IEC 60898-1:2015

Overview

IEC 60898-1:2015 is the International Electrotechnical Commission standard for a.c. circuit‑breakers for overcurrent protection in household and similar installations. It applies to air‑break circuit‑breakers for 50 Hz, 60 Hz or 50/60 Hz operation with a rated voltage ≤ 440 V (between phases), rated current ≤ 125 A and rated short‑circuit capacity ≤ 25 000 A. Edition 2.0 (2015) is a technical revision of the 2002 edition and includes key updates such as revisions to terminals, the glow‑wire test, and simplified figures for short‑circuit tests.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Scope and classification: Defines device types, pole configurations and mounting/terminal options for household circuit‑breakers.
• Rated values and characteristics: Specifies rated voltage, current, frequency, short‑circuit capacity and tripping characteristics (time‑current and instantaneous behaviour).
• Construction and safety: Requirements for mechanical design, clearances and creepage distances, protection against electric shock, and marking.
• Terminals and connections: Revised requirements and tests for screw‑type terminals and reliability of current‑carrying parts.
• Thermal and dielectric performance: Temperature‑rise limits, dielectric strength at power frequency and impulse withstand voltage.
• Short‑circuit performance: Type tests for short‑circuit behaviour, measurement of I²t and peak current, and verification after short‑circuit tests; figures and procedures simplified in this edition.
• Fire and heat resistance: Updated glow‑wire test requirements and resistance to abnormal heat and fire.
• Mechanical and electrical endurance: Tests for durability, mechanical shock, and power‑loss measurement.
• Test regime and marking: Detailed type tests, test sequences, number of samples, and mandatory marking/identification information.

Applications and Who Uses This Standard

IEC 60898-1:2015 is essential for:

• Circuit‑breaker manufacturers designing and certifying miniature and household breakers.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing type‑approval and conformity testing.
• Electrical specifiers, installers and contractors ensuring compliance with safety and performance requirements in residential and similar installations.
• Regulators and procurement teams referencing standard requirements for product acceptance and building codes.
• R&D and quality engineers validating terminal reliability, short‑circuit performance and thermal limits.

This standard supports safe, interoperable overcurrent protection in residential distribution boards, consumer units and similar installations.

Related standards

• Part of the IEC 60898 family (overcurrent protection for household installations).
• See normative references listed in IEC 60898‑1:2015 for additional harmonized test and vocabulary standards relevant to electrical accessories and testing.