EN 60870-2-1:1996

Overview

EN 60870-2-1:1996 (adopted as SIST EN 60870-2-1:1997) is a European/CENELEC standard for telecontrol equipment and systems that specifies the operating conditions related to power supply and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). The standard defines the classes of environmental conditions under which telecontrol devices must function reliably and aligns with IEC 870-2-1:1995. It is relevant to manufacturers, system integrators and operators of SCADA, telemetering and remote-control installations.

Key Topics

• Environmental condition classes - classification of operating environments that telecontrol equipment must tolerate (indoor/outdoor, industrial, station, etc.), used to select appropriate device ruggedness.
• Power supply considerations - requirements and expectations for power input quality, continuity and behavior under foreseeable disturbances (voltage variations, interruptions).
• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - aspects of both emissions (to avoid disturbing other equipment) and immunity (to ensure correct function in the presence of electromagnetic disturbances).
• Verification and documentation - guidance for specifying operating class, documenting compliance and providing information required for procurement and installation.
• Harmonization - the standard is consistent with the corresponding IEC edition, facilitating international interoperability.

(Note: EN 60870-2-1 establishes framework and classes rather than detailed test methods and numeric limits - refer to related EMC and power-quality standards for specific test levels.)

Applications

• Equipment and systems for SCADA, telemetry and telecontrol in power utilities, water and wastewater management, transportation and industrial automation.
• Manufacturers designing controllers, remote terminal units (RTUs), and communication modules who need to define environmental and EMC capability for product specifications.
• System integrators and procuring authorities writing technical specifications and acceptance criteria for telecontrol installations.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies assessing environmental and EMC readiness of telecontrol equipment.
• Maintenance and operations teams who must ensure equipment remains within intended operating classes during deployment and lifecycle.

Related Standards

• IEC/EN standards on EMC and power quality for detailed immunity and emission test methods
• EN 60870 series (telecontrol protocols and system requirements) for functional interoperability and communication aspects
• National adoptions and translations (e.g., SIST EN 60870-2-1:1997)

Keywords: EN 60870-2-1, telecontrol, telecontrol equipment and systems, power supply, electromagnetic compatibility, EMC, environmental classes, SCADA, telemetry, remote control.