IEC 60364-7-708:2017

Overview

IEC 60364-7-708:2017 - Low-voltage electrical installations - Part 7-708: Requirements for special installations or locations - Caravan parks, camping parks and similar locations - specifies electrical requirements that apply only to circuits intended to supply leisure accommodation vehicles, tents or residential park homes in caravan and camping parks. It supplements the general IEC 60364 series and does not cover internal electrical installations of the vehicles or homes themselves.

Key changes in the 2017 edition include impact protection requirements (high severity AG3 → minimum degree of protection IK08) and interlocked socket outlets/connectors to prevent live contacts when accessible.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: Applies to final circuits supplying pitches (caravan/tent/residential park home pitches) in caravan or camping parks; general IEC 60364 Parts 1–6 still apply unless modified.
• Supply limits: Nominal supply voltages selected from IEC 60038; installations supplying leisure accommodation vehicles are limited to 230 V AC single-phase and/or 400 V AC three-phase and 48 V DC.
• Earthing / TN system rule: For TN systems, final circuits supplying leisure accommodation vehicles must not include a PEN conductor.
• Protection against electric shock:
  • Every socket-outlet must be individually protected by a residual current device (RCD) with rated residual operating current ≤ 30 mA, and devices must disconnect all live conductors.
  • Additional protective measures such as obstacles/placing out of reach and non-conducting location or earth-free local equipotential bonding (from IEC 60364-4-41 Annexes B/C) shall not be used for these installations.
• Mechanical protection: Equipment installed in parks must be protected against impact with a minimum IK08 rating (AG3 severity).
• Socket/connector safety: Socket outlets and connectors are required to be interlocked per referenced IEC connector standards to prevent live contacts when accessible.
• Selection & erection considerations: Addresses operational conditions (presence of water, movement of vehicles, tent pegs/ground anchors) and wiring types for outdoor/park environments.

Applications - who uses this standard

• Electrical designers and consultants specifying park distribution and pitch supply systems
• Electrical contractors and installers working on caravan park or camping site electrification
• Campsite and park owners/operators implementing safe supply points for leisure accommodation
• Equipment manufacturers (pedestals, interlocked connectors, socket-outlets) and testing labs
• Inspectors, safety assessors and certification bodies assessing compliance with low-voltage installation safety requirements

Related standards

• IEC 60364 (general parts 1–6) - Low-voltage electrical installations
• IEC 60038 - Standard voltages
• IEC 60309 series (including IEC 60309-4) - Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers for industrial purposes (interlocked switched outlets)
• IEC 62262 - Degrees of protection against mechanical impact (IK code)
• IEC 60364-4-43 - Protection against overcurrent
• IEC TS 61439-7 - Reference for selection/erection of switchgear and controlgear assemblies

This standard is essential for ensuring safe, durable and code-compliant low-voltage supplies in caravan parks and similar locations - improving electrical safety for campers, mobile-home residents and site operators.