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Blog IEC 62368-1: An Overview of the new Safety Standard
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EMI-Reduction-Techniques
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  • Author Author: dychen
  • Date Created: 18 Aug 2021 2:52 AM Date Created
  • Views 5021 views
  • Likes 4 likes
  • Comments 2 comments
  • hazards
  • ul certified
  • standards
  • safety regulations
  • iec
  • certified
  • ansi
  • iec 62638
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IEC 62368-1: An Overview of the new Safety Standard

dychen
dychen
18 Aug 2021

Electronics are becoming more like computers every day and almost every new television or receiver connects to the Internet to report bugs, or to download the latest new app or firmware update. To support this functionality, the internals of these devices contain their own microprocessor brains and have architecture approaching that of a PC. With these developments, software has become just as important as hardware in terms of safety, and to address this, a new standard called IEC 62368-1 was put into effect at the beginning of 2021.

 

IEC 62368-1 replaces two existing standards, IEC 60950‑1, Information Technology Equipment ‑ Safety, and IEC 60065, Audio, Video and Similar Electronic Apparatus ‑ Safety Requirements. Most electronic devices are covered by these two standards, however, as the line between IT equipment and other electronics further blurs, a new standard covering both is necessary.

 

What is the IEC?

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international organization that publishes standards covering electrical products and electronic devices. IEC standards encompass almost all technologies, including consumer and commercial electronics, power generation and distribution, fiber optics, solar energy, batteries and more. IEC standards are widely adopted by other certifying bodies internationally, such as UL and ANSI/INCITS in the United States, BSI in the United Kingdom, DIN in Germany, and Standards Australia.

 

What types of devices does IEC 62368-1 cover?

IEC 62368-1 covers a wide range of electronics, including:

image Consumer electronics such as digital cameras, game consoles, music players, and home theater.

image Network and computer products such as PCs, laptops, tablets, servers, routers, tablets, and their power supplies.

image Display units including televisions, computer monitors, and projector systems.

image Telecommunication equipment like phones, cellular phones, fax machines, and other network infrastructure equipment.

image Office appliances, such as printers, copiers and document shredders.

 

Hazard-based Standard Engineering

Up until now, safety standards have generally been “incident-based”, that is, an incident, like a device catching fire, triggers the development of a new requirement. IEC 62368-1 is “hazard-based” and draws on the principles of hazard-based standard engineering (HBSE), which establishes that safety is not dependent on the product, but on the energy sources within the product.

 

Any potentially harmful energy sources in a device are identified, as well as the mechanisms by which energy could transfer to the user, either in normal or fault conditions. In IEC 62368-1, the severity of the damage or harm is divided into three classes.

 

Energy Source

Effect on the body

Effect on combustible materials

Class 1

Not painful, but may be detectable

Ignition not likely

Class 2

Painful, but not an injury

Ignition possible, but limited growth and spread of fire

Class 3

Injury

Ignition likely, rapid growth and spread of fire

 

If the energy source is Class 2 or 3, a safeguard must be placed between the energy source and the body. “Safeguard” is defined as a device or scheme that protects from a particular energy source, and includes measures such as protective grounding, electrical enclosures, fireproof enclosures, insulation and other protective features. Safeguards protect against pain or injury and prevent electrically caused fires that could result in injury, death, or property damage. Under IEC 62368-1, the effectiveness of safeguards is also analyzed.

 

IEC 62368-1 recognizes that there might be users of different skill levels using the equipment, and divides users into three distinct categories, with different safeguards for each:

 

Ordinary person

Users of the equipment, or people who have access or in the vicinity of the equipment

Instructed person

Person instructed and trained by a skilled person

Skilled person

Person who has training and/or experience with the equipment technology. Able to identify the energy sources that main cause pain or injury and take precautions to avoid contact

 

Compared to the old rigid approach, where standards were created or amended after a product was shown to be dangerous, the hazard-based approach gives designers much greater flexibility in choosing and testing safety methods for their products. Additionally, the need for amendments to the standard is greatly reduced, making it more future-proof and less likely for national/regional equivalents to be amended to the point where they are completely different from each other.

 

Compliance

As of December 20, 2020, North America and Europe have transitioned to the new standard (UL62368-1 in the U.S., CAN/CSA C22.2 No.62368-1:19 in Canada, BS EN62368-1 in the U.K., and EN62368-1 in the EU). Old standards have officially been phased out and all new submissions for certification are now investigated against the new standards. Other countries around the world are also adopting IEC 62368-1 and releasing their own versions; in the next few years, most electronics worldwide will be certified with this new standard.

 

IEC 62368-1 Approved Products

Newark, Farnell, and element14 have partnered with many different suppliers that offer products that are IEC 62368-1 certified.

 

image

XP Power - AC/DC DIN Rail

PSU (60W, 15V)

For more informationFor more information

 

Shop XP Power

image

Artesyn Embedded Technologies -

AC/DC Open Frame PSU, Medical

For more informationFor more information

 

Shop Artesyn

image

Traco Power - Isolated Chassis

Mount DC/DC Converter

For more informationFor more information

 

Shop Traco Power

image

Recom Power - Non-isolated

POL DC/DC Converter

For more informationFor more information

 

Shop Recom Power

image

Rohm Semiconductor - Eval Board,

Isolated Flyback Converter

For more informationFor more information

image

Schurter Electronic Components -

Unfiltered IEC Power Entry Module

For more informationFor more information

 

Shop Schurter Electronic

image

Neutrik - speakON

Loudspeaker Plug

For more informationFor more information

 

Shop Neutrik

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Top Comments

  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 3 years ago +2
    What I find so irksome about the myriad "standards " that are imposed upon us is that you have to pay the IEC or similar body absurd amounts to find out what they say. For example this standard (63638…
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 3 years ago in reply to michaelkellett +1
    It supports whole industries that wouldn't need to exist were they free : ) Who would pay for consultants, accreditation firms, etc : ) Sometimes I wonder if this system partly came into being partly on…
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 3 years ago in reply to michaelkellett

    It supports whole industries that wouldn't need to exist were they free : ) Who would pay for consultants, accreditation firms, etc : )

    Sometimes I wonder if this system partly came into being partly on the excuse that if it were free, then laymen would misinterpret the specs and sell dangerous gear, which is true, but on the other hand it's quite a stretch that charging for it would mean the specs are available to 'experts' only and that those experts are competent. Plus as you say how can one know for sure what needs to be supported without being able to access those specs. It's really annoying and just leads to people trying to find free copies, which are often outdated drafts etc.

    In the software world IETF is much nicer, totally free : ) Same with mobile, with free downloadable specs since GSM releases if not earlier.

     

    Looks like this particular spec and all the costs of associated training etc will be a necessary expense for a lot of businesses, since it's replacing quite fundamental standards. : ( I have an old copy of 60950-1 and even that is hard to follow in places (I've not be trained on it, just self-study).

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  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 3 years ago

    What I find so irksome about the myriad "standards " that are imposed upon us is that you have to pay the IEC or similar body absurd amounts to find out what they say.

    For example this standard (63638-1) cost £455 swiss francs (about £360).

     

    It's rather as if you were stopped for speeding and the cop expected you to pay to find out what the speed limit was.

     

    There should never be  a charge to know what the law is.

     

    If you make or sell something in the UK, US or Europe (and other places too) the chances are that you will be breaking rules that you never knew existed, and unless you have access to coprporate scale funds, can't afford to find out about.

     

    At the very least there should be free web access to all standards cited (directly or indirectly) by law, and a great deal more effort put into making standards simple and comprehensible.

     

    MK

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