EN 60974-4:2016

Arc welding equipment - Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing

IEC 60974-4:2010 specifies test procedures for periodic inspection and, after repair, to ensure electrical safety. These test procedures are also applicable for maintenance. This standard is applicable to power sources for arc welding and allied processes designed in accordance with IEC 60974-1 or IEC 60974-6. Stand-alone ancillary equipment designed in accordance with other part of IEC 60974 may be tested in accordance with relevant requirement of this part of IEC 60974. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2006. It constitutes a technical revision. The main significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition are the following: - title is amended; - scope is extended to equipment designed in accordance with IEC 60974-6; - complementary instructions from the manufacturer shall be followed; - qualification of test personnel is clarified (see 4.1); - plasma cutting power sources are excluded from no-load voltage test (see 5.6); - voltage reducing device functional test is simplified (see 6.3); - supply voltage is recorded in test report (see 7.1).

Lichtbogenschweißeinrichtungen - Teil 4: Wiederkehrende Inspektion und Prüfung

Matériel de soudage à l’arc - Partie 4: Inspection et essais périodiques

L'IEC 60974-4:2016 spécifie les procédures d'essai pour l'inspection périodique, afin de garantir la sécurité électrique après réparation. Ces procédures d'essai s'appliquent également à la maintenance. La présente Norme s'applique aux sources de courant pour le soudage à l'arc et les techniques connexes conçues conformément à l'IEC 60974-1 ou l'IEC 60974-6. Les équipements auxiliaires indépendants conçus conformément à d'autres parties de l'IEC 60974 peuvent être soumis à essai conformément aux exigences correspondantes de la présente partie de l'IEC 60974. Cette troisième édition annule et remplace la deuxième édition parue en 2010. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente: - Pour ce qui concerne les normes de base, le terme "courant de fuite" a été remplacé par "courant de contact" et "courant du conducteur de protection". - Les mesures de circuits connectés selon une méthode non galvanique doivent être soumises à essai conformément aux informations du fabricant. - L'ordre des chapitres traitant des mesures à effectuer a été modifié. - L'exemple de rapport d'essai dans l'Annexe B a été adapté.

Oprema za obločno varjenje - 4. del: Perodični pregledi in preskusi (IEC 60974-4:2016)

Standard IEC 60974-4:2010 določa preskusne postopke za periodične preglede in za zagotavljanje električne varnosti po popravilih. Ti preskusni postopki se lahko uporabljajo tudi za vzdrževanje. Ta standard se uporablja za vire napajanja za obločno varjenje in sorodne postopke, ki so zasnovani v skladu z delom standarda IEC 60974-1 ali IEC 60974-6. Samostojno pomožno opremo, zasnovano v skladu z drugim delom standarda IEC 60974, se lahko preskusi v skladu z ustrezno zahtevo iz tega dela standarda IEC 60974. Druga izdaja razveljavlja in nadomešča prvo izdajo, objavljeno leta 2006. Ta izdaja je tehnično popravljena izdaja. Glavne pomembne tehnične spremembe glede na predhodno različico so naslednje:  – naslov je spremenjen, – področje uporabe je razširjeno na opremo, ki je zasnovana v skladu s standardom IEC 60974-6, – dodatna navodila proizvajalca je treba upoštevati, – usposobljenost osebja za opravljanje preskusov je pojasnjena (glejte točko 4.1), – viri napajanja za plazemsko rezanje so izključeni iz preskusov z napetostjo brez obremenitve (glejte točko 5.6), – funkcionalni preskus za naprave za zmanjševanje napetosti je poenostavljen (glejte točko 6.3), – napetost vira je podana v poročilu preskusa (glejte točko 7.1).

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 10-Nov-2016
• Withdrawal Date: 24-Aug-2019
• ICS: 25.160 - Welding, brazing and soldering
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 26 - Electric welding
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 26 - IEC_TC_26
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 11-Nov-2016
• Completion Date: 11-Nov-2016
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60974-4:2017 - Arc welding equipment - Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing (IEC 60974-4:2016)

Relations

• Replaces: EN 60974-4:2011 - Arc welding equipment - Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Replaced By: EN IEC 60974-4:2025 - Arc welding equipment - Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing
• Effective Date: 14-Feb-2023

