EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026

• Abstract:

  IEC 62820‑1‑2:2026 specifies the technical requirements for the composition, functions, performance and test methods of building intercom systems using the Internet protocol (IP), and it is a supplement to IEC 62820‑1‑1. This document is applicable to the IP building intercom systems for both residential and commercial buildings.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-Sep-2026
• ICS: 13.320 - Alarm and warning systems
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 79 - Alarm systems
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 79 - IEC_TC_79
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 18-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 30-Dec-2022
• Completion Date: 18-Sep-2026
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 - Building intercom systems - Part 1-2: System requirements - Building intercom systems using the Internet protocol (IP) (IEC 62820-1-2:2026)

• Replaces: EN 62820-1-2:2017 - Building intercom system - Part 1-2: System requirements - Building intercom systems using the internet protocol (IP)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2022
• Refers: EN IEC 62820-1-1:2026 - Building intercom systems - Part 1-1: System requirements - General
• Effective Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Referred By: EN IEC 62820-2:2018 - Building intercom systems - Part 2: Requirements for advanced security building intercom systems (ASBIS)
• Effective Date: 22-Sep-2026
• Referred By: EN IEC 62820-3-1:2018 - Building intercom systems - Part 3-1: Application guidelines - General
• Effective Date: 22-Sep-2026

EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 is the CENELEC European Standard for building intercom systems using the Internet protocol (IP). It specifies technical requirements for composition, functions, performance and test methods, and it applies to IP building intercom systems for residential and commercial buildings. The document supplements EN IEC 62820-1-1 and is the European adoption of IEC 62820-1-2:2026.

What does EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 specify?

EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 sets the IP-specific system requirements for building intercom systems. It covers what the system shall do, how well it shall perform, and how those claims are tested.

The document is organized into:

• Clause 1 Scope
• Clause 2 Normative references
• Clause 3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
• Clause 4 Functional requirements
• Clause 5 Performance requirements
• Clause 6 Test methods
• Clause 7 Documentation
• Annex ZA, which maps normative references to European publications
• Annex A and Annex B, which give normative subjective test methods

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Subjective assessment of IP BIS image quality
Annex B	Subjective assessment of echo return loss

EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 is a supplement to EN IEC 62820-1-1. It also notes that a BIS with a mixture of IP and non-IP connections is covered by EN IEC 62820-1-1 instead of this part.

What are the key requirements of EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026?

EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 adds IP-specific functional, performance and test requirements on top of the general requirements in EN IEC 62820-1-1. In practice, this is the part that tells a designer, tester or buyer what an IP-based building intercom system must support and how its main speech, video and security functions are verified.

Functional requirements

Clause 4 keeps the base functional requirements from EN IEC 62820-1-1 and adds IP-related functions that a system can provide. These include intercom-unit-to-intercom-unit speech, voice messages from the visitor call unit (VCU), intercom-unit-to-intercom-unit video and speech, and video and voice messages.

For systems with a security management unit (SMU), Clause 4 also allows automatic device-status detection, remote configuration and software or firmware update, and image storing and replaying when the SMU has a camera. In practice, this tells integrators which higher-level features the system may support and document.

Audio performance

Clause 5 sets audio limits for networked operation on a local wired or wireless network. Audio delay between two intercom units shall be within the specified limit, audio switching time is capped, and echo return loss is controlled either by objective measurement or by subjective assessment.

A specific overload condition is addressed for hands-free units with screens larger than 10 inches: the standard allows a 30 cm test distance and gives a corresponding overall loudness rating (OLR) requirement. This matters because larger screens change the acoustic geometry and can affect talker comfort and intelligibility.

Video performance

Clause 5 also covers video. The video requirements include minimum image resolution that depends on display size, a minimum digital video frame rate, a video-delay limit, and a lip-sync limit for audio-video systems. The image shall not show obvious blur, mosaic effect or fracture, and the subjective image-quality score shall meet the stated minimum.

For practical use, this means the video path is not judged only by whether it works, but by whether it remains understandable and acceptable to users during actual intercom use.

Network and information security

Clause 5 requires network access control: when a user or device accesses or manages the IP BIS, the system shall identify the user or device and decide whether access and access rights are granted. Clause 5 also addresses data integrity protection for user alarm data and unlocking control data, using encryption or other protective measures.

