Compliance

IEC 60730-2-7

IEC 60730-2-7:2015 (Automatic electrical controls - Part 2-7: Particular requirements for timers and time switches) applies to timers and time switches for household and similar use.¹

IEC 61058-1 - Switches for appliances - Part 1-1: Requirements for mechanical switches

IEC 61058-1 specifies the requirements for switches that are used in appliances. It targets switches that are intended to control electrical appliances and other household equipment where the the rated voltage does not exceed 480V and the rated current does not exceed 63A.²

IEC 62368-1

IEC 62368-1 takes the approach of classifying electrical equipment as energy sources into 3 classes and prescribes safeguards against the energy sources. The safeguards are designed to reduce the chance of injury and property damage. The standard also classifies people into three different groups, the ordinary person, the instructed person and the skilled person.

Energy source	Effect on people	Effect on property
Class 1	Not painful (but may be detectable)	Ignition not likely
Class 2	Painful, but no injury	Ignition possible
Class 3	Injury can occur (including lethal and non-lethal injuries)	Ignition likely and rapid spread of fire

This standard places a large focus on 3 different classes of energy source, class 1, 2 and 3. A colour scheme of green (class 1), yellow (class 2) and red (class 3) is used throughout to indicate relevant requirements.

Safeguards

Safeguards are further classified:

• Installation safeguard: Safeguard that is not controlled by the equipment manufacturer.

• Personal safeguard.

• Behavioural safeguards: These are further classified into:

  • Instructional safeguard:
  • Precautionary safeguard: The training and experience/supervision of an instructed person by a skilled person.
  • Skill safeguard: The education, training, knowledge and experience of a skilled person.

• Equipment safeguard.

• 2010

• 2014

• 2023

The equivalent Australian/NZ standard is AS/NZS 62368.1.

Energy Sources

Energy sources are classified into 3 classes:

• ES1: Is either voltage or current limited and safe to touch. This is roughly in line with the old SELV classification (<50VAC, <60VDC).
• ES2: Generally, ES2 is considered as a non-hazardous voltage and is expected to supply up to 100W under normal and single fault conditions.
• ES3: ES3 has no voltage or current limits and is considered hazardous. An example would be 230VAC mains power.

Footnotes

1. IEC. IEC 60730-2-7:2015 - Automatic electrical controls - Part 2-7: Particular requirements for timers and time switches [product page]. Retrieved 2025-02-27, from https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/21938. ↩

2. BSI Knowledge. BS EN IEC 61058-1:2018 - TC - Switches for appliances - General requirements. Retrieved 2025-02-27, from https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/switches-for-appliances-general-requirements. ↩