Overview

EN 60974-4:2016 (IEC 60974-4:2016) - Arc welding equipment - Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing - defines test procedures for periodic inspection, maintenance and after‑repair testing to ensure electrical safety of arc welding power sources and allied equipment. The standard applies to power sources built in accordance with IEC 60974‑1 and IEC 60974‑6; stand‑alone ancillary equipment from other IEC 60974 parts may be tested against the relevant requirements in this part. It is intended for in‑service inspections and is not for testing new or engine‑driven power sources.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope of application: testing of welding power sources and certain ancillary devices; guidance for equipment not built per IEC 60974‑1 (Annex C).
• Protection against electric shock: visual inspection, continuity of the protective circuit, insulation resistance, welding circuit touch current, touch current in normal conditions and protective conductor current.
• No‑load voltage (U0): measurement procedures are specified (note: plasma cutting power sources are excluded from the no‑load voltage test).
• Functional tests: supply on/off switching, voltage‑reducing device functional test (simplified in this edition), magnetic gas valve, signal and control lamp checks.
• Test conditions and sequence: defined test order and conditions for periodic inspection, maintenance and post‑repair testing.
• Qualification of test personnel: clarification of required competence levels for test personnel (see clause 4.1) - tests should be performed by instructed persons or experts trained and authorized to carry out periodic inspection and test.
• Documentation: mandatory test reports and labelling requirements; supply voltage must be recorded in the test report (clause 7.1).
• Manufacturer instructions: complementary instructions from the manufacturer shall be followed where applicable.

Practical applications

Who uses EN 60974‑4:

• Maintenance engineers and workshop technicians performing periodic inspections and after‑repair checks on welding power sources.
• Safety officers and compliance teams verifying electrical safety of in‑service welding equipment.
• Service centres, electrical test laboratories and authorized repair facilities documenting test reports.
• Manufacturers and OEMs referencing the standard for maintenance instructions and post‑repair verification.

Benefits:

• Ensures consistent, repeatable electrical safety testing and documentation.
• Reduces risk of electric shock and equipment failure through defined test procedures.
• Supports regulatory compliance and asset management for welding fleets.

Related standards

• IEC/EN 60974‑1 - Arc welding equipment - Part 1: Welding power sources
• IEC/EN 60974‑6 - Arc welding equipment - Part 6: Limited duty equipment
• IEC 61140, IEC 61557‑4 - protection against electric shock and earth/ bonding testing
• International Electrotechnical Vocabulary parts (IEC 60050 series) for relevant terms

Keywords: EN 60974-4, IEC 60974-4, periodic inspection, arc welding equipment, welding power sources, electrical safety, test procedures, maintenance, touch current, protective conductor current, no-load voltage.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2017
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 60974-4:2011
2SUHPD]DREORþQRYDUMHQMHGHO3HURGLþQLSUHJOHGLLQSUHVNXVL,(&

Arc welding equipment - Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing (IEC 60974-4:2016)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60974-4:2016
ICS:
25.160.30 Varilna oprema Welding equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60974-4
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
November 2016
ICS 25.160 Supersedes EN 60974-4:2011
English Version
Arc welding equipment - Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing
(IEC 60974-4:2016)
Matériel de soudage à l'arc - Partie 4: Inspection et essais Lichtbogenschweißeinrichtungen - Teil 4: Wiederkehrende
périodiques Inspektion und Prüfung
(IEC 60974-4:2016) (IEC 60974-4:2016)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2016-08-25. 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, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2016 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 60974-4:2016 E
European foreword
The text of document 26/597/FDIS, future edition 3 of IEC 60974-4, prepared by IEC/TC 26 "Electric
welding" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN 60974-
4:2016.
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2017-05-25
• latest date by which the document has to be
implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national (dow) 2019-08-25
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60974-4:2011.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60974-4:2016 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, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE 1 When 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.cenelec.eu
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 60050-151 -  International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - -
(IEV) -
Part 151: Electrical and magnetic devices
IEC 60050-195 -  International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - -
(IEV) -
Chapter 195: Earthing and protection
against electric shock
IEC 60050-851 -  International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - -
(IEV) -
Part 851: Electric welding
IEC 60974-1 2012 Arc welding equipment - EN 60974-1 2012
Part 1: Welding power sources
IEC 60974-6 -  Arc welding equipment - EN 60974-6 -
Part 6: Limited duty equipment
IEC 61140 -  Protection against electric shock - EN 61140 -
Common aspects for installation and
equipment
IEC 61557-4 -  Electrical safety in low voltage distribution EN 61557-4 -
systems up to 1 000 V a.c. and 1 500 V
d.c. - Equipment for testing, measuring or
monitoring of protective measures -
Part 4: Resistance of earth connection and
equipotential bonding
IEC 60974-4 ®
Edition 3.0 2016-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Arc welding equipment –
Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing

