has been reorganized for instruments and control
elements.
The assistance of those who aided in the preparation of this standard, by their review of the draft
and by offering suggestions toward its improvement, is gratefully acknowledged.
The persons listed below served as members of ISA Committee SP71, which prepared this
standard.
NAME

COMPANY

K. Gulick, Chairman
D. R. Boyle
D. Brown*
R. Calcavecchio
M. C. Cardinal
R. Cowles
J. D'Arcy
E. Demers
J. Duffy*
L. Falat
W. G. Holway
M. Huza
R. L. Jones
G. Koepke
L. P. Leonard
R. Magnuson
S. A. Malik
T. G. Mallory
I. Mazzo
W. T. Mitchell
N. A. Moorby
C. Muller*
W. T. Rhodes
P. Richman
J. Saine
T. Schey*
B. Sieman
G. J. Smith*
R. Turk*
J. Vajda
B. Walton

Digital Equipment Corporation

Retired
Fisher Controls Company
IBM
Exxon Chemical Co.
Union Camp
Boise Cascade Paper Company
The Foxboro Company
Fisher Controls Company
Westvaco Technical Center
Retired
FCP Microenvironmental
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Fluor-Daniel
Hewlett Packard
Petrosar Limited
Aramco
Dow Chemical USA
Tunnel Refineries, Ltd.
Purafil, Inc.
Conoco, Inc.
Keyter Instrument Corporation
Weyerhaeuser Paper Company
Allen-Bradley Company
Rosemount Inc.
Purafil, Inc.
Allen-Bradley Company
Modicon
Retired

*One vote per company

4
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ISA-S71.02-1991

This standard was approved for publication by the ISA Standards and Practices Board in
June 1991.
NAME

COMPANY

J. Rennie
W. C. Weidman
D. N. Bishop
H. D. Baumann
C. R. Gross
H. S. Hopkins
K. P. Lindner
G. R. McFarland
E. M. Nesvig
R. D. Prescott
D. E. Rapley
R. H. Reimer
R. C. Webb
Dr. J. R. Whetstone
M. A. Widmeyer
C. A. Williams
P. Bliss**
W. Calder, III**
L. N. Combs**
N. Conger**
R. T. Jones**
R. E. Keller**
E. C. Magison**
R. G. Marvin**
A. P. McCauley**
W. B. Miller**
J. W. Mock**
G. Platt**
K. Whitman**
J. R. Williams**

Factory Mutual Research Corporation

Gilbert/Commonwealth Inc.
Chevron USA, Inc.
H. D. Baumann & Associates, Ltd.
Dow Chemical
Utility Products of Arizona
Endress & Hauser GmbH & Company
ABB Power Automation, Inc.
ERDCO Engineering Corporation
Moore Products Company
Rapley Engineering Services
Allen-Bradley Company
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
National Institute of Standards & Technology
The Supply System
Eastman Kodak Company
Consultant
The Foxboro Company
Consultant
Retired
Retired
Consultant
Honeywell, Inc.
Consultant
Chagrin Valley Controls, Inc.
Retired
Bechtel Western Power Corporation
Consultant
ABB Combustion Engineering
Retired

**Directors Emeriti
ISA-S71.02-1991
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Contents

1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................9
2 Scope .................................................................................................................................9
3 Introduction .......................................................................................................................9
4 Definitions .......................................................................................................................10
4.1 Electrical power definitions ....................................................................................10
4.2 Pneumatic power definitions ..................................................................................10
5 Electrical power classification .......................................................................................11
5 1 General ..................................................................................................................11
5.2 AC power classification .........................................................................................11
5.3 DC power classifications .......................................................................................12
6 Pneumatic power classification ....................................................................................13
6.1 General ..................................................................................................................13
6.2 Pneumatic energy sources ....................................................................................13
6.3 Instrument air quality .............................................................................................13
6.4 Pneumatic power supply classification ..................................................................13

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1 Purpose
The purpose of this standard is to establish uniform classifications of power supplied to process
measurement and control equipment.
The classification system provides users and manufacturers of instruments with a means of
specifying the electrical or pneumatic parameters of a power system to which a specified
measurement or control system may be connected.
This document is one of a series of standards on environmental conditions for process
measurement and control systems.
CAUTION: THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT INTENDED TO SERVE AS A SAFE WIRING
PRACTICES MANUAL

