EN IEC 61557-6:2021

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 6: Effectiveness of residual current devices (RCD) in TT, TN and IT systems

IEC 61557-6:2019 is available as IEC 61557-6:2019 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.IEC 61557-6:2019 specifies the requirements applicable to measuring equipment for testing the effectiveness of protective measures of residual current devices (RCD) installed in TT, TN and IT systems. It is not the purpose of this document to verify the RCD according to their product standards. IEC 61557-6:2019 cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2007. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: a) addition of requirements for testing a new type of RCD; b) addition of requirements for type B RCDs (former Annex B); c) addition of new Annex B on recommended tripping times; d) alignment of the structure with that of the whole IEC 61557 series.

Elektrische Sicherheit in Niederspannungsnetzen bis AC 1 000 V und DC 1 500 V - Geräte zum Prüfen, Messen oder Überwachen von Schutzmaßnahmen - Teil 6: Wirksamkeit von Fehlerstrom-Schutzeinrichtungen (RCD) in TT-, TN- und IT-Systemen

Sécurité électrique dans les réseaux de distribution basse tension au plus égale à 1 000 V c.a. et 1 500 V c.c. - Dispositifs de contrôle, de mesure ou de surveillance de mesures de protection - Partie 6: Efficacité des dispositifs à courant différentiel résiduel (DDR) dans les réseaux TT, TN et IT

IEC 61557-6:2019 est disponible sous forme de IEC 61557-6:2019 RLV qui contient la Norme internationale et sa version Redline, illustrant les modifications du contenu technique depuis l'édition précédente.L'IEC 61557-6:2019 spécifie les exigences applicables aux appareils de mesure destinés à soumettre à essai l'efficacité des mesures de protection des dispositifs à courant différentiel résiduel (DDR) installés dans les réseaux TT, TN et IT. La présente norme n'a pas pour objet de vérifier la conformité des DDR aux normes de produits associées. L'IEC 61557-6:2019 annule et remplace la deuxième édition parue en 2007. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente: a) ajout d'exigences pour les essais d'un nouveau type de DDR; b) ajout des exigences pour les DDR de type B (ancienne Annexe B); c) ajout de l'Annexe B relative aux temps de déclenchement recommandés; d) alignement de la structure sur l'ensemble de la série IEC 61557.

Električna varnost v nizkonapetostnih razdelilnih sistemih za izmenične napetosti do 1 kV in enosmerne napetosti do 1,5 kV - Oprema za preskušanje, merjenje ali nadzorovanje zaščitnih ukrepov - 6. del: Učinkovitost naprav na preostali tok (RCD) v sistemih TT, TN in IT (IEC 61557-6:2019)

Ta del standarda IEC 61557 določa zahteve, ki veljajo za merilno opremo za preskušanje učinkovitosti zaščitnih ukrepov pri napravah na diferenčni tok (RCD), nameščenih v sistemih TT, TN in IT. Namen tega dokumenta ni preverjanje naprav na diferenčni tok v skladu z njihovimi proizvodnimi standardi. OPOMBA: Veljavni preskusi izklopa za čas in tok naprav na diferenčni tok so navedeni v preglednici A.1 v dodatku A.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-2021
• ICS: 17.200.20 - Temperature-measuring instruments
• ICS: 17.220.20 - Measurement of electrical and magnetic quantities
• ICS: 29.080.01 - Electrical insulation in general
• ICS: 29.240.01 - Power transmission and distribution networks in general
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 85X - Measuring equipment for electrical and electromagnetic quantities
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 85 - IEC_TC_85
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 10-Dec-2021
• Completion Date: 10-Dec-2021
• Directive: 2014/30/EU - Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility (recast)
• Directive: 2014/35/EU - Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Directive: 2014/53/EU - Directive 2014/53/EU of The European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC
• Mandate: M/511 - Mandate to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI relating to harmonised standards in the field of the Low Voltage Directive
• Mandate: M/552 - [C(2016) 7641 final] Standardisation request as regards harmonised standards in support of Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 61557-6:2022 - 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 6: Effectiveness of residual current devices (RCD) in TT, TN and IT systems (IEC 61557-6:2019)

Relations

• Replaces: EN 61557-6:2007 - 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 6: Effectiveness of residual current devices (RCD) in TT, TN and IT systems
• Effective Date: 23-Jan-2023

