This part 1 of EN 13473 establishes a method of designation for multi-axial multi-ply fabrics which shall be used for specifications for the reinforcement of materials. The method of designation defines the structure of the multi-axial multi-ply construction and the binding system. This designation system applies to multi-axial multi-ply fabrics made of reinforcement yarns, tows, rovings, fibre fleeces, films, foams or other materials which are intended to provide reinforcement in composite materials and which is bound to a multi-ply construction. The designation of a multi-axial multi-ply fabric is structured in a product of multi-axial multi-ply fabrics. It is not intended that this hierarchy takes into account all the attributes of individual multi-axial multi-ply fabrics. Therefore multi-axial multi-ply fabrics having the same designation do not give necessarily the same performance. This part 1 of EN 13473 does not give engineering data, performance data or data which may be required to specify multi-axial multi-ply fabrics for a particular application or method of processing. If such additional properties are required they have to be determined in accordance with the test methods specified in EN 13473-2.