本国际标准描述了精细陶瓷（高级陶瓷、高级技术陶瓷）（见条款？3）可以分类。该系统被设计成覆盖用于陶瓷粉末生产的无机前体形式的所有类型的精细陶瓷、粉末、颗粒形式、纤维、晶须、片状、单晶、固结多晶陶瓷、无定形（玻璃状）和复合材料以及块状、薄膜和涂层形式的部件。分类的结构被编码为机器可读。 分类系统不包括: 元素碳，除了特定的陶瓷形式，例如金刚石、玻璃质碳或化学气相沉积(CVD)石墨； 元素硅、元素锗和其他元素或化合物半-金属物质，但当它们形成精细陶瓷的组成部分或前体时除外； 以粘土为基础的传统陶瓷，包括: 白色器皿（如餐具和精美瓷器）； 卫生洁具； 地砖和墙砖； 建筑陶瓷（如砖和管道）； 用于吨位应用的不定形和定形耐火材料。 本国际标准没有具体涵盖硬质合金（硬质合金）产品或主要为玻璃状的产品，但该系统原则上可以扩展以涵盖此类产品。其使用方式将由其使用背后的目标决定。本国际标准的目的不是定义如何使用该系统，而是给出了如何使用该系统的示例。用户能够定义编码组合和细节级别以适合特定目的。本国际标准仅提供了一个灵活的框架和一个推荐的国际编码系统，在该框架内可以完成这项工作。

This International Standard describes a system by which fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, advanced technical ceramics) (see clause 3) may be classified. The system has been devised to cover all types of fine ceramics in the form of inorganic precursors for ceramic powder production, powders, granular forms, fibres, whiskers, platelets, single crystals, consolidated polycrystalline ceramics, amorphous (glassy) and composite materials and components in block, thin film and coating forms. The structure of the classification is coded to be machine readable. The classification system does not cover:

1. elemental carbon, except for specific ceramic forms such as diamond, vitreous carbon or chemical vapour deposited (CVD) graphite;
2. elemental silicon, elemental germanium and other elemental or compound semi-metallic substances other than when they form an integral component of or precoursor for fine ceramics;
3. traditional ceramics based on clay, including:
   1. whitewares (e.g. tableware and fine porcelain);
   2. sanitary wares;
   3. floor and wall tiles;
   4. building ceramics (e.g. bricks and pipes);
4. unshaped and shaped refractories for tonnage applications.

This International Standard does not specifically cover hardmetal (cemented carbide) products, or products which are mainly glassy, but the system can, in principle, be extended to cover such products. Its mode of use will be determined by the objective behind its use. It is not the purpose of this International Standard to define how the system shall be used, but examples are given of how it might be used. The user is able to define the coding combination and the level of detail to suit a particular purpose. This International Standard provides only a flexible framework and a recommended international coding system within which this might be done.