6.4.2.2 UnitType ObjectType Definition

It is formally defined in Table 43.

Table 43 – UnitType definition
Attribute Value
BrowseNameUnitType
IsAbstractTrue
References NodeClass BrowseName DataType TypeDefinition Other
Subtype of the BaseObjectType defined in OPC 10000-5
HasPropertyVariableSymbolLocalizedTextPropertyTypeM
HasPropertyVariableUnitSystemStringPropertyTypeM
HasPropertyVariableDisciplineStringPropertyTypeO
Conformance Units
Data Access Quantities Base

The DisplayName Attribute of each instance shall provide the name of the unit, e.g. “second”, “degree Celsius” or “square metre”. This matches the “description” field of the EUInformation structure (see 5.6.4.3).

The Description Attribute should be used to expose a more verbose explanation of the UnitType instance.

The Symbol Property is used for the symbol of the unit (e.g. "h" for hour or "m/s" for meter per second). If no symbol is defined for the unit, the DisplayName Attribute shall be used as symbol. Symbol matches the “displayName” field of the EUInformation structure (see 5.6.4.3).

The UnitSystem Property describes the system of units (e.g. ISQ) in which the unit is specified. If any of the well-known systems defined in Table 44 is used, the acronym in the column “UnitSystem” shall be used for the value of this Property.

Table 44 – Non-exhaustive list of well-known systems of units
UnitSystem System of units
ISQ

International System of Quantities (ISO/IEC 80000)

Fully covers and thus replaces SI (ISO 1000)

USCSUS Customary Unit System
ISUBritish imperial system of units
MSUMyanmar Units of measurement
TROYTroy units of weight
CGScentimetre–gram–second system of units
GAUSSGaussian System of units
FPSfoot–pound–second system of units

Syntax References: Instances of the UnitType can identify the unit in a specific external reference work using HasDictionaryEntry References – see 6.3.2.