IEC 61095:2023

IEC 61095 ®
Edition 3.0 2023-10
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Electromechanical contactors for household and similar purposes
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IEC 61095 ®
Edition 3.0 2023-10
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Electromechanical contactors for household and similar purposes
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 29.130.20, 29.120.99 ISBN 978-2-8322-7683-9

– 2 – IEC 61095:2023 RLV © IEC 2023
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 8
INTRODUCTION . 2
1 Scope . 11
2 Normative references . 11
3 Terms and definitions . 14
3.1 General terms . 14
3.2 Switching devices . 16
3.3 Parts of switching devices . 19
3.4 Operation of switching devices . 23
3.5 Characteristic quantities . 24
4 Classification . 29
5 Characteristics of contactors . 29
5.1 Summary of characteristics . 29
5.2 Type of contactor . 29
5.2.1 General . 29
5.2.2 Number of poles . 29
5.2.3 Method of control . 29
5.3 Rated and limiting values for main circuits . 29
5.3.1 General . 29
5.3.2 Rated voltages . 30
5.3.3 Currents or powers . 30
5.3.4 Rated frequency . 31
5.3.5 Rated duties . 31
5.3.6 Normal load and overload characteristics . 32
5.3.7 Rated conditional short-circuit current . 33
5.4 Utilization category . 33
5.4.1 General . 33
5.4.2 Assignment of utilization categories based on the results of tests . 34
5.5 Control circuits . 34
5.6 Auxiliary circuits . 34
5.7 Co-ordination with short-circuit protective devices . 34
6 Product information . 35
6.1 Nature of information . 35
6.1.1 General . 35
6.1.2 Identification . 35
6.1.3 Characteristics, basic rated values and utilization . 35
6.2 Marking . 36
6.3 Instructions for installation, operation and maintenance . 37
7 Normal service, mounting and transport conditions . 37
7.1 Normal service conditions . 37
7.1.1 General . 37
7.1.2 Ambient air temperature . 37
7.1.3 Altitude . 37
7.1.4 Atmospheric conditions . 38
7.1.5 Normal electromagnetic environmental conditions . 38
7.2 Conditions during transport and storage . 39

7.3 Mounting . 39
8 Constructional and performance requirements . 39
8.1 Constructional requirements . 39
8.1.1 General . 39
8.1.2 Materials . 39
8.1.3 Strength of screws or nuts other than those on terminals which are
intended to be operated during installation or maintenance . 40
8.1.4 Vacant . 41
8.1.5 Actuator . 41
8.1.6 Indication of the OFF and ON positions . 41
8.1.7 Terminals . 42
8.1.8 Additional requirements for contactors provided with a neutral pole . 44
8.1.9 Provisions for earthing . 44
8.1.10 Enclosures . 45
8.1.11 Degrees of protection of enclosed contactors . 46
8.1.12 Resistance to impact . 46
8.1.13 Durability of markings . 46
8.1.14 Fault and abnormal conditions . 46
8.2 Performance requirements . 46
8.2.1 Operating conditions . 46
8.2.2 Temperature-rise . 48
8.2.3 Dielectric properties . 51
8.2.4 Normal load and overload performance requirements . 53
8.2.5 Co-ordination with short-circuit protective devices . 55
8.3 EMC Electromagnetic compatibility . 56
8.3.1 General . 56
8.3.2 Immunity . 56
8.3.3 Emission . 56
8.4 Embedded software . 57
9 Tests . 57
9.1 Types of test . 57
9.1.1 General . 57
9.1.2 Type tests . 57
9.1.3 Routine tests . 58
9.1.4 Sampling tests for clearance verification . 58
9.2 Compliance with constructional requirements . 58
9.2.1 General . 58
9.2.2 Materials . 58
9.2.3 Test on screws or nuts other than those on terminals which are
intended to be operated during installation or maintenance . 61
9.2.4 Verification of the degrees of protection of enclosed contactors . 61
9.2.5 Mechanical properties of terminals . 61
9.2.6 Test of resistance to impact . 67
9.2.7 Test of durability of marking . 69
9.2.8 Breakdown of components . 69
9.3 Compliance with performance requirements . 70
9.3.1 Test sequences . 70
9.3.2 General test conditions . 70
9.3.3 Performance under no load, normal load and overload conditions . 72

