The International Electrotechnical Commission (or) IEC is international which deals with the preparation and issuing of standards on all electrical and electronics technologies.Â
They aim at promoting safety, reliability and compatibility of electrical products and systems in different regions of the world.
What are IEC Standards?
IEC standards are publications containing voluntary documents of technical specifications such as guidelines, specifications or criteria that are used to assure that electrical and electronics products and systems are safe, reliable and fit for their intended uses.
These standards embrace such technologies as power generation, transmission and distribution technology, and consumer electronics technologies among others.
Importance of IEC Standards
IEC Standards are very essential in international trades and safety.
They act as a guide on how products to be manufactured by different countries form the international market should be compatible and hence the standardization of trade.
They also contribute towards the lowering of technical blockades to trade, increase in product quality and consumer confidence.
Important Fields Covered by IEC Standards
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC): The proper functioning of devices with no regard as to how they would affect or be affected by other devices.
Electrical Safety: Measures that guard the user from electrical risks including danger of electric shock, fires as well as radiation.
Performance: Prescribed procedures and rules which have to be adhered to when using the products for the required conditions.
Environmental Considerations: Policies that focus on mechanisms that are involved in the aspect of environmental concern such as energy content and material content.
IEC Standards Development
The process of standardisation in an IEC standards is a team effort and it is usually done by international experts in industry, government and academia.
The process includes the following stages:
Proposal: It is initiated by member countries or technical committees who desire to establish a new standard of a product.
Drafting: The standard is written by specialists with the help of the analysis of the newest technologies and the requirements of the market.
Review: Due to the given that the draft standard has been developed through consultation between the TC and other stakeholders.
Approval: It is then subjected to approval by IEC member countries through a final draft.
Publication: Standard gets approved and made available for use all over the world once the standard has been developed.
| General | |
| IEC 60038 | IEC standard voltages |
| IEC 60051 series | Direct-acting indicating analogue electrical measuring equipment and its accessories. |
| IEC 60071-1 | Insulation coordination: Definitions, principles, and standards. |
| Power Transformer Standards | |
| IEC 60076-1 | Power Transformers: General |
| IEC 60076-2 | Power transformers: Temperature rise for liquid-immersed transformers. |
| IEC 60076-3 | Power transformers: insulation levels, dielectric testing, and external air clearances. |
| IEC 60076-5 | Power transformers: withstand short circuits. |
| IEC 60076-7 | Loading Guideline for Oil-immersed Power Transformers |
| IEC 60076-10 | Power transformers: Sound level determination |
| IEC 60076-11 | Power Transformers: Dry-type transformers |
| IEC 60076-12 | Loading Guideline for Dry-Type Power Transformers |
| Low Voltage Equipments | |
| IEC 60146-1-1 | Semiconductor converters: General requirements, and line commutated converters – Basic requirement specifications. |
| IEC 60255-1 | Measurement relays and protection equipment: Common requirements |
| IEC 60269-1 | Low-voltage fuses: General specifications |
| IEC 60269-2 | Low-voltage fuses: Supplementary need for fuses for usage by authorised personnel (mostly for industrial applications) – Examples of standardised systems of fuses A to K |
| IEC 60282-1 | High-voltage fuse: current-limiting fuses |
| IEC 60287-1-1 | Electric cables: Calculation of current rating – Current rating equations (100% load factor) & loss calculation – General |
| IEC 60364-1 | Low-voltage electrical installations: fundamental principles, assessment of the general characteristics, and definitions |
| IEC 60364-4-41 | Low-voltage electrical installations – Safety precautions – Electric shock protection |
| IEC 60364-4-42 | Low-voltage electrical installations require safety and thermal protection. |
| IEC 60364-4-43 | Low-voltage electrical installations: safety protection and overcurrent protection |
