What is UL62368-1:2025 for Electronic Products?

New European and American Safety Standard UL62368-1:2025

Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), ul 62368-1:2025 "Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment - Part 1: Safety Requirements" (4th Edition) was officially released and adopted as an American National Standard on July 31, 2025.

This standard is a supporting update to the international standard iec 62368-1:2023 (4th Edition) and the European Union standard EN IEC 62368-1:2024 (4th Edition), marking the comprehensive upgrade of the safety specification system for audio/video and information and communication technology (AV/ICT) equipment in the United States.

Standard Upgrade

UL 62368-1:2025 is developed based on the 4th Edition of IEC 62368-1:2023 by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its core logic shifts from "regulation by product classification" to "risk-based hierarchical control by energy source". The standard classifies energy sources into three levels:

①　ES1 Level: Safe contact range (e.g., output voltage ≤ 60V DC, current ≤ 8A), accessible directly by users;

②　ES2 Level: Perceivable but non-lethal (e.g., 75V DC voltage), requiring additional protective measures;

③　ES3 Level: High-risk energy source (exceeding ES2 limits), requiring double insulation or physical enclosure to prevent contact.

Key Technical Update Content

(1) Component Certification Requirements

Components/parts certified under the traditional standards iec 60950-1 (IT equipment) or IEC 60065 (audio/video equipment) are no longer accepted. Manufacturers relying on components/parts certified to traditional standards need to urgently review their BOM lists. It is expected that many components/parts of each manufacturer will require recertification or replacement;

(2) Button Battery Safety Specifications

Updated structural requirements for button batteries and added requirements from UL 4200a (safety standard for products containing button batteries);

(3) Power Output Parameters

Updated relevant tables for external circuit requirements, revised the definition of external circuit classification to align with IEC TR 62102, and corrected the overvoltage values for different types of external circuits;

(4) Mechanical Structure Requirements

Updated requirements for fire-resistant enclosure openings, mainly revising the dimensional requirements for side openings;

(5) Wireless Charging Foreign Object Testing

Updated requirements for wireless charging foreign object testing, clarifying that the centers of the coils of the wireless charger and the charged product should be aligned or assisted in alignment before testing. Two test states are added: Part A (power on first, then place foreign objects) and Part B (place foreign objects first, then power on);

(6) Resistor Safety Protection

For fuse resistors used as safety protection in products, added the requirement that fuse resistors must comply with IEC 60127-8;

(7) Liquid Cooling Component Requirements

Updated requirements for liquid cooling components. For modular liquid cooling systems (LFC) with a capacity exceeding 1 liter, new requirements such as leak detection, fluid compatibility, and pressure relief are formulated. Applicable to advanced heat dissipation scenarios such as AI servers and high-performance computing equipment;

(8) Battery System Requirements

Significantly updated relevant requirements for rechargeable lithium batteries. Added mandatory requirements for fixed lithium battery systems, covering non-portable equipment such as data center backup power supplies and large-scale energy storage devices. For batteries with segmented parameters, clearly added segmented testing, etc.;

(9) Requirements for Mesh/Grille Structure Equipment

For equipment with mesh/grille structures, equipment using air-permeable materials, and equipment with foam/fabric covering on the surface, added fire spread testing caused by external heat sources.

Scope of Impact

UL 62368-1:2025 applies to all electronic equipment connected to the power grid or powered by batteries, including but not limited to:

①　Computers and peripherals: Laptops, servers, routers, UPS power supplies;

②　Consumer electronics: Bluetooth headsets, smart speakers, digital cameras, drones;

③　Display equipment: LCD TVs, LED displays, projectors;

④　Communication equipment: 5G base stations, fiber optic terminals, on-board communication modules;

⑤　Industrial equipment: Medical monitors, industrial robot control units, AI servers.

Data Alert: According to statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 83% of Chinese products recalled due to electrical safety issues in 2024 were directly related to missing or invalid certifications, with an average loss of 2.2 million US dollars per enterprise.