Product safety standards are constantly changing to keep up with the latest technology, and a substantial change is quickly approaching. The new IEC 62368-1 compliance standards are set to replace standards IEC 60950‑1 and IEC 60065, which cover information technology equipment (ITE) and audio/video equipment (AV), respectively. While these former standards covered discrete groups of power-based products, the new IEC 62368-1 compliance standards will cover all of them with comprehensive safety requirements. This merging of safety requirements has become increasingly necessary in recent years as the boundaries between ITE and AV equipment becomes less distinct in new technologies.
Implementation of IEC 62368-1 in North America and the EU is quickly approaching, bringing with it different product testing and certification requirements. OEMs need to understand these new requirements and what they mean. To assist, this article will serve as an intro to IEC 62368-1 standards and compliance, explaining the changes, the reasons for those changes and how to comply with IEC 62368-1.
As IEC 62368-1 replaces 60950-1 and 60065, OEMs are sure to notice significant changes in standards and general approach. This is because IEC 62368-1 is not merely a merger of the two pre-existing standards — it is based on an entirely different set of engineering terms and principles. Some of the basic changes in focus and principle are:
Because of these substantial changes, existing products that meet IEC 60950-1 or 60065 standards may need to be re-investigated to ensure they meet the new IEC 62368-1 compliance standards.
The reasons for IEC 62368-1 to replace 60950-1 and 60065 are largely based on changing technologies and perspectives in manufacturing. While the previous standards served OEMs well, a change was needed to address the needs of newer technologies. For this reason, 62368-1 was designed to address three primary needs, discussed in more detail below:
With these emerging needs, IEC 62368-1 implementation comes at the perfect time, providing necessary adaptability and shifts in focus that will be more consistent and applicable for OEMs as technology continues to advance.
IEC 60950-1, 60065 and other previous standards are “incident‑based.” This means that an incident causes new requirements to be added to the standard. A prime example is how fires at the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition's “Hall of Electricity” resulted in a committee developing better electrical insulation requirements. Modern incident-based safety standards aren't usually developed as a result of such dramatic events — instead, they are written around both real and experimentally probable incidents.
While incident-based engineering addresses problems as they arise, this perspective is not preventative. This perspective waits until an issue arises to take action, which can be a problem for manufacturers spending millions on producing and distributing products, only to find a significant error that necessitates a recall. With ever-growing production lines and continuously developing technology, a preventative approach is becoming increasingly necessary. IEC 62368-1 addresses this need.
IEC 62368-1 is based on Hazard Based Safety Engineering (HBSE) principles. This safety discipline has become increasingly popular over the last few decades for its performance-oriented philosophies, efficacy, and flexibility. In HBSE-based standards, the focus is placed on existing hazards within the equipment and how to design them for maximum safety. It requires the identification of the possible injuries caused by hazards including:
It then requires the appropriate use of safeguards to reduce the likelihood of pain, injury, fire and other incidents. HBSE logic is summarized as follows:
Hazard based safety engineering and testing in IEC 62368-1 is accomplished by specifying that, if the equipment is designed with a Class 2 or 3 energy source, the design must place a safeguard between the body of the product and the energy source. This requirement addresses potential safety hazards and allows for design flexibility.
With the publication of the new regulation, product safety engineers and manufacturers are wondering what to expect from IEC 62368-1 and what products fall within its scope. Fortunately, this is clearly defined by the new regulation. All equipment currently subject to IEC 60950-1 and 60065 safety standards is covered under the new IEC 62368-1, including products, components and associated subsystems. However, there are other products currently outside of these categories that will also be subject to the new regulation.
The IEC 62368-1 2nd edition defined the basic list of covered products as follows:
This list is not exhaustive, and other ICT and AV equipment not listed above is not necessarily excluded from IEC 62368-1 safety standards. Because the new standard is not product-dependent, it is applicable to a wider range of products.
