IEC 62208:2023

Empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - General requirements

IEC 62208:2023 applies to empty enclosures, as provided by the enclosure manufacturer, prior to the incorporation of switchgear and controlgear components by the assembly manufacturer. This document specifies general definitions, classifications, characteristics and test requirements of enclosures to be used as part of switchgear and controlgear assemblies (e.g. in accordance with the product standard in the IEC 61439 series), the rated voltage of which does not exceed 1 000 V AC or 1 500 V DC, and suitable for general use for either indoor or outdoor applications. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2011. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) consideration of the modifications introduced in IEC 61439-1:2020;
b) alignment of test procedures with the newest relevant standards.

Enveloppes vides destinées aux ensembles d'appareillages à basse tension - Exigences générales

L'IEC 62208:2023 s'applique aux enveloppes vides, dans l'état dans lequel elles sont fournies par le fabricant d'enveloppes, avant incorporation des composants d'appareillage par le fabricant de l'ensemble. Le présent document spécifie les définitions, les classifications, les caractéristiques et les exigences d'essai générales des enveloppes à utiliser en tant que partie d'ensembles d'appareillage (selon par exemple la norme de produit de la série IEC 61439), dont la tension assignée ne dépasse pas 1 000 V en courant alternatif ou 1 500 V en courant continu pour usage général extérieur ou intérieur. Cette troisième édition annule et remplace la deuxième édition parue en 2011. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente:
a) prise en compte des modifications introduites dans l'IEC 61439-1:2020;
b) alignement des procédures d'essai sur les toutes nouvelles normes applicables.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-May-2023
• ICS: 29.130.20 - Low voltage switchgear and controlgear
• Technical Committee: SC 121B - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies
• Drafting Committee: MT 6 - TC 121/SC 121B/MT 6
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 30-Jun-2023
• Completion Date: 01-Jun-2023

Relations

• Revises: IEC 62208:2011 - Empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - General requirements
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 62208 ®
Edition 3.0 2023-06
COMMENTED VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies –
General requirements
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Secretariat Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé [e-mail]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC Products & Services Portal - products.iec.ch
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a
Discover our powerful search engine and read freely all the
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical publications previews. With a subscription you will always have
committee, …). It also gives information on projects, replaced access to up to date content tailored to your needs.
and withdrawn publications.
Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
The world's leading online dictionary on electrotechnology,
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published
containing more than 22 300 terminological entries in English
details all new publications released. Available online and once
and French, with equivalent terms in 19 additional languages.
a month by email.
Also known as the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary

(IEV) online.
IEC Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc

If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need
further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
Centre: [e-mail].
IEC 62208 ®
Edition 3.0 2023-06
COMMENTED VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies –
General requirements
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 29.130.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-7110-0
– 2 – IEC 62208:2023 CMV © IEC 2023
CONTENTS
FOREWORD .4
INTRODUCTION .6
1 Scope .7
2 Normative references .7
3 Terms and definitions .8
4 Classification . 10
5 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC requirements) . 11
6 Information to be given regarding the enclosure . 11
6.1 General . 11
6.2 Marking . 11
6.3 Documentation . 12
6.3.1 General . 12
6.3.2 Dimensions . 12
6.3.3 Mounting arrangements . 13
6.3.4 Permissible loads . 13
6.3.5 Lifting and transport support . 13
6.3.6 Protective circuit measures . 13
6.3.7 Thermal power dissipation capability . 13
7 Service conditions . 13
7.1 General . 13
7.2 Normal service conditions . 14
7.2.1 Ambient air temperature .
7.2.2 Humidity conditions .
7.3 Special service conditions . 14
7.4 Conditions during transport and storage . 15
8 Design and construction . 15
8.1 General . 15
8.2 Static loads . 16
8.3 Lifting and transport support . 16
8.4 Access to the interior of the enclosure . 16
8.5 Protective circuit .
8.6 Dielectric strength.
8.5 Protection against electric shock . 17
8.5.1 General . 17
8.5.2 Requirements for earth continuity within the class I enclosure . 17
8.5.3 Requirements for class II enclosure . 18
8.6 Degree of protection Protection against mechanical impact (IK code) . 18
8.7 Degree of protection Protection against contact with live parts, ingress of
solid foreign bodies and water (IP code) . 18
8.8 Protection against corrosion . 18
8.9 Enclosures constructed of or covered by insulating material . 18
9 Type tests . 18
9.1 General . 18
9.2 General conditions of tests. 19
9.3 Marking . 20
9.4 Static loads . 20