– 4 – IEC 61095:2023 RLV © IEC 2023
9.3.4 Performance under short-circuit conditions . 86
9.3.5 Overload current withstand capability . 91
9.3.6 Routine tests . 91
9.4 Tests for EMC . 91
9.4.1 General . 91
9.4.2 Immunity . 91
9.4.3 Emission . 93
Annex A (normative) Terminal marking and distinctive number . 116
A.1 General . 116
A.2 Terminal marking of impedances (alphanumerical) . 116
A.2.1 Coils . 116
A.2.2 Electromagnetic releases . 116
A.2.3 Interlocking electromagnets . 117
A.2.4 Indicating light devices . 117
A.3 Terminal marking of contact elements for contactors with two positions

(numerical) . 117
A.3.1 Contact elements for main circuits (main contact elements) . 117
A.3.2 Contact elements for auxiliary circuit (auxiliary contact elements) . 118
A.4 Distinctive number . 120
Annex B (normative) Test sequences and number of samples . 121
B.1 Test sequences . 121
B.2 Number of samples . 122
Annex C (normative) Description of a method for adjusting the load circuit . 123
Annex D (normative) Determination of short-circuit power-factor . 125
D.1 General . 125
D.2 Method I – Determination from DC component . 125
D.3 Method II – Determination with pilot generator . 126
Annex E (normative) Measurement of creepage distances and clearances. 127
E.1 Basic principles . 127
E.2 Use of ribs . 127
Annex F (normative) Correlation between the nominal voltage of the supply system

and the rated impulse withstand voltage of a contactor . 137
Annex G (normative) Hot wire ignition test . 139
Annex H (normative) Degrees of protection of enclosed contactor . 140
H.0 Guide to the use of Annex H . 140
H.1 Scope and object . 140
H.3 Terms and definitions . 140
H.4 Designation . 140
H.5 Degrees of protection against access to hazardous parts and against ingress
of solid foreign objects indicated by the first characteristic numeral . 140
H.6 Degrees of protection against ingress of water indicated by the second
characteristic numeral . 141
H.7 Degrees of protection against access to hazardous parts indicated by the

additional letter . 141
H.8 Supplementary letters . 141
H.9 Examples of designations with IP Code . 141
H.10 Marking . 141
H.11 General requirements for tests . 141
H.11.1 Subclause 11.1 of IEC 60529:1989 applies . 141

H.11.2 Subclause 11.2 of IEC 60529:1989 applies with the following additions . 141
H.11.3 Subclause 11.3 of IEC 60529:1989 applies with the following addition . 142
H.11.4 Subclause 11.4 of IEC 60529:1989 applies . 142
H.11.5 Where an empty enclosure is used as a component of an enclosed
device, 11.5 of IEC 60529:1989 applies . 142
H.12 Tests for protection against access to hazardous parts indicated by the first
characteristic numeral . 142
H.13 Tests for protection against ingress of solid foreign objects indicated by the
first characteristic numeral . 142
H.13.4 Dust test for first characteristic numerals 5 and 6 . 142
H.14 Tests for protection against water indicated by the second characteristic

numeral . 143
H.14.1 Subclause 14.1 of IEC 60529:1989 and IEC 60529:1989/AMD2:2013
apply . 143
H.14.2 Subclause 14.2 of IEC 60529:1989 and IEC 60529:1989/AMD2:2013
apply . 143
H.14.3 Subclause 14.3 of IEC 60529:1989 and IEC 60529:1989/AMD2:2013

apply with the following addition . 143
H.15 Tests for protection against access to hazardous parts indicated by the
additional letter . 143
Annex I (normative) Requirements and tests for equipment with protective separation . 147
I.1 General . 147
I.2 Terms and definitions . 147
I.3 Requirements . 148
I.3.1 General . 148
I.3.2 Dielectric requirements . 148
I.3.3 Construction requirements . 149
I.4 Tests . 149
I.4.1 General . 149
I.4.2 Dielectric tests . 149
I.4.3 Examples of constructional measures . 150
Bibliography . 151

Figure 1 – Thread-forming tapping screw . 94
Figure 2 – Thread-cutting tapping screw . 94
Figure 3 – Ball-pressure test apparatus (see 9.2.2.3.1) . 94
Figure 4 – Test equipment for flexion test (see 9.2.5.4). 95
Figure 5 – Gauges of form A and form B (see 9.2.5.6) . 95
Figure 6 – Pendulum for mechanical impact test apparatus (striking element)
(see 9.2.6.2.1) . 96
Figure 7 – Mounting support for sample, for mechanical impact test (see 9.2.6.2.1) . 97
Figure 8 – Pendulum hammer test apparatus (see 9.2.6.2.1) . 98
Figure 9 – Sphere test apparatus (see 9.2.6.2.2) . 98
Figure 10 – Jointed test finger (according to IEC 60529:1989, Figure 1) . 100
Figure 11 – Diagram of the test circuit for the verification of making and breaking

capacities of a single-pole contactor on single-phase AC . 101
Figure 12 – Diagram of the test circuit for the verification of making and breaking
capacities of a two-pole contactor on single-phase AC . 102