2 Scope
2.1 This standard classifies power parameters that affect industrial process measurement and
control equipment. Specifications for other environmental conditions are beyond the scope of this
standard.
2.2 The classes of environmental conditions stated in this standard are suitable for use in activities
related to process instrumentation, including design, manufacture, sales, installation, test, use, and
maintenance.
2.3 These classifications pertain only to power as received by the equipment.
2.4 The effects of power conditions on safety, comfort, and performance of operating and maintenance personnel are not considered in this standard.
2.5 Certain types of pressure regulators derive their operating power from the pressure of the
controlled fluid. Similarly, certain types of temperature regulators derive pressure for valve operation from thermal expansion of the fluid in the temperature-sensing element. These self-operated
and process-powered devices are not considered within the scope of this publication.

3 Introduction
3.1 Electrical classifications have been established in Section 5 according to the type of power
variable received by the system or parts of the system.
Pneumatic classifications have been established in Section 6 according to the power level
received by the system or parts of the system. A parameter range has been included for all
variables in both sections.
3.2 The manufacturer and/or user should specify the equipment performance in a stated class
and parameter range. The following example shows how a manufacturer or user might specify
power using the tables.

ISA-S71.02-1991
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Example 1
AC Power Source

Parameter Range

Class

Voltage tolerance

<10%

A2

Frequency deviation

<1.0%

B2

<5%

C2

Harmonic content

4 Definitions

4.1 Electrical power definitions

For purposes of this standard the following definitions of terms relating to electrical energy supply
are used.
4.1.1 power source: The primary source from which the system's power is derived.
4.1.2 power: The electrical energy supplied to a system, or elements of a system, for process
measurement and control.
4.1.3 power supply device: An external electrical device that converts, regulates, rectifies, or
otherwise modifies the supply from the primary power source to provide electrical energy suitable
for operation of an electrical system, or elements of an electrical system, for measurement and
control.
4.1.4 steady-state power: Conditions persisting for more than 200 milliseconds.
4.1.5 transient power supply effects: Disturbances with a duration of 200 milliseconds or less.
Some of these effects are specified in ISA electromagnetic compatibility standards.

4.2 Pneumatic power definitions

For purposes of this standard the following definitions of terms relating to pneumatic energy
supply are used.
4.2.1 pneumatic power source: The primary source from which system power is derived. The
source is usually compressed air, supplied from a compressor through a piping system. Other
gases under pressure may be used.
4.2.2 pneumatic power supply: The pneumatic energy supplied to a system or elements of a
system for industrial process measurement and control.
4.2.3 pneumatic power supply device: An external unit that regulates or otherwise modifies the
pneumatic supply from the primary source to provide energy suitable for a system or elements of
a system for industrial process measurement and control.
4.2.4 dew point temperature: The temperature, referred to a specific pressure, at which water
vapors condense.

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ISA-S71.02-1991

5 Electrical power classification

5.1 General
This section applies to both AC and DC electrical power sources. Electrical energy for the
operation of process measurement and control systems may be provided by several methods.
These methods include direct connection to a single power source or connection to a power
supply device. Alternate methods for providing electrical energy include the use of auxiliary
standby, backup, or parallel power sources that provide for the operation of the electrical system
in case of failure of the main power source.
5.1.1 Power source capacity should be specified in volt-amperes to include the effects of reactive
loads on a power source. Inrush currents, created when equipment is turned on, should also be
taken into account.
5.1.2 Operating conditions that relate to electric power sources and power received are classified
only for steady-state conditions. Classification of operating conditions related to transient power
disturbances are not included.

5.2 AC power classification

Nominal AC power specifications should include rms voltage, frequency in hertz, and the number
of phases. The following classes, shown in Table 1, should be used to specify an AC power
source.
5.2.1 Class A voltage tolerance is specified as the percent deviation of rms voltage from nominal.
5.2.2 Class B frequency deviation is specified as the percent deviation of frequency from nominal.
5.2.3 Class C harmonic content is specified as present rms voltage not occurring at the primary
frequency.
5.2.4 Class D phase angle is specified as the departure from nominal phase angle in degrees.
This class is specified for polyphase systems only.
5.2.5 Class E voltage unbalance is specified for polyphase systems as percent maximum voltage
deviation from the average of the phase voltage measured at the equipment terminal divided by
the same average voltage. Example: With voltages of 230, 238, and 225, the average is 231; the
maximum deviation from the average is 7 volts, and the average unbalance = 100 x (7/231) = 3.03
percent.

