Article by Elena Andreula (UL EMEA Regulatory Program Expert), originally featured in Lumen Insights

Dates of Withdrawal for Harmonized Standards

Electrical equipment in compliance with a harmonized European Standard (EN) cited in the Official Journal of the European Union shall be presumed to be in compliance with the corresponding requirements of harmonization legislation.

New European harmonized standard editions or amendments become mandatory starting from the Date of Withdrawal (DOW) of the superseded standard. This date marks the end of the period during which both the old and the new version of the standard can be used to claim ‘presumption of conformity’ to the essential requirements of the relevant directive. After that date, ‘presumption of conformity’ can no longer be claimed for a product manufactured according to the old version of the standard.

Below is an overview of the recent changes in harmonized standards:

EN 60598-1:2015/A1:2018

Starting from the 23rd of February 2021, the new amendment A1:2018 of EN 60598-1:2015 becomes mandatory.

The new amendment contains many modifications. The most significant changes are as follows:

• Introduction of rated input wattage marking requirements for non-replaceable or non-user replaceable light sources
• Changes in the requirements for creepage and clearance distances
• Changing of test criteria for clip mounted luminaires
• Introduction of requirements for luminaires provided with light sources and delivered without control gear
• Revision of requirements of supply/interconnection minimum nominal conductor cross-section (mm2)
• Specification of requirements for luminaires delivered with connecting tails
• Introduction of a test to determine suitability of conductors having a reduced cross-sectional area

EN 60598-2-4:2018 – Supersedes EN 60598-2-4:1997 and EN 60598-2-7:1989/A11/A12/A13/A2

Starting from the 30th of March 2021, the new edition of EN 60598-2-4:2018 becomes mandatory and replaces EN 60598-2-4:1997.

Moreover, in this new edition all requirements listed in IEC 60598-2-7 have been incorporated. As a consequence, EN 60598-2-7 will be withdrawn.

This standard specifies requirements for portable general purpose luminaires for indoor and/or outdoor use (e.g. garden use), other than handlamps, designed to be used with or incorporating electrical light sources on supply voltages not exceeding 250 V.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• Modification of the scope, classification and requirements to cover portable luminaires for both indoor and outdoor applications
• Modification of the scope to cover all electrical light sources
• Introduction of the symbol for luminaires which are other than ordinary, but suitable for indoor applications only
• Modification in test details to clarify that the stability test on an inclined plane shall be carried out with the light source(s) in place
• Modification of the minimum degree of protection against dust and moisture for portable luminaires for outdoor use from IPX3 to IPX4
• Modification of the requirements for the acceptance criteria of plug and socket outlets
• Modification of the IP test requiring the most unfavorable of the overturned positions to cover all classes

EN 60598-2-17:2018 – Supersedes EN 60598-2-17:1989/A2:1991

Starting from the 23rd of March 2021, EN 60598-2-17:2018 becomes mandatory and replaces EN 60598-2-17:1989/A2:1991.

This standard specifies requirements for stage, television, film and photographic studio luminaires (including spot and floodlighting projectors) for indoor and outdoor use, with electric light sources on supply voltages not exceeding 1000 V.

This new edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• Extension of the applicable scope from light source to electric light source and replacement of “tungsten filament, tubular fluorescent and other discharge lamps” with “electric light source” in 17.1;
• The applicable scope of relevant clauses only applies to replaceable light source luminaires with a glass bulb lamp, or with high surface temperature as there are many LED luminaires with non-replaceable light sources and light sources without a glass bulb or with low operation temperature.

How UL can help

UL is expertly qualified to help companies demonstrate that their products meet the essential requirements of harmonized legislation through compliance testing according to the applicable harmonized standards.

In addition, UL also certifies products according to the ENEC and ENEC+ marks.

Widely recognized throughout Europe, the ENEC and ENEC+ marks are voluntary for luminaires, and they demonstrate compliance of products with harmonized European standards, verified by an independent third party. Therefore, they could be complementary marks to the mandatory CE Marking, which is based on self-declaration.

View the original article here