– 6 – IEC 61095:2023 RLV © IEC 2023
Figure 13 – Diagram of the test circuit for the verification of making and breaking
capacities of a three-pole contactor . 103
Figure 14 – Diagram of the test circuit for the verification of making and breaking

capacities of a four-pole contactor . 104
Figure 15 – Schematic illustration of the recovery voltage across contacts of the first
phase to clear (see 9.3.3.5.2, e)) under ideal conditions . 105
Figure 16 – Diagram of a load circuit adjustment method . 106
Figure 17 – Diagram of the test circuit for the verification of short-circuit making and
breaking capacities of a single-pole contactor on single-phase AC. 107
Figure 18 – Diagram of the test circuit for the verification of short-circuit making and
breaking capacities of a two-pole contactor on single-phase AC . 108
Figure 19 – Diagram of the test circuit for the verification of short-circuit making and
breaking capacities of a three-pole contactor . 109
Figure 20 – Diagram of the test circuit for the verification of short-circuit making and
breaking capacities of a four-pole contactor . 110
Figure 21 – Example of short-circuit making and breaking test record in the case of a
single-pole contactor on single-phase AC . 111
Figure 22 – Diagram of the test circuit for making and breaking verification for
utilization category AC-7c . 112
Figure 23 – Example of screwless-type clamping units . 113
Figure 24 – Voltage drop measurement at contact point of the clamping terminal. 114
Figure 25 – Connecting samples for ageing test for screwless-type clamping units . 114
Figure 26 – Diagram of the test circuit for making and breaking verification for
utilization category AC-7d . 115
Figure C.1 – Determination of the actual value of the factor γ . 124
Figure E.1 – Measurement of ribs . 128
Figure E.2 – Creepage distance example 1 . 133
Figure E.3 – Creepage distance example 2 . 133
Figure E.4 – Creepage distance example 3 . 133
Figure E.5 – Creepage distance example 4 . 134
Figure E.6 – Creepage distance example 5 . 134
Figure E.7 – Creepage distance example 6 . 134
Figure E.8 – distance example 7 . 135
Figure E.9 – Creepage distance example 8 . 135
Figure E.10 – Creepage distance example 9 . 135
Figure E.11 – Creepage distance example 10 . 136
Figure E.12 – Creepage distance example 11 . 136
Figure G.1 – Test fixture for hot wire ignition test . 139
Figure H.1 – IP Codes .
Figure I.1 – Example of application with component connected between separated
circuits . 150

Table 1 – Utilization categories . 34
Table 2 – Standard cross-sections of round copper conductors . 43
Table 3 – Temperature-rise limits for insulated coils in air . 48
Table 4 – Temperature-rise limits of terminals . 49

Table 5 – Temperature-rise limits of accessible parts . 49
Table 6 – Intermittent duty test cycle data . 50
Table 7 – Making and breaking capacities. Making and breaking conditions
corresponding to the utilization categories . 54
Table 8 – Relationship between current broken I and off-time for the verification of
c
rated making and breaking capacities . 54
Table 9 – Conventional operational performance. Making and breaking conditions
corresponding to the utilization categories . 55
Table 10 – Overload current withstand requirements . 55
Table 11 – Tightening torques for the verification of the mechanical strength of
screw-type terminals . 62
Table 12 – Test values for flexion and pull-out tests for round copper conductors . 63
Table 13 – Maximum conductor cross-sections and corresponding gauges . 65
Table 14 – Tolerances on test quantities . 71
Table 15 – Test copper conductors . 74
Table 16 – Impulse test voltages and corresponding altitudes . 79
Table 17 – Minimum clearances in air . 79
Table 18 – Minimum creepage distances . 80
Table 19 – Dielectric test voltage corresponding to the rated insulation voltage . 80
Table 20 – Values for I and I t depending on the type of distribution system . 83
peak
Table 21 – Calculated circuit parameters . 84
Table 22 – relationship between the prospective fault current in the fusible element
circuit and the diameter of the copper wire . 85
Table 23 – Values of power-factors corresponding to test currents and ratio n between
peak and RMS values of current . 88
Table 24 – Value of the prospective test current according to the rated operational
current . 90
Table 25 – Tests for EMC – Immunity . 92
Table 26 – Specific acceptance criteria for immunity tests . 92
Table 27 – Terminal disturbance voltage limits for conducted radio-frequency emission
(for mains ports) . 93
Table 28 – Radiated emission test limits . 93
Table B.1 – Test sequences . 121
Table B.2 – Number of samples to be tested . 122
Table E.1 – Minimum values of width of grooves according to the pollution degrees . 127
Table F.1 – Correspondence between the nominal voltage of the supply system and
the contactor rated impulse withstand voltage, in case of overvoltage protection by
a
surge-arresters according to IEC 60099-1 . 138

