Amendment 2 - Residual current operated circuit-breakers with integral overcurrent protection for household and similar uses (RCBOs) - Part 1: General rules

The contents of the corrigendum of January 2014 have been included in this copy.

Amendement 2 - Interrupteurs automatiques à courant différentiel résiduel avec dispositif de protection contre les surintensités incorporé pour usages domestiques et analogues (DD) - Partie 1: Règles générales

Le contenu du corrigendum de janvier 2014 a été pris en considération dans cet exemplaire.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
11-Sep-2013
Drafting Committee
WG 2 - TC 23/SC 23E/WG 2
Current Stage
DELPUB - Deleted Publication
Start Date
21-Nov-2024
Completion Date
26-Oct-2025

Relations

Effective Date
05-Sep-2023
Effective Date
05-Sep-2023
Effective Date
05-Sep-2023

Overview

IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013 is an important amendment to the international standard governing Residual Current Operated Circuit-Breakers with integral overcurrent protection (RCBOs) specifically designed for household and similar applications. This amendment updates and clarifies general rules for RCBO performance, safety, and testing procedures. It consolidates previous corrigenda, including the January 2014 corrections, ensuring the document reflects the latest requirements for electrical safety devices in residential environments.

The standard is developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), focusing on providing a globally harmonized approach to evaluating and certifying the protective features of RCBOs. These devices combine earth fault detection and overcurrent protection, critical in preventing electrical shocks and fire hazards.

Key Topics

  • Scope and Purpose
    The amendment outlines general rules applicable to household RCBOs, emphasizing their design requirements, type testing, and operating characteristics to ensure safe and reliable interruption of electrical faults.

  • Clearances and Creepage Distances
    Adjustments to minimum clearance and creepage distances are specified, referencing IEC 60664-1 for homogenous field conditions. These constraints help maintain insulation integrity and reduce the risk of electrical arcs or breakdowns.

  • Operating Characteristics & Testing Procedures
    Detailed tests for verifying RCBO behavior under residual currents-including sudden appearances, steady increases, and the presence of DC components-are specified. This ensures devices trip correctly under fault conditions, maintaining electrical safety.

  • Verification Under Various Conditions
    The amendment includes procedures for operating RCBOs at extreme temperatures (-5 °C to +40 °C), under load, and with different line voltages. These scenarios simulate real-world conditions, verifying device robustness and functional reliability.

  • Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
    The standard covers EMC requirements aligned with IEC 61543 and CISPR 14-1. It details both immunity and emission tests to ensure RCBOs perform reliably without causing or succumbing to electromagnetic disturbances.

  • Safety and Compliance Updates
    Amendments on insulation resistance testing, removal of obsolete test requirements, and refined verification methods help streamline certification processes and maintain up-to-date safety rules.

Applications

IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013 applies predominantly to household environments and similar settings where RCBOs provide combined protection against electric shock and overcurrents. Typical applications include:

  • Residential wiring installations to prevent injuries from earth faults and overcurrent situations.
  • Circuit protection in small commercial and institutional buildings with domestic-type electrical systems.
  • Electrical safety monitoring devices integrated within consumer units and distribution boards.
  • Ensuring compliance with international safety regulations for manufacturers and suppliers of RCBO equipment.

This amendment enhances confidence in RCBO performance, supports electrical safety engineers, certification bodies, manufacturers, and installers by clarifying test methods and operational characteristics.

Related Standards

  • IEC 60664-1: Insulation coordination for electrical equipment, referenced for minimum clearances and creepage distances.
  • IEC 61543: Covers electromagnetic compatibility testing methods relevant to RCBO immunity and emission assessments.
  • CISPR 14-1: Specifies limits and test methods for radio disturbance characteristics of electrical household appliances.
  • IEC 61009 series: The parent standards defining residual current operated circuit-breakers-this amendment specifically updates Part 1, which deals with general rules.
  • IEC 61008: Related standard focusing on residual current circuit-breakers without overcurrent protection.

Practical Value

  • Guarantees that RCBOs meet rigorous safety and operational criteria under diverse conditions.
  • Supports manufacturers in aligning product design and testing with up-to-date international requirements.
  • Assists certifying agencies in evaluating RCBO performance consistently worldwide.
  • Enhances installer and end-user safety through reliable fault detection and interruption.
  • Facilitates the integration of RCBOs in household and similar electrical distribution systems with assured compliance.

