IEC(International Electrotechnical Commission) Standards

IEC International Standards reflect the global consensus and distilled wisdom of many thousand technical experts who are delegated by their countries to participate in the IEC.

They provide instructions, guidelines, rules or definitions that are then used to design, manufacture, install, test & certify, maintain and repair electrical and electronic devices and systems.

IEC International Standards are essential for quality and risk management; they help researchers understand the value of innovation and allow manufacturers to produce products of consistent quality and performance. IEC International Standards are always used by technical experts; they are always voluntary and based on the international consensus of experts from many countries.

1. IEC 60068-2-1 : Cold Test

IEC 60068-2-1:2007 focuses on cold tests, which are applicable to both heat-dissipating and non-heat-dissipating specimens. The tests Ab and Ad for non-heat-dissipating specimens remain largely unchanged from previous versions. However, the test Ae has been introduced specifically for evaluating equipment that needs to remain operational throughout the test, including the conditioning periods. The purpose of the cold test is to assess the suitability of components, equipment, or other articles for use, transportation, or storage at low temperatures. It’s important to note that the cold tests covered by this standard do not evaluate the ability of specimens to withstand or operate during temperature variations, which would require the use of IEC 60068-2-14.

The cold tests are categorized as follows:
  1. Cold tests for non-heat-dissipating specimens:
  • Tests with a gradual change of temperature (Ab).
  1. Cold tests for heat-dissipating specimens
  • Tests with a gradual change of temperature (Ad).
  • Tests with a gradual change of temperature, with the specimen powered throughout (Ae).

The procedures outlined in this standard are typically intended for specimens that achieve temperature stability during the test. Temperature chambers used for these tests should adhere to the specifications of IEC 60068-3-5 and IEC 60068-3-7. Further guidance on dry heat and cold tests can be found in IEC 60068-3-1, while general guidance is provided in IEC 60068-1.

This sixth edition of the standard addresses cold tests applicable to both heat-dissipating and non-heat-dissipating specimens. Tests Ab and Ad for non-heat-dissipating specimens remain largely unchanged from previous editions, while the new Test Ae is primarily added to cater to equipment that must remain operational throughout the entire test, including the conditioning periods.

2. IEC 60068-2-2 : Environmental Testing

IEC 60068-2-2:2007 addresses dry heat tests, which are applicable to both heat-dissipating and non-heat-dissipating specimens. The tests Bb and Bd for non-heat-dissipating specimens remain largely unchanged from previous versions. The purpose of the dry heat test is to assess the suitability of components, equipment, or other articles for use, transportation, or storage under high-temperature conditions. It’s important to note that the dry heat tests covered by this standard do not evaluate the ability of specimens to withstand or operate during temperature variations, which would require the use of IEC 60068-2-14 Test N: Change of temperature.

The dry heat tests are categorized as follows:
  • Dry heat test for non-heat-dissipating specimens with a gradual change of temperature (Bb).
  • Dry heat tests for heat-dissipating specimens:
  1. Tests with a gradual change of temperature (Bd).
  2. Tests with a gradual change of temperature, with the specimen powered throughout (Be).

The procedures outlined in this standard are typically intended for specimens that achieve temperature stability during the test. Changes from the previous edition include the deletion of Tests Ba and Bc, as they were more severe tests compared to Test Nb in IEC 60068-2-14: Change of temperature. Additionally, the requirement for a 3% temperature difference between the chamber air and wall temperatures has been removed. It is now proposed that the test specimen be powered throughout the test when necessary. Furthermore, the annexes have been removed.

3. IEC 60068-2-6 : Vibration testing

This test method presents a standardized procedure for evaluating the ability of specimens, including components, equipment, and other articles, to withstand specific levels of sinusoidal vibration. When testing an item without its packaging, it is referred to as a test specimen. However, when the item is packaged, it is considered a product, and both the item and its packaging are collectively referred to as a test specimen. The objective of this test is to identify any mechanical weaknesses or degradation in the specified performance of the specimens. This information, along with the relevant specifications, is utilized to determine the acceptability of the specimens. Additionally, this test method can be employed to demonstrate the mechanical robustness of specimens and investigate their dynamic behavior. Components can also be categorized based on selecting from the specified severities outlined in the test.

The significant changes in comparison to the previous edition include:
  • Incorporating references to the latest version of IEC 60068-2-47: Mounting.
  • Streamlining the standard’s layout by replacing certain tables with textual content.

4. IEC 60068-2-14 : Change of temperature

IEC 60068-2-14:2009 offers a test method to assess the capability of components, equipment, or other articles to endure rapid changes in ambient temperature. The duration of exposure required to achieve this will vary depending on the nature of the specimen. The significant changes from the previous edition include:

  • Integration of the previous version of IEC 60068-2-14 with IEC 60068-2-33: Guidance on change of temperature tests.
  • Updates to figures, adjustments to wording, and editorial corrections made to enhance clarity.

5. IEC 60068-2-27 : Shock Testing

IEC 60068-2-27:2008 establishes a standardized procedure to determine the capability of a specimen to withstand specified levels of non-repetitive or repetitive shocks. The primary objective of this test is to identify any mechanical weaknesses, degradation in specified performance, or accumulated damage caused by shocks. In some cases, this test, in conjunction with the relevant specification, can be used to assess the structural integrity of specimens or as a quality control measure.

