Electrical Engineering Standards Summary - September 2025

Looking back at September 2025, the Electrical Engineering sector saw the publication of five significant standards, each reflecting the industry’s shift toward higher safety, interoperability, and the challenges of modern energy systems. The documents released touched on topics as diverse as low-voltage switchgear, rotating machine standardization, UHV transmission system stability, and component revisions to reflect modern lighting and electronic control needs. This overview distills the key changes, context, and implementation recommendations for technical managers, engineers, and compliance professionals seeking to stay aligned with the latest regulatory and technical directions.

Monthly Overview: September 2025

September 2025 proved to be a reflective month within Electrical Engineering standardization, marked by both methodical revision and forward-looking requirements. The majority of the new and revised standards published this month focused on:

• Enhancing safety and reliability, especially in environments increasingly dominated by digital controls or non-traditional loads (such as LED lighting).
• Adapting equipment standards for new operational paradigms in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
• Standardizing large-scale infrastructure components to ensure global interoperability, particularly for rotating machinery and advanced power transmission grids.

Compared to prior months, there was a marked emphasis this September on harmonizing legacy equipment standards with the realities of electrification, smart systems, and renewable integration. Tech-specific content such as UHV AC system stability, switchgear designed for safe maintenance, and new categories for LED-specific control components signaled the industry’s structural evolution.

Standards Published This Month

EN IEC 61095:2025 - Electromechanical Contactors for Household and Similar Purposes

Electromechanical contactors for household and similar purposes (IEC 61095:2023)

Scope & Key Content: This standard governs the requirements and testing methods for electromechanical air-break contactors for use in household and similar environments. With applications ranging from switching of lighting to appliance control, the scope covers devices with rated voltages up to 440 V AC and operational currents of up to 63 A (AC-7a) or 32 A (AC-7b/c/d). Most notably, the 2025 update brings substantial new requirements:

• Requirements for screwless terminals, making installation safer and faster.
• Switching of LED lamps: Addition of specific operational categories (notably AC-7d), recognizing the unique demands of LED lighting circuits (high inrush, rapid cycling).
• Contactors with electronically controlled electromagnets: Addressing embedded digital control, including detailed EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) and fault tolerance criteria.
• Inclusion of embedded software guidance to reflect the trend toward software-based operation and safety functions in contactors.

Who is affected:

• Manufacturers of low-voltage control devices
• Building automation and smart home solution providers
• Testing and certification bodies

Regulatory fit: As a harmonized IEC and EN standard, EN IEC 61095:2025 aligns with broader low-voltage switchgear directives across Europe and internationally, ensuring interoperability with other IEC 60947 series standards.

Key highlights:

• Formalizes requirements for LED load switching
• Addresses growing use of embedded electronics/software
• Improves terminal safety and installation flexibility

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 61095:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN IEC 62626-1:2025 - Low-voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Enclosed Equipment – Part 1

Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear enclosed equipment – Part 1: Additional requirements for enclosed switch-disconnectors in accordance with IEC 60947-3 – Isolation of electrical equipment during repair and maintenance work in specific applications (IEC 62626-1:2023)

Scope & Key Content: This revised standard specifies extra requirements for enclosed switch-disconnectors, a crucial component for ensuring safe isolation of electrical equipment during maintenance or cleaning. EN IEC 62626-1 targets devices up to 1,000 V AC and explicitly excludes remote or automated control—emphasizing personnel safety against unexpected start-ups during hands-on work. The 2025 revision—aligned with IEC 60947-1:2020—updates construction and performance criteria, particularly:

• Enhanced marking requirements for clarity on isolation functionality
• Environmental and mechanical strength improvements, along with impact resistance updates (enclosures must meet specified IK codes)
• Reinforces device locking and actuation design to reduce risks during maintenance

Who is affected:

• Designers and operators of electrical installations
• Equipment manufacturers for industrial and commercial environments
• Maintenance supervisors and facility managers

Regulatory fit: Fits into the IEC 60947 family and ties directly into occupational safety requirements for energized equipment.

Key highlights:

• Construction and marking aligned to latest IEC switchgear standards
• Stronger focus on mechanical integrity and environmental testing
• Updated test protocols for device performance

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 62626-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC 60072-2:2025 - Dimensions and Output Series for Rotating Electrical Machines (Frame Numbers 355 to 1,000 and Flange Numbers 1,180 to 2,360)

Dimensions and output series for rotating electrical machines – Part 2: Frame numbers 355 to 1,000 and flange numbers 1,180 to 2,360

Scope & Key Content: IEC 60072-2:2025 standardizes the mechanical dimensions and tolerance values for large industrial rotating electrical machines—primarily motors and generators—across a broad frame/flange range. This revision supersedes the previous edition (1990), updating all dimension tables and tolerances:

• Covers foot-mounted (shaft heights 355–1,000 mm) and flange-mounted machines (flange diameters 1,180–2,360 mm)
• Detailed tables and sketches specify fixing points, shaft extensions, and keyway dimensions for various industrial construction needs
• Incorporates new tolerancing rules based on DIN SPEC 42955 for better fit and interchangeability

Who is affected:

• Electric motor and generator manufacturers
• Plant designers involved in heavy industry, mining, and infrastructure projects
• Procurement and engineering teams specifying large machine installations

Regulatory fit: IEC 60072-2:2025 works in tandem with IEC 60034 series for rotating machinery, supporting global machine compatibility and replacement strategies.

