SIST HD 639 S1:2003/A1:2004

Electrical accessories - Portable residual current devices without integral overcurrent protection for household and similar use (PRCDs)

2021: CLC legacy converted by DCLab NISOSTS

Elektrisches Installationsmaterial - Ortsveränderliche Fehlerstrom-Schutzeinrichtungen ohne eingebauten Überstromschutz für Hausinstallationen und für ähnliche Anwendungen (PRCDs)

Petit appareillage - Dispositifs différentiels mobiles sans dispositif de protection contre les surintensités incorporé pour usages domestiques et analogues (PCDM)

Električni pribor - Prenosne naprave na preostali (diferenčni) tok brez vgrajene nadtokovne zaščite za uporabo v gospodinjstvu in za podobno uporabo

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2003
• ICS: 29.120.50 - Fuses and other overcurrent protection devices
• Technical Committee: EPR - Electrical accessories
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Due Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Completion Date: 01-Jan-2004
• Directive: 2006/95/EC - Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (codified version)
• 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: 73/23/EEC - Electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Ref Project: HD 639 S1:2002/A1:2003 - Electrical accessories - Portable residual current devices without integral overcurrent protection for household and similar use (PRCDs)

Relations

• Amends: SIST HD 639 S1:2003 - Electrical accessories - Portable residual current devices without integral overcurrent protection for household and similar use (PRCDs)
• Effective Date: 21-Sep-2010
• Revised: SIST EN IEC 61540:2026 - Portable residual current devices (PRCDs) without integral overcurrent protection for household and similar use (IEC 61540:2023)
• Effective Date: 30-Jul-2024

Overview

Standard SIST HD 639 S1:2003/A1:2004 issued by CLC defines requirements for portable residual current devices (PRCDs) without integral overcurrent protection intended for household and similar use. These electrical accessories serve to prevent electric shock by detecting leakage currents and interrupting power supply. This amendment, approved by CENELEC in 2003, updates the harmonization document HD 639 S1:2002 and provides detailed specifications to enhance safety and reliability for PRCDs used in domestic environments.

The standard ensures that these devices meet strict safety criteria, focusing on protection against electric shock while excluding integral overcurrent protection components such as fuses or circuit breakers. It applies across multiple European countries via CENELEC member adoption, ensuring harmonized national implementation.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application
  Covers portable residual current devices designed for household and similar applications without built-in overcurrent protection. This includes devices intended to improve electrical safety by interrupting leakage currents to earth.

• Clearances and Creepage Distances
  Specific requirements (clause 8.1.3.Z1) replace traditional verification methods with targeted tests (clause 9.32) for electronic circuits bridging active conductors (phase and neutral). This ensures adequate insulation barriers and minimizes tracking risk.

• Protective Impedance for Earthing Paths
  Clause 8.1.3.Z2 requires that if the earthing path connects to live parts, this must occur through at least two independent series impedances (resistors or capacitors) to prevent hazardous current flow. The standard specifies criteria for these components and mandates that removal is only possible by destroying or permanently damaging the device.

• Verification and Testing Procedures
  The verification of protective impedance (clause 9.Z1) includes plug-in testing of PRCDs in operational conditions, measuring leakage currents when individual impedances are short-circuited. Leakage currents must not exceed prescribed limits (1 mA without impedance shorted, 2 mA with shorting each impedance). Temperature rise tests under fault conditions are also prescribed to confirm safe operation.

• Compliance and Safety
  The standard emphasizes compliance to ensure devices provide sufficient protection against electric shock, even after mechanical or electrical stress during testing. It distinguishes between performance requirements and essential safety functions.

Applications

• Household Electrical Safety
  Used in portable electrical accessories, PRCDs compliant with SIST HD 639 S1:2003/A1:2004 protect users in homes from residual fault currents that could cause electric shock.

• Similar Use Environments
  Applicable in non-industrial environments such as offices, schools, or small commercial premises where portable residual current devices provide additional safety.

