This standard specifies safety requirements for ballasts for discharge lamps such as high-pressure mercury vapour, low-pressure sodium vapour, high-pressure sodium vapour and metal halide lamps. Section 1 specifies general requirements and section 2 specifies thermal and mechanical requirements. The standard covers inductive ballasts for use on a.c. supplies up to 1000 V at 50 Hz or 60 Hz associated with discharge lamps, having rated wattages, dimensions and characteristics as specified in the relevant IEC lamp standards according to IEC 188, IEC 192 and IEC 662.Tests in this standard are type tests. Requirements for testing individual ballasts during production are not included.NOTES1 For certain types of discharge lamp an ignitor is required.2 Ballasts for tubular fluorescent discharge lamps are covered by IEC 920.Particular requirements for thermally protected ballasts are given in annex F.