9.5 Lifting . 21
9.6 Mechanical operation . 21
9.7 Axial loads of metal inserts . 21
9.8 Degree of protection against external mechanical impacts (IK code) . 22
9.9 Degree of protection (IP code) . 23
9.9.1 Degree of protection against access to hazardous parts and against the
ingress of solid foreign objects indicated by first characteristic numeral . 23
9.9.2 Degree of protection against ingress of water as indicated by second
characteristic numeral . 23
9.9.3 Degree of protection against hazardous parts as indicated by additional
letter . 24
9.10 Properties of insulating materials . 24
9.10.1 Thermal stability . 24
9.10.2 Resistance to normal heat . 24
9.10.3 Resistance to abnormal heat and to fire due to internal electric effects . 25
9.11 Dielectric strength. 26
9.11.1 General . 26
9.11.2 Preconditioning . 26
9.11.3 Enclosures without metal elements inside the protected space . 26
9.11.4 Enclosures having metal elements inside the protected space . 27
9.11.5 Results to be obtained . 27
9.12 Effective earth continuity between the exposed-conductive-parts of the class
I enclosure and the protective circuit . 27
9.13 Resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation . 28
9.13.1 Verification by test . 28
9.13.2 Verification by comparison to a reference design . 29
9.14 Resistance to corrosion . 29
9.14.1 General . 29
9.14.2 Test procedure . 29
9.14.3 Results to be obtained . 30
9.15 Thermal power dissipation capability . 30
9.15.1 General . 31
9.15.2 Determination of the power dissipation capability by test. 31
9.15.3 Determination of the power dissipation capability by calculation and
comparison . 31
9.15.4 Determination of the power dissipation capability by calculation method . 31
Annex A (informative) List of notes concerning certain countries . 33
Bibliography . 34
List of comments . 35

Table 1 – Climatic conditions . 14
Table 2 – Number of samples to be tested and order of test per sample . 19
Table 3 – Axial loads of metal inserts . 22
Table 4 – Dielectric test voltage . 27

– 4 – IEC 62208:2023 CMV © IEC 2023
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
EMPTY ENCLOSURES FOR LOW-VOLTAGE
SWITCHGEAR AND CONTROLGEAR ASSEMBLIES –
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
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 relevan
...

IEC 62208 ®
Edition 3.0 2023-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies –
General requirements
Enveloppes vides destinées aux ensembles d'appareillage à basse tension –
Exigences générales
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite ni
utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie et
les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de l'IEC ou du Comité national de l'IEC du pays du demandeur. Si vous avez des
questions sur le copyright de l'IEC ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette publication, utilisez
les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de l'IEC de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Secretariat Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé [e-mail]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC Products & Services Portal - products.iec.ch
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a Discover our powerful search engine and read freely all the
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical publications previews. With a subscription you will always have
committee, …). It also gives information on projects, replaced access to up to date content tailored to your needs.
and withdrawn publications.
Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
The world's leading online dictionary on electrotechnology,
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published
containing more than 22 300 terminological entries in English
details all new publications released. Available online and once
and French, with equivalent terms in 19 additional languages.
a month by email.
Also known as the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary

(IEV) online.
IEC Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need
further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
Centre: [e-mail].
A propos de l'IEC
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (IEC) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
Normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications IEC
Le contenu technique des publications IEC est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez l’édition la
plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.

