The IEC 62474 Standard

Welcome to our latest blog post, where we dive into product compliance with a practical focus on IEC 62474 – Material Declaration for Products of and for the Electrotechnical Industry. If you’ve ever wondered about the intricate details behind ensuring the safety and sustainability of electrical products, you’re in the right place. Join us as we unravel the complexities and provide a clear, actionable presentation that demystifies this essential standard.

What is IEC 62474?

First, IEC 62474 is an international standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in Geneza, Switzerland. It pertains to material declaration for manufacturers of equipment in the electrotechnical industry. Further, IEC 62474 provides guidelines and requirements for product substance declarations, particularly concerning hazardous chemicals.

In short, IEC 62474 comprises two components: the primary document, available for purchase from IEC and authorized resellers, outlines the material declaration prerequisites per the standard. And most importantly, it includes a database detailing information that may necessitate timely updates.

The Objective of IEC 62474

In a nutshell, the standard aims to facilitate the exchange of substance information along the supply chain, which is essential for compliance with regulations such as:

the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations and;
the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (EU REACH) regulation.

Further, IEC 62474 outlines the framework for a material declaration process, including the format and structure of material declarations. XML is the configuration for material declarations. It also provides substance identification, reporting thresholds, and documentation requirements.

The Perks of IEC 62474

As mentioned above, IEC 62474 includes an extensive database of controlled substances in EEE. These substances are either declarable, restricted, or banned.

Additionally, by adhering to IEC 62474, companies can:

enhance transparency,
improve communication, and
ensure compliance with regulatory requirements about hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

How to Use IEC 62474

To embark on your journey into the database, click the ‘ENTER’ button perched in the upper right corner of your screen. Let the exploration begin!

The Declarable substance groups and declarable substances (DSL)

The DSL list, downloadable in Excel and XML formats, displays hundreds of substances with reporting thresholds. It is worth noting that all of these hazardous chemicals are likely to be present in EEE and batteries. For example, the regulations controlling them include:

The EU REACH list of Substances of Very Hig Concern (SVHC) and Annex XVII;
RoHS regulations;
Battery regulations;
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) laws;
Ecodesign requirements;
Various standards, like the Japanese JEDEC.

The Reference Substance List (RSL)

Similar to the DSL list, the RSL one shows hazardous chemicals that can be present in EEE. However, the reference list is a larger one. It details in-scope substances. Despite this RSL list provides many examples, it is not comprehensive.

The Material Class List (MCL)

This list is different and as much valuable. Indeed, it defines organic and inorganic categories of materials typical of electronics. For instance, the MCL list defines gold as ‘Gold, and its alloys which contain gold in a proportion of 75wt% or more’.

Examples of MCL Definitions

Here are a few other examples of materials definitions:

Class Name	Definition
Stainless steel	A group of corrosion resisting ferrous alloys containing minimum 10.5 wt% chromium content be present.
Cast and sintered irons	Irons that have been compacted and formed by heat or pressure without melting to the point of liquification; or a commercial alloy of iron, carbon and silicon that is cast in a mold and is hard, brittle, non-malleable and incapable of being hammer welded.
Copper and its alloys	Copper and any alloy whose defining component is copper including brass (Cu-Zn alloy).
Ceramics	An inorganic, non-metallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Materials in this material class may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure.
PolyEthylene (PE)	Resin materials mainly consisting of polyethylene homopolymer, such as high-density polyethylene (*HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), very-low-density polyethylene (VLDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE*).

The Exemption Lists

In essence, these lists present the RoHS-exempted applications, including the EU Annexes III and IV.

Who is in Charge of this Standard?

The quick answer is TC111 – Environmental standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems. In short, TC111 is an IEC technical committee responsible for implementing and updating this database. Indeed, any jurisdiction worldwide can potentially regulate new substances or amend the thresholds and exemptions.

Finally, the IEC 62474 database publishes the most recent news, updated schedules, and milestones.

Are you looking for support with your IEC 62474 declarations? Then, get direct contact with an Enviropass expert!