What is the latest from Europe on EN IEC 62368-1:2020, Ed. 3?
In the last several months, the CENELEC 108X committee responsible for EN IEC 62368-1:2020 recommended that the latest DOW of superseded versions be delayed 18 months, from Jan. 6, 2023, to July 6, 2024, which a higher-level CENELEC Management (BT) Committee subsequently approved. This extension has been formally announced via the CENELEC website on its Published Standards page for standards produced by 108X:
The driver for the 18-month extension is to give time for: • IEC 62368-1:2023, Ed. 4, to be published (1H 2023) • EN 62368-1, Ed. 4, to be published (ideally within six to nine months after IEC) • European HAS Consultant review and acceptance of the EN standard as a harmonized document • Citation of EN 62368-1, Ed. 4, in the EU Official Journal (OJ) for LVD, RED, etc.
If these milestones are reached as outlined in a relatively timely manner (which is not guaranteed), for European market entry, AV/ICT manufacturers could potentially transition from EN 62368-1:2014, Ed. 2, to EN 62368-1, Ed. 4, maintaining a line of compliance with harmonized standards that demonstrate presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the EU Directives (essentially skipping the non-harmonized Ed. 3). However, multiple pieces need to fall into place logistically for this scenario to play out, so it would be prudent for manufacturers to explore/consider all options, especially considering Ed. 3 adoption plans outside of Europe. UL Solutions can help AV/ICT manufacturers explore their options.
Note: In light of this new development in Europe, UL Solutions has studied the current effective date for UL 62368-1, the Standard for Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment – Part 1: Safety Requirements, including in the context that for close to 20 years, we have been coordinating effective dates for UL 60950-1, the Standard for Information Technology Equipment – Safety – Part 1: General Requirements, and UL 62368-1 with the parallel transition dates in Europe to provide AV/ICT manufacturers the opportunity to better coordinate their market access for two major regions of the world. After considerable study, UL Solutions is extending the effective date of UL 62368-1, Ed. 3, from Jan. 6, 2023, to July 6, 2024, which is now reflected on the UL.com Effective Date webpage: https://ctech.UL.com/en/knowledge-center/UL-62368-1-effective-date-information/.