Audio and Video ProductsIEC 62368-1

　　IEC 62368-1 is the alternative certification used by many countries for IEC 60950-1 (Safety Requirements for Information Technology Equipment) and IEC 60065 (Safety Requirements for Audio, Video, and Similar Electronic Equipment). Effective December 20, 2020, export products currently required to bear the CE mark will be subject to mandatory IEC 62368-1 certification.

　　 What is IEC 62368-1?

　　IEC 62368-1 is a new standard covering safety aspects of consumer electronics, video and similar equipment, information processing, office equipment, and telecommunications equipment. IEC 62368-1 is not a simple merger of the previous standards IEC 60065 and IEC 60950-1. From a technical perspective, IEC 62368-1 includes specific compliance requirements related to product design.

The standard uses a hazard-based approach to identify energy sources in products through the following steps:

　 Classifying energy sources

　　It specifies protective measures for these energy sources

and provides guidance on the application and requirements of these safeguards

Based on hazard classification, accessibility is divided into three levels:

General public

　　Trained personnel

Technicians

　　 IEC 62368-1 New Highlights

IEC 62368-1 is a brand-new standard for audio-visual and information and communications technology (ICT) equipment. Based on the principles of “Safety Engineering Based on the Prevention of Potential Hazards” (HBSE), this standard offers genuine advantages to manufacturers of modern electronic devices and components:

More performance-based requirements (vs. prescriptive requirements)

　　Enhanced ability to incorporate innovative designs, technologies, and structures into products

The new standard reduces prescriptive requirements, keeping pace with the demands of the market for new products and technologies, and provides greater flexibility in the design of safe products. In addition, the standard makes compatibility with traditional components simpler and more convenient.

　　 IEC 62368-1 Certification Covers Products

The new standard has a broad scope, covering various consumer-grade and enterprise-grade products, including:

　　 Information Technology:

　　Computing products, network equipment, and peripherals: switches, servers, routers, scanners, personal computers, laptops, tablets, and terminal devices.

　　Communications technology:

Mobile phones, smartphones, telephones, network infrastructure equipment, and IP enclosures.

　　 Consumer Electronics:

Wearable devices, home theater systems, televisions, monitors, cameras, music players, game consoles, musical instruments, and virtual reality (VR) products.

　　 Professional Audio:

Active speakers, mixers, power amplifiers, and signal processors.

　 Office Equipment:

Copiers, paper shredders, projectors, and printers.

　　 Components:

Internal and external power supplies, graphics cards, network cards, motherboards, lasers, batteries, and optical drives.

　 IEC 62368-1 Certification Test Items

1. General requirements;

2. Injury caused by electricity;

3. Fire caused by electricity;

4. Injury caused by harmful substances;

5. Damage caused by machinery;

6. Injury from thermal burns;

7. Normal operating condition test, abnormal operating condition test, and single-fault condition test;

8. Test conditions for equipment containing audio amplifiers;

9. Equipment signs, instructions, and indicative safety protection;

10. Components;

11. Overvoltage category;

12. Disconnect the device;

13. Equipment with a battery pack and its protection circuit;

　　14. Measurement of creepage distance and electrical clearance;

15. Safety protection to prevent the entry of conductive objects;

　　16. The interconnected circuit scheduled to be wired to the building;

17. Heat and flame resistance test;

18. Mechanical strength test;

19. Confirmation of accessible parts;