Electrical Engineering Standards Summary – October 2025

Looking back at October 2025, the Electrical Engineering sector witnessed a notable set of standardization activities, with four significant standards published, each addressing distinct yet increasingly interconnected domains. This retrospective overview distills the technical content, requirements, and practical implications of these documents—addressing cyber-physical security, component durability, battery performance metrics for road vehicles, and the development of low-voltage direct current (LVDC) systems for industrial settings.

For industry professionals seeking to maintain compliance, support innovation, or keep pace with regulatory and technological evolution, this overview synthesizes core information and highlights actionable themes from the month’s publications.

Monthly Overview: October 2025

October 2025 stood out as a month marked by diversification in the scope of published standards for Electrical Engineering. The four standards addressed topics spanning:

• Security and resilience of low-voltage equipment
• Testing and durability verification for key control components
• Harmonized performance and lifetime requirements for EV batteries
• Guidance for adopting and integrating LVDC grids in industry

Compared to prior months—often dominated by incremental technical updates or product-specific revisions—October’s publications reflected a broader, systems-oriented focus. The emphasis on cybersecurity (EN IEC 63208:2025) is particularly notable, reflecting the sector’s growing exposure to digital threats. In parallel, new performance baselines for EV batteries (EN 18060:2025) respond to both sustainable transport initiatives and EU regulatory demands.

This selection indicates a continued industry shift toward:

• Digital integration and cyber-resilience
• Sustainable mobility solutions and battery system harmonization
• Modernization of factory infrastructure through LVDC
• Reliability testing for core control components in harsh environments

Standards Published This Month

EN IEC 63208:2025 – Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear and their assemblies - Security requirements

Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear and their assemblies – Security requirements

EN IEC 63208:2025 delivers a comprehensive framework for managing both physical and cybersecurity in low-voltage switchgear, controlgear, and their assemblies—collectively referred to as equipment. The standard extends beyond basic protection, requiring a detailed security risk assessment, specification of attack and threat levels, close alignment of security and safety objectives, and concrete mitigation strategies.

Scope covers all equipment with wired or wireless data interfaces that are physically accessible under relevant environmental conditions. The document is tightly integrated with industry benchmarks such as ISO/IEC 27001 and IEC 62443-4-2, providing clear criteria for applicability and conformance.

Key requirements include:

• Systematic security risk assessment and assignment of security levels
• Exposure and vulnerability analysis of communication interfaces
• Physical access control and environmental security measures
• Assignment of prescribed cybersecurity and physical countermeasures
• User-centric installation, operation, and maintenance recommendations
• Conformance verification and security protection profiles by equipment type

The standard is mandatory for manufacturers of low-voltage assemblies, panel builders, installers, and operators with growing exposure to connected field equipment, especially in OT networks. It is especially relevant for any entity integrating industrial communication or looking to mitigate OT cyber risks in legacy or new equipment.

Notable features:

• Aligns security assessment with both IEC 62443 (industrial cybersecurity) and ISO/IEC 27001 (IT security management)
• Clarifies the interplay between safety and security (essential for critical operations)
• Provides guidance for conformant risk mitigation throughout the equipment lifecycle

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 63208:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN IEC 63522-21:2025 – Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – Part 21: Thermal endurance

Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – Part 21: Thermal endurance

EN IEC 63522-21:2025 brings clarity and consistency to the evaluation of electrical relay durability in high-temperature environments—essential for both quality assurance and long-term equipment reliability. The standard specifies test methods, severity levels, duration tables, and reporting protocols for thermal endurance testing. It sets expectations for relay performance across a product’s transportation, storage, and operational lifecycles.

Users—including relay designers, quality managers, and system integrators—will find detailed guidance on:

• Standard test methods for resistance to sustained high temperatures
• Evaluation protocols for performance under operational and storage conditions
• Documentation requirements for results and traceability, including detailed reporting templates

While specifically targeting relays, the standard’s scope and methodology offer best practices beneficial for broader electromechanical testing and component validation programs. Compliance supports both regulatory and supply contract adherence, directly impacting operational uptime and safety in critical control applications.

Key highlights:

• Detailed, stepwise procedure for thermal endurance evaluation
• Supports harmonized relay specifications and better life cycle assessment
• Includes standard documentation templates for test results

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 63522-21:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 18060:2025 – Road vehicles – Rechargeable batteries with internal energy storage – Performance and durability of alkali-Ion (Li-Ion, Na-Ion), Pb, NiMH and combined chemistries EV modules and batteries

Road vehicles – Rechargeable batteries with internal energy storage – Performance and durability of alkali-Ion (Li-Ion, Na-Ion), Pb, NiMH and combined chemistries EV modules and batteries

EN 18060:2025 firmly addresses the need for harmonized, application-driven testing and performance assessment for electric vehicle (EV) batteries across multiple chemistries. Aimed at manufacturers, EV system designers, and regulatory compliance professionals, the standard defines standardized test procedures and calculation methods for:

• Rated capacity and capacity fade
• Rated power and power fade
• Internal resistance and its increase with cycling
• Energy round trip efficiency and its fade
• Lifetime estimation based on reference cycles

It is applicable to EV battery modules, packs, and systems intended for motor vehicles (M, N categories) and large L-category vehicles (with traction battery weight >25 kg), fully aligning with the requirements of EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. The document also introduces guidance for re-used, remanufactured, and repurposed batteries—a recognition of the growing circular economy and second-life battery sectors.

