IEC 62841-2-1:2017

Overview

IEC 62841-2-1:2017 specifies safety requirements for electric motor‑operated hand‑held drills and impact drills, including diamond core drills and drills adapted for driving screws with screwdriver bits. It applies to tools with rated voltages up to 250 V (single‑phase a.c. or d.c.) or 480 V (three‑phase a.c.) and rated input power up to 3 700 W. Battery‑powered tool limits are referenced in Clauses K.1 and L.1. The standard addresses hazards arising in normal use and reasonably foreseeable misuse and treats hand‑held tools mounted on supports (without alteration) as transportable tools covered by Part 3.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Scope and applicability: Defines which hand‑held and transportable drills are covered and explicitly excludes rotary hammers.
• Electrical limits: Rated voltage and input power thresholds (≤250 V single‑phase/d.c., ≤480 V three‑phase, ≤3 700 W).
• Hazard analysis: Requirements focus on hazards encountered in normal operation and foreseeable misuse (mechanical, electrical, thermal, noise, vibration).
• Transportable use: Guidance on tools that can be mounted on stands - treated as transportable when used without alteration.
• Battery tool guidance: Applicability boundaries and testing considerations for battery‑operated drills are given in specific annexes (K.1, L.1).
• Transitional recommendation: National adoption is recommended no earlier than 36 months after publication to allow manufacturers and test labs time to comply.

Applications and Who Uses This Standard

IEC 62841-2-1:2017 is used by:

• Tool manufacturers designing and certifying hand‑held drills and impact drills to meet international safety expectations.
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies conducting safety and performance tests.
• Product safety engineers developing risk assessments, instruction manuals and compliance documentation.
• Procurement and quality teams specifying safe equipment for professional construction, maintenance and industrial applications.
• Regulators and standards bodies harmonizing national rules with IEC safety requirements.

Practical uses include appliance design reviews, pre‑market testing, technical documentation, user safety labeling, and determining whether a product falls within the standard’s scope.

Related Standards

• IEC 62841-1:2014 - General requirements for electric motor‑operated hand‑held tools, transportable tools and lawn and garden machinery (to be used in conjunction with Part 2‑1).
• IEC 62841 Parts on transportable tools and specific tool types (see Part 3 where applicable).

Keywords: Drill, Impact Drill, Hand‑held tool, Safety, IEC 62841‑2‑1, diamond core drills, battery tools, transportable tools.