Overview

EN IEC 61557-6:2021 (identical to IEC 61557-6:2019) specifies requirements for measuring equipment used to test the effectiveness of residual current devices (RCDs) in low-voltage distribution systems (up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC). Published by CENELEC/CLC, this part of the IEC 61557 series focuses on instruments that verify RCD behaviour in TT, TN and IT systems. It is intended for test equipment, not for product-type verification of RCDs against their own product standards.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose: Defines functional and safety requirements for instruments that measure RCD trip current and trip time, indicate fault voltages, and perform non-tripping tests.
• Functions covered:
  • Measurement of trip current (operating current of the RCD)
  • Measurement of trip time (timing of operation under fault)
  • Fault voltage indication (showing voltage during test/fault conditions)
  • Non‑tripping / leakage tests (safe checks without causing RCD operation)
• Testing and accuracy: Requirements for test procedures, operating uncertainty calculations, and specified test conditions for different RCD types (see Annex A for applicable tripping tests and recommended tripping times).
• Safety and marking: Mandates marking, operating instructions, and explicit indication of the waveform used for testing currents; aligns with safety standards for test equipment (e.g., IEC 61010 series).
• New/updated content: This edition adds requirements for a new RCD type, includes Type B RCD requirements, introduces an Annex B with recommended tripping times, and aligns structure with the IEC 61557 series.

Applications and who uses this standard

• Manufacturers of RCD test instruments use EN IEC 61557-6 to design and certify equipment for accurate RCD performance testing.
• Electrical contractors and installers employ compliant testers for commissioning and initial verification of protective devices in TT, TN and IT systems.
• Inspection bodies, maintenance teams and safety auditors use these measurement procedures for periodic inspection, preventive maintenance and fault diagnosis.
• Certification and testing laboratories reference the standard when carrying out RCD performance assessments and validating test equipment.

Related standards

• IEC/EN 61557-1 - General requirements for protective-measure test equipment
• IEC 61010-1 / IEC 61010-2-030 - Safety requirements for electrical measuring equipment
• EN 61008-1 / EN 61009-1 - RCD product standards (harmonized references)

EN IEC 61557-6 is essential for anyone specifying, developing or using RCD test equipment to ensure consistent, safe and traceable verification of residual current protective measures in low-voltage distribution networks.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2022
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 61557-6:2008
Električna varnost v nizkonapetostnih razdelilnih sistemih za izmenične napetosti
do 1 kV in enosmerne napetosti do 1,5 kV - Oprema za preskušanje, merjenje ali
nadzorovanje zaščitnih ukrepov - 6. del: Učinkovitost naprav na preostali tok
(RCD) v sistemih TT, TN in IT (IEC 61557-6:2019)
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 6:
Effectiveness of residual current devices (RCD) in TT, TN and IT systems (IEC 61557-
6:2019)
Elektrische Sicherheit in Niederspannungsnetzen bis AC 1 000 V und DC 1 500 V -
Geräte zum Prüfen, Messen oder Überwachen von Schutzmaßnahmen - Teil 6:
Wirksamkeit von Fehlerstrom-Schutzeinrichtungen (RCD) in TT-, TN- und IT-Systemen
(IEC 61557-6:2019)
Sécurité électrique dans les réseaux de distribution basse tension de 1 000 V c.a. et 1
500 V c.c. - Dispositifs de contrôle, de mesure ou de surveillance de mesures de
protection - Partie 6: Efficacité des dispositifs à courant résiduel (DCR) dans les réseaux
TT, TN et IT (IEC 61557-6:2019)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 61557-6:2021
ICS:
17.200.20 Instrumenti za merjenje Temperature-measuring
temperature instruments
29.080.01 Električna izolacija na Electrical insulation in
splošno general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 61557-6

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2021
ICS 17.220.20; 29.080.01; 29.240.01 Supersedes EN 61557-6:2007 and all of its amendments
and corrigenda (if any)
English Version
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 6: Effectiveness of
residual current devices (RCD) in TT, TN and IT systems
(IEC 61557-6:2019)
Sécurité électrique dans les réseaux de distribution basse Elektrische Sicherheit in Niederspannungsnetzen bis AC 1
tension au plus égale à 1 000 V c.a. et 1 500 V c.c. - 000 V und DC 1 500 V - Geräte zum Prüfen, Messen oder
Dispositifs de contrôle, de mesure ou de surveillance de Überwachen von Schutzmaßnahmen - Teil 6: Wirksamkeit
mesures de protection - Partie 6: Efficacité des dispositifs à von Fehlerstrom-Schutzeinrichtungen (RCD) in TT-, TN-
courant différentiel résiduel (DDR) dans les réseaux TT, TN und IT-Systemen
et IT (IEC 61557-6:2019)
(IEC 61557-6:2019)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2021-11-10. 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,
Turkey 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
© 2021 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 61557-6:2021 E