It is also important to note what IEC 62368-1 safety standards do not cover. Some areas that are not specified by this regulation include the following:
For the above areas, see other applicable standards to determine how to proceed.
As discussed above, IEC 62368-1 doesn't just apply to products — it also applies to associated components and subsystems. This means that power supplies also fall within the scope of UL 62368-1 compliance standards, including chassis-mount and external power supplies and adapters.
Fortunately, very little is changing from a design standpoint. Below are the primary differences that may affect the design and usage of power supplies:
60950-1 Regulation: The test voltage for basic insulation (i.e. input to Earth) for most designs is 1500Vrms or 2121Vdc. The test voltage for reinforced insulation (i.e., input to output) is 3000Vrms or 4242Vdc.
62368-1 Regulation: The test voltage for basic insulation increases to 2500Vdc. The test voltage decreases for reinforced insulation to 4000Vdc. In addition, unless you prefer to test with an AC equivalent voltage, the test must now be performed in both polarities as a “Type” test and also the “Production” test (on your ATP). For power supplies with a 480Vac input (i.e., Liquablade), the test voltage increases for basic insulation from 3060Vdc to 4000Vdc. Likewise, the test voltage for reinforced insulation increases from 4242Vdc to 6000Vdc.
60950-1 Regulation: The peak of the input voltage must decay to less than 37 percent of its value within one second for Pluggable Type A equipment like IEC/NEMA input plugs. This increases to 10 seconds for Pluggable Type B equipment like industrial plugs and terminal blocks.
62368-1 Regulation: The peak of the input voltage must decay to less than 60V within two seconds. In addition, it must decay below 120V within two seconds under a single fault. Single faults include opening a bleeder resistor. If you need to employ a bleeder resistor in your design to comply with this test, you’ll now have to use two in parallel. Please note these requirements apply to both Pluggable A and Pluggable B equipment.
There are other differences between 60950-1 and 62368-1, but most don’t apply to component power supply designs.
The 1st edition of IEC 62368-1 was published in 2010, and the 2nd edition in 2014. The third edition of IEC 62368‑1 as published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in October 2018. This edition featured relatively minor changes that further merged the safety requirements for ITE and AV equipment in light of the upcoming mandatory switch. It also added clause clarifications, alternate testing methods and new requirements for a variety of product classes, including outdoor equipment, wireless power transmitters and work cells.
Additionally, unlike the IEC 62368-1 2nd edition, the 3rd Edition was updated to allow the acceptance of certain components previously certified under IEC 60950‑1. This means that new submittals must be done according to the new IEC 62368-1 requirements as of the effective date, but existing component recognitions can be continued with just minor changes.
The IEC 62368-1 effective date is December 20, 2020, for both North America and the European Union. With this date quickly approaching, many manufacturers have already taken steps toward IEC 62368-1 implementation. Compliance for your organization should include the following steps:
If you're looking for a specialist that can help your organization. Astrodyne TDI is here. We are able to provide guidance and ensure that your products and components are compliant.
With the switch from UL 62368-1 to UL 60950-1, Astrodyne is helping our customers adapt in a way that helps their business. For shipments in the USA and Canada, 60950-1 can still be used until it’s withdrawn, which will likely happen in five to 10 years. For our customers who are only interested in obtaining 60950-1 compliance, we can continue with business as usual. However, any customer who requests an EN approval, TUV mark or CE mark would require us to seek and use the new standard.
Astrodyne TDI is a worldwide innovator in power and EMI filter solutions for demanding applications. With over 50 years of experience, we are recognized worldwide for our ability to produce reliable and durable products that serve a variety of markets, including the industrial, medical, aerospace, semiconductor and military industries.
Our manufacturing facilities in New Jersey, California and China use state-of-the-art technology to provide unique solutions to any problem. The facilities are also ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified, ensuring high quality and consistency. With our capabilities, we can easily handle the switch to IEC 62368-1 well before the effective date.
Learn more about Astrodyne TDI and our extensive services — contact Astrodyne TDI today!