IEC TR 62368-2:2025

Overview

IEC TR 62368-2:2025 is a Technical Report that provides explanatory information and background to IEC 62368-1:2023 - the hazard-based safety standard for audio/video, information and communication technology (AV/ICT) equipment. Edition 4.0 (2025) cancels and replaces the 2018 edition and takes into account the technical changes introduced in IEC 62368-1:2023. This TR clarifies the purpose, applicability and exclusions of IEC 62368‑1 and offers guidance on selected subclauses to aid consistent application of the hazard-based approach.

Key topics and technical focus

The report supplies explanatory material (not additional normative requirements) on selected subjects from IEC 62368‑1, including:

• Energy source classifications and HBSE (hazard-based safety engineering) concepts that underpin IEC 62368‑1
• Electrically-caused injury and fire: insulation, protective conductors, touch voltage/current, backfeed safeguards and fire ignition sources
• Components and safeguards: guidance on switches, varistors, capacitors, printed boards and interconnection cables
• Battery safety and protection circuits, including special considerations for secondary lithium batteries
• Mechanical, thermal and radiation hazards: moving parts, stability, touch temperature limits, lasers, optical/X‑radiation and acoustic energy
• Tests, markings and instructions: normal/abnormal/single-fault test conditions, equipment markings and instructional safeguards
• Informative annexes with practical background on surge suppressors, R‑C discharge time constants for X/Y capacitors, material flammability and test methods

The TR also explains the rationale for integrating certain requirements from IEC 60950‑23 into IEC 62368‑1, and clarifies exclusions - notably that functional safety requirements are outside scope and are covered in standards such as IEC 61508‑1.

Practical applications and users

IEC TR 62368-2:2025 is primarily useful for:

• Product safety engineers and designers of AV/ICT equipment seeking clear guidance on applying IEC 62368‑1
• Test laboratories and certification bodies verifying conformance to IEC 62368‑1:2023
• Compliance managers and regulators assessing safety claims and documentation
• Manufacturers addressing battery, surge protection and component selection issues

The TR helps teams implement hazard-based design choices, interpret test expectations and harmonize product documentation and markings.

Related standards

• IEC 62368‑1:2023 (normative parent standard)
• IEC 60950‑23 (legacy requirements incorporated where applicable)
• IEC 61508‑1 (functional safety - excluded from IEC 62368‑1 scope)
• ISO standards referenced for robots (e.g., ISO 13482) where robot safety topics overlap

Keywords: IEC TR 62368-2:2025, IEC 62368-1:2023, AV/ICT equipment safety, hazard-based standard, battery protection, surge suppressor, product safety guidance.