Introduction to EU EN 62368 Standard

EN 62368is the core safety standard for electronic products in Europe. Its full title is "Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment – Safety requirements"(EN 62368-1), and it corresponds internationally to IEC 62368-1.

Definition and Scope of the EN 62368 Standard

1. Definition

EN 62368 is a harmonized standard under the European low voltage directive (LVD). It unifies safety requirements for audio/video (AV), information technology (IT), and communication technology equipment, replacing the outdated en 60950-1 (for IT equipment) and en 60065 (for AV equipment).

2. Applicable Products

1. IT Equipment: Computers, servers, routers, network devices, etc.

2. AV Equipment: Televisions, sound systems, projectors, headphones, etc.

3. Communication Equipment: Smartphones, wireless chargers, base station devices, etc.

4. Emerging Technologies: Energy storage devices, wireless power transmitters, etc.

Core Safety Principles

EN 62368 adopts a Hazard-Based Engineering (HBE)approach. It identifies potentially hazardous energy sources (e.g., electric shock, fire, mechanical injury) within a device and develops proactive protective measuresrather than relying solely on traditional prescriptive rules.

Six Key Safety Dimensions of EN 62368

1. Electrical Safety: Protection through insulation, grounding, and current-limiting circuits.

2. Thermal Safety: Temperature regulation, flame-retardant enclosures, and heat resistance of materials.

3. Mechanical Safety: Enclosure strength and protection against moving parts.

4. Acoustic and Environmental Safety: Noise level limitations and control of hazardous substances.

5. Thermal Media Safety: Prevention of leaks involving dangerous liquids or gases.

6. Physical Safety: Protection from injury due to contact with user-accessible parts.

Key testing itemsinclude insulation performance testing, abnormal temperature rise assessment, mechanical strength tests, and battery safety evaluations.

Implementation and Updates of EN 62368

1. Mandatory compliancebegan on December 20, 2020. Products entering the EU market must comply with EN 62368-1; certifications under the previous standards are no longer valid.

2. The latest versionis IEC 62368-1:2018 (3rd Edition), which includes new requirements for outdoor equipment and wireless chargers.

3. The upcoming 4th Edition (expected)introduces:

a. Prohibition of components certified under outdated standards (EN 60950-1 / EN 60065)

b. New T.8 testsfor thermoplastic materials

c. Foreign object detection standards for wireless power transmitters

d. Enhanced safety evaluations for lithium batteries, including current tolerance in high-temperature environments.

Significance of EN 62368 Certification

1. Market Access

 Compliance with EN 62368 is mandatory for entering the EU market and meeting LVD requirements.

2. Global Compatibility

 Aligned closely with IEC standards, it supports “one test, global acceptance,”helping reduce global compliance costs.

Application Scenarios

1. Wireless Chargers: Must meet requirements for foreign object detection, temperature limitation, and electromagnetic compatibility.

2. Energy Storage Devices: Subject to fire-resistant enclosure and environmental adaptability tests.

3. Smart Wearable Devices: Require evaluation of battery safety and mechanical structure reliability.

Through continuous updates to its technical specifications, EN 62368keeps pace with emerging technologies and ensures safety and reliability throughout the full lifecycle of electronic products.