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International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a Geneva-based international standards organization responsible for developing and publishing standards in the fields of electrical engineering and electronics.
Established as an association under Swiss law, the IEC is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. In addition to its headquarters in Geneva, the IEC operates four regional centers: in Singapore (Asia), Brazil (Latin America), the United States (North America), and Sydney (Pacific region).
History
Founded in 1906 and initially based in London, the IEC relocated to Geneva in 1948. The organization has played a pivotal role in standardizing units of measurement, particularly the gauss, hertz, and weber. It was also the first to propose the Giovanni Giorgi system, which later evolved into the International System of Units (SI).
In 1938, the IEC published a multilingual international dictionary to standardize electrotechnical terminology. This effort continues today, with the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) remaining a key reference for the electrical and electronics industries.
Mission
The IEC's mandate spans the entire spectrum of electrical technology, including:
Power generation and distribution
Electronics, magnetics, and electromagnetics
Electroacoustics, multimedia, and telecommunications
Medical technology
It also covers general disciplines such as:
Terminology and symbols
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
Measurement and operational performance
Reliability, design, and development
Safety and environmental considerations
Membership
The IEC comprises National Committees (NCs), each representing its country's electrotechnical interests. These NCs include stakeholders from:
Manufacturers and utilities
Distributors and suppliers
Consumers and end-users
Government agencies
Professional and trade associations
Standards development organizations
Approximately 90% of IEC standards are developed by industry professionals. The IEC represents over 80 countries, organized into 1,442 working groups and committees.
As part of implementing the European Occupational Safety Directive, the standard EN 50678 was introduced for post-repair testing of electrical equipment. However, it does not cover information technology (IT) equipment, as expert committees determined that post-repair testing requirements should be defined by manufacturers in accordance with product standards. Thus, IEC 62368 serves as the foundation for such testing.
IEC 62368-1 is a product safety standard that:
✔ Classifies energy sources
✔ Specifies protective measures against energy hazards
✔ Provides guidelines for safe energy use
The standard aims to:
Reduce the likelihood of pain or injury
Minimize property damage in case of fire
Scope of IEC 62368-1
The standard applies to electrical and electronic equipment in the following fields:
Audio/video
Information technology
Telecommunications
It covers devices with nominal voltages up to 600 V, including office machinery, as well as components intended for integration into such equipment.
Key Changes vs. Previous Standards
Compared to DIN EN 60950-1 (VDE 0805-1) and DIN EN 60065 (VDE 0860), DIN EN 62368-1 (VDE 0868-1) has been completely restructured under a new safety philosophy. This approach is based on the principle that injury occurs when energy of sufficient magnitude and duration interacts with the body.
Core Principle:
Identifying potential energy sources is critical for safe device design.
Protective measures must account for both the type of energy and exposure risks.
Why This Matters:
The transition to IEC 62368-1 reflects evolving technology risks, ensuring safety keeps pace with innovations in electronics and energy systems.
For compliance testing or certification support consult IEC-accredited laboratories.
