This non-mandatory IEC Guide complements ISO/IEC Guide 51 and establishes guidelines
useful for achieving safety in low voltage (LV) equipment. These guidelines include risk
assessment, in which the knowledge and experience of the design, use, incidents, accidents
and harm related to low voltage equipment are brought together in order to assess the risks
during the relevant phases of the life of the equipment, as specified in Clause 6, and to
implement the basics for risk reduction measures. This IEC guide should be used by technical
committees as far as appropriate and to the extent they decide to apply it.
This IEC Guide gives additional guidance to ISO/IEC Guide 50, 51 and 71 on the information
required to allow risk assessment to be performed. Procedures are described for identifying
hazards, estimating and evaluating risk (including comparison of risks) and risk reduction
where necessary. Risks considered in this document include possible damages to persons,
property, and livestock. It is not intended that the structure of this guide be adopted by
technical committees.
The purpose of this IEC Guide is to provide guidance for technical committees for decisions to
be made on the safety of low voltage equipment and the type of documentation required to
verify the risk assessment carried out. Components intended not to be used alone can only be
assessed insofar as the manufacturer can predict the reasonably foreseeable use.
The voltage range considered in this IEC Guide is up to 1000 V a.c. (1 500 V d.c.). Low
voltage equipment generating internal voltages higher than 1 000 V a.c. (1 500 V d.c.) are
covered, provided these voltages are not touchable (example: TV set with internal HV
cascade).
Product standards shall require that the equipment documentation include adequate
information for the safe use of equipment.
This guide does not cover components used within the electrical distribution system or within
an electrical system or machines whose risk assessment depends to a very large extent on
how they are used and incorporated in an electrical system or installation.
This IEC Guide itself is not intended to be used for the purpose of certification. Product
committees are encouraged to include a clause in product safety standards pertaining to risk
assessment, to be used when the requirements of the standard do not fully encompass all
possible hazards with equipment within the standard’s scope. This clause should incorporate
the principles of this Guide.