This test method is primarily designed for unpackaged specimens and items tested in their transport cases, considering the latter as part of the specimen. When an item is tested without packaging, it is referred to as a test specimen. However, if the item is packaged, it is considered a product, and the item and its packaging together are considered a test specimen. When used together with IEC 60068-2-47, this standard can be applied to test packaged products. This inclusion was introduced in the 2005 version of IEC 60068-2-47 for the first time.

The standard defines prescribed pulse shapes for conducting the test. Annex A provides guidance for selecting and applying these pulses, while Annex B discusses the characteristics of different pulse shapes. Whenever possible, the test severity and shock pulse applied to the specimen should replicate the effects of the actual transport or operational environment to which the specimen will be exposed. Alternatively, they should meet design requirements if the purpose of the test is to assess structural integrity (see Clauses A.2 and A.4). During testing, the specimen is always mounted to the fixture or table of the shock testing machine.

The significant changes compared to the previous edition include:
  • Integration of IEC 60068-2-29 into this edition of IEC 60068-2-27, with Part 2-29 set to be withdrawn upon publication of this edition.
  • Introduction of soft packaged specimens, as defined in the IEC ad hoc working group document, agreed in Stockholm:2000.

6. IEC 60068-2-30 : Damp Heat Cyclic

IEC 60068-2-30:2005 provides a means of assessing the suitability of components, equipment, or other articles for use, transportation, and storage under conditions of high humidity combined with cyclic temperature changes that may result in condensation on the specimen’s surface. When the test aims to evaluate the performance of a specimen during transportation or storage with packaging, the packaging is typically applied during the test conditions. However, for small and lightweight specimens, it may be challenging to generate condensation using this procedure. In such cases, alternative procedures, such as those described in IEC 60068-2-38, should be considered.

The significant changes made in this edition compared to the previous one include:
  • Editorial changes to improve clarity and readability.
  • Addition of normative references, providing a list of reference documents that are an integral part of the standard.
  • Inclusion of guidance for temperature tolerances, offering recommendations on acceptable temperature variations during the test.
  • Extension of the period for recovery, allowing for a longer duration to assess the specimen’s behavior after exposure to the test conditions.

7. IEC 61000-6-4 : Emission Standard for Industrial Environments

IEC 61000-6-4:2018, also available as IEC 61000-6-4:2018 RLV (Redline version), is a standard that specifies emission requirements for electrical and electronic equipment used in industrial environments. It is not applicable to equipment covered by IEC 61000-6-3. The standard covers both indoor and outdoor locations within the industrial environment. It addresses emission requirements in the frequency range of 9 kHz to 400 GHz, which are selected to ensure sufficient protection of radio reception in the electromagnetic environment. Measurements are only necessary at frequencies where specific requirements are defined.

The standard includes essential requirements to protect radio services, considering relevant disturbance phenomena for equipment operating in the specified environments. Each port of the equipment has specified requirements. This generic EMC emission standard should be used when there is no applicable product or product-family EMC emission standard available.

The third edition of this standard, which is a technical revision, replaces the second edition published in 2006 and Amendment 1:2010. The significant technical changes in this edition include:

  1. Potential future requirements for DC ports.
  2. Potential future inclusion of radiated polarity-specific emission limits within a Frequency Allocation Range (FAR).
  3. Clarification of the average detector used for emission measurements above 1 GHz and acceptance of results obtained using a peak detector for all measurements.
  4. Definition of different equipment under test (EUT) test arrangements.

8. IEC 61000-4-3 : Radiated, Radio-frequency, Electromagnetic Field Immunity Test

IEC 61000-4-3:2020 is an applicable standard that addresses the immunity requirements of electrical and electronic equipment when exposed to radiated electromagnetic energy. It establishes the necessary test levels and procedures for evaluating equipment immunity. The main objective of this document is to provide a common reference for assessing the immunity of electrical and electronic equipment against radiated radio-frequency electromagnetic fields. The standardized test method described in this part of IEC 61000 ensures a consistent approach to evaluating equipment or systems by subjecting them to RF electromagnetic fields emitted from sources that are not in close proximity to the Equipment Under Test (EUT). The specific test environment is outlined in Clause 6.

Note 1: As per IEC Guide 107, this standard serves as a fundamental publication on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and is intended for use by product committees of the IEC. The decision to apply this immunity test standard lies with the relevant product committees, which are responsible for determining the appropriate test levels and performance criteria. TC 77 and its sub-committees are willing to collaborate with product committees to assess the relevance of specific immunity tests for their respective products.

Note 2: Immunity testing against RF sources in close proximity to the EUT is covered in IEC 61000-4-39. Special considerations are given to protection against radio-frequency emissions from digital radiotelephones and other devices that emit RF.

Note 3: This part defines test methods for evaluating the impact of electromagnetic radiation on the equipment being tested. However, the simulation and measurement of electromagnetic radiation may not provide a precise quantitative determination of effects. The primary objective of the test methods described in this basic document is to ensure consistent testing configurations and repeatability of results across different test facilities.

This standard represents an independent test method, and it cannot be substituted by other test methods to claim compliance. The fourth edition of the standard supersedes the third edition published in 2006, along with Amendment 1:2007 and Amendment 2:2010. It constitutes a technical revision and includes the following significant changes compared to the previous edition:

  • Description of testing using multiple test signals.
  • Additional information regarding the Equipment Under Test (EUT) and cable layout.
  • Removal of the upper-frequency limitation to accommodate new services.
  • Specification of field characterization and verification of power amplifier linearity in the immunity chain.