IEC 60204 applies to the electrical and electronic equipment and systems of machines, including a group of machines working together in a coordinated manner, but excluding higher level system aspects (i.e. communications between systems).
This part of IEC 60204 is applicable to equipment, or parts of equipment, which operate with nominal supply voltages above 1 000 V a.c. or 1 500 V d.c. and not exceeding 36 kV a.c. or d.c. with nominal frequencies not exceeding 200 Hz. For higher voltages or frequencies, special requirements may be needed.
In this standard, the term HV equipment also covers the LV equipment forming an integral part of the equipment operating at high voltage. The requirements in this standard primarily cover the parts operating at high voltage except where explicitly stated otherwise. Reference is made to IEC 60204-1 for those requirements which also apply to HV equipment.
NOTE 1 Other LV equipment not forming part of the HV equipment and defined as operating at voltages not exceeding 1 000 V a.c. or 1 500 V d.c. are covered by IEC 60204-1.
NOTE 2 In this standard, the term \'electrical\' includes both electrical and electronic matters (i.e. electrical equipment means both the electrical and the electronic equipment).
The electrical equipment covered by this part of IEC 60204 commences at the point of connection of the supply to the electrical equipment of the machine (see 5.1).
NOTE 3 For the requirements for power supply installations, see HD 637.
This part of IEC 60204 is an application standard and is not intended to limit or inhibit technological advancement. It does not cover all the requirements (e.g. guarding, interlocking or control) which are needed or required by other standards or regulations in order to safeguard personnel from hazards other than electrical hazards. Each type of machine has unique requirements to be accommodated to provide adequate safety.
NOTE 4 In the context of this standard, the term \'person\' refers to any individual; \'personnel\' are those persons who are assigned and instructed by the user or his agent(s) in the use and care of the machine in question.
This part of IEC 60204 specifically includes, but is not limited to, machines as defined in 3.26 (annex A lists examples of machines whose electrical equipment may be covered by this standard).
Additional and special requirements can apply to the electrical equipment of machines that
are used in the open air (i.e. outside buildings or other protective structures);
use, process or produce potentially explosive material (e.g. paint or sawdust);
are used in potentially explosive and/or flammable atmospheres;
have special risks when producing or using certain materials;
are used in mines.
Power circuits where electrical energy is directly used as a working tool are excluded from this part of IEC 60204.