IEC 60364-1:2005

Overview

IEC 60364-1:2005 - part of the IEC 60364 series - defines the fundamental principles, general characteristics assessment and definitions for low-voltage electrical installations. It gives rules for the design, erection and verification of installations to ensure the safety of persons, livestock and property and the proper functioning of electrical systems. The standard covers circuits up to 1 000 V a.c. and 1 500 V d.c., and includes the August 2009 corrigendum in this edition.

Key topics and requirements

• Protection for safety: requirements for protection against electric shock, thermal effects, overcurrent and fault currents.
• Protection against disturbances: measures for voltage disturbances and electromagnetic influences, and protection against power supply interruption.
• Design principles: characteristics of available supplies, demand assessment, environmental conditions, conductor cross-sections, wiring methods, accessibility and documentation for electrical installations.
• System earthing and conductor arrangements: assessment and classification of earthing systems (TN, TT, IT types) and conductor configurations relevant to safety and fault-clearing.
• Selection of equipment: criteria for choosing protective devices, wiring systems and components based on characteristics and installation conditions.
• Erection and verification: rules for installation practices, initial verification (testing on completion) and periodic verification (inspection and testing during service).
• Terminology and assessment: definitions, compatibility, maintainability, continuity of service and classification of safety services.

Applications & who uses this standard

IEC 60364-1 applies to a wide range of low-voltage installations, including:

• Residential, commercial, public and industrial premises
• Agricultural/horticultural buildings, prefabricated buildings, caravans and temporary sites
• Construction sites, exhibitions, marinas, external lighting
• Medical locations, mobile/transportable units, photovoltaic systems and low-voltage generating sets

Typical users:

• Electrical designers, consulting engineers and specifiers
• Installation contractors and electricians
• Inspection bodies and verification engineers
• Facility and safety managers, compliance officers
• System integrators for PV and standby power installations

Related standards

• Other parts of the IEC 60364 series for detailed rules on particular installation types and topics.
• IEC 60050-826 / IEV 826 referenced for electrical installation terminology and guidance.

Keywords: IEC 60364-1, low-voltage electrical installations, electrical safety, system earthing (TN/TT/IT), design and verification, initial verification, periodic verification, photovoltaic installations.