Electrical regulations and standards
Regulations
In most countries, electrical installations shall comply with more than one set of regulations, issued by National Authorities or by recognized private bodies. It is essential to take into account these local constraints before starting the design.
These regulations may be based on national standards derived from the IEC 60364: Low-voltage electrical installations.
Standards
This Guide is based on relevant IEC standards, in particular IEC 60364. IEC 60364 has been established by engineering experts of all countries in the world comparing their experience at an international level. Currently, the safety principles of IEC 60364 series, IEC 61140, 60479 series and IEC 61201 are the fundamentals of most electrical standards in the world (see table below).
IEC 60038 | IEC standard voltages |
IEC 60051 series | Direct acting indicating analogue electrical measuring instruments and their accessories |
IEC 60071-1 | Insulation co-ordination - Definitions, principles and rules |
IEC 60076-1 | Power transformers - General |
IEC 60076-2 | Power transformers - Temperature rise for liquid immersed transformers |
IEC 60076-3 | Power transformers - Insulation levels, dielectric tests and external clearances in air |
IEC 60076-5 | Power transformers - Ability to withstand short-circuit |
IEC 60076-7 | Power transformers - Loading guide for oil-immersed power transformers |
IEC 60076-10 | Power transformers - Determination of sound levels |
IEC 60076-11 | Power transformers - Dry-type transformers |
IEC 60076-12 | Power transformers - Loading guide for Dry-type power transformers |
IEC 60146-1-1 | Semiconductor converters - General requirements and line commutated converters - Specifications of basic requirements |
IEC 60255-1 | Measuring relays and protection equipment - Common requirements |
IEC 60269-1 | Low-voltage fuses - General requirements |
IEC 60269-2 | Low-voltage fuses - Supplementary requirements for fuses for use by authorized persons (fuses mainly for industrial application) - Examples of standardized systems of fuses A to K |
IEC 60282-1 | High-voltage fuses - Current-limiting fuses |
IEC 60287-1-1 | Electric cables - Calculation of the current rating - Current rating equations (100% load factor) and calculation of losses - General |
IEC 60364-1 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Fundamental principles, assessment of general characteristics, definitions |
IEC 60364-4-41 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Protection for safety - Protection against electric shock |
IEC 60364-4-42 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Protection for safety - Protection against thermal effects |
IEC 60364-4-43 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Protection for safety - Protection against overcurrent |
IEC 60364-4-44 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Protection for safety - Protection against voltage disturbances and electromagnetic disturbances |
IEC 60364-5-51 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Common rules |
IEC 60364-5-52 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Wiring systems |
IEC 60364-5-53 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Isolation, switching and control |
IEC 60364-5-54 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Earthing arrangements and protective conductors |
IEC 60364-5-55 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Other equipment |
IEC 60364-5-56 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Safety services |
IEC 60364-6 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Verification |
IEC 60364-7-701 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Locations containing a bath or shower |
IEC 60364-7-702 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Swimming pools and fountains |
IEC 60364-7-703 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Rooms and cabins containing sauna heaters |
IEC 60364-7-704 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Construction and demolition site installations |
IEC 60364-7-705 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Agricultural and horticultural premises |
IEC 60364-7-706 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Conducting locations with restrictive movement |
IEC 60364-7-708 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Caravan parks, camping parks and similar locations |
IEC 60364-7-709 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Marinas and similar locations |
IEC 60364-7-710 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Medical locations |
IEC 60364-7-711 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Exhibitions, shows and stands |
IEC 60364-7-712 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems |
IEC 60364-7-713 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Furniture |
IEC 60364-7-714 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - External lighting installations |
IEC 60364-7-715 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Extra-low-voltage lighting installations |
IEC 60364-7-717 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Mobile or transportable units |
IEC 60364-7-718 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Communal facilities and workplaces |
IEC 60364-7-721 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Electrical installations in caravans and motor caravans |
IEC 60364-7-722 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Supplies for electric vehicles |
IEC 60364-7-729 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Operating or maintenance gangways |
IEC 60364-7-740 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Temporary electrical installations for structures, amusement devices and booths at fairgrounds, amusement parks and circuses |
IEC 60364-7-753 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Requirements for special installations or locations - Heating cables and embedded heating systems |
IEC60364-8-1 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Energy efficiency |
IEC60364-8-82 | Low-voltage electrical installations - Functional aspects - Prosumer's low-voltage electrical installations |
IEC 60445 | Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and identification - Identification of equipment terminals, conductors terminations and conductors |
IEC 60479-1 | Effects of current on human beings and livestock - General aspects |