This is important for projects where intercoms share an IP network with other systems and where unauthorized access or tampering would be a security issue.

Verification and documentation

Clause 6 gives the test conditions and procedures used to verify the requirements, and Clause 7 ties documentation back to EN IEC 62820-1-1. For a buyer or quality manager, these clauses show that compliance is not based on a claim alone - it is backed by defined laboratory-style checks and required documentation.

What terms does EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 define?

EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 uses a small set of terms that are central to its test methods and requirements.

• Building intercom system (BIS) - the intercom system used for building entry and internal communication.
• Intercom unit - a device designed to establish audio or audio-video connections as part of a BIS; smartphones and tablets connected to the IP network are not treated as intercom units.
• Internet protocol (IP) - the network layer-3 protocol used to route data packets in the IP network.
• Security management unit (SMU) - the unit used for device status detection, remote configuration and update, and image storage/replay in systems that include it.
• Overall loudness rating (OLR) - the loudness measure used for hands-free speech balance in the audio tests.
• Composite source signal (CSS) - the test signal used for audio delay, echo return loss and audio switching time measurements.
• Lip sync - the time relationship between transmitted audio and video signals.
• Subjective image quality assessment - the observer-based method used to rate the perceived image quality.

Who uses EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026?

EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 is used by manufacturers, system designers, test laboratories, installers, certification teams, and quality or procurement staff working with building intercom systems. It is relevant where the system uses IP networking and where audio, video, and security behavior must be specified and verified.

In practice, these users rely on it to design product functions, plan laboratory testing, compare bids, check supplier claims, and document performance for residential and commercial building projects.

What changed in EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 from the previous edition?

EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 supersedes EN 62820-1-2:2017 and its amendments and corrigenda. The foreword identifies it as a technical revision.

The stated technical changes are:

• a new OLR requirement when the screen size of a hands-free intercom unit is larger than 10 inches at a 30 cm test distance
• added test conditions for the 30 cm or longer test distance
• a method for testing OLR when the screen size of the hands-free intercom unit is larger than 10 inches

Which standards are used with EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026?

The document relies on the following normative reference:

• IEC 62820-1-1:2026 - the general system-requirements part that provides the base functional, performance, test and documentation requirements used throughout this IP-specific part.
• ITU-T P.501 - provides the test signals for telephony and other speech-based applications, including the CSS signal used in the audio tests.

The IEC 62820 series named in the introduction also includes:

• Part 1-1 - System requirements - General
• Part 2 - Requirements for advanced security building intercom systems (ASBIS)
• Part 3-1 - Application guidelines - General
• Part 3-2 - Application guidelines - Advanced security building intercom systems (ASBIS)

What does the EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 document contain?

EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 contains detailed laboratory-style test methods and supporting figures for audio, video and network-security verification. The audio section covers OLR, audio delay, echo return loss and audio switching time, while the video section covers image resolution, frame rate, video delay, lip sync and subjective image quality.

Annex A gives the setup, actions and five-point scoring form for subjective image-quality assessment. Annex B gives the setup and five-point scoring form for subjective echo-return-loss assessment. The document also includes figures for test configurations and signals, so that the required measurements can be repeated in a controlled way.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 62820-1-2:2017
Notranja komunikacija v stavbah - 1-2. del: Sistemske zahteve - Sistemi notranjih
komunikacij v stavbah z internetnim protokolom (IP) (IEC 62820-1-2:2026)
Building intercom systems - Part 1-2: System requirements - Building intercom systems
using the Internet protocol (IP) (IEC 62820-1-2:2026)
Gegensprechanlagen für Gebäude - Teil 1-2: Systemanforderungen -
Gegensprechanlagen für Gebäude, die das Internet-Protokoll (IP) verwenden (IEC
62820-1-2:2026)
Systèmes d'interphone de bâtiment - Partie 1-2: Exigences du système - Systèmes
d'interphone de bâtiment utilisant le protocole internet (IP) (IEC 62820-1-2:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026
ICS:
35.240.67 Uporabniške rešitve IT v IT applications in building
gradbeništvu and construction industry
97.120 Avtomatske krmilne naprave Automatic controls for
za dom household use
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 62820-1-2