Key measurements and reporting (rated in Ah, W, Ω, %) allow for standardized comparison and transparency across the battery value chain. Adopting these procedures facilitates regulatory compliance, supports OEM benchmarking, and strengthens consumer confidence in EV durability.

Key highlights:

• Aligns performance with latest EU regulations and supports green mobility policies
• Brings clarity to mixed-chemistry and second-life battery system assessment
• Enables consistent, transparent market benchmarking for EV batteries

Access the full standard:View EN 18060:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC SRD 63317:2025 – Low-voltage direct current (LVDC) industry applications

Low-voltage direct current (LVDC) industry applications

IEC SRD 63317:2025 provides a systems reference deliverable dedicated to the standardization and guidance of low-voltage DC distribution for industrial applications. The document targets the factory and process industry segment (secondary economic sector), focusing on the generation, distribution, and use of LVDC power in resource processing, manufacturing, and storage environments.

The standard covers:

• Domain analysis and use cases for LVDC in industrial settings
• Reference architectures for integration of renewables, storage, and automation
• Technical challenges (e.g., protection, EMC, safety, earthing, stability)
• Gap analysis against current product standards and system interoperability needs
• Practical recommendations for design, planning, and deployment

By adopting a systems approach, IEC SRD 63317:2025 enables the development of future-proof, vendor-neutral LVDC grids, supporting both economic and sustainability objectives (notably by facilitating the integration of batteries and renewables). The standard is especially relevant for industrial energy managers, systems integrators, and plant designers facing the need for scalable, efficient, and robust DC networks.

Key highlights:

• Practical guidance on interoperability and safety in industrial LVDC systems
• Enables higher efficiency, flexibility, and renewable integration in factories
• Detailed case studies and gap analysis for standardization

Access the full standard:View IEC SRD 63317:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Analyzing October 2025’s suite of publications, several core patterns emerge across the Electrical Engineering landscape:

• Cyber-Physical Security Becomes Foundational: EN IEC 63208:2025 formalizes a mature, integrated approach to physical and cybersecurity—a direct response to increased connectivity and OT system exposure.
• Reliability and Durability Across the Value Chain: Both relay (EN IEC 63522-21:2025) and battery (EN 18060:2025) standards reflect a sector-wide commitment to measurable reliability and transparent lifetime estimation. Supply chain and end-user assurance benefit.
• Sustainable Electrification and Circularity: EN 18060:2025’s provisions for repurposed batteries join LVDC’s efficient grid architectures (IEC SRD 63317:2025) in promoting both green mobility and factory energy sustainability.
• Holistic, Systems-Oriented Standardization: The crossover between equipment-level, system-level, and network-level requirements signals a sector realigning toward greater interoperability, standardization, and future-focused design.

The industry’s collective move is toward a digitalized, sustainable, and robust electrical infrastructure––a recurring theme echoed in regulatory trends and end-user demands alike.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

With standards of this diversity and significance, organizations—whether manufacturers, integrators, or end-users—should take a strategic approach to compliance and implementation:

1. Prioritize Risk and Security Assessments: For all switchgear and controlgear assemblies, update security processes to align with EN IEC 63208:2025. Engage OT security and IT security teams to harmonize approaches.

2. Enhance Component Testing Programs: Adopt EN IEC 63522-21:2025 for thorough durability assessments of relays and critical components, supporting both regulatory conformity and product warranties.

3. Align EV Battery Testing with New Baselines: Battery pack makers, vehicle OEMs, and third-party testers should immediately integrate EN 18060:2025 procedures into quality protocols, especially for regulatory, comparative, or procurement purposes.

4. Engineer Future-Ready LVDC Installations: For industrial infrastructure projects, leverage IEC SRD 63317:2025 for grid modernization, ensuring interoperability with renewables and storage. Cross-reference IEC 60364-series safety requirements where applicable.

5. Anticipate Regulatory Implementation Deadlines: With transition dates commonly 12-24 months post-publication, organizations should schedule compliance reviews, staff training, and system design updates accordingly.

Resources for implementation:

• Access full standards texts via iTeh Standards
• Engage with professional bodies and sector groups for emerging best practices
• Participate in gap analysis/impact workshops with compliance consultants

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from October 2025

October 2025’s standards form a significant benchmark for the Electrical Engineering sector’s evolution—placing cybersecurity, sustainability, reliability, and system-focused thinking at the forefront of organizational priorities.

• EN IEC 63208:2025 sets a new bar for switchgear and controlgear security—a must for any operator managing connected equipment.
• EN IEC 63522-21:2025 standardizes and improves lifetime testing for critical relays, directly impacting system safety and O&M costs.
• EN 18060:2025 leads the way for global harmonization and performance transparency in EV batteries, supporting regulatory and market confidence.
• IEC SRD 63317:2025 offers actionable guidance for implementing efficient, future-ready LVDC industrial applications.

For professionals in Electrical Engineering, continual review and adoption of these standards are crucial—for regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and strategic innovation.

Stay ahead of the curve: Explore each standard in detail via iTeh Standards, and ensure your organization’s systems, processes, and products are up to date with the latest industry benchmarks.