January 2026 Brings Vital New Standards for Electrical Engineering Innovation

Electrical engineering is entering a new era in January 2026 with the publication of four pivotal IEC standards. These documents set comprehensive requirements for low-voltage installations in disaster-prone environments, mobile or transportable units, and advanced electric vehicle charging systems. As infrastructure, mobility, and power reliability demands increase, these new standards will empower industry professionals to build safer, more resilient, and future-proofed electrical systems. This article highlights the key updates, compliance implications, and practical insights for seamless adoption.

Overview / Introduction

Electrical engineering is a cornerstone of modern infrastructure, impacting sectors from healthcare and data centers to transport and emergency operations. To ensure safety, reliability, and interoperability, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) continually refines requirements through new and revised standards. January 2026 sees the release of four standards that tackle emerging challenges:

• Ensuring power continuity during disasters
• Enhancing the safety of mobile and transportable electrical installations
• Providing universal solutions for electric vehicle (EV) charging adapters

Professionals involved in design, installation, compliance, procurement, or management will gain a thorough understanding of key updates and strategies for compliance.

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC TS 60364-7-725:2026 – Resilient Power Supply Systems for Disasters

Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 7-725: Requirements for special installations or locations – Resilient power supply system

IEC TS 60364-7-725:2026 introduces critical guidelines for designing, constructing, and verifying electrical installations that must operate during natural disasters. The standard addresses the need for power systems that can withstand earthquakes, floods, and high-wind events such as hurricanes or typhoons. The scope includes requirements for generating sets, circuits linked to external generators, and essential circuits within installations.

Key requirements and specifications include:

• Provisions for rapid connection of external supplies and comprehensive earthing solutions
• Division of installations into zones to maximize reliability during island-mode operation
• Equipment selection criteria based on seismic ratings (AP levels), ensuring components can withstand specified horizontal and vertical seismic forces
• Enhanced anchoring requirements and anti-seismic measures for equipment and wiring systems
• Identification and segregation of essential loads for disaster periods, supporting efficient recovery and prioritization
• Underground cable installation guidelines, emphasis on flexible runs and expansion joints for buildings subject to movement

Industries and organizations that operate facilities critical to public welfare (such as hospitals, emergency centers, water treatment plants, and data centers) will find these requirements essential for risk mitigation and regulatory compliance.

Notable advances from previous practice include standardized processes for assessing seismic forces, detailed formulas for anchor selection, and explicit classification of loads intended for islanded operation.

Key highlights:

• Defines robust criteria for disaster-ready low-voltage systems
• Introduces methods for anchoring and anti-seismic installations
• Prioritizes rapid re-energization and critical load identification post-disaster

Access the full standard:View IEC TS 60364-7-725:2026 on iTeh Standards

IEC 60364-7-717:2026 – Mobile or Transportable Units Safety Requirements

Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 7-717: Requirements for special installations or locations – Mobile or transportable units

IEC 60364-7-717:2026 provides an updated framework for electrical installations in mobile and transportable units—ranging from medical vehicles and broadcast vans to modular site offices and disaster relief shelters. The standard is not applicable to generating sets, pleasure craft, caravans/motorhomes, or automotive circuits and equipment.

This third edition introduces significant revisions, including:

• A clarified and expanded scope to cover all forms of transportable and mobile units
• Updated protection clauses to incorporate new requirements around automatic disconnection of supply and residual current device (RCD) usage
• Mandatory protective equipotential bonding for all chassis and metallic enclosures, ensuring personnel safety
• Prohibition of TN-C and certain TT systems in galvanically separated units to standardize earthing and bonding approaches
• Comprehensive wiring, identification, and circuit protection protocols, with simplified and modernized figures for practical use
• Revised surge protection device (SPD) designation, updating references and test classes

Compliance is particularly vital for organizations deploying temporary or transportable infrastructure in remote or hazardous environments, such as construction, healthcare, emergency response, and field services. The new requirements yield a more harmonized and secure approach to mobile unit installations.

