Contact information
Free service hotline
net04@gtggroup.com
TEL: 0769-85075888-6618
13925591357
Fax: 0769-85075898
Mail: net04@gtggroup.com
ADD: Huacan Industrial Park, No. 2 Keji 8th Road, Songshan Lake Park, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province
IEC 62368 Certification Requirements and Compliance Steps
IEC 62368 is the international safety standard for audio/video, information and communication technology equipment. It replaces the legacy IEC 60065 and IEC 60950 with a hazard-based safety engineering (HBSE) approach. This guide walks through the standard's core philosophy, key requirements, testing process and practical compliance considerations. For a tailored assessment of your product against IEC 62368, a IEC 62368 pre‑compliance evaluation can identify critical design gaps early.
From product categories to hazard‑based safety
Unlike traditional standards that prescribe a checklist of tests, IEC 62368 is built around the Hazard‑Based Safety Engineering (HBSE) framework. Manufacturers must first identify energy sources in the product — electrical, thermal, mechanical, radiation and chemical — then evaluate whether those sources can cause injury during normal operation or reasonably foreseeable misuse, and finally ensure adequate safeguards are in place.
The standard covers a wide range of devices: televisions, set‑top boxes, audio amplifiers, power adapters, laptops, routers, servers and many converged products that feature both A/V and IT functions. It harmonises safety requirements that were previously split across two separate standards, removing long‑standing inconsistencies.
Based on real project observations: Manufacturers of smart interactive displays, which combine audio amplification and data communication modules, frequently face re‑evaluation under the dual‑use requirements of IEC 62368. Products that previously fell neatly into a single legacy category now require a cross‑disciplinary energy‑source analysis to avoid costly redesigns at the testing stage.
Key safety requirements under IEC 62368
Safety compliance revolves around three pillars: energy source classification, safeguard levels and user competence categories. These replace fixed voltage or material‑thickness thresholds found in older standards.
Energy source classes (ES1, ES2, ES3)
Energy sources are divided into three classes:
- ES1 – Not hazardous during normal operation and abnormal conditions
- ES2 – Potentially hazardous but manageable with basic safeguards
- ES3 – Hazardous; requires reinforced or double safeguards
Typical sources include touch current, capacitor discharge, surface temperatures, sharp edges, laser radiation and flammability of enclosures.
Safeguards and insulation
IEC 62368 defines basic safeguards for normal operation and supplementary safeguards for single‑fault conditions. The clearance and creepage distances are determined dynamically based on working voltage, pollution degree and overvoltage category rather than fixed tables linked to nominal voltage.
Frequent test items
- Touch current and protective conductor current
- Electric strength (hipot) tests
- Temperature rise and thermal stress
- Mechanical strength and stability
- Flammability of enclosure and printed circuit boards
- Acoustic pressure and optical radiation safety
Certification process and typical timeline drivers
A typical IEC 62368 certification project flows through these stages: technical documentation and sample submission → engineering review → full‑type testing → test report and certification body review → factory inspection (if required) → certificate issuance.
The overall timeline varies, generally ranging from several weeks to a few months, depending on:
- Completeness of design documentation (circuit diagrams, BOM, component datasheets)
- Need for multiple national differences or CB scheme transfers
- Number of design‑change iterations required after testing findings
- Lead time of the chosen certification body and factory audit scheduling
Engaging a professional testing laboratory for a pre‑scan before formal submission can significantly reduce the risk of unexpected non‑compliances that cause project delays.
Common pitfall: Legacy compliance is not a guarantee. In one case, a power adapter that fully met IEC 60950 failed IEC 62368 because the enclosure material did not meet the V‑1 flammability rating now required for that energy source class. A thorough constructional review before testing identified all energy‑source safeguards early, preventing costly re‑tooling.
Frequently asked questions
Q1 Is IEC 62368 mandatory?
The IEC standard itself is a voluntary international standard. However, in key markets such as the European Union and North America, the corresponding regional versions (e.g., EN IEC 62368‑1) are harmonised under regulatory frameworks like the EU Low Voltage Directive or adopted by national bodies, effectively making compliance a prerequisite for market access.
Q2 Can I convert an existing IEC 60950 certificate to IEC 62368?
A direct conversion is generally not possible because the safety concepts differ completely. Virtually all testing must be performed anew under IEC 62368. Even products that are physically unmodified usually require full re‑evaluation of energy sources and safeguards.
Q3 What do I need to submit for testing?
You should provide at least one representative production‑intent sample together with complete schematics, PCB layouts, bill of materials, component recognition certificates and a list of safety‑critical parts (e.g., transformers, optocouplers, fuses, enclosure materials). It is advisable to freeze the design before submission, as hardware changes during testing can trigger a full retest cycle.
This article is AI‑assisted and intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute certification advice or a contractual commitment. Always refer to the latest official regulations and standards.
Contact: net04@gtggroup.com