What is IEC 62368 Certification?

EN 62368 is 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), which corresponds internationally to IEC 62368-1.

Definition and Scope of EN 62368 Certification in the EU

1. Definition

EN 62368 is a harmonized standard under the EU low voltage directive (LVD). It aims to unify safety requirements for Audio/Video (AV), Information Technology (IT), and Communication Technology equipment, replacing the older en 60950-1 (IT equipment) and en 60065 (AV equipment).

2. Applicable Products

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

B.        AV Equipment: Televisions, audio systems, projectors, headphones, etc.

C.        Communication Devices: Smartphones, wireless chargers, base station equipment, etc.

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

Core Safety Requirements

The standard adopts a Hazard-Based Engineering (HBE)approach, which focuses on identifying energy sources within devices that could pose hazards (e.g., electric shock, fire, mechanical injury), and then implementing active protective measures, rather than relying solely on traditional prescriptive rules.

Six Key Safety Dimensions of EN 62368

1. Electrical Safety: Design of insulation, grounding, and current-limiting circuits

2. Thermal Safety: Temperature control, flame-retardant enclosures, and heat resistance

3. Mechanical Safety: Structural integrity of enclosures, protection against moving parts

4. Acoustic & Environmental Safety: Noise limitations, control of hazardous substances

5. Liquid/Gas Medium Safety: Prevention of leakage of hazardous liquids or gases

6. Physical Safety: Protection against user contact-related injuries

Key test items include insulation performance testing, abnormal temperature rise evaluation, mechanical strength testing, and battery safety assessments.

Implementation and Updates of EN 62368

1.        Mandatory Enforcement Date: From December 20, 2020, the EU requires all new products to comply with EN 62368-1. Certifications under older standards became invalid.

2.        Latest Version: IEC 62368-1:2018 (Third Edition), which includes new requirements for outdoor equipment and wireless chargers.

3.        Fourth Edition (Expected Updates):

a)        Prohibits use of components certified under obsolete standards (EN 60950-1 / EN 60065)

b)       Introduces T.8 testing for thermoplastic materials

c)        Adds foreign object detection standards for wireless power transmitters

d)       Enhances safety evaluations for lithium batteries (e.g., current tolerance in high-temperature environments)

Significance of EN 62368 Certification

1. Market Access

 Compliance with EN 62368 is a mandatory requirement for entering the EU market and meeting lvd directive standards.

2. Global Applicability

 The standard is highly aligned with IEC requirements, supporting a “one test, multiple approvals” approach, which reduces global compliance costs.

Application Scenarios

1. Wireless Chargers: Must comply with foreign object detection, temperature limits, and EMC requirements

2. Energy Storage Devices: Must pass flame-retardant enclosure and environmental adaptability tests

3. Smart Wearables: Must undergo battery safety and mechanical structure reliability evaluations

By continuously updating its technical specifications, EN 62368 adapts to emerging technologies, ensuring safety and reliability throughout the full lifecycle of electronic products.