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<ics> ICS Code Number

Identifies the subject matter of the standard using a decimal code from the International Classification for Standards. When more than one ICS code describes a standard, the element <ics> (or the element <ics-wrap>) repeats.

Usage/Remarks

ICS codes always apply to the entire standard, not to a specific element within the standard.

Content of an ICS Code

An ICS code consists of a sequence of decimal digits and points (full stops/periods). An ICS code may denote a field (two decimal digits), a group (two digits, a point, and three digits), or a sub-group (two digits, a point, three digits, a point, and two digits).

Code versus Code and Description

When NISO STS was being designed, it became clear that some standards organizations felt that only numeric ICS codes should be stored in the XML, while other organizations wished to record both the decimal code and the natural language expansion (description/name/title) of that code. So NISO STS has been designed to be used either way:
  • ICS decimal codes can be stored in the <ics> element in the standard’s metadata.
  • Alternatively, an <ics-wrap> grouping element can be used to hold both an ICS decimal code (<ics>) and the expansion of that code (<ics-desc>).
The <ics-desc> element can take a language attribute (@xml:lang) to name the language of the description/name/title.
Related Elements
NISO STS standards metadata describe key concepts that are not ICS terms as either keywords (inside the <kwd-group> element) or as subjects (inside <subj-group>). ICS codes use their own ICS-specific elements: <ics-wrap>, <ics>, and <ics-desc>.
Attributes
vocab-term
vocab-term-identifier

Base Attributes

id
xml:base
Models and Context
May be contained in
<ics-wrap>, <iso-meta>, <nat-meta>, <reg-meta>, <std-doc-meta>, <std-meta>
Description
Text, numbers, or special characters, zero or more
Content Model
<!ELEMENT  ics          (#PCDATA %ics-elements;)*                    >
Expanded Content Model

(#PCDATA)*

Tagged Samples
Simple ICS code 
...
<reg-meta originator="CEN" id="profile.reg">
 ...
 <secretariat>...</secretariat>
 <ics>13.110</ics>
 <std-xref type="supersedes">
  <std-ref>EN ISO 13849-1:2006</std-ref>
 </std-xref>
 <permissions>
  <copyright-statement>All rights of exploitation in any form 
   and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national
   Members.</copyright-statement>
  <copyright-year>2008</copyright-year>
  <copyright-holder>CEN</copyright-holder>
 </permissions>
</reg-meta>
...
ICS code with two separate descriptions in Finnish and English 
...
<nat-meta originator="SFS">
...
<secretariat>...</secretariat>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>03.220.30</ics>
<ics-desc xml:lang="fi">Rautatiekuljetus</ics-desc>
</ics-wrap>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>03.220.30</ics>
<ics-desc xml:lang="en">Transport by rail</ics-desc>
</ics-wrap>
</nat-meta>
...
Nested ICS codes and descriptions identifying classifications and sub-classifications 
...
<nat-meta originator="SFS">
...
<secretariat>...</secretariat>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>11</ics>
<ics-desc xml:lang="de">Medizintechnik</ics-desc>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>11.040</ics>
<ics-desc>Medizinische Ger&auml;te</ics-desc>
<ics-wrap>
<ics>11.040.25</ics>
<ics-desc>Injektionsger&auml;te. Kan&uuml;len. Katheter</ics-desc>
</ics-wrap>
</ics-wrap>
</ics-wrap>
</nat-meta>
...