The new version mainly involved the revision or introduction of the following topics: The new standard has not yet been incorporated in the Official Journal of the European Union. It is expected that national standards will be derived from this from late 2017 onward. In recent years, the International Electrotechnical Commission worked on a new version of IEC 60204, which was published in late 2016. Relates to control panels with rated voltages of up to 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC.Starts at the point of connection to the electrical equipment of the machine.Applies to the use of electronic equipment and systems for machines.
The DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies) has also published a recommendation in this regard.īasic safety standard IEC 60204-1, “Electrical equipment of machinery – Part 1: General requirements for the electrical equipment of machines” constitutes an important standard for control panels as part of a machine. If further risks are identified during the risk analysis that, in the opinion of the manufacturer, are not covered by IEC 60204-1, then IEC 61439-1/-2 and, if necessary, other standards may also be consulted as an additional design aid. For the European market, this is even stipulated in the relevant directives. This is why we recommend that a risk analysis be carried out.
IEC 60204-1 is the relevant standard, but it is the manufacturer's responsibility to ensure the best possible electrical safety of the control panel. Various standards have to be observed for the construction of control panels for machinery. Because of growing uncertainty on the market as to which standard should be considered most important for a machine control panel, the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies of DIN and VDE (DKE) has published a statement on this subject.