scope:

The Extended version (EXV) of an official IEC Standard offers users a comprehensive and detailed document that encompasses both the standard itself and its associated reference documents. In the EXV, any substitutions or additional content are prominently highlighted within the document, making it easier for users to identify and understand the modifications or extensions that have been made.

Equipment included in scope

This document specifies safety requirements for hand-held multimeters and other meters for domestic and professional use, capable of measuring MAINS.

HAND-HELD MULTImeters are multi-range multifunction measuring instruments intended to measure voltage and other electrical quantities such as resistance or current. Their primary purpose is to measure voltage on a live MAINS. They are suitable to be supported by one hand during NORMAL USE.

Equipment excluded from scope

This standard does not apply to equipment within the scope of:

a) IEC 60065 (Audio, video and similar electronic apparatus);

b) IEC 60204 (Safety of machinery - Electrical equipment of machines);

c) IEC 60335 (Household and similar electrical appliances);

d) IEC 60364 (Electrical installations of buildings);

e) IEC 60439 (Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies);

f) IEC 60601 (Medical electrical equipment);

g) IEC 60950 (Information technology equipment including electrical business equipment, except as specified in 1.1.3);

h) IEC 61558 (Power transformers, power supply units and similar);

i) IEC 61010-031 (Hand-held probe assemblies);

j) IEC 61243-3 (Live working - Voltage detectors - Part 3: Two-pole low-voltage type).

aa) IEC 61557 (all parts), Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures

HAND-HELD EQUIPMENT such as oscilloscopes, wattmeters, process control multimeters not RATED for measuring voltage on a live MAINS, clamp multimeters and communications test sets are not within the scope of this document.

Computing equipment

This standard applies only to computers, processors, etc. which form part of equipment within the scope of this standard or are designed for use exclusively with the equipment.

NOTE Computing devices and similar equipment within the scope of IEC 60950 and conforming to its requirements are considered to be suitable for use with equipment within the scope of this standard. However, some of the requirements of IEC 60950 for resistance to moisture and liquids are less stringent than those in this standard (see 5.4.4 second paragraph)).

Object

Aspects included in scope

The purpose of the requirements of this standard is to ensure that HAZARDS to the OPERATOR and the surrounding area are reduced to a tolerable level.

Requirements for protection against particular types of HAZARD are given in Clauses 6 to 13, as follows:

a) electric shock or burn (see Clause 6);

b) mechanical HAZARDS (see Clauses 7 and 8);

c) spread of fire or arc flash from the hand-held MULTImeters (see Clause 9);

d) excessive temperature (see Clause 10);

e) effects of fluids and fluid pressure (see Clause 11);

f) effects of radiation, including lasers sources, and sonic and ultrasonic pressure (see Clause 12);

g) liberated gases, explosion and implosion (see Clause 13).

Requirements for protection against HAZARDS arising from NORMAL USE, REASONABLY FORESEEABLE MISUSE and ergonomic factors are specified in Clause 16 and Clause 101.

Annex BB provides guidance to equipment manufacturers on HAZARDS that should be considered for equipment intended for performing tests and measurements on hazardous conductors, including MAINS conductors and telecommunication network conductors.

RISK assessment for HAZARDS or environments not fully covered above is specified in Clause 17.

NOTE Attention is drawn to the existence of additional requirements regarding the health and safety of labour forces.

Aspects excluded from scope

This standard does not cover:

a) reliable function, performance, or other properties of the equipment not related to safety;

b) effectiveness of transport packaging;

c) EMC requirements (see the IEC 61326 series);

d) protective measures for explosive atmospheres (see the IEC 60079 series).

Verification

This standard also specifies methods of verifying that the equipment meets the requirements of this standard, through inspection, TYPE TESTS, ROUTINE TESTS, and RISK assessment.

Environmental conditions

Normal environmental conditions

This standard applies to equipment designed to be safe at least under the following conditions:

a) indoor use;

b) altitude up to 2 000 m;

c) temperature 5 °C to 40 °C;

d) maximum relative humidity 80 % for temperatures up to 31 °C decreasing linearly to 50 % relative humidity at 40 °C;

e) MAINS supply voltage fluctuations up to ±10 % of the nominal voltage;

f) TRANSIENT OVERVOLTAGES up to the levels of OVERVOLTAGE CATEGORY ll;

NOTE 1 These levels of transient overvoltage are typical for equipment supplied from the building wiring.

g) TEMPORARY OVERVOLTAGES occurring on the MAINS supply.

h) applicable POLLUTION DEGREE of the intended environment (POLLUTION DEGREE 2 in most cases).

NOTE 2 Manufacturers may specify more restricted environmental conditions for operation; nevertheless the equipment must be safe within these normal environmental conditions.

Extended environmental conditions

This standard applies to equipment designed to be safe not only in the environmental conditions specified in 1.4.1, but also in any of the following conditions as RATED by the manufacturer of the equipment:

a) outdoor use;

b) altitude above 2 000 m;

c) ambient temperatures below 5 °C or above 40 °C;

d) relative humidity above the levels specified in 1.4.1;

e) MAINS supply voltage fluctuations exceeding ±10 % of the nominal voltage;

f) WET LOCATION;

g) TRANSIENT OVERVOLTAGES up to the levels of OVERVOLTAGE CATEGORY III or IV (see Annex K).