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM September 2026
ICS 13.320 Supersedes EN 62820-1-2:2017
English Version
Building intercom systems - Part 1-2: System requirements -
Building intercom systems using the Internet protocol (IP)
(IEC 62820-1-2:2026)
Systèmes d'interphone de bâtiment - Partie 1-2: Exigences Gegensprechanlagen für Gebäude - Teil 1-2:
du système - Systèmes d'interphone de bâtiment utilisant le Systemanforderungen - Gegensprechanlagen für Gebäude,
protocole internet (IP) die das Internet-Protokoll (IP) verwenden
(IEC 62820-1-2:2026) (IEC 62820-1-2:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2026-08-31. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026 E

European foreword
The text of document 79/721/CDV, future edition 2 of IEC 62820-1-2, prepared by TC 79 "Alarm and
electronic security systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN IEC 62820-1-2:2026.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2027-09-30
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2029-09-30
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 62820-1-2:2017 and all of its amendments and corrigenda (if any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62820-1-2:2026 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 62820-1-1 2026 Building intercom systems - Part 1-1: EN IEC 62820-1-1 2026
System requirements - General
ITU-T P.501 - Test signals for use in telephonometry - -

IEC 62820-1-2 ®
Edition 2.0 2026-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Building intercom systems -
Part 1-2: System requirements - Building intercom systems using the Internet
protocol (IP)
ICS 13.320  ISBN 978-2-8327-1305-1

IEC 62820-1-2:2026-07(en)
IEC 62820-1-2:2026 © IEC 2026
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 6
3.1 Terms and definitions. 6
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 7
4 Functional requirements . 8
4.1 Basic functional requirements . 8
4.2 Additional functional requirements . 8
4.3 IP building intercom systems with SMU . 8
5 Performance requirements . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Audio characteristics . 9
5.2.1 Overall loudness rating (OLR) . 9
5.2.2 Audio delay . 9
5.2.3 Echo return loss . 9
5.2.4 Audio switching time . 9
5.3 Video characteristics . 9
5.3.1 General . 9
5.3.2 Image resolution . 10
5.3.3 Frame rate . 10
5.3.4 Video delay . 10
5.3.5 Lip sync . 10
5.3.6 Image quality . 10
5.4 Network and information security . 10
5.4.1 Network access control . 10
5.4.2 Data integrity protection . 10
6 Test methods . 10
6.1 Test conditions . 10
6.1.1 Environmental conditions . 10
6.1.2 Electrical connection. 10
6.2 Function test . 11
6.3 Test of audio characteristics . 11
6.3.1 Test requirements . 11
6.3.2 Overall loudness rating (OLR) test . 12
6.3.3 Test of audio delay . 12
6.3.4 Test of echo return loss . 12
6.3.5 Test of audio switching time . 13
6.4 Test of video characteristics . 14
6.4.1 General conditions . 14
6.4.2 Test conditions . 14
6.4.3 Image resolution test . 15
6.4.4 Frame rate test . 15
6.4.5 Video delay test . 15
IEC 62820-1-2:2026 © IEC 2026
6.4.6 Lip sync test . 16
6.4.7 Subjective image quality assessment . 16
6.5 Network security test . 16
6.5.1 Network test system . 16
6.5.2 Network access control test . 16
6.5.3 Data integrity protection test . 17
7 Documentation . 17
Annex A (normative) Subjective assessment of the IP BIS image quality . 18
A.1 Test setup . 18
A.2 Regulation for experimental actions . 18
A.2.1 Swing hands . 18
A.2.2 Show card . 18
A.3 Evaluation scoring . 19
Annex B (normative) Subjective assessment of echo return loss . 20
B.1 Test setup . 20
B.2 Evaluation scoring . 20
Bibliography . 21

Figure 1 – Test configuration of OLR, echo return loss, audio delay and audio switching
time diagram . 11
Figure 2 – Four groups of CSS signals. 12
Figure 3 – Test signal A . 13
Figure 4 – Test signal B . 14
Figure 5 – Audio switching time test process . 14
Figure 6 – Lip sync test signal . 16
Figure 7 – Test method diagram . 16
Figure A.1 – Test setup diagram . 18

Table A.1 – Image quality 5-point evaluation form . 19
Table B.1 – Subjective echo return loss evaluation form . 20