| IEC 60364-4-44 | Low-voltage electrical installations require safety protection against voltage and electromagnetic disturbances. |
| IEC 60364-5-51 | Common guidelines for low-voltage electrical installations, including equipment selection and installation. |
| IEC 60364-5-52 | Low-voltage electrical installations include the selection and installation of electrical equipment, as well as wiring systems. |
| IEC 60364-5-53 | Low voltage electrical installations – Selecting and installing electrical equipment – Isolation, switching, and control |
| IEC 60364-5-54 | Low voltage electrical installations – Selection and installation of electrical equipment – Earthing and protective conductors |
| IEC 60364-5-55 | Low-voltage electrical installations – Choosing and installing electrical equipment – Other equipment |
| IEC 60364-5-56 | Low-voltage electrical installations, equipment selection and installation, and safety services. |
| IEC 60364-6 | Low-voltage electrical installations: verification |
| IEC 60364-7-701 | Low voltage electrical installations: Requirements for unique installations (or) locations – Locations with a bathtub (or) shower. |
| IEC 60364-7-702 | Low-voltage electrical installations, requirements for unique installations or locations, swimming pools, and fountains |
| IEC 60364-7-703 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Requirements for specific installations or locations – Rooms and cabins with sauna heaters |
| IEC 60364-7-704 | Low-voltage electrical installations, requirements for unique installations or locations, construction & demolition site installations. |
| IEC 60364-7-705 | Low voltage electrical installations: Specific installation (or) location requirements – Agriculture & horticulture facilities. |
| IEC 60364-7-706 | Low-voltage electrical systems: Requirements for particular installations (or) locations – Conducting in the restricted mobility zones. |
| IEC 60364-7-708 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Requirements for special installations (or) sites, such as caravan parks, camping grounds, and similar locations |
| IEC 60364-7-709 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Requirements for unusual installations or locations – Marines & similar locations |
| IEC 60364-7-710 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Requirements for unique installations or locations – Medical facilities |
| IEC 60364-7-711 | Low-voltage electrical systems: Require for unconventional installations (or) locations. – Exhibitions, shows, & stands. |
| IEC 60364-7-712 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Requirements for specific installations or locations, Solar |
| PV – Photovoltaic power supply systems. | |
| IEC 60364-7-713 | Low-voltage electrical systems: requirements for unique installations (or) locations – Furniture |
| IEC 60364-7-714 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Requirements for unusual installations or locations – Outdoor lighting installations |
| IEC 60364-7-715 | Low-voltage electrical installations, requirements for unique installations or locations, and extra-low-voltage lighting systems. |
| IEC 60364-7-717 | Low-voltage electrical installations – Requirements for unusual installations or locations – Portable or mobile units |
| IEC 60364-7-718 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Requirements for particular installations or locations. – Community facilities and workplaces |
| IEC 60364-7-721 | Low-voltage electrical systems – Requirements for unique installations or locations – Electrical installations in motor caravans |
| IEC 60364-7-722 | Low-voltage electrical systems, specific installation or location requirements, and electric vehicle supplies |
| IEC 60364-7-729 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Requirements for unique installations or locations – Working or maintenance gangways |
| IEC 60364-7-740 | Low-voltage electrical installations – Special installation or site requirements – Temporary electrical installations for the structures, entertainment devices, and booths at fairgrounds, amusement parks, and circuses. |
| IEC 60364-7-753 | Low-voltage electrical installations, requirements for unique installations or locations, heating wires, and embedded heating systems. |
| IEC60364-8-1 | Low-voltage electrical installations: energy efficiency. |
| IEC60364-8-82 | Low-voltage electrical installations: Functional aspects – Prosumer low-voltage electrical setups |
| Voltage & Current | |
