General safety requirements for residual current operated protective devices
1 Scope
This document provides general minimum requirements, recommendations and information for the drafting of standards on residual current operated protective devices (hereinafter referred to as residual current devices, "RCDs"). It applies to any device providing residual current protection intended primarily for protection against electric shock hazard.
Note 1: Residual current monitors (RCMs) according to IEC 62020, whose purpose is to monitor an electrical installation and not to provide protection, are not covered by this document and cannot be considered similar or equivalent to RCDs.
Note 2: RCDs for DC supply system are under consideration
Note 3: For the relationship between the clauses of this document and modules, see Annex C.
Note 4: For the relationship between this document and the RCD product standards, see Annex D.
This document is primarily intended to be used as a reference for drafting product safety standard for devices identified as "RCD" or "residual current device" either for general use or incorporated or embedded in equipment.
This document is also intended to be used as a reference for defining the design requirements and the applicable testing procedure for an RCD incorporated or embedded in an equipment.
This basic safety publication is primarily intended for use by technical Committees in the preparation of standards in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC Guide 51. It is not intended for use by manufacturers or certification bodies.
One of the responsibilities of a technical committee is, wherever applicable, to make use of basic safety publications in the preparation of its publications. The requirements, test methods or test conditions of this basic safety publication will not apply unless specifically referred to or included in the relevant publications.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T 2423.4-2008 Environmental testing for electric and electronic products - Part 2: Test method - Test Db: Damp heat, cyclic ( 12h+12h cycle) (IEC 60068-2- 30 : 2005, IDT)
ISO/IEC Guide51 Safety aspects- Guidelines for their inclusion in standards
Note: GB/T 20002.4-2015 Drafting for special aspects in standards - Part 4 : Safety aspects for their inclusion in standards (ISO/IEC Guide 51 : 2014, MOD).
IEC 60060-1 High-voltage test techniques - Part 1: General definitions and test requirements
Note: GB/T 16927.1-2011 High-voltage test techniques - Part 1 : General definitions and test requirements (IEC 60060-1 :2010, MOD).
IEC 60060-2 High-voltage test techniques - Part 2 : Measuring systems
Note: GB/T 16927.2- 2013 High-voltage test techniques - Part 2 : Measuring systems (IEC 60060- 2 : 2010, MOD).
IEC 60364 (all parts) Low-voltage electrical installations
Note: GB/T 16895 (all parts) Low-voltage electrical installations [IEC 60364(all parts)].
IEC 60364-4-41 Low-voltage electrical installations - Part 4-41 : Protection for safety- Protection against electric shock
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 62873-2 and the following apply.
IEC and ISO maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
- IEC Electropedia : available at http://www.electropedia.org/
- ISO Online browsing platform : available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
supplementary protection
measure to further reduce the risk of electric shock without replacing fault and/or additional protection according to IEC 60364-4-41
4 Classification
4.1 According to the method of operation
Classification is given in the relevant product standard.
4.2 According to the type of installation
4.2.1 RCD for fixed installation and fixed wiring
Note: RCDs according to this classification are designed to be used to provide protection against electric shock according to IEC 60364-4-41.
4.2.2 Portable RCDs with corded connection
Note: RCDs according to this classification are designed to be used to provide supplementary protection only.
4.3 According to the possibility of adjusting the residual operating current
4.3.1 RCD with a single value of rated residual operating current
4.3.2 RCD whose rated residual operating current is adjustable by steps
4.3.3 RCD whose rated residual operating current is continuously adjustable
4.4 According to their operating characteristics and behaviour in presence of DC components
4.4.1 RCD of type AC
4.4.2 RCD of type A
4.4.3 RCD of Type F
4.4.4 RCD of Type B
4.5 According to time-delay (in presence of a residual current larger than I△n)
4.5.1 RCD without time-delay
4.5.2 RCD with time-delay
