This part of IEC 60300 describes a framework for maintenance and maintenance support and the various minimal common practices that should be undertaken. The purpose of this standard is to outline, in a generic manner, management, processes and techniques related to maintenance and maintenance support that are necessary to achieve adequate dependability to meet the operational needs of the customer.

In some cases, regulatory and other mandatory requirements need to be considered. Maintenance and maintenance support requirements and obligations may therefore need to be specified in a contract, which cites this standard.

This standard is intended for use by a wide range of suppliers, maintenance support organizations and users and can be applied to all items.

This standard is applicable to items, which include all types of products, equipment and systems (hardware and associated software). Most of these require a certain level of maintenance to ensure that their required functionality, dependability, capability, economic, safety and regulatory requirements are achieved.