Key highlights:

• Complete revision of dimensioning, facilitating global equipment interchange
• Expanded coverage for larger machine frames
• Greater precision in shaft and flange tolerances

Access the full standard:View IEC 60072-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC 60072-2:2025 (French Edition) - Dimensions et séries de puissance des machines électriques tournantes (Cadres 355 à 1 000 et brides 1 180 à 2 360)

Dimensions et séries de puissance des machines électriques tournantes – Partie 2 : Désignation des carcasses entre 355 et 1 000 et des brides entre 1 180 et 2 360

While similar in content to the main IEC 60072-2:2025, this French-language edition extends accessibility and reflects the document’s international relevance. It is critical for global operations, multinational companies, or regulatory bodies operating in French-speaking regions.

Key highlights:

• Fully equivalent technical content to the English edition
• Facilitates international adoption and compliance
• Reinforces global dimension standards across linguistic boundaries

Access the full standard:View IEC 60072-2:2025 (French Edition) on iTeh Standards

IEC TS 63042-103:2025 - UHV AC Transmission Systems – Part 103: Security and Stability Requirements for System Planning and Design

UHV AC transmission systems – Part 103: Security and stability requirements for system planning and design

Scope & Key Content: This Technical Specification marks a significant step forward in defining the minimum security and stability criteria for ultra-high-voltage (UHV) AC transmission systems, which form the backbone of modern, interconnected power grids. Key areas include:

• Security and stability definitions and analysis methods (covering rotor angle, voltage, frequency, and system-wide stability margins)
• System planning norms such as grid structure, source/load interconnection, and coordination principles for UHV and renewable integration
• The N-1 contingency principle for ensuring resilience against single failures
• Procedures for blackout restoration, dynamic simulation requirements, and prevention of power system collapse

Who is affected:

• Transmission system planners and operators
• Grid regulatory bodies and infrastructure policymakers
• Renewable integration specialists

Regulatory fit: Serves as reference material for both national and international grid codes. Underpins long-term infrastructure development, especially where large-scale renewable and cross-border operations are a priority.

Key highlights:

• First formal technical specification for UHV AC grid stability and planning
• Detailed guidance on dynamic, steady-state, and operational contingency assessment
• Strong emphasis on reliability in renewable-dominated grids

Access the full standard:View IEC TS 63042-103:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Safety, Maintenance, and Human Factors

Several of September’s standards placed renewed focus on maintenance safety (EN IEC 62626-1:2025) and marking clarity, while the revised requirements for contactors (EN IEC 61095:2025) acknowledge not just technical performance but also human usability (screwless terminals, clear labeling).

Modern Loads and Renewables

Compelling evidence of the industry’s pivot toward modern energy use is seen in:

• New switching categories for high-inrush and LED lighting circuits (EN IEC 61095)
• UHV system planning guidance built around renewable integration and grid resilience (IEC TS 63042-103:2025)

Interoperability and Equipment Standardization

Updated size and tolerance standards for rotating electrical machines (IEC 60072-2:2025) ensure that large, infrastructure-critical components remain interchangeable and globally compatible—critical as suppliers and installations span regions and languages.

Digitalization of Control

The contactor and switchgear standards both reflect embedded electronics and embedded software provisions, showing how digitalization is penetrating even traditional hardware domains.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

• Urgent roadmap assessment: Affected organizations should review new terminal, load, and control features in EN IEC 61095:2025 and EN IEC 62626-1:2025 for potential retrofits or procurement changes.
• Supply chain alignment: Manufacturers, especially those with global or multilingual markets, must ensure all documentation and physical equipment meet harmonized sizing and marking standards per IEC 60072-2 (all editions).
• Grid operators and UHV planners: Should integrate the security, stability, and N-1 contingency criteria from IEC TS 63042-103:2025 into both new projects and legacy asset risk assessments.
• Timeline: Note the usual grace period set by CENELEC for EN adoptions (implementation and withdrawal of conflicting national standards, typically within 24 months). Early engagement with conformity assessment services is recommended for expedient compliance.
• Resource references: Utilize iTeh Standards’ comprehensive online catalog and standards tracking tools for effective standard management and implementation planning.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from September 2025

September 2025’s Electrical Engineering standardization activity marked a considered response to the evolving digital, renewable-centric, and safety-critical landscape now shaping the sector. The highlight standards:

• EN IEC 61095:2025 – Modernizes contactor equipment for LED and controlled loads
• EN IEC 62626-1:2025 – Reinforces switchgear safety for maintenance environments
• IEC 60072-2:2025 (and its French edition) – Sets global benchmarks for rotating machine dimensions
• IEC TS 63042-103:2025 – Establishes robust planning criteria for resilient, high-voltage grids

For industry professionals and stakeholders, tracking and implementing these changes is critical. Not only do these standards address regulatory and technical risk management, but they also lay the groundwork for innovation, reliability, and safety in a changing energy world.

Recommended next steps:

• Review equipment and operational practices against these requirements
• Consult with technical bodies or trade associations on best-practice implementation
• Explore each standard in detail via iTeh Standards for further guidance, supporting documents, and update notifications.

Staying updated with these and future releases will not only support compliance but also drive competitive advantage and operational excellence across the electrical engineering landscape.