Recherche de publications IEC - Découvrez notre puissant moteur de recherche et consultez
webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform gratuitement tous les aperçus des publications. Avec un
La recherche avancée permet de trouver des publications IEC abonnement, vous aurez toujours accès à un contenu à jour
en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence, texte, adapté à vos besoins.
comité d’études, …). Elle donne aussi des informations sur les
projets et les publications remplacées ou retirées. Electropedia - www.electropedia.org

Le premier dictionnaire d'électrotechnologie en ligne au monde,
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
avec plus de 22 300 articles terminologiques en anglais et en
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications IEC. Just
français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans 19 langues
Published détaille les nouvelles publications parues.
additionnelles. Egalement appelé Vocabulaire
Disponible en ligne et une fois par mois par email.
Electrotechnique International (IEV) en ligne.

Service Clients - webstore.iec.ch/csc
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette
publication ou si vous avez des questions contactez-nous:
[e-mail].
IEC Products & Services Portal - products.iec.ch

IEC 62208 ®
Edition 3.0 2023-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies –

General requirements
Enveloppes vides destinées aux ensembles d'appareillage à basse tension –

Exigences générales
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.130.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-7071-4

– 2 – IEC 62208:2023 © IEC 2023
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Classification . 10
5 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) . 11
6 Information to be given regarding the enclosure . 11
6.1 General . 11
6.2 Marking . 11
6.3 Documentation . 11
6.3.1 General . 11
6.3.2 Dimensions . 12
6.3.3 Mounting arrangements . 12
6.3.4 Permissible loads . 12
6.3.5 Lifting and transport support . 12
6.3.6 Protective measures . 12
6.3.7 Thermal power dissipation capability . 13
7 Service conditions . 13
7.1 General . 13
7.2 Normal service conditions . 13
7.3 Special service conditions . 13
7.4 Conditions during transport and storage . 14
8 Design and construction . 14
8.1 General . 14
8.2 Static loads . 14
8.3 Lifting and transport support . 14
8.4 Access to the interior of the enclosure . 15
8.5 Protection against electric shock . 15
8.5.1 General . 15
8.5.2 Requirements for earth continuity within the class I enclosure . 15
8.5.3 Requirements for class II enclosure . 15
8.6 Protection against mechanical impact (IK code) . 16
8.7 Protection against contact with live parts, ingress of solid foreign bodies and
water (IP code) . 16
8.8 Protection against corrosion . 16
8.9 Enclosures constructed of or covered by insulating material . 16
9 Type tests . 16
9.1 General . 16
9.2 General conditions of tests. 16
9.3 Marking . 17
9.4 Static loads . 17
9.5 Lifting . 18
9.6 Mechanical operation . 18
9.7 Axial loads of metal inserts . 18
9.8 Degree of protection against external mechanical impacts (IK code) . 19

9.9 Degree of protection (IP code) . 20
9.9.1 Degree of protection against access to hazardous parts and against the
ingress of solid foreign objects indicated by first characteristic numeral . 20
9.9.2 Degree of protection against ingress of water as indicated by second
characteristic numeral . 20
9.9.3 Degree of protection against hazardous parts as indicated by additional
letter . 21
9.10 Properties of insulating materials . 21
9.10.1 Thermal stability . 21
9.10.2 Resistance to normal heat . 21
9.10.3 Resistance to abnormal heat and fire due to internal electric effects . 22
9.11 Dielectric strength . 23
9.11.1 General . 23
9.11.2 Preconditioning . 23
9.11.3 Enclosures without metal elements inside the protected space . 23
9.11.4 Enclosures having metal elements inside the protected space . 24
9.11.5 Results to be obtained . 24
9.12 Effective earth continuity between the exposed-conductive-parts of the class
I enclosure and the protective circuit . 24
9.13 Resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation . 24
9.13.1 Verification by test . 24
9.13.2 Verification by comparison to a reference design . 25
9.14 Resistance to corrosion . 26
9.14.1 General . 26
9.14.2 Test procedure . 26
9.14.3 Results to be obtained . 27
9.15 Thermal power dissipation capability . 27
9.15.1 General . 27
9.15.2 Determination of the power dissipation capability by test . 27
9.15.3 Determination of the power dissipation capability by calc
...