Overview of BS EN 28601:1992, ISO 8601:1988

BS EN 28601:1992, aligned with ISO 8601:1988, is a critical standard in the realm of information technology, particularly concerning office machines. This British Standard specifies the formats for representing dates and times in data exchange, ensuring interoperability between systems. The importance of adhering to a uniform date and time format cannot be overstated in today's increasingly digitized environment, where precision and clarity are paramount.

Technical Specifications

This standard provides a comprehensive framework that details how to represent dates and times in digital data. It addresses various components of date-time representation, including:

• Calendar Date: Year, month, and day notation.
• Time: Hours, minutes, and seconds, including time zone considerations.
• Combined Date and Time: A standardized way to express both in a concise format.

By adopting these standards, organizations significantly enhance the clarity and efficiency of data processing. The document delineates the acceptable formats in detail, contributing to consistency across systems, which is vital for data integrity and validation.

Applications

BS EN 28601:1992 / ISO 8601:1988 is widely applied across various industries where data exchange is common, including:

• Financial institutions for transaction timestamps.
• Healthcare systems for patient records.
• Supply chain management for shipment tracking.
• Software development for logging and tracking events.

Its adherence is essential for systems that must interact without ambiguity, further highlighting its critical role in promoting effective communication and data management.

Availability and Formats

BS EN 28601:1992 is available for purchase as both a hardcopy and a PDF document, priced at £220.00. With its robust structure and extensive guidance, this standard is a necessary resource for professionals working with data formatting within various technologies.

Conclusion

Investing in BS EN 28601:1992 is not just about compliance with a standard; it's about equipping your systems and processes with the best practices that ensure smooth operations in an interconnected world. Enhanced data integrity and improved communication across different platforms await those who implement this crucial standard.