What are IEC Standards

In the world of product and materials testing, the adoption of international standards is crucial to ensuring quality, safety, and compatibility in an increasingly globalized world.

For this reason, several international organizations issue standards and guidelines for manufacturers, outlining shared testing procedures and issuing related certifications.

The IEC, or International Electrotechnical Commission, is one of these and among the oldest.

In today's article, we'll look at the history of IEC standards, their current role, and which standards . environmental testing specifically 

History of IEC Standards

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) was founded in 1906 as a result of a debate that had begun six years earlier at the Paris International Electrical Congress. National technical commissions from various countries united in an effort to establish an internationally recognized body for electrotechnical standardization. 

Since its inception, the IEC has been committed to developing and promoting global standards for a wide range of electrical and electronic technologies. These procedures are primarily aimed at manufacturers of both components and consumer electronics.

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What is IEC for today?

Today, the IEC is among the most important international standards organizations and by far the most important for the electronics sector.

Over 170 countries adopt and recognize IEC standards, and their ramifications cover a broad spectrum of industries, including energy, telecommunications, industrial automation, and consumer electronics. 

By developing increasingly precise and rigorous tests on products and materials, IEC standards globally improve the safety, efficiency and compatibility of electronic products and devices.

From the manufacturers' point of view, furthermore, IEC standards help companies reduce production costs and overcome trade barriers, ensuring that their products can be used and accepted globally.

IEC Standards Environmental Tests

On these pages we mainly deal with environmental tests carried out in climatic chambers.

In electronics, both components and consumer electronics, environmental testing is crucial to evaluating the efficiency and reliability of such delicate products under all environmental conditions.

Let's see what are the main environmental tests that we find in the IEC Standards.

• Humidity and heat test (IEC 60068-2-30):

Relative humidity and temperature are the main parameters of any climate test. Humidity and heat testing involves repeatedly exposing the sample to different parameters to evaluate how materials and components resist corrosion and deterioration. This is particularly important for electronic devices used in tropical or humid environments.

• Low temperature test (IEC 60068-2-1):

Extreme cold is as problematic as heat for many devices. This procedure exposes the sample to extremely low temperatures. It is essential for equipment used in cold climates or for aerospace applications.

• Thermal shock test (IEC 60068-2-14):

Not only can extreme values ​​influence the performance of devices, but also sudden and significant temperature changes, i.e. thermal stress.  

For this purpose, there's a thermal shock test. We've discussed it in depth here. 

• Sunlight exposure test (IEC 60068-2-5):

This test evaluates the resistance of materials and components to prolonged exposure to sunlight, technically called solar radiation, by simulating the effects of UV rays and heat. It is essential for all electronics that are permanently exposed to the outdoors throughout their life cycle.

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Difference between IEC, ISO and EN Standards

One of the most frequently asked questions concerns the difference between IEC, ISO, and EN. Although all three are standards bodies, they have distinct scopes and functions.

In many cases, IEC standards are transposed as EN standards in the European Union. For example, IEC 60068-2-1 becomes EN 60068-2-1 when adopted at the European level, maintaining the same technical content.

IEC and ISO work closely together: some standards are published jointly under the acronym ISO/IEC, as in the case of ISO/IEC 17025 for the competence of testing laboratories.

List of Main IEC Standards by Sector

IEC standards cover a broad spectrum of applications. Here are the main IEC standards organized by sector:

Electronics and Components

• IEC 60068 – Complete set of environmental tests (temperature, humidity, vibration, shock)
• IEC 61000 – Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
• IEC 60529 – Degrees of protection (IP) (dust and water resistance)

Energy and Photovoltaics

• IEC 61215 – Qualification of photovoltaic modules
• IEC 61730 – Safety of photovoltaic modules
• IEC 62133 – Safety of lithium batteries

Industrial Automation

• IEC 61131 – Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
• IEC 62443 – Industrial Cyber ​​Security

Frequently Asked Questions about IEC Standards

What does the acronym IEC mean?

IEC stands for Electrotechnical Commission. It is the global body that develops and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies.

Are IEC standards mandatory?

IEC standards are voluntary by nature. However, they become mandatory when incorporated into national or European legislation (as EN standards) or when contractually required by customers or target markets.

What is the difference between IEC and ISO?

The main difference is the scope: IEC deals exclusively with electrical engineering, electronics, and related technologies, while ISO covers all other industrial sectors. The two organizations collaborate and in some cases publish joint standards (ISO/IEC).

Which IEC environmental tests can be performed in a climatic chamber?

Climatic chambers allow you to perform most of the IEC 60068 series tests , including: heat and humidity tests (IEC 60068-2-30), low temperature tests (IEC 60068-2-1), thermal shock tests (IEC 60068-2-14) and sunlight exposure tests (IEC 60068-2-5).

The FDM Environmental Chamber according to IEC Standards

We have seen that most environmental testing on electronics involves exposure to extreme conditions.

For this reason, there is no better tool for performing them than the environmental chamber. The environmental chamber is the type of climatic chamber specialized in extreme climate tests, that is, those that touch significant values ​​of temperature and relative humidity, both high and low.

FDM environmental chambers are capable of performing all of the above tests in accordance with the procedures outlined in IEC Standards.

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Authoritative Sources

• IEC — International Electrotechnical Commission — World Electrotechnical Standards Organization.
• IEC Webstore — Official IEC Standard Catalog.
• CENELEC — European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (transposition EN IEC).
• CEI — Italian Electrotechnical Committee — Italian electrical standards body (implements IEC as CEI EN).
• IECEE — CB Scheme — Global Electrical Product Certification Scheme.