EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 03-Mar-2027
• ICS: 29.020 - Electrical engineering in general
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 8X - System aspects of electrical energy supply
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 8 - IEC_TC_8
• Current Stage: 5020 - Vote circulated - Formal Approval
• Start Date: 16-Oct-2026
• Completion Date: 16-Oct-2026
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60038:2011/oprA2:2026 (Fragment 1) - Amendment 2 (Fragment 1) - Standard voltages for LVDC supply and LVDC equipment (Proposed horizontal standard)

• Merged From: EN 60038:2011/prA2:2025 (Fragment 2) - Amendment 2 (Fragment 2) - Standard voltages for HVDC supply and HVDC equipment (Proposed horizontal standard)
• Effective Date: 08-Sep-2026
• Amends: EN 60038:2011 - CENELEC standard voltages
• Effective Date: 19-Jul-2016

EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 is a CLC draft amendment to EN 60038:2011 on IEC standard voltages. It updates the treatment of standard voltages for LVDC supply and LVDC equipment and extends the text to DC systems above 120 V and up to 1500 V. The amendment is written as a proposed horizontal standard, so it is meant to be used across many electrical equipment and energy-supply fields.

What does EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 specify?

EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 revises the scope wording for low-voltage AC and DC equipment and adds a new framework for LVDC systems and related equipment. The amendment text focuses on section 1 Scope, subclause 4.6, new subclause 4.7, and the Bibliography.

In practice, the document is about which standard voltages to use for equipment and systems, and how to classify LVDC installations so that designers, suppliers, and committees use the same voltage basis.

What are the key requirements of EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026?

• Scope wording for AC and DC equipment under 120 V - The amendment rewrites the scope so that AC and DC equipment with nominal voltages below 120 V AC or DC is covered together, including batteries, other power supply devices, electrical equipment, and appliances. This matters because product families that were previously described with separate AC and DC limits are now grouped under one lower-voltage category.

• New scope item for higher-voltage DC systems - EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 adds DC systems and equipment for use in such systems above 120 V and up to 1500 V. This gives a standard-voltage basis for LVDC installations and distribution systems that are outside the low-voltage equipment range.

• Revised equipment voltage series in Table 6 - Subclause 4.6 now applies to equipment having a nominal voltage below 120 V AC or DC, and Table 6 lists the preferred and supplementary nominal values for that equipment. The practical result is that manufacturers and specifiers should check their product ratings against the standard voltage series rather than choosing ad hoc values.

• Treatment of cells and special applications - The notes to Table 6 state that primary and secondary cells below 2.4 V are not included in the table, and that technical committees may define cell types and related voltages for specific applications. This matters when a design is built around battery cells, because the standard leaves room for application-specific committee decisions.

• LVDC operating-voltage concept in subclause 4.7 - EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 says the operating voltage level of an LVDC system is linked to its energy balance and may be controlled either by automatic self-control or by a voltage-source-based strategy. For readers, this means the standard recognizes different ways of holding DC voltage and expects the system voltage band to be planned accordingly.

• Two application domains for LVDC - Subclause 4.7 distinguishes an installation domain for supplying end-user or production appliances and a distribution domain for high-power, long-distance pure distribution, excluding final circuits. This distinction matters because the voltage range is selected differently depending on whether the system feeds local loads or serves distribution-only duties.

• Voltage ranges in Table 7 - Table 7 provides the nominal voltage framework for LVDC systems and related equipment, including minimum and maximum continuous operating voltages with full functionality, and separate source and load values. The table is the main reference for setting operating windows and checking compatibility between sources, loads, and network segments.

What terms does EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 define?

• LVDC - Low-voltage direct current systems and equipment, used here for supply and installation concepts above 120 V and up to 1500 V.
• Nominal voltage - The assigned voltage value used as the basis for choosing standard values and classifying equipment or systems.
• Operating voltage - The voltage range in which the system or equipment is expected to operate; Table 7 distinguishes minimum and maximum continuous operating voltages.
• Installation domain - The LVDC use case for supplying end-user or production appliances.
• Distribution domain - The LVDC use case for high-power, long-distance pure distribution, excluding final circuits.
• Self-controlled - A system where the voltage is automatically controlled by the system itself rather than being held by an external voltage source.
• Related equipment - Equipment associated with LVDC systems and covered by the voltage framework in subclause 4.7 and Table 7.

Who uses EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026?

EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 is used by electrical energy-supply engineers, equipment designers, manufacturers, and specification writers who need agreed standard voltages for AC and DC products. It is also relevant to battery-related applications, power supply devices, industrial and communication equipment, and appliances.

Because the amendment is horizontal, it is of interest to many IEC and CENELEC committees, including those working on safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Test labs, certification bodies, and buyers can also use it when checking whether a product or system matches a standard voltage family.

What changed in EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 from the previous edition?

EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 is Amendment 2 to EN 60038:2011. The amendment text states these changes:

• the third scope bullet is rewritten for equipment below 120 V AC or DC;
• a new scope bullet is added for DC systems and equipment above 120 V and up to 1500 V;
• subclause 4.6 is retitled for equipment below 120 V AC or DC and Table 6 is updated;
• subclause 4.7 is added for DC distribution and installation systems above 120 V and not exceeding 1500 V;
• the Bibliography is updated with IEC TR 63282.

Which standards are used with EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026?