Matériel de soudage à l’arc –
Partie 4: Inspection et essais périodiques

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 25.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-3528-7

– 2 – IEC 60974-4:2016 © IEC 2016
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references. 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General requirements . 6
4.1 Qualification of test personnel . 6
4.2 Test conditions . 6
4.3 Measuring instruments . 6
4.4 Periodic inspection and test . 7
4.5 Maintenance . 7
4.6 Repair . 7
4.7 Test sequence . 7
5 Protection against electrical shock . 8
5.1 Visual inspection . 8
5.2 Continuity of the protective circuit . 8
5.3 Insulation resistance . 9
5.4 Welding circuit touch current . 9
5.5 Touch current in normal condition . 10
5.6 Protective conductor current . 10
5.7 No-load voltage (U ) . 11
6 Functional test . 12
6.1 Function . 12
6.2 Supply-circuit on/off switching device . 12
6.3 Voltage-reducing device . 12
6.4 Magnetic gas valve . 13
6.5 Signal and control lamps . 13
7 Documentation . 13
7.1 Test report . 13
7.2 Labelling . 13
Annex A (informative) Check-list for the visual inspection . 14
Annex B (informative) Example of a test report after repair . 15
Annex C (informative) Equipment not built in accordance with IEC 60974-1. 16

Figure 1 – Measurement of welding circuit touch current . 9
Figure 2 – Measurement of touch current in normal condition . 10
Figure 3 – Principles of protective conductor current measurement for single phase
equipment . 11
Figure 4 – Measurement of peak values . 12

Table 1 – Test sequence on used arc welding equipment . 8
Table 2 – Insulation resistance . 9

IEC 60974-4:2016 © IEC 2016 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT –
Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60974-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 26:
Electric welding.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2010. It constitutes a
technical revision.
The main significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition are the following:
• With regard to basic standards the term "leakage current" has been replaced by "touch
current" and "protective conductor current".
• Measurements of circuits connected in a non-galvanic way shall be tested according to the
information of the manufacturer.
• The order of the chapters dealing with measurements to be carried out has been changed.
• The example test report in Annex B has been adapted.

– 4 – IEC 60974-4:2016 © IEC 2016
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
26/597/FDIS 26/603/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The list of all the parts of the IEC 60974 series, under the general title Arc welding equipment,
can be found on the IEC website.
In this standard, the following print types are used:
• conformity statements: in italic type.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IEC 60974-4:2016 © IEC 2016 – 5 –
ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT –
Part 4: Periodic inspection and testing

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60974 specifies test procedures for periodic inspection and, after repair, to
ensure electrical safety. These test procedures are also applicable for maintenance.
This standard is applicable to power sources for arc welding and allied processes designed in
accordance with IEC 60974-1 or IEC 60974-6. Stand-alone ancillary equipment designed in
accordance with other parts of IEC 60974 may be tested in accordance with relevant
requirements of this part of IEC 60974.
NOTE 1 The welding power source can be tested with any ancillary equipment fitted that can affect the test
results.
This standard is not applicable to testing of new power sources or engine-driven power
sources.
NOTE 2 For a power source not built in accordance with IEC 60974-1, see Annex C.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60050-151, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Part 151: Electrical and magnetic
devices
IEC 60050-195, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Part 195: Earthing and protection
against electric shock
IEC 60050-851, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Part 851: Electric welding
IEC 60974-1:2012, Arc welding equipment – Part 1: Welding power sources
IEC 60974-6, Arc welding equipment – Part 6: Limited duty equipment
IEC 61557-4, Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V a.c. and 1 500
V d.c. – Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures – Part 4:
Resistance of earth connection and equipotential bonding
IEC 61140, Protection against electric shock – Common aspects for installation and
equipment
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in the IEC 60050-151, the
IEC 60050-195, the IEC 60050-851, the IEC 60974-1, as well as the following, apply.

– 6 – IEC 60974-4:2016 © IEC 2016
3.1
expert
competent person
skilled person
a person who can judge the work assigned and recognize possible hazards on the basis of
professional training, knowledge, experience and knowledge of the rele
...