IEC 62368-1 STANDARD

COMPLIANCE GUIDE
For the safety of electrical and electronic equipment for audio, video, information and communication
technology

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

CONTENTS
Introduction 3
Background
Compliance Scope & Timelines
Regional Variations
2020 Deadline

Hazard-Based Standard 4
Recognized Hazards

Hierarchy of Safeguards 5
Scope

IEC 62368-1 Principles 6

Criteria for Evaluation

General Requirements 7
Annex Content 8
Frequently Asked Questions 9

How Intertek Can Help 10

About Intertek 11
Contact Us 11

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION
Background
IEC 62368-1 is the standard governing audio/video, information and communication technology
equipment, issued in 2010. It was developed from two previous existing standards: IEC/UL 60065
for audio, video and similar electronic apparatus, and IEC 60950-1 for information technology 2020 DEADLINE
equipment, by the technical committee that prepared both of these original standards. On December 20, 2020, standards IEC
60950-1 and IEC 60065, and their
IEC 62368-1 was created to address the technological convergence of these two fields, where regional harmonized standards, will be
equipment is now often capable of both AV functions such as playing music or video and personal formally withdrawn.
computing. Because of the diversity of products covered by the Standard, it takes what is called a Manufacturers who wish to place
‘hazard-based’ approach to product assessment. products on the market will need to
meet the requirements of the new IEC
Compliance Scope & Timelines 62368-1 standard to ensure compliance.
IEC 62368-1 is not a simple merger of IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065, it is a completely new standard
only applicable to products within its stated scope. It has specific compliance criteria - some
relating to performance and some to construction.

Most notable is the date of withdrawal (DOW): December 20, 2020 is the date when IEC 60950-1
and IEC 60065 will be formally withdrawn. Manufacturers who wish to place products on the
market will need to meet this standard to ensure compliance.

Similarly, any product (to which the standard applies) that is currently on the market within
Europe will be required to meet the new standard as of December 20, 2020. CENELEC has
adopted the standard, and it has also been formally issued as an EN Harmonized standard, to be
used in compliance against the LVD (Low Voltage Directive) for CE Marking purposes within
Europe. CENELEC has announced implementation dates for the standard that will mandate its use
throughout Europe - replacing both EN 60950-1 and EN 60065.

For the CB scheme, IEC 62368-1 has been listed under categories OFF and TRON, and CB
certificates and reports have consequently been issued.

Regional Variations
The IEC 62368-1 standard has been harmonized with other global standards for regional
compliance. For this reason, you may see this same standard referenced as any of the following:
• IEC/EN 62368-1
• IEC/UL 62368-1
• IEC/UL/CSA 62368-1

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

HAZARD-BASED
STANDARD
As some readers have mistakenly taken ‘hazard based’ to mean ‘risk analysis’, the International
Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), who published the Standard, have clarified what a ‘Hazard
Based’ Standard is. RECOGNIZED
HAZARDS
“For products covered under its scope, the standard lends itself to application using a hazard-
based approach/process, i.e., (a) identify energy sources in the product; (b) classify the energy • Electric shock
sources (effect on the body/on combustible material), e.g.: Class 1 (not painful, but may be • Energy related hazards
detectable; ignition not likely), Class 2 (painful, but not an injury; ignition possible) or Class 3 • Fire
(injury; ignition likely); (c) identify needed safeguards for protection from energy sources with the • Heat related hazards
potential for causing injury or damage per the criteria in the standard; and (d), qualify the
• Mechanical hazards
safeguards as effective using the compliance criteria (performance-based or construction-based
(prescriptive)), also specified in the standard. • Radiation
• Chemical hazards
The use of IEC 62368-1 in a product evaluation does not involve risk analysis on an individual
product basis. In a standard writing context, [Hazards Based Standards do] involve use of risk
analysis to develop the specific requirements in the standard (for example, determining the limit
values for a Class 1 energy source). However, this is done wholly as part of the development of the
actual requirements by the involved technical committee, in this case IEC TC 108. There is no risk-
analysis involved in the application of the standard to individual products, either by the
manufacturer or certifier.”

Sourced from: (http://www.iec.ch/etech/2013/etech_0313/tech-2.htm) The Standard

essentially seeks to identify and classify hazards apparent in the product under regular
and abnormal operating conditions, and the safeguards that are applied to protect
against them.

Under the “New Approach” for regulating free movement of goods, approved by the Council of
Ministers in 1985, the EU harmonized the technical requirements of products seeking to be
placed on the EU market. This legislation established requirements which are written into
regulations, directives, and decisions adopted by the EU. These essential requirements are the
foundation of the harmonized European standards.

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

HIERARCHY OF
SAFEGUARDS
Rather than mandate specific constructions that must be met, IEC 62368 allows for the possibility
of constructions that provide acceptable safeguard protection from hazards. It does include some
constructions carried forward from IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065 as a route to compliance - but only
for certain situations.
• Required for ordinary persons
• May not be required for instructed or skilled persons
• When required by instructed persons, may not be required for skilled persons
• Reinforced safeguards may be used in place of basic, supplementary, or double safeguards.
• Double safeguard may be used in place of reinforced safeguard.
• Safeguards other than equipment safeguards may be specified in specific clauses

Theoretically this approach allows for new unanticipated technologies to be assessed against the
standard’s requirements, without the need for technical committee approval. In short, the
standard should not theoretically become obsolete as the state of the art in the sector evolves.

