IEC 62368-1 is years in the making, and the official cut-over date is approaching quickly for information technology equipment (ITE) and audio/visual (AV) products.
Here are a few important things to know about
IEC 62368-1 implementation:
The effective date of IEC 62368-1
is December 20, 2020
The implementation date of 62368-1 has changed a few times over the past few years, as various committees around the world worked out the details. But U.S. and European Union representatives agreed on an effective date of December 20, 2020 for the new standard for ITE and AV equipment.
In December 2020, the old standards— IEC
60950‑1 and IEC 60065-1—will be formally retired. From that point on, any
products that fall under the scope of IEC 62368-1 will need to comply with the
new requirements to be sold in the European Union.
Not all countries have adopted EN
62368-1 as the new standard
Keep in mind, especially if you plan to sell an ITE or AV product in several countries, that IEC 62368-1 will not be the default standard for all countries right away.
Some countries, including Korea and Japan,
will adopt IEC 62368-1. But other countries, like China and India, have not yet
indicated they will adopt the new standard. Companies that export to these
countries may be required to demonstrate conformity to the old standards, as
well as 62368-1, to maintain a presence in the same markets as before.
There are ways to show backward
compatibility to legacy standards
Not all countries and certification bodies will adopt the standard in the same way at the same time, so it’s important to have a plan that works for all products in all markets. U.S. laboratories can still issue CB scheme certificates and reports for IEC 60950-1 past December 2020 for countries that have not adopted the new standard.
Europe recognizes the 2nd edition of IEC 62368-1. But some countries are still recognizing the legacy standards, 60950-1 and 60065. When the countries still using the old standards do make the transition, they could leapfrog the 2nd edition and go straight to the 3rd edition of 62368-1.
In these situations, you may need a slightly
different approach. This could mean dual CB scheme certifications to both the
2nd edition of 62368-1 and the applicable legacy standard, or obtaining a 3rd
edition CB scheme certification and demonstrating backward compatibility to the
legacy standard for the countries still using the old standard.
IEC 62368-1 requires a different mindset, but not necessarily a redesign
Transitioning from a prescriptive standard like 60950-1 or 60065 to a hazard-based standard like IEC 62368-1 means thinking differently about ITE and AV technology products.
The old model prescribed the design of the product based on known product categories and existing solutions to reduce the risk of damage or injury to users. This framework can be limiting in a world where different technologies like video recording, WiFi access, BlueTooth connectivity, and traditional telephone connections can take place in the same electronic device.
The new model requires manufacturers to apply Hazard-Based Safety Engineering (HBSE) principles early in the product design process. This framework focuses less on existing products and designs and more on the hazards and users of the product.
The 62368-1 standard identifies key risks of ITE and AV technology (such as electrical fires, electrically-caused injuries, chemical injuries, thermal burns, and radiation), and requires manufacturers to mitigate those risks for different users. This gives manufacturers more freedom to design products in new ways, and create entirely new products, without sacrificing product quality or safety.
This doesn’t mean existing products need a
complete overhaul to be compliant with the new standard. If the product met the
applicable legacy standard, the safeguards may already be within the
appropriate range for the new standard. But it’s crucial to make sure you have
the right certification and documentation to prove it.
Learn More About IEC 62368-1
Contact G&M Compliance today to learn more about the transition to IEC 62368-1.