Key highlights:

• Enforces additional RCD protection for user circuits
• Clarifies earthing and bonding requirements for all unit types
• Modernizes SPD classifications for better surge resilience

Access the full standard:View IEC 60364-7-717:2026 on iTeh Standards

IEC TS 62196-7:2026 – Vehicle Adapters for Electric Vehicle Charging

Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles – Part 7: Vehicle adapters

IEC TS 62196-7:2026 addresses a growing challenge in the expanding electric vehicle ecosystem: adaptor compatibility for DC charging interfaces. This technical specification sets out safety, interoperability, and compatibility requirements for vehicle adapters allowing connection between different standardized configurations—crucial for global harmonization and user convenience.

Key requirements and specifications:

• Applies to DC charging vehicle adapters rated up to 1,500 V DC, facilitating connections between IEC 62196-3 vehicle inlets and various connector types (GG, AA, BB configurations)
• Defines construction, marking, mechanical strength, protection against electric shock, and misassembly requirements for adapters
• Incorporates detailed thermal protection strategies, including test protocols for load endurance and temperature rise
• Specifies minimum degrees of protection (IP/IPK) for environmental resilience
• Mandates clear color coding and arrangement for protective earth and neutral conductors
• Excludes adapters between AC connectors/inlets and between EV socket-outlets and EV plugs, focusing solely on DC-to-DC interoperability for now
• Provides guidance on testing, thermal management, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), critical for manufacturers, infrastructure providers, and vehicle OEMs

Practical adoption of this standard can accelerate the rollout of interoperable charging infrastructure and simplify user experience for EV fleets and consumers.

Key highlights:

• Unifies global DC charging interfaces for electric vehicles
• Establishes rigorous safety and environmental test requirements
• Addresses real-world use cases, ensuring user and infrastructure protection

Access the full standard:View IEC TS 62196-7:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

With these standards coming into effect, organizations across sectors—transport, utilities, healthcare, construction, and fleet management—face renewed demands for compliance. Effective adoption supports:

• Improved disaster readiness, business continuity, and public safety
• Reduced risk of liability through documented conformance to international best practices
• Streamlined certification, procurement, and cross-border operations for global organizations

Industry stakeholders should anticipate familiarization/training periods and plan for updates to specification libraries and installation procedures. Early adoption is recommended, as requirements focus on identifiable risks (seismic, surge, interoperability) that can have substantial business and societal costs if unmitigated.

Key compliance steps include:

1. Reviewing current design and maintenance procedures for alignment with new requirements
2. Updating engineering documentation and risk assessments
3. Ensuring supply chain partners (manufacturers, integrators) are informed of standards
4. Scheduling third-party testing and certification where required

Failure to comply could result in installation delays, increased insurance costs, or legal exposure following incidents.

Technical Insights

Several technical themes run throughout these standards:

• Resilience to Operational Disruptions: From seismic fixation and rapid reconnection in IEC TS 60364-7-725, to fail-safe design in IEC TS 62196-7 adapters, resilience underpins the entire update batch.
• Enhanced Protection Protocols: Use of RCDs, improved SPDs, and systematic earthing and bonding protocols reflect the latest safety science.
• Configuration Flexibility: Standards promote modular designs—essential for evolving infrastructure, disaster response, and mobile deployments.
• Testing & Certification: Comprehensive requirements include mechanical, thermal, and EMC testing, ensuring robust performance in practical and extreme conditions.

Best practices for implementation:

• Perform detailed site risk assessments to determine relevant clauses (e.g., seismic or flood risk for IEC TS 60364-7-725)
• Validate all equipment and protective devices (RCDs, SPDs, wiring) against new standards
• Engage certified laboratories or technical partners for compliance verification and third-party testing
• Maintain clear, up-to-date records of installation specifications

Conclusion / Next Steps

The January 2026 updates position electrical engineering for a safer, more sustainable future. Organizations that proactively integrate these requirements will benefit from enhanced resilience, regulatory peace of mind, and market leadership. Key action items include:

• Downloading and studying each full standard via iTeh Standards (see above for links)
• Updating design specifications and installation protocols
• Training personnel on new requirements and best practices
• Coordinating with supply chain partners and certification bodies for seamless compliance

Staying ahead of industry standards is essential for operational excellence and risk management. For the latest resources and to access the full standards, visit iTeh Standards.