Scope
• Consumer electronics - receiving equipment, amplifiers, musical instrument equipment
• Data processing and network equipment - PCs, laptops, visual display units (TVs, monitors)
• Office appliances - shredders, cutting machines, copying machines
• Telecommunication equipment - Network infrastructure equipment, telephone systems,
telephone sets (wired and wireless)

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

IEC 62368-1
PRINCIPLES
Within the structures outlined below, specific requirements and acceptance of materials,
components, and subassemblies is detailed in relevant clauses and annexes.

FOR BASIC EQUIPMENT EVALUATION CRITERIA

Classify the person(s) who will have access to
the equipment
Skilled person - Person who has training and/or experience in the equipment
technology. Expected to identify energy sources that may cause pain or injury and
take precautions to avoid contact.
Instructed person - Person instructed and trained or supervised by a skilled person.
Ordinary person - Persons other than instructed person and skilled person.

Classify the energy sources in the equipment Energy source Effect on the body Effect on combustible material
Class 1 Not painful, but may be Ignition not likely
detectable
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

Classify the level of safeguard needed for each Basic safeguard - Provides protection during normal operating condition and
hazard abnormal operating condition.
Supplementary safeguard - Applied in addition to basic safeguard. Provides
protection in the event of failure of the basic safeguard.
Double safeguard - Basic plus supplementary safeguard.
Reinforced safeguard - Single safeguard provides protection during normal
operating condition, abnormal operating condition and single fault condition.

Classify the type of safeguard for each hazard • Equipment

• Installation
• Personal
• Behavioural

Classify operating conditions
Normal operating condition - Represents the range of normal use that can be
reasonably expected.
Single fault condition - Fault of a single safeguard (not reinforced), component or
device.
Abnormal operating condition - Temporary condition that is not normal operating
condition or single fault condition.

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS
• Compliance of materials, components, or subassemblies is demonstrated through inspection,
review of published data or test results.
• Components and subassemblies in compliance with IEC 60950-1 or IEC 60065 are acceptable
as part of equipment covered by this standard without further evaluation provided
consideration is given to appropriate use of component or subassembly in end product. If no
IEC/UL component standard exists or where components used in circuits are not in
accordance with their specified ratings, components shall be tested under the conditions
occurring in the equipment.
• Manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation, relocation, servicing, & operation taken
into account during evaluation.
• Transportable equipment requires all orientations of transport taken into account.
• When measuring temperature, the manufacturer’s specified ambient temperature range
must be taken into account for the assessment.

The Standard explores electrically caused injury, electrically caused fire, injury caused by
hazardous substances, mechanically caused injury, thermal burn and radiation injury and
radiation itself, each with explicit acceptable parameters for product performance regarding the
Hazard and the respective safeguard.

Tip:
Investing in a copy of the standard is hugely beneficial in helping your team design for
compliance.

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

ANNEX
CONTENT
The Annexes of the Standard give a useful overview of the provisions that product designers and
compliance officers should consider during the product development process.

A Examples of equipment within the scope

B Normal/abnormal condition tests, single fault tests
C UV radiation
D Test generators
E Test conditions (audio amplifiers)
F Equipment markings, instructions, instructional safeguards
G Components
H Criteria for telephone ringing signals
I Overvoltage categories
J Insulated winding wires for use without interleaved insulation
K Safety interlocks
L Disconnect devices
M Equipment containing batteries and their protection circuit
N Electrochemical potentials(V)
O Measurement of creepage distances and clearances
P Safeguards against conductive objects
Q Circuits intended for interconnection with building wiring
R Limited short-circuittest
S Tests for resistance to heat and fire
T Mechanical strengthtest
U Mechanical strength of CRTs, protection against effects of implosion
V Determination of accessible parts
W Comparison of terms introduced in this standard

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Q. My product is currently approved/certified to IEC 60950-1 (or IEC 60065),
therefore will it automatically comply with the new hazard based standard IEC
62368-1?
A. Not necessarily, IEC 62368-1 is a completely new standard, products complying with IEC
60950-1 (or IEC 60065) cannot be assumed to comply with IEC 62368-1. Assessment against
the requirements and compliance criteria in the new standard is the only way to ensure
compliance.

Q. I have a product under development and intend to certify/approve against IEC

62368-1 but cannot source certified/approved subsystem components (PSU,
subsystem modules, etc.) to IEC 62368-1, how will this affect my product
compliance.
A. IEC 62368-1 allows the use of subsystems/components having valid certification/approval to
IEC 60950-1 and/or IEC 60065 - together with in application test (for correct use) within the
end product. Once IEC 62368-1 becomes mandatory, subsystems/components will need to
comply with IEC 62368-1 (if applicable).

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IEC 62368-1 STANDARD COMPLIANCE GUIDE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR
AUDIO, VIDEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

HOW INTERTEK
CAN HELP
Intertek’s global network of testing and certification laboratories provides testing to IEC
Standards, in support of manufacturers looking to demonstrate their product compliance and
utilize the IECEE CB scheme which facilitates market access to over fifty countries worldwide.
Our experts sit on many of the Standards development committees that shape product legislation
across the world, including IEC TC 108 - which has developed IEC 62368-1, so we have the inside
track on how this Standard should be interpreted and applied.
As experts in electrical safety, EMC, performance and environmental testing our customers
benefit from independent validation of their product’s characteristics, helping them to deliver
products that meet both client and regulatory expectations. From concept to launch, our experts
will tailor compliance testing and guidance to help you meet your export plans.

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precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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