Main changes Safety Standard IEC EN 62368-1 in edition 3

Already on November 11th, 2018 we have published the news with respect to the edition 3 of the new European Safety Standard IEC EN 62368-1. The following summary abstracts the main changes compared to the second edition:

Within IEC 62368-1 ed.2, the requirements for outdoor enclosures relied on IEC 62950-22. Since the IEC 60950-1 is superseded by IEC 62368-1, the next step was to eliminate the dependency to IEC 60950-22 and integrated the requirements into edition 3 of IEC 62368-1.

Thus, all equipment under test having an outdoor enclosure, will be subjected to the appropriate tests. There are tests concerning resistance to UV radiation and corrosion; suitability of gaskets; protection from moisture, excessive dust, plants and vermin; mechanical strength of enclosures at low temperatures.

With respect to the requirements for optical energy sources, IEC 62368-1 ed.2 included laser, lamps and LEDs. Edition 3 refines these requirements to suite the new needs. For lasers, their corresponding product standards are stated, such as IEC 60825-1, -2, and -12. Lamps and lamp systems (including LEDs) are evaluated pursuant to IEC 62471:2006. As a new addition, image projectors (beamers) are as well.

Besides the old requirements which classified the maximum sound pressure only, now analogue and digital output requirements were added. As a possible second approach, a dose based measurement is introduced. The value for the calculated sound dose (CSD) is based on the EU Commission Decision 2009/490/EC, which describes a safe zone of sound below 80 dB(A) per 40h. Though both approaches can be used side by side, the dose base measurement may replace the sound pressure measurement in the future.

Special requirements for wireless power transmitters (Qi, Powermat, etc.) are introduced for the first time. During the test sequence, it is examined, if a metallic foreign object can keep its cold, where placed in the field. Throughout the test, it shall not exceed 70°C in order to pass the test.

More about IEC EN 62368-1 in our video.