How does the EN/IEC 62368-1 change over time?
Which products are included in IEC 62368-1 scope?
What rules apply in Europe's trade zones?
Which edition do I use for my CE declaration?
Which output do I use for my UKCA declaration?
What exactly does the CB process do?
The IEC 62368-1 standard is used to implement the Low Voltage Directive and is applied to a wide range of products in the IT as well as the audio and video industry.
The standards landscape is constantly in motion. Constant product developments bring with them ever new requirements for product safety. The current situation is described below.
Temporal development and validity of the various editions of the ITAV standard
| VDEBelow you will find a selection of products that are specifically covered by the standard. Areas in the office and commercial sector, industry, entertainment, household and components are included.
Illustration of the product scope of IEC 62368-1
| VDEGeneric product type | Specific example of generic product type |
Banking equipment | Monetary processing machines including automated teller (cash dispensing) machines (ATM) |
Consumer electronic equipment (including professional audio, video and musical instrument equipment) | Recieving equipment and amplifiers for sound and/or vision, supply equipment intended to supply other equipment covered by the scope of this document, electronic musical instruments, and electronic accessories such as rhythm generators, tone generators, music tuners and the like for use with electronic or non-electronic musical instruments, audio and/or video educational equipment, video projectors, video cameras and video monitors, network surveillance cameras, video games, juke boxes, record and optical disc players, tape and optical disk recorders, antenna signal converters and amplifiers, antenna positioners, Citizen's Band equipment, equipment for imagery, electronic light effect equipment, intercommunication equipment using low voltage mains as the transmission medium, cable head-end recievers, multimedia equipment, electronic flash equipment |
Data and text processing machines and associated equipment | Data preparation equipment, data processing equipment, data storage equipment, personal computers, tablets, smartphones, wearable devices, plotters, printers (including 3D printers), scanners, text processing equipment, visual display units |
Date network equipment | Bridges, data circuit terminating equipment, data terminal equipment, routers |
Electrical and electronic retail equipment | Cash registers, point of sale terminals including associated electronic scales |
Electrical and electronic office machines | Calculaters, copying machines, dictation equipment, document shredding machines, duplicators, erasers, micrographic office equipment, motoroperated files, paper trimmers (punchers, cutting machines, separators), paper jogging machines, pencil sharpeners, staplers, typewriters |
Other information technology equipment | Photoprinting equipment, public information terminals, electronic kiosks, multimedia equipment |
Postage equipment | Mail processing machines, postage machines |
Telecommunication network infrastructure equipment | Billing equipment, multiplexers, network powering equipment, network terminating equipment, radio base stations, repeaters, transmission equipment, telecommunication switching equipment |
Telecommunication terminal equipment | Facsimile equipment, key telephone systems, modems, PABXs, pagers, telephone answering machines, telephone sets (wired and wireless) |
The IEC 62368-1 standard is widely recognized in various world markets due to its good harmonization and wide scope. How to find the lowest hurdles for diverse markets, you will experience with us. The VDE has an established network and opens doors for you.
The different trade zones also have different access regulations. Generally, as a manufacturer, you have to make a declaration that assesses the technical risks of your product. The CE marking obligation also applies in the EFTA states. Switzerland is an exception here. Here there is a separate free trade agreement with the EU.
Regulations for the trade zones of Europe
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Mitgliedsländer im Bund der CENELEC
| reated with mapchart.netThe CE declaration of a manufacturer is the entrance ticket to the European market. EN IEC 62368-1:2014 (2nd edition) is currently the appropriate standard. This is listed in the "European Official Journal" of the EU and thus has the effect of presumption for compliance with the Low Voltage Directive. The VDE provides support here with technical tests to ensure product safety.
In addition, a large number of European countries are members of CENELEC. Thus, a common EN standard applies, the EN IEC 62368-1:2020 +A11:2020.
Note: By 06.07.2024 the DOW (date of withdraw) of EN IEC 62368-1:2014 is set, after that the effect of presumption is no longer valid. Currently, due to CENELEC membership, a delta analysis to EN IEC 62368-1:2020+A11 2020 (3rd edition) is recommended. This recommendation will be adapted when a 4th edition of EN IEC 62368-1 is available. It is expected that the 4th edition will be listed in the "European Official Journal" of the EU.
Even if there is a differentiation here due to the different formal framework, the UKCA declaration is strongly based on the CE declaration. With regard to the standard for technical assessment, there is no difference. As of August 1, 2023, the British government has additionally declared that the CE marking will continue to be recognized in the British market for an unlimited period of time.
With a CB certificate for your product, you can ensure market entry in the majority of markets worldwide. The standard used for this purpose is IEC 62368-1. However, the locally recognized editions may differ. Country-specific requirements such as the conversion of a CB certificate into a locally recognized certification mark or regular production site monitoring must be taken into account. Here, VDE has both the network and the necessary experience to best support your project.
Länder mit Akzeptanz für CB´s im Bereich IEC 62368-1
| Created with mapchart.netSince 29.05.2023 the 4th edition of IEC 62368-1 is published. In the course of this, there are some technical new requirements. The main sections and their influences compared to the 3rd edition of IEC 62368-1 are listed below. So, there are many more minor adjustments, from editorial to technical. To give you a quick access to this knowledge, VDE offers you everything from consulting contingents to training.
4.1.3 - Equipment design and construction
4.4.3.1 - Safeguard robustness – General
5.4.2.3.2.3 - Determining DC mains transient voltages
5.4.11.1 - Separation between external circuits and earth – General
5.6.2.2 - Colour of insulation
6.4.5.1 - Control of fire spread in PS2 circuits – General
6.4.8.3.3 - Top openings and top opening properties
6.4.8.3.4 - Bottom openings and bottom opening properties
B.1.6 - Specific output conditions
B.2.4 - Normal operating voltages
B.2.5 - Input test
B.3.5 - Maximum load at output terminals
F.2.2. - Graphical symbols
G.3.5.1 - Safeguard components not mentioned in G.3.1 to G.3.4 – Requirements
G.7.3.1 - Cord anchorages and strain relief – General
G.16.2 - IC that includes a capacitor discharge function (ICX) – Tests
M.4.1 - Additional safeguards for equipment containing a secondary lithium battery – General
P.3.3 - Spillage safeguards
T.1 - Mechanical strength tests
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