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11

Table 1 AC power classifications

Parameter

Class

Range
1

Voltage
tolerance

1%

10%

15%
to
10%

20%
to
+15%

T.B.S.

Frequency
deviation

0.2%

1.0%

5.0%

T.B.S.

N.A.

Harmonic
content

2%

5%

10%

20%

T.B.S.

Phase angle
departure

T.B.S.

N.A.

Voltage
unbalance

1%

2%

5%

T.B.S.

N.A.

Notes: All parameters must be measured at the process measurement and control equipment input terminals.
T.B.S. = To Be Specified
N.A. = Not Applicable
is defined as less than or equal to

5.3 DC power classifications

The following classes, as shown in Table 2 and 5.3.3, should be used to specify a DC power
source.
5.3.1 Class F voltage tolerance is specified as the percent deviation from nominal voltage.
5.3.2 Class G ripple is specified in percent as the ratio of the peak-to-peak value of the AC
component to the nominal voltage.

Table 2 DC power classifications

Parameter

Class

Range
1

Voltage
tolerance

1%

10%

15%

25%

T.B.S.

Ripple

0.2%

1.0%

5.0%

15%

T.B.S.

5.3.3 Class H ground reference is specified as polarity of the terminal of a DC power source, if
any, that is connected to a ground reference.
H1. Positive if the positive terminal is connected to a ground reference.
H2. Negative if the negative terminal is connected to a ground reference.
H3. Floating if neither terminal is connected to a ground reference.

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ISA-S71.02-1991

6 Pneumatic power classification

6.1 General
Pneumatic power is required for pneumatic elements of process control systems. These
elements include transmitters, controllers, displays, final control elements, and auxiliary
functions.

6.2 Pneumatic energy sources

Pneumatic energy for operation of systems may be provided by direct connection to a single
power source or connection to a power supply device. Other energy sources include auxiliary,
standby, or backup pneumatic power sources that provide for operation of the pneumatic system
in case of failure of the primary pneumatic power source.

6.3 Instrument air quality

Instrument air must be supplied in accordance with quality air standards specified in ISA-S7.31981, Quality Standard for Instrument Air.
6.3.1 Instrument air contaminants shall be specified in accordance with ISA-S71.04-1985, Environmental Conditions for Process Measurement and Control Systems: Airborne Contaminants.

6.4 Pneumatic power supply classification

The following classifications, as shown in Table 3, should be used to specify a pneumatic power
source.
6.4.1 Class J instrument pressure is specified as the operating pressure range used by transmitters
and controllers.
6.4.2 Class K control element pressure is specified as the operating pressure range used by
pneumatic actuators and positioner-actuators.
6.4.3 Class L pneumatic power supply dew point is specified as the dew point temperature of the
gas supplied at the lowest ambient temperature and maximum operating pressure of the pneumatic
system.

Table 3 Pneumatic power source classifications

Parameter

Instrument
pressure, kP
(lb/in.2)

Class

Range
1

130 to 150
(18.9 to 21.8)

217 to 265
(31.5 to 38.4)

T.B.S.

Control element
pressure, kP
(lb/in.2)

130 to 300
(18.9 to 43.5)

550 to 1050
(79.8 to 152.3)

T.B.S.

Dew point

10C less than minimum

ambient temperature

T.B.S.

N.A.

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13

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Developing and promulgating technically sound consensus standards,

recommended practices, and technical reports is one of ISA's primary
goals. To achieve this goal the Standards and Practices Department
relies on the technical expertise and efforts of volunteer committee
members, chairmen, and reviewers.
ISA is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited
organization. ISA administers United States Technical Advisory
Groups (USTAGs) and provides secretariat support for International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) committees that develop process measurement
and control standards. To obtain additional information on the
Society's standards program, please write:
ISA
Attn: Standards Department
67 Alexander Drive
P.O. Box 12277
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

ISBN: 1-55617-324-5

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