IEC 62820-1-2:2026 © IEC 2026
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Building intercom systems -
Part 1-2: System requirements -
Building intercom systems using the Internet protocol (IP)

FOREWORD
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As of the date of publication of this document, IEC had received notice of a patent, which may be required to
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for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 62820-1-2 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 79: Alarm and electronic security
systems. It is an International Standard.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2017. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) addition of the requirement for overall loudness rating (OLR) when the screen size of the hands-
free intercom unit is larger than 10 inches at the test distance of 30 cm;
b) addition of the requirement for test conditions when the test distance is 30 cm or longer;
c) addition of the method of testing overall loudness rating (OLR) when the screen size of the
hands-free intercom unit is larger than 10 inches.
IEC 62820-1-2:2026 © IEC 2026
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
79/721/CDV 79/729A/RVC
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in the
above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available at
www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are described
in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 62820 series, published under the general title Building intercom
systems, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the specific
document. At this date, the document will be
– reconfirmed,
– withdrawn, or
– revised.
IEC 62820-1-2:2026 © IEC 2026
INTRODUCTION
The IEC 62820 series of standards set out the technical requirements for the composition,
functions, performance, and test methods of building intercom systems for building entry and
application guidelines and consist of five parts:
Part 1-1: System requirements - General
Part 1-2: System requirements - Building intercom systems using the internet protocol (IP)
Part 2: Requirements for advanced security building intercom systems (ASBIS)
Part 3-1: Application guidelines - General
Part 3-2: Application guidelines - Advanced security building intercom systems (ASBIS)

IEC 62820-1-2:2026 © IEC 2026
1 Scope
IEC 62820-1-2 specifies the technical requirements for the composition, functions, performance
and test methods of building intercom systems using the Internet protocol (IP), and it is a
supplement to IEC 62820-1-1.
This document is applicable to the IP building intercom systems for both residential and
commercial buildings.
NOTE A BIS that has a mixture of IP and non-IP connections is not covered by IEC 62820-1-2 but covered by
IEC 62820-1-1.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
IEC 62820-1-1:2026, Building intercom systems - Part 1-1: System requirements - General
ITU-T P.501, Test signals for use in telephony and other speech-based applications
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 62820-1-1 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
– IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
– ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1.1
audio delay
audio latency
one way delay (OWD) time of the transmitted audio signal from the microphone of one intercom
unit through other components in the system to the loudspeaker of other intercom unit
3.1.2
audio switching time
time, from one transmission direction to the other, measured from the removal of the signal in the
first direction until the level in the second direction reaches 3 dB below its final value
3.1.3
echo return loss
ability of the local intercom unit to avoid retransmitting the audio signal received from the far
intercom unit back again to it
IEC 62820-1-2:2026 © IEC 2026
3.1.4
intercom unit
device that is able to establish an audio connection or an audio and video connection between
each other (SMU, VCU and URU) and is specifically designed to be a component of a BIS
Note 1 to entry: Devices which can be connected to IP transmission network such as smartphones or tablets are not
considered as intercom units.
3.1.5
Internet protocol
IP
network layer-3 protocol in the OSI model containing addressing and control information to enable
data packets to be routed in a network and primary network layer protocol in the TCP/IP protocol
suite according to IETF RFC 791 and IETF RFC 2460 and any subsequent evolution
3.1.6
IP transmission network
communication network used to achieve the relevant functions of IP BIS, such as data transmission
and control
3.1.7
lip sync
temporal relationship between transmitted audio signal and video signal
Note 1 to entry: Lip sync value is used to demonstrate the relationship between audio and video signal synchronization.
3.1.8
single talk
type of non simultaneous 2 way speech in which two parties communicate by alternating speech
spurts without interrupting each other
3.1.9
double talk
type of non simultaneous 2 way speech in which two parties communicate by alternating speech
spurts in which both parties can interrupt each other
3.1.10
subjective image quality assessment
method where people, as observers, evaluate the image quality
Note 1 to entry: Test environment, observer and evaluation method shall comply with certain standards, in the same
way the methodology for the subjective assessment of the quality of the television pictures adopted ITU-R BT.500-13
(01/2012).
3.1.11
video delay
one way delay (OWD) time of the
...