What is IEC 62368 Standard? Key Differences from IEC 60065 & IEC 60950 Explained

When comes to power supply & power adapter's sourcing, your technical department always ask to you purchase the one meet 62368 Certification standards. You may confused that why they request before was 60950?

Now you have to looking for clear guidance on the latest safety standards for your electronic products?

As a professional power supply manufacturer, I'll break down everything you need to know about IEC 62368.

IEC 62368 is the new hazard-based safety standard from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that replaces IEC 60065 (audio/video equipment) and IEC 60950 (IT equipment). It provides a unified approach to product safety, focusing on energy sources rather than specific product categories, with enhanced requirements for risk assessment and hazard prevention.

## What Exactly is IEC 62368 Standard? How Does It Differ from Previous Standards?

Many manufacturers ask: Why should we transition to IEC 62368 when our products already comply with the older standards?

**The fundamental difference lies in IEC 62368's hazard-based safety engineering (HBSE) approach, which evaluates potential risks from energy sources rather than prescribing specific construction requirements for product categories. This modern methodology better addresses today's converging technologies while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

Let's examine the key differences in detail:

1. **Philosophy & Approach Comparison**

2. **Technical Implementation Differences**

   - New energy source classification: ES1 (Non-hazardous), ES2 (Potentially hazardous), ES3 (Hazardous)

   - Modified fire enclosure requirements (performance-based vs material-specific)

   - Updated insulation coordination requirements

   - Enhanced battery safety provisions

3. **Transition Benefits for Manufacturers**

   - Single standard for multiple product categories

   - Future-proof design approach

   - Reduced compliance costs for product variations

   - Simplified global market access

## What Products Does IEC 62368 Apply To? Full Scope Breakdown

Confused about whether your products need IEC 62368 certification? 

Here's a comprehensive list.

IEC 62368 applies to electrical and electronic equipment with rated voltages up to 600V used in audio/video, information technology, and office equipment applications. The standard covers both complete products and their components/subassemblies.

The complete product scope includes:

1. **Computing & Networking Equipment**

   - Servers, routers, WiFi equipment

   - Laptops, desktop computers

   - Computer power supplies & adapters

2. **Consumer Electronics**

   - Headphones, Bluetooth speakers

   - Audio amplifiers, home theater systems

   - Digital cameras, MP3 players

3. **Display Technologies**

   - Televisions, monitors

   - Digital projectors, electronic whiteboards

4. **Communication Devices**

   - Network infrastructure equipment

   - Mobile phones, smartphones

   - Battery-powered communication devices

5. **Office Equipment**

   - Copiers, printers, shredders

   - Dictation equipment, typewriters

   - Document processing machines

6. **Other Included Categories**

   - Electronic musical instruments

   - Multimedia equipment

   - Public information terminals

## IEC 62368 Testing Requirements: Complete Checklist

Wondering what tests your products must pass for compliance? Here's the full testing framework.

Products undergoing IEC 62368 certification must complete seven major categories of safety testing, covering electrical, mechanical, thermal and radiation hazards, with particular attention to energy source classification and protective measures.

Detailed testing requirements:

1. **General Requirements**

   - Component construction evaluation

   - Labeling and instruction verification

   - Energy source classification

   - Explosion prevention measures

2. **Electrical Hazard Protection**

   - Electric energy source safeguards

   - Insulation material evaluation

   - Protective component testing

3. **Fire Prevention**

   - Power source classification

   - Ignition source analysis

   - Internal/external wiring evaluation

   - Fire containment measures

4. **Additional Safety Areas**

Practical tips for successful testing:

- Conduct preliminary energy source classification early in design

- Document all protective measures thoroughly

- Allow extra time for hazard analysis documentation

- Consider component-level certifications to simplify final product testing

## Transition Strategies: Moving from Old Standards to IEC 62368

Planning your upgrade path? These practical steps will streamline your compliance process.

For products currently certified to IEC 60065 or IEC 60950, manufacturers should implement a phased transition plan including design review, documentation updates, and risk assessment implementation, targeting completion before the December 2020 deadline in most markets.

Recommended transition roadmap:

1. **Initial Assessment Phase**

   - Identify all affected product lines

   - Conduct gap analysis against IEC 62368

   - Prioritize products needing redesign

2. **Implementation Phase**

   - Update technical documentation

   - Modify designs as needed

   - Train engineering teams on HBSE

3. **Certification Phase**

   - Select accredited testing lab

   - Submit updated technical files

   - Address any compliance findings

Cost-saving tips:

- Schedule upgrades during regular product refreshes

- Leverage component manufacturers' test data

- Consider grouping similar products for testing

- Utilize transitional overlap periods strategically

## Conclusion

IEC 62368 represents the future of product safety standards, offering a more flexible yet comprehensive approach to hazard prevention. While transitioning requires investment, the long-term benefits of simplified compliance and future-ready designs make implementation essential for modern manufacturers.

Therefore, as long as your products belong to the above industries, such as electrical and electronic equipment used by consumer and commercial enterprises, you only need to see whether our power supplies or chargers products meet the safety standards of IEC 62368 when purchasing power supply, and nolonger need to pay attention to IEC 60065 and IEC 60950.

If you still have other standards need to consult, please contact with us:peter@cnsuperpowers.com directly.