The new product safety standard for communication technology equipment

The IEC Technical Committee 108 - safety of electronic equipment within the field of audio/video information technology and telecommunication technology -is developing an entirely new safety standard, applicable to consumer electronics, information technology equipment and telecommunication equipment. The standard is performance based and technology independent. The standard is being developed using engineering principles and will clearly identify the hazards addressed. This is a "hazard based safety engineering" concept (HBSE concept). (IEC = International Electrotechnical Commission). This new standard is very different from previous standards. The "hazard based standard" addressed all hazards, which could be present in equipment falling under the scope of this new standard IEC 62368. This paper gives an overview about this new standard.