European foreword
The text of document 85/684/FDIS, future edition 3 of IEC 61557-6, prepared by IEC/TC 85
"Measuring equipment for electrical and electromagnetic quantities" was submitted to the IEC-
CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 61557-6:2021.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2022-08-10
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2024-11-10
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 61557-6:2007 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.
This document has been prepared under a Standardization Request given to CENELEC by the
European Commission and the European Free Trade Association.
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 61557-6:2019 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards
indicated:
IEC 60359:2001 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60359:2002 (not modified)
IEC 60364-4-41 NOTE Harmonized as HD 60364-4-41
IEC 61008-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 61008-1
IEC 61009-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 61009-1
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.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 61010-1 2010 Safety requirements for electrical equipment EN 61010-1 2010
for measurement, control, and laboratory use
- Part 1: General requirements
+ A1 (mod) 2016  + A1 2019
IEC 61010-2-030 2017 Safety requirements for electrical equipment EN IEC 61010-2-030 2021
for measurement, control, and laboratory use
- Part 2-030: Particular requirements for
equipment having testing or measuring
circuits
- -  + A11 2021
IEC 61010-031 -  Safety requirements for electrical equipment EN 61010-031 -
for measurement, control and laboratory use
- Part 031: Safety requirements for hand-held
probe assemblies for electrical measurement
and test
IEC 61557-1 2019 Electrical safety in low voltage distribution EN IEC 61557-1 2021
systems up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC -
Equipment for testing, measuring or
monitoring of protective measures - Part 1:
General requirements
IEC 61557-6 ®
Edition 3.0 2019-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
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 6: Effectiveness of residual current devices (RCD) in TT, TN and IT systems

Sécurité électrique dans les réseaux de distribution basse tension au plus

égale à 1 000 V c.a. et 1 500 V c.c. – Dispositifs de contrôle, de mesure ou

de surveillance de mesures de protection –

Partie 6: Efficacité des dispositifs à courant différentiel résiduel (DDR)

dans les réseaux TT, TN et IT
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 17.220.20; 29.080.01; 29.240.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-7160-5

– 2 – IEC 61557-6:2019 © IEC 2019
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Requirements . 6
4.1 General . 6
4.2 Functions . 7
4.2.1 Measurement of trip current . 7
4.2.2 Non-tripping functions . 7
4.2.3 Fault voltage indication . 8
4.2.4 Measurement of trip time . 8
4.3 Measurement with indicators . 8
4.4 Test with rated residual operating current . 9
4.5 Fault voltages exceeding U . 9
L
4.6 Overvoltage . 9
5 Marking and operating instructions . 9
5.1 Marking . 9
5.2 Explicit indication of the waveform of the testing current . 9
5.3 Operating instructions . 10
6 Tests . 10
6.1 General . 10
6.2 Operating uncertainty . 11
6.3 Fault voltage . 12
6.4 Testing the connection to voltages higher than nominal voltage . 12
6.5 Overvoltage . 12
Annex A (informative) Applicable tripping tests (time and current) for different types
of RCDs . 13
Bibliography . 14

Table 1 – Calculation of operating uncertainty . 11
Table A.1 – Tripping tests for different types of RCD . 13

IEC 61557-6:2019 © IEC 2019 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN LOW VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS UP TO
1 000 V AC AND 1 500 V DC – EQUIPMENT FOR TESTING, MEASURING
OR MONITORING OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES –

Part 6: Effectiveness of residual current devices (RCD)
in TT, TN and IT systems
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 61557-6 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 85:
Measuring equipment for electrical and electromagnetic quantities.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2007. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) addition of requirements for testing a new type of RCD;
b) addition of requirements for type B RCDs (former Annex B);
c) addition of new Annex B on recommended tripping times;

– 4 – IEC 61557-6:2019 © IEC 2019
d) alignment of the structure with that of the whole IEC 61557 series.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
85/ 684/FDIS 85/ 697/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
This International Standard is to be used in conjunction with IEC 61557-1:2019.
A list of all parts in the IEC 61557 series, published under the general title Electrical safety in
low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC – Equipment for testing,
measuring or monitoring of protective measures, 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 "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IEC 61557-6:2019 © IEC 2019 – 5 –
ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN LOW VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS UP TO
1 000 V AC AND 1 500 V DC – EQUIPMENT FOR TESTING, MEASURING
OR MONITORING OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES –

Part 6: Effectiveness of residual current devices (RCD)
in TT, TN and IT systems
1 Scope
This part of IEC 61557 specifies the requirements applicable to measuring equipment for
testing the effectiveness of protective measures of residual current devices (RCD) installed in
TT, TN and IT systems.
It is not the purpose of this document to verify the RCD according to their product standards.
NOTE Applicable tripping tests for time and current of RCD are listed in Annex A, Table A.1.
2 Normative refe
...