IEC 60479-2:2019

IEC 60479-2 ®
Edition 1.0 2019-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
Effects of current on human beings and livestock –
Part 2: Special aspects
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IEC 60479-2 ®
Edition 1.0 2019-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
Effects of current on human beings and livestock –

Part 2: Special aspects
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 13.200; 29.020 ISBN 978-2-8322-6689-2

– 2 – IEC 60479-2:2019 © IEC 2019
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Effects of alternating currents with frequencies above 100 Hz . 11
4.1 General . 11
4.2 Effects of alternating current in the frequency range above 100 Hz up to and
including 1 000 Hz . 12
4.2.1 Threshold of perception . 12
4.2.2 Threshold of let-go . 12
4.2.3 Threshold of ventricular fibrillation . 13
4.3 Effects of alternating current in the frequency range above 1 000 Hz up to
and including 10 000 Hz . 14
4.3.1 Threshold of perception . 14
4.3.2 Threshold of let-go . 14
4.3.3 Threshold of ventricular fibrillation . 15
4.4 Effects of alternating current in the frequency range above 10 000 Hz . 15
4.4.1 General . 15
4.4.2 Threshold of perception . 15
4.4.3 Threshold of let-go . 15
4.4.4 Threshold of ventricular fibrillation . 15
4.4.5 Other effects . 16
5 Effects of special waveforms of current . 16
5.1 General . 16
5.2 Equivalent magnitude, frequency and threshold . 16
5.3 Effects of alternating current with DC components . 17
5.3.1 Waveforms and frequencies and current thresholds . 17
5.3.2 Threshold of startle reaction . 18
5.3.3 Threshold of let-go . 19
5.3.4 Threshold of ventricular fibrillation . 20
6 Effects of alternating current with phase control . 24
6.1 Waveforms and frequencies and current thresholds . 24
6.2 Threshold of startle reaction and threshold of let-go . 25
6.3 Threshold of ventricular fibrillation . 25
6.3.1 General . 25
6.3.2 Symmetrical control . 26
6.3.3 Asymmetrical control . 26
7 Effects of alternating current with multicyle control . 26
7.1 Waveforms and frequencies . 26
7.2 Threshold of startle reaction and threshold of let-go . 27
7.3 Threshold of ventricular fibrillation . 27
7.3.1 General . 27
7.3.2 Shock durations longer than 1,5 times the period of the cardiac cycle . 28
7.3.3 Shock durations less than 0,75 times the period of the cardiac cycle . 28

8 Estimation of the equivalent current threshold for mixed frequencies . 28
8.1 Threshold of perception and let-go . 28
8.2 Threshold of ventricular fibrillation . 29
9 Effects of current pulse bursts and random complex irregular waveforms . 29
9.1 Ventricular fibrillation threshold of multiple pulses of current separated by
300 ms or more . 29
9.2 Ventricular fibrillation threshold of multiple pulses of current separated by
than 300 ms . 29
less
9.2.1 General . 29
9.2.2 Examples. 30
9.2.3 Random complex irregular waveforms . 32
10 Effects of electric current through the immersed human body . 34
10.1 General . 34
10.2 Resistivity of water solutions and of the human body . 34
10.3 Conducted current through immersed body . 36
10.4 Physiological effects of current through the immersed body . 37
10.5 Threshold values of current . 38
10.6 Intrinsically “safe” voltage values . 38
11 Effects of unidirectional single impulse currents of short duration . 38
11.1 General . 38
11.2 Effects of unidirectional impulse currents of short duration . 39
11.2.1 Waveforms . 39
11.2.2 Determination of specific fibrillating energy F . 40
e
11.3 Threshold of perception and threshold of pain for capacitor discharge . 41
11.4 Threshold of ventricular fibrillation . 43
11.4.1 General . 43
11.4.2 Examples. 44
Annex A (informative) Random complex irregular waveform analysis . 47
A.1 General . 47
A.2 Formal theoretical statement of the method . 47
A.3 Demonstration of the calculation . 48
A.3.1 General . 48
A.3.2 Choice of justified current . 50
A.3.3 Choice of sampling step size . 50
A.4 Examples 1 and 2 . 51
Bibliography . 54

Figure 1 – Variation of the threshold of perception within the frequency range
50/60 Hz to 1 000 Hz . 12
Figure 2 – Variation of the threshold of let-go within the frequency range 50/60 Hz to
1 000 Hz . 13
Figure 3 – Variation of the threshold of ventricular fibrillation within the frequency
range 50/60 Hz to 1 000 Hz, shock durations longer than one heart period and
longitudinal current paths through the trunk of the body . 13
Figure 4 – Variation of the threshold of perception within the frequency range

1 000 Hz to 10 000 Hz . 14
Figure 5 – Variation of the threshold of let-go within the frequency range 1 000 Hz to
10 000 Hz . 14

– 4 – IEC 60479-2:2019 © IEC 2019
Figure 6 – Variation of the threshold of ventricular fibrillation for continuous sinusoidal
current (1 000 Hz to 150 kHz) . 16
Figure 7 – Waveforms of currents . 18
Figure 8 – Let-go thresholds for men, women and children . 19
Figure 9 – 99,5-percentile let-go threshold for combinations of 50/60 Hz sinusoidal

alternating current and direct current . 20
Figure 10 – Composite alternating and direct current with equivalent likelihood of
ventricular fibrillation. 22
...