The Bibliography adds IEC TR 63282: LVDC systems - Assessment of standard voltages and power quality requirements. It provides technical background for assessing standard voltages and power quality in LVDC work.

What does the EN 60038:2011/FprA2:2026 document contain?

The document contains amendment instructions rather than a full standalone standard text. It revises the scope wording, updates the equipment voltage table in subclause 4.6, and adds a new subclause for DC distribution and installation systems in the LVDC range.

It also includes explanatory notes on battery-cell voltages, control strategies for LVDC systems, and the separation between installation and distribution domains. Table 6 and Table 7 are the key technical parts because they set the voltage framework used for design, selection, and system checking.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2026
Standardne napetosti za nizkonapetostno enosmerno napajanje ali
nizkonapetostno enosmerno opremo (predlagan horizontalni standard) - Dopolnilo
A2 (fragment 1)
Amendment 2 (Fragment 1) - Standard voltages for LVDC supply and LVDC equipment
(Proposed horizontal standard)
Amendement 2
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60038:2011/prA2:2025 (Fragment 1)
ICS:
27.100 Elektrarne na splošno Power stations in general
SIST EN 60038:2011/oprA2:2026 en
(Fragment 1)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

8/1785/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)

PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 60038/AMD2/FRAG1 ED7
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-12-05 2026-02-27
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
8/1753/CD, 8/1772/CC
IEC TC 8 : SYSTEM ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY SUPPLY
SECRETARIAT: SECRETARY:
Italy Mr Christian Noce
OF INTEREST TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: HORIZONTAL FUNCTION(S):
TC 1,TC 2,TC 3,SC 3C,SC 3D,TC 4,TC 5,TC 7,SC 8A,SC TC 8 Horizontal Basic
8B,SC 8C,TC 9,TC 10,TC 11,TC 13,TC 14,TC 15,TC 17,SC
17A,SC 17C,TC 18,SC 18A,TC 20,TC 21,SC 21A,TC 22,SC
22E,SC 22F,SC 22G,SC 22H,TC 23,SC 23A,SC 23B,SC
23E,SC 23G,SC 23H,SC 23J,SC 23K,TC 25,TC 26,TC 27,TC
29,TC 31,SC 31G,SC 31J,SC 31M,TC 32,SC 32A,SC 32B,SC
32C,TC 33,TC 34,SC 34A,SC 34B,SC 34C,SC 34D,TC 35,TC
36,SC 36A,TC 37,SC 37A,SC 37B,TC 38,TC 40,TC 42,TC
44,TC 45,SC 45A,SC 45B,TC 46,SC 46A,SC 46C,SC 46F,TC
47,SC 47A,SC 47D,SC 47E,SC 47F,TC 48,SC 48B,SC 48D,TC
49,TC 51,TC 55,TC 56,TC 57,TC 59,SC 59A,SC 59C,SC
59D,SC 59F,SC 59K,SC 59L,SC 59M,SC 59N,TC 61,SC
61B,SC 61C,SC 61D,SC 61H,SC 61J,TC 62,SC 62A,SC
62B,SC 62C,SC 62D,TC 64,TC 65,SC 65A,SC 65B,SC 65C,SC
65E,TC 66,TC 68,TC 69,TC 70,TC 72,TC 73,TC 76,TC 77,SC
77A,SC 77B,SC 77C,TC 78,TC 79,TC 80,TC 81,TC 82,TC
85,TC 86,SC 86A,SC 86B,SC 86C,TC 87,TC 88,TC 89,TC
90,TC 91,TC 94,TC 95,TC 96,TC 97,TC 99,TC 100,TA 1,TA
2,TA 4,TA 5,TA 6,TA 15,TA 16,TA 17,TA 18,TA 19,TA 20,TC
101,TC 103,TC 104,TC 105,TC 106,TC 107,TC 108,TC 109,TC
110,TC 111,TC 112,TC 113,TC 114,TC 115,TC 116,TC 117,PC
118,TC 119,TC 120,TC 121,SC 121A,SC 121B,TC 122,TC
123,TC 124,TC 125,PC 126,PC 127,PC 128,TC
129,CISPR,CIS/A,CIS/B,CIS/D,CIS/F,CIS/H,CIS/I,CIS/S,ACEA,
ACEC,ACEE,ACOS,ACSEC,ACTAD,SyC AAL,SyC COMM,SyC
LVDC,SyC SM,SyC Smart Cities,SyC Smart Energy,SEG
11,SEG 12,SEG 13,SEG 14,ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25,ISO/IEC
JTC 1/SC 41,ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 43
ASPECTS CONCERNED:
Electromagnetic Compatibility,Safety
SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING NOT SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING
Attention IEC-CENELEC parallel voting
The attention of IEC National Committees, members of
CENELEC, is drawn to the fact that this Committee Draft for Vote
(CDV) is submitted for parallel voting.
The CENELEC members are invited to vote through the
CENELEC online voting system.
This document is still under study and subject to change. It should not be used for reference purposes.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which t hey are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant “In Some Countries” clau ses to
be included should this proposal proceed. Recipients are reminded that the CDV stage is the final stage for submitting ISC c lauses.
(SEE AC/22/2007 OR NEW GUIDANCE DOC).
electronic file, to make a copy and to print out the content for the sole purpose of preparing National Committee positions. You
may not copy or "mirror" the file or printed version of the document, or any part of it, for any other purpose without permission in
writing from IEC.
General
TITLE:
Amendment 2 (Fragment 1) - Standard voltages for L
...