International electrical relay safety standards & information
Electrical relay safety standards
Safety standards protect users from electrical shock and fire hazards caused by electrical equipment. They establish minimum safety standards required for electrical equipment and components. Each country has its own national safety standards according to voltages, weather conditions and safety approaches. Using safety-approved relays in equipment will exempt manufacturers from taking the relay test at the time of the application for the standard approval of the equipment.
Worldwide Electrical Safety Standards & Certifying Organizations
Major electrical relay safety requirements
| Safety standards | National standards | Country | General outline | Certifying organizations | Certified safety markings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEC | - | International | Develops technical standards for electronic and electrical goods based on the latest scientific technology. Provides the framework for all the national standards. | - |  |
| UL | ANSI standards | USA | The standards differ by state, county and city in US for safety of fire hazards to sell electronic and electrical goods. Electrical parts also need approval. | UL、RU |   |
| CSA | CSA standards | Canada | Applies the North American safety standards and focuses on safety for fire hazards similar to UL standards (USA). | CSA |  |
| VDE | EN/IEC standards | Europe/ International |
Focuses on protection against electrical shock and fire hazards but does not impose legal responsibilities. However, severe penalties are applied hence considered mandatory. | VDE、TUV-Rh |   |
| CCC、CQC | Chinese national standards GB standards | China | Items are specified to meet the standards and require approval (compulsory certification). If not approved, selling in or importing to China is prohibited. | CCC, CQC |   |
Regarding the Chinese GB standard, CQC applies to relays individually.
International Safety Standards
| Country | Standard | Level |
|---|---|---|
| IEC Standards | International Level | |
| EN Standards | Reginal Level | |
| Germany | VDE Standards | National Level |
| UK | BSI Standards | National Level |
| USA | ANSI Standards | National Level |
| Canada | CSA Standards | National Level |
| China | GB Standards | National Level |
| Japan | JIS Standards | National Level |
| UL Standards | Industry Level |
Basic electrical relay safety requirements
North American Electrical Relay Safety Standards
North American standards are for safety of flammability, ignition performance, and temperature rise of insulating materials used in electrical equipment and parts to prevent fire hazards caused by electrical equipment.
Major safety standards: UL (USA) and CSA (Canada).
European Electrical Relay Safety Standards
European standards cover requirements for insulation distance and tracking resistance (*) in electrical equipment and parts to prevent electrical shock accidents. Major safety standards: EN/IEC (Europe/International)
*Tracking resistance is the degree of loss of the insulation properties by the formation of a conducting path (carbon path) across the insulator surface between electrodes having a potential difference.
| Area | Voltage | Hazards | Essential requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 120 / 240 Vac | Fire | Flammability |
| Europe | 230 / 400 Vac | Electric shock | Insutation distance |
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