| IEC 60445 | Basic and safety concepts for man-machine interface, marking, and identification: identification of the equipment terminals, conductor terminations, and conductors. |
| IEC 60479-1 | Effects of the current on humans and livestock: General features |
| IEC 60479-2 | Effects of the current on humans and livestock: Special elements |
| IEC 60479-3 | Effects of currents moving through the body of animals. |
| IEC 60529 | Levels of protection offered by enclosures (IP code) |
| IEC 60644 | Specification for the high-voltage fuse linkages for motor circuit applications. |
| IEC 60664 | Insulation coordination for the equipment within low-voltage systems: All parts |
| IEC 60715 | Dimensions of low-voltage switch and control gear. Standardised rail-mounted mechanical support for electrical devices in switchgear & controlgear installations. |
| IEC 60724 | Short-circuit temperature limits for electric cables with the rated voltages of 1 kV (Um = 1.2 kV) & 3 kV (Um = 3.6 kV). |
| IEC 60755 | General standards for residual current-operated protection devices. |
| IEC 60787 | Application Guide for Selecting High-Voltage (HV) Current Limiting Fuses: Link for the Transformer Circuit |
| IEC 60831-1 | Shunt power capacitors of the self-healing type for alternating current systems with a rated voltage up to & including 1000 V – Part 1: General: Performance, testing, and rating – Safety criteria – Installation and operating guide |
| IEC 60831-2 | Shunt power capacitors of the self-healing type for a.c. systems with a rated voltage up to & including 1000 V – Part 2: ageing test, self-healing test, and destruction test |
| Low Voltage Switchgear | |
| IEC 60947-1 | General rules for the low voltage switchgear & controlgear. |
| IEC 60947-2 | Low-voltage switchgear & controlgear – Circuit breakers |
| IEC 60947-3 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear includes switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors, and fuse-combination devices. |
| IEC 60947-4-1 | Low-voltage switchgear & controlgear: Contactors & motor-starters |
| IEC 60947-6-1 | Low-voltage switchgear & controlgear – multifunctional equipment – Transfer switching equipment. |
| IEC 61000 series | Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) |
| IEC 61140 | Protection against electric shocks: typical characteristics of installation and equipment. |
| IEC 61201 | Using traditional touch voltage limits – Application Guide |
| IEC/TR 61439-0 | Assembly Specification for Low-Voltage Switchgear & Controlgear |
| IEC 61439-1 | General rules for low-voltage switchgear & control gear assemblies |
| IEC 61439-2 | Low-voltage switchgear & controlgear assemblies are power switchgear & controlgear assemblies. |
| IEC 61439-3 | Low-voltage switchgear & controlgear assemblies: distribution boards designed to be operated by ordinary people (DBO) |
| IEC 61439-4 | Low-voltage switchgear & controlgear assemblies – Specific criteria for construction sites (ACS) |
| IEC 61439-5 | Low-voltage switchgear & controlgear assemblies are used for power distribution in public networks. |
| IEC 61439-6 | Low-voltage switchgear & controlgear assemblies: busbar trunking systems (busways) |
| Protective Equipments | |
| IEC 61557-1 | Electrical safety in the low voltage distribution systems up to 1,000 V AC and 1,500 V DC – Equipment for testing, measuring, or monitoring of protective measures – General requirements |
| IEC 61557-8 | Electrical safety in the low voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V AC & 1 500 V DC – Equipment for testing, measuring, or monitoring protective measures – Insulation monitoring devices for IT systems. |
| IEC 61557-9 | Electrical safety in the low voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V AC and 1500 V DC – Equipment for testing, measuring, or monitoring of protective measures – Equipment for the locating insulation faults in IT systems. |
| IEC 61557-12 | Electrical safety in the low voltage distribution systems up to 1,000 V AC and 1,500 V DC. |
| Performance measuring & monitoring devices (PMD) are equipment used to test, measure, or monitor protective measures. | |
| IEC 61558-2-6 | Safety of transformers, reactors, power supply units, and similar components for supply voltages up to 1100 V – Specific criteria and tests for safety isolating transformers & power supply units integrating isolating transformers |
| IEC 61643-11 | Surge protective devices that connected to low-voltage power systems: requirements and test procedures. |
| IEC 61643-12 | Surge protective devices attached to low-voltage power distribution systems: principles of selection and application. |
