IEC 60974-10:2020

Overview

IEC 60974-10:2020 - Arc welding equipment, Part 10: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements - specifies EMC requirements for equipment used in arc welding and allied processes. The 4th edition (2020) replaces the 2014 edition and its 2015 amendment, and introduces technical revisions including updated normative references, requirements for battery‑powered equipment, and requirements for equipment combined with radio transmitters/receivers. The standard applies to welding power sources and ancillary equipment such as wire feeders, liquid cooling systems, arc‑striking/stabilizing devices and battery chargers.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: EMC requirements for arc welding equipment and allied devices, including portable and stationary systems.
• Emission and immunity testing: Defined test setups, measuring instruments, artificial mains networks, antennas and coupling/decoupling networks for reproducible conducted and radiated emissions and immunity tests.
• Classification systems: Equipment classes for emissions (e.g., Class A / Class B) and categories for immunity (e.g., Category 1 / Category 2), with associated performance criteria (A, B, C).
• Ports and interfaces: Requirements for mains terminals, signal/control/measurement ports, and output ports (current ripple, harmonics, flicker).
• Documentation: Mandatory information for the purchaser/user and installation guidance (informative Annex A) to reduce EMC interference risks in real installations.
• Special cases: Normative annexes addressing battery‑powered equipment (Annex D) and equipment containing radio devices or combined radio transmitters/receivers (Annex E), with additional emission and immunity requirements.
• Limits and test data: Tables and annexes provide limits for mains terminal disturbance voltage, radiated disturbance, output current ripple, harmonics and flicker (numerical limits are detailed in the standard).

Practical applications - who uses this standard

• Welding equipment manufacturers - to design and validate power sources, wire feeders and ancillary devices for EMC compliance.
• Product design and R&D teams - to integrate battery systems or onboard radio modules while meeting EMC requirements.
• Compliance and testing laboratories - to perform standardized emission and immunity tests and produce test reports.
• Certification bodies and procurement officers - to assess conformity and include EMC requirements in contracts and specifications.
• Site engineers and safety managers - to apply installation guidance and mitigation measures to prevent interference with nearby equipment (industrial controls, radio communications).

Related standards (applicable)

• Other parts of the IEC 60974 series (arc welding equipment) and referenced normative documents listed in IEC 60974-10:2020. Consult the standard’s normative references for full cross‑references.

Keywords: IEC 60974-10:2020, arc welding EMC, electromagnetic compatibility, welding power sources, battery‑powered welding, conducted emissions, radiated emissions, immunity testing, welding equipment standards.