If you make or distribute audio/visual products or information technology equipment, it’s important that you’re prepared for the introduction of IEC 62368-1.
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 the manufacturers of
these products to take demonstrable steps to eliminate or greatly minimize
these risks. When compared to the previous standards, this risk-based approach
gives manufacturers more freedom to design products in new ways, and create
entirely new products, without sacrificing product quality or safety.
Here are a few key steps to get you and your products
prepared for this change:
Find the best path to compliance for your existing A/V and ITE products
Audio visual (A/V) and information technology equipment
(ITE) that’s already on the market may already meet the standards of IEC
62368-1, or it may need significant changes. Figuring out what category your
product is in—and the best path forward—is a crucial first step.
If your A/V or ITE product has valid product certifications
for the markets it’s sold in, the products may already meet the hazard-based
standards of IEC 62368-1, but it’s essential that you make
sure.
For example, a product that has successfully passed testing
in a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and earned its
certification for the U.S. and Canada may not need a full suite of retesting to
comply with 62368-1. In fact, obtaining a net new CB scheme certification to
move from the relevant “legacy” standard to 62368-1 may be more expensive than you need. Consider what
markets you want to enter and what the requirements are for each—you might find
that a new Low Voltage Directive (LVD) report or something similar can bring
you up to full compliance without an entire new certification scheme.
Future-proof your new ITE and A/V products
If you have new information technology or audio visual
products in the pipeline, consider the 62368-1 requirements now to make sure
these products will be compliant for years to come.
Just like existing products, there are a few different
routes to compliance for new products. Make sure you demonstrate compliance
with the right edition of 62368-1, or demonstrate compliance with the relevant
corresponding standards. For example, to sell into Europe, new products may
need to comply with the 2nd edition of 62368-1, but countries that have not
adopted the hazard-based standard right away (like China, Taiwan, and Korea)
could go right to the 3rd edition of 62368-1.
Triple-check
your documentation
A hazard-based standard like IEC 62368-1 is designed to
identify risks and ensure products have effective safeguards in place to
mitigate those risks. This is a much different approach than the prior,
prescriptive standards, which lay down rules for specific components and can
constrain product design and innovation.
Products that complied with the prescriptive, narrow
standards of the past are likely on the right path to compliance with the
hazard-based standard. But demonstrating compliance is all about having the
documentation to prove it.
Take a look at your products and assess the risks through
the lens of the 62368-1 hazard-based standard. Make sure that your products
have the right safeguards in place to minimize or eliminate the risks outlined
in 62368-1—and then make sure you have the right documentation! This may come
in the form of test reports, LVD reports, CB schemes, or other documents,
depending on your product and key markets.
Execute your 62368-1 transition plan
Transitioning to 62368-1 means different
things for different products and target markets, so it’s crucial to create a
customized plan that fits your specific needs—but that doesn’t mean you have to
go it alone or reinvent the wheel!
Compliance experts, like the ones at G&M Compliance, dig deep into the
requirements for your target market, evaluate your existing products and their
documentation, and lay out the best path for compliance. G&M Compliance can
take a close look at the requirements for your international target markets and
decide if a dual certification is right for you, or a single certification that
demonstrates backward compatibility to old standards.
Our compliance experts take into account the requirements
and timelines for each region and find the fastest path to market based on your
unique circumstances. Contact us to learn more about the best path
to 62368-1 compliance for your products!