• Portable Equipment Integration
  PRCDs can be integrated into extension leads, portable power distribution units, or individual plugs where integral overcurrent protection is not feasible or required.

• Retrofit and Replacement Devices
  The standard supports harmonized replacement and retrofit solutions for electrical installations, ensuring devices meet up-to-date safety requirements across Europe.

Related Standards

• IEC 61540
  The base international standard referenced in HD 639 S1, covering residual current devices with integral overcurrent protection. HD 639 S1 aligns clauses with this reference where applicable.

• CLC HD 60364 Series
  Pertains to electrical installation safety, providing context for PRCD use in household and similar environments.

• EN 61008 and EN 61009 Series
  Standards addressing residual current circuit breakers with or without integral overcurrent protection, relevant for products complementary to PRCDs.

Summary

Standard SIST HD 639 S1:2003/A1:2004 sets rigorous safety and testing criteria for portable residual current devices without overcurrent protection used in household and similar settings. It ensures that PRCDs effectively reduce electrical shock hazards by enforcing design requirements such as protective impedance, insulation clearances, and performance testing. By adhering to this harmonized European standard, manufacturers and stakeholders ensure enhanced safety, interoperability, and compliance across multiple national markets. This makes HD 639 S1 essential for the design, manufacture, and certification of portable electrical safety devices in domestic environments.

Keywords: portable residual current device, PRCD, electrical safety, household electrical accessories, residual current device, electrical shock protection, overcurrent protection, CENELEC, harmonized standard, protective impedance, electrical standard Europe.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2004
(OHNWULþQLSULERU3UHQRVQHQDSUDYHQDSUHRVWDOLGLIHUHQþQLWRNEUH]YJUDMHQH
QDGWRNRYQH]DãþLWH]DXSRUDERYJRVSRGLQMVWYXLQ]DSRGREQRXSRUDER
Electrical accessories - Portable residual current devices without integral overcurrent
protection for household and similar use (PRCDs)
Elektrisches Installationsmaterial - Ortsveränderliche Fehlerstrom-Schutzeinrichtungen
ohne eingebauten Überstromschutz für Hausinstallationen und für ähnliche
Anwendungen (PRCDs)
Petit appareillage - Dispositifs différentiels mobiles sans dispositif de protection contre
les surintensités incorporé pour usages domestiques et analogues (PCDM)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: HD 639 S1:2002/A1:2003
ICS:
29.120.50 9DURYDONHLQGUXJD Fuses and other overcurrent
PHGWRNRYQD]DãþLWD protection devices
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

HARMONIZATION DOCUMENT HD 639 S1/A1
DOCUMENT D'HARMONISATION
HARMONISIERUNGSDOKUMENT July 2003

ICS 29.120.60
English version
Electrical accessories –
Portable residual current devices
without integral overcurrent protection
for household and similar use (PRCDs)

Petit appareillage – Elektrisches Installationsmaterial –
Dispositifs différentiels mobiles sans Ortsveränderliche Fehlerstrom-
dispositif de protection contre les Schutzeinrichtungen ohne eingebauten
surintensités incorporé pour usages Überstromschutz für Hausinstallationen
domestiques et analogues (PCDM) und für ähnliche Anwendungen (PRCDs)

This amendment A1 modifies the Harmonization Document HD 639 S1:2002; it was approved by
CENELEC on 2003-03-01. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations which stipulate the conditions for implementation of this amendment on a national level.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national implementation may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This amendment exists in three official versions (English, French, German).

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels

© 2003 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.

Ref. No. HD 639 S1:2002/A1:2003 E

Foreword
This amendment was prepared by the Technical Committee CENELEC TC 23E, Circuit breakers and
similar devices for household and similar applications.
The text of the draft was submitted to the Unique Acceptance Procedure and was approved by
CENELEC as amendment A1 to HD 639 S1:2002 on 2003-03-01.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the existence of the amendment
has to be announced at national level (doa) 2003-03-31
– latest date by which the amendment has to be implemented
at national
...