– 8 – IEC 61095:2023 RLV © IEC 2023
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTROMECHANICAL CONTACTORS
FOR HOUSEHOLD AND SIMILAR PURPOSES

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
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This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes
made to the previous edition IEC 61095:2009. A vertical bar appears in the margin
wherever a change has been made. Additions are in green text, deletions are in
strikethrough red text.
IEC 61095 has been prepared by subcommittee 121A: Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear,
of IEC technical committee 121: Switchgear and controlgear and their assemblies for low
voltage, in conjunction with subcommittee 23E: Circuit-breakers and similar equipment for
household use, of IEC technical committee 23: Electrical accessories. It is an International
Standard.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2009. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) addition of requirements for screwless terminals;
b) addition of requirements for the switching of LED lamps. Contactors for domestic and similar
applications can be used for controlling lighting loads which is increasingly using LED lamp
technology. A specific category for contactors is created: AC-7d. Requirements and tests
are added to cover this market development, mainly for making and breaking and
conventional operational performance;
c) addition of requirements for contactors with electronically controlled electromagnet.
Household contactors with electronically controlled electromagnet are available for years
on the market. To fully cover such device, requirements and tests are added, dealing mainly
with operating limits, behaviour in abnormal conditions, breakdown of components, EMC
tests, etc.
d) Embedded software. More and more contactors are incorporating electronic circuits with
embedded software. A reference is provided to guide the design of the software.
The text of this document is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
121A/566/FDIS 121A/573/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.
IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.

– 10 – IEC 61095:2023 RLV © IEC 2023
INTRODUCTION
This document gives requirements for contactors household and similar purposes, including
contactors for distribution control in buildings.
Contactors for such purposes have particular requirements which include test sequences and
sampling plans to facilitate testing.
Contactors according to this document are limited in the range of operational currents and
operational voltages to values appropriate to the applications. Such contactors are for use in
circuits of limited prospective short-circuit fault current for which they need to be are co-
ordinated with an appropriate short-circuit protective device to provide suitable co-ordination.
This document defines in a single document the specific utilization category for a described
application and states the relevant requirements. As far as possible, it is in line with the
requirements contained in IEC 60947-4-1.
This document also applies to contactors which are components of an appliance, unless
otherwise stated in the standard covering the relevant appliance.

ELECTROMECHANICAL CONTACTORS
FOR HOUSEHOLD AND SIMILAR PURPOSES

1 Scope
This document applies to electromechanical air break contactors for household and similar
purposes provided with main contacts intended to be connected to circuits the rated voltage of
which does not exceed 440 V AC (between phases) with rated operational currents less than
or equal to 63 A for utilization category AC-7a, and 32 A for utilization categories AC-7b, AC-7c
and AC-7d (expressed in rated power), and rated conditional short-circuit current less than or
equal to 6 kA.
The contactors dealt with in this standard are not normally designed to interrupt short-circuit
currents. Therefore, suitable short-circuit protection (see 9.3.4) shall form part of the
installation.
NOTE Today, most LED lamp manufacturers provide information in Watt. So, the main contactor characteristic for
utilization category AC-7d is expressed in Watt to be directly applicable to the corresponding LED lamp load.
Specific requirements apply to contactors equipped with screwless-type terminals.
This document does not apply to
– contactors complying with IEC 60947-4-1;
– semiconductor contactors;
– contactors designed for special applications;
– auxiliary contacts of contactors. These are dealt with in IEC 60947-5-1.
This document states
1) the characteristics of contactors.
2) the conditions with which contactors shall comply with reference to:
a) their operation and behaviour;
b) their dielectric properties;
c) the degrees of protection provided by their enclosures, where applicable;
d) their construction;
e) their electromagnetic compatibility characteristics.
3) the tests intended for confirming that these conditions have been met, and the methods to
be adopted for these tests.
4) the test sequences and the number of samples.
5) the information to be given with contactors or in the manufacturer's literature.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this doc
...