Electric testing and measuring equipment must fulfil the safety requirements of the Low Voltage Directive

The safety requirements in the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU also apply to electric testing and measuring equipment. In the directive’s list of harmonised standards, EN/IEC 61010-1 can be used to demonstrate conformity with the safety requirements in the directive.

FORCE Technology takes an active role in standardisation work for the standard EN/IEC 61010-1 “Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use – Part 1: General requirements”. This gives us access to the documentation that forms the basis of the standard, as well as influence on the future development of the standard.

Scope and work tasks for TC 66-committee

The standard IEC 61010-1 and its sub-sections are drafted by the IEC’s (International Electrotechnical Commission) technical committee, TC 66. The committee is tasked with drawing up standards for equipment used for testing and measuring equipment, industrial process control equipment, and laboratory equipment, wherever they are used.

TC 66 comprises two working groups, WG1 and WG2, plus seven maintenance teams:

WG1 draws up the standard IEC 61010-1, where the general safety requirements for equipment under TC 66’s area are located.
WG2 draws up Part 2 standards with the special safety requirements that exist for measuring and testing equipment.
The maintenance teams (MT10, MT13, MT14, MT15, MT16, MT17, and MT18) have the task of maintaining and updating the sub-sections for specific equipment belonging under TC 66’s area of responsibility.

Important information about forthcoming changes to the standard

Because FORCE Technology is a DANAK-accredited test facility for conducting tests and verifications in accordance with EN/IEC 61010-1, it is vital that we maintain the professional expertise as well as knowledge of upcoming changes to the standard. The standards are regularly updated in line with technological developments such as new components, materials, and manufacturing processes.

With this knowledge about the standards, FORCE Technology has the opportunity to advise our customers about which versions of the standard they can/must use for testing their product. It could be that the current standard will be changed over the course of the product’s lifetime and will therefore need to be retested when the updated version of the standard enters into force.

Part of a professional international network

Our participation in the standardisation work also means that we have access to a strong professional network of international experts who we can contact should any doubts arise regarding the interpretation of the standard’s requirements and point out any ambiguities in the standard which need clarifying.

As no national committee exists at present, FORCE Technology takes part via email, which gives us access to TC 66’s working documents, i.e. proposals for changes/amendments to existing standards, comments on draft standards and suggestions for amendments. This takes place in consultation with Danish Standards, which – on the basis of its role as the National Standards Body for Denmark – relays comments, proposed amendments and votes to TC 66.

More info