This part of IEC 62496 covers general information on optical circuit board performance standards. It defines those tests and severities which form the performance categories or general operating service environments and identifies those tests which are considered to be product-specific. Test and severity details are given in Annex A. IEC 62496-3 provides references@ definitions and rules for creating optical circuit board performance standards@ as well as related information pertinent to the subject. Subsequent parts of the IEC 62496-3 series are sequentially numbered and contain performance criteria for specific applications. Each part will be added as the performance criteria become standardized for international use.