IEC 60479-1:2018

Overview

IEC 60479-1:2018 - Effects of current on human beings and livestock – Part 1: General aspects - is a basic safety publication from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It provides foundational guidance on the physiological effects of electrical shock (both AC and DC) on humans and livestock. The document is primarily intended to support technical committees preparing standards in line with IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC Guide 51, and is not a compliance or certification manual for manufacturers.

Key topics covered

The standard consolidates scientific and measurement-based information relevant to electrical safety, including:

• Human and livestock body impedance
  • Internal body impedance, skin impedance and total body impedance (Z and R) and factors influencing them (contact area, skin condition, frequency).
• Effects of alternating current (AC) (approx. 15 Hz–150 Hz)
  • Thresholds of perception and reaction, immobilization, let‑go thresholds, and risk of ventricular fibrillation.
• Effects of direct current (DC)
  • Perception, reaction, immobilization, fibrillation thresholds and anodic vs. cathodic differences.
• Time/current zones and heart‑current factor (F)
  • Conventional zones that relate shock duration and current magnitude to physiological effects.
• Annexes and informative content
  • Measurements and statistics of body impedances, frequency influence, DC resistance, sample calculations, theories of ventricular fibrillation, circuit simulation methods, and specific effects on livestock.

Practical applications and who uses it

IEC 60479-1 is used where authoritative, evidence‑based guidance on physiological effects of electrical current is required:

• IEC and national technical committees developing safety standards for electrical products and installations.
• Standards writers and regulators referencing human and animal shock-response criteria when setting limits or safety requirements.
• Safety engineers and researchers assessing risk, modeling shock scenarios, or validating protective measures (insulation, earthing, residual-current devices).
• Educators and consultants explaining body impedance, let‑go currents, and ventricular fibrillation risk in training or risk assessments.

Note: Because the publication is a basic safety publication, it provides underlying science and conventions rather than prescriptive certification test methods.

Related standards and references

• IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC Guide 51 (principles for safety standards development) are specifically referenced for intended use.
• IEC 60479 is a multipart series - refer to other parts of the series for complementary, application‑specific guidance.

Keywords: IEC 60479-1, effects of current on human beings, electrical safety, body impedance, ventricular fibrillation, let-go threshold, AC DC shock, heart-current factor.