| IEC 61643-21 | Low voltage surge protection devices – Surge protective devices linked to telecommunications & signalling networks – Performance requirements & testing methodologies |
| IEC 61643-22 | Low-voltage surge protection devices – Surge protective devices linked to telecommunications & signalling networks – Selection & application principles |
| IEC 61921 | Power capacitors are low-voltage (LV) power factor correction banks. |
| IEC 61936-1 | Power installations over 1 kV AC – Part 1: Common Rules |
| High Voltage Switchgear | |
| IEC 62271-1 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear: Common specifications |
| IEC 62271-100 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear, including alternating-current circuit breakers |
| IEC 62271-101 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear: Synthetic testing |
| IEC 62271-102 | High-voltage switchgear & controlgear include alternating current disconnectors & earthing switches. |
| IEC 62271-103 | High-voltage switchgear & controlgear – Switches for the rated voltages over 1 kV to and including 52 kV. |
| IEC 62271-105 | High-voltage switchgear & controlgear – Alternating current switch-fuse combinations for the rated voltages exceeding 1 kV up to and including 52 kV |
| IEC 62271-200 | High-voltage switchgear & controlgear – Alternating current metal-enclosed switchgear & controlgear with rated voltages over 1 kV and up to and including 52 kV |
| IEC 62271-202 | High-voltage switchgear & controlgear – Prefabricated substations with high and low voltages |
| Lightning Protection | |
| IEC 62305-1 | Lightning Protection, Part 1: General Principles |
| IEC 62305-2 | Lightning Protection – Part 2: Risk Management |
| IEC 62305-3 | Lightning Protection, Part 3: Physical damage to the structures & life hazard |
| IEC 62305-4 | Lightning Protection, Part 4 of lightning protection covers electrical & electronic systems within structures. |
| IEC 62586-2 | Power quality measurement in power supply systems, Part 2: Functional testing & uncertainty requirements |
| IEC TS 62749 | Assessment of power quality: Characteristics of electricity provided by public networks |
Difference Between IEC and Indian Standards
This table summarises difference between IEC & Indian Standards for major electrical and electronic equipment categories.
| Different Category | IEC Standard | Indian Standard (IS) | Difference |
| General Electrical Safety | IEC 60364: Low-voltage electrical installations. | IS 732: Code of Practice for the Electrical Wiring Installations | IS 732 is based on IEC 60364, with modifications to account for Indian climatic, environmental, & operational circumstances. |
| Circuit Breakers | IEC 60947-2: Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear. | IS/IEC 60947-2: Low-voltage Switchgear & Controlgear | IS/IEC 60947-2 is the same as the IEC standard, with minor editing adjustments tailored to the Indian environment. |
| Power Transformers | IEC 60076 – Power Transformers | IS 2026: Power Transformers | IS 2026 is compatible with IEC 60076, although it includes new rules to accommodate Indian grid circumstances and practices. |
| Electrical Insulation | IEC 60085: Electrical insulation – Thermal evaluation | IS 1271: Thermal evaluation & classification of electrical insulation. | IS 1271 closely follows IEC 60085, however it may also include Indian-specific testing & certification requirements. |
| Energy Efficiency | IEC 60034-30 – Energy efficiency categorisation of motors | IS 12615: Energy Efficient Induction Motors | IS 12615 is based on IEC 60034-30, with additional standards for Indian energy efficiency regulations. |
| Cable Standards | IEC 60227: Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables. | IS 694: PVC-insulated cables for the working voltages | IS 694 is based on IEC 60227, with modifications for Indian industrial methods and environmental circumstances. |
| Electrical Testing | IEC 61010: Safety Requirements for the Electrical Equipment | IS 13360: Safety Requirements for the Electrical Equipment | IS 13360 is compatible with IEC 61010 but incorporates provisions relevant to Indian testing laboratories & conditions. |
Click Here for Indian Standards (IS)
Conclusion
International electrical commission standards are very crucial in ascertaining the safety, integrity and compatibility of electrical and electronics products in the world.
Thus, following these standards, the manufacturers can guarantee that their products conform to the quality and safety standards to enhance exportation and consumers’ confidence.