IEC 60479-2 | Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Special aspects |
IEC 60479-3 | Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Effects of currents passing through the body of livestock |
IEC 60529 | Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code) |
IEC 60644 | Specification for high-voltage fuse-links for motor circuit applications |
IEC 60664 | Insulation coordination for equipment within low-voltage systems - all parts |
IEC 60715 | Dimensions of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear. Standardized mounting on rails for mechanical support of electrical devices in switchgear and controlgear installations. |
IEC 60724 | Short-circuit temperature limits of electric cables with rated voltages of 1 kV (Um = 1.2 kV) and 3 kV (Um = 3.6 kV) |
IEC 60755 | General requirements for residual current operated protective devices |
IEC 60787 | Application guide for the selection of high-voltage current-limiting fuses-link for transformer circuit |
IEC 60831-1 | Shunt power capacitors of the self-healing type for a.c. systems having a rated voltage up to and including 1000 V - Part 1: General - Performance, testing and rating - Safety requirements - Guide for installation and operation |
IEC 60831-2 | Shunt power capacitors of the self-healing type for a.c. systems having a rated voltage up to and including 1000 V - Part 2: Ageing test, self-healing test and destruction test |
IEC 60947-1 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - General rules |
IEC 60947-2 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Circuit-breakers |
IEC 60947-3 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse-combination units |
IEC 60947-4-1 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters |
IEC 60947-6-1 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Multiple function equipment - Transfer switching equipment |
IEC 61000 series | Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) |
IEC 61140 | Protection against electric shocks - common aspects for installation and equipment |
IEC 61201 | Use of conventional touch voltage limits – Application guide |
IEC/TR 61439-0 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Guidance to specifying assemblies |
IEC 61439-1 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - general rules |
IEC 61439-2 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - power switchgear and controlgear assemblies |
IEC 61439-3 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - distribution boards intended to be operated by ordinary persons (DBO) |
IEC 61439-4 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Particular requirements for assemblies for construction sites (ACS) |
IEC 61439-5 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Assemblies for power distribution in public networks |
IEC 61439-6 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Busbar trunking systems (busways) |
IEC 61557-1 | Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V a.c. and 1 500 V d.c. - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures - General requirements |
IEC 61557-8 | Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V a.c. and 1 500 V d.c. - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures - Insulation monitoring devices for IT systems |
IEC 61557-9 | Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V a.c. and 1500 V d.c. - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures - Equipment for insulation fault location in IT systems |
IEC 61557-12 | Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V a.c. and 1 500 V d.c. - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures - Performance measuring and monitoring devices (PMD) |
IEC 61558-2-6 | Safety of transformers, reactors, power supply units and similar products for supply voltages up to 1100 V - Particular requirements and test for safety isolating transformers and power supply units incorporating isolating transformers |
IEC 61643-11 | Low-voltage surge protective devices - Surge protective devices connected to low-voltage power systems - Requirements and test methods |
IEC 61643-12 | Low-voltage surge protective devices - Surge protective devices connected to low-voltage power distribution systems - Selection and application principles |
IEC 61643-21 | Low voltage surge protective devices - Surge protective devices connected to telecommunications and signalling networks - Performance requirements and testing methods |
IEC 61643-22 | Low-voltage surge protective devices - Surge protective devices connected to telecommunications and signalling networks - Selection and application principles |
IEC 61921 | Power capacitors - Low-voltage power factor correction banks |
IEC 61936-1 | Power installations exceeding 1 kV a.c. - Part 1: Common rules |
IEC 62271-1 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Common specifications |
IEC 62271-100 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Alternating-current circuit-breakers |
IEC 62271-101 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Synthetic testing |
IEC 62271-102 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Alternating current disconnectors and earthing switches |
IEC 62271-103 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Switches for rated voltages above 1 kV up to and including 52 kV |
IEC 62271-105 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Alternating current switch-fuse combinations for rated voltages above 1 kV up to and including 52 kV |
IEC 62271-200 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Alternating current metal-enclosed switchgear and controlgear for rated voltages above 1 kV and up to and including 52 kV |
IEC 62271-202 | High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - High-voltage/low voltage prefabricated substations |
IEC 62305-1 | Protection against lightning - Part 1: General principles |
IEC 62305-2 | Protection against lightning - Part 2: Risk management |
IEC 62305-3 | Protection against lightning - Part 3: Physical damage to structures and life hazard |
IEC 62305-4 | Protection against lightning - Part 4: Electrical and electronic systems within structures |
IEC 62586-2 | Power quality measurement in power supply systems - Part 2: Functional tests and uncertainty requirements |
IEC TS 62749 | Assessment of power quality - Characteristics of electricity supplied by public networks |