EN 62368-1 applies to information technology equipment powered by battery or mains, including electrical commercial devices and associated devices, with a rated voltage not exceeding 600 V.

EN 62368-1 also applies to:

• Telecommunication infrastructure devices and telecommunication terminal equipment designed for use regardless of the power supply,

• Devices designed to be directly connected to a CABLE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM or used as an infrastructure device,

• Devices designed to use a DC POWER NETWORK as a communication medium.

It also applies to components and subsystems intended for use with information technology equipment. Compliance with EN 62368-1 for the entire system does not require complete conformity with all the rules for the component and subsystem.

Note 1 - Examples of aspects that the components and subsystems are not required to comply with include power ratings and access to hazardous parts.

Note 2 - Even if a device contains large systems such as ventilation, fire detection, and suppression systems that are not fully covered by EN 62368-1, the electronic parts of the device are still subject to EN 62368-1. Different rules may be required for some applications.

EN 62368-1 covers safety rules to reduce risks like burns, electrical shock, and injury for OPERATORS, ordinary persons who may come in contact with the device, and, when specified, SERVICE PERSONNEL.

It aims to reduce certain risks associated with interconnection units or independent units forming a system, for devices intended for installation, operation, and maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Examples of devices covered by EN 62368-1 include:

• Banking equipment like ATMs and cash counting/payment machines.
• Data and word processing machines and related devices.
• Data network devices like bridges, data circuit termination devices, routers.
• Electrical and electronic sales devices like cash registers and point of sale terminals.
• Electrical and electronic office machines such as calculators, photocopiers, dictating devices, shredders, etc.
• Other information technology devices including photo printing machines and multimedia devices.
• Post devices such as mail processing machines.
• Telecommunication infrastructure devices like billing equipment, network feeding devices, repeaters.
• Telecommunication terminal equipment like fax machines, PBX systems, telephones.

General rules: 1.3.1 Application of rules Detailed rules in EN 62368-1 apply only to safety.

Circuits and construction should be examined carefully to account for possible failure outcomes to determine if safety is at risk.

1.3.2 Equipment design and construction The equipment should be designed to provide protection against fire, electrical shock, and injury under normal use and possible abnormal conditions or single-fault conditions.

The equipment's compliance is checked via inspection or relevant tests.

1.3.3 Supply voltage The equipment should be designed to be safe under any supply voltage it is intended to connect to.

Compliance is checked via inspection or by using a supply voltage as specified in the relevant section of EN 62368-1.

1.3.4 Structures outside the scope of EN 62368-1 Devices incorporating materials or technologies outside the scope of EN 62368-1 should ensure safety levels at least equivalent to those required by this standard.

1.3.5 Equivalent materials When EN 62368-1 specifies a particular insulation class, the use of a higher class of insulation is permitted.

1.3.6 Transport and usage instructions When the usage instructions affect the results of the device's operation or tests, the allowed directions for use must be followed.

1.3.7 Selection criteria When EN 62368-1 allows different methods or conditions for compliance, the selection criteria are specified by the manufacturer.

1.3.8 Examples cited in EN 62368-1 Examples of device types, construction methods, and failure scenarios are mentioned with words like "for example" or "such as", and do not exclude other cases.

1.3.9 Conductive liquids For electrical rules in EN 62368-1, conductive liquids should be treated as conductive parts.

1.3.Z1 Protection from excessive sound pressure Devices intended to be used with headphones or speakers should be designed to ensure they do not present danger from excessive sound pressure under normal or fault conditions.

1.4 General rules for testing

1.4.1 Application of tests Tests in EN 62368-1 are only performed when safety is in question.

If it’s clear that a specific test is not applicable, no test should be performed.

1.4.2 Type tests Unless otherwise specified, tests in this standard are TYPE TESTS.

1.4.3 Test samples Test samples should represent the device the user will receive or use.

1.4.4 Operational parameters for testing Tests should be conducted with the device under the most undesirable combination of the following operational variables:

• Supply voltage, frequency, operating temperature, device location, and other relevant parameters.

1.4.5 Test supply voltage To determine the most undesirable supply voltage, consider nominal voltage tolerances and limits for the device.

1.4.6 Test supply frequency Consider different supply frequencies and their tolerances in testing.

1.4.7 Electrical measuring instruments Electrical measuring instruments should have sufficient bandwidth to measure all components of the parameter being tested accurately.

1.4.8 Normal operating voltages Consider normal operating voltages including those generated in the device or supplied from external sources.

1.4.9 Ground potential measurement Ground potential between conductive parts should be measured and monitored.

1.4.10 Loading configuration of the test device When measuring load current, ensure that any variable loads provided by the manufacturer are considered and adjusted to the most undesirable conditions.

1.4.11 Power drawn from the telecommunication network The power drawn from the telecommunication network is assumed to be limited to 15 VA for the purposes of this standard.

1.4.12 Temperature measurement conditions Temperatures measured on the test device should comply with the relevant sections of EN 62368-1.