By following IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013, stakeholders in the electrical safety ecosystem ensure the use of efficient, tested, and compliant RCBOs, thus improving overall electrical safety and reducing risks of fire and electric shock hazards in residential applications.

Standard

IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013 - Amendment 2 - Residual current operated circuit-breakers with integral overcurrent protection for household and similar uses (RCBOs) - Part 1: General rules

English and French language
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Frequently Asked Questions

IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013 is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its full title is "Amendment 2 - Residual current operated circuit-breakers with integral overcurrent protection for household and similar uses (RCBOs) - Part 1: General rules". This standard covers: The contents of the corrigendum of January 2014 have been included in this copy.

The contents of the corrigendum of January 2014 have been included in this copy.

IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION; 29.120.50 - Fuses and other overcurrent protection devices. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to IEC 61009-1:2010, IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013/COR1:2014, IEC 61009-1:2024. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

IEC 61009-1:2010/AMD2:2013 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


IEC 61009-1 ®
Edition 3.0 2013-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 2
AMENDEMENT 2
Residual current operated circuit-breakers with integral overcurrent protection
for household and similar uses (RCBOs) –
Part 1: General rules
Interrupteurs automatiques à courant différentiel résiduel avec dispositif de
protection contre les surintensités incorporé pour usages domestiques et
analogues (DD) –
Partie 1: Règles générales
IEC 61009-1:2010/A2:2013
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IEC 61009-1 ®
Edition 3.0 2013-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 2
AMENDEMENT 2
Residual current operated circuit-breakers with integral overcurrent protection

for household and similar uses (RCBOs) –

Part 1: General rules
Interrupteurs automatiques à courant différentiel résiduel avec dispositif de

protection contre les surintensités incorporé pour usages domestiques et

analogues (DD) –
Partie 1: Règles générales
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX G
ICS 29.120.50 ISBN 978-2-8322-1065-9

– 2 – 61009-1 Amend. 2 © IEC:2013
FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by subcommittee 23E: Circuit-breakers and similar
equipment for household use, of IEC technical committee 23: Electrical accessories.
The text of this amendment is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
23E/796/FDIS 23E/820/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this amendment can be found in the report
on voting indicated in the above table.
The committee has decided that the contents of this amendment and the base publication will
remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
The contents of the corrigendum of January 2014 have been included in this copy.
_____________
8.1.3 Clearances and creepage distances (see also Annex B)
Replace the third paragraph of this subclause, and the modifications brought to it by
Amendment 1, as follows:
The clearances of items 2 and 4 (except accessible surface after installation, see Note 1) may
be reduced provided that the measured clearances are not shorter than the minimum allowed
in IEC 60664-1 for homogenous field conditions.
Add the following new note after the third paragraph and renumber the existing notes of this
subclause, introduced by Amendment 1, accordingly:
NOTE 1 Accessible surface after installation means any surface accessible by the user when the RCD is installed
according to the manufacturer's instructions. The test finger can be applied to determine whether a surface is
accessible or not.
8.5 Operating characteristics
Delete "and 9.21" from the existing text
8.15 Behaviour of RCBOs in case of earth fault currents comprising a d.c. component
Replace the second paragraph as follows:
Compliance is checked by the tests of 9.9.3.
Table 12 – List of type tests
Delete the following item:
61009-1 Amend. 2 © IEC:2013 – 3 –
– Behaviour of RCBOs in case of an earth fault current comprising a d.c. component
9.21
9.7.2 Insulation resistance of the main circuit
Replace the existing text in item c) with the following text:
c) with the RCBO in the closed position, between all poles connected together and the frame
including a metal foil or part in contact with the outer surface of the housing of insulating
material but with the terminal areas kept completely free to avoid flashover between
terminals and the metal foil;
Replace 9.9.1 and the modifications brought to it by Amendment 1 by the following:
9.9.1 Verification of the operating characteristics under residual current conditions
9.9.1.1 Test circuit and test procedure
The RCBO is installed as for normal use.
The test circuit shall be of negligible inductance. For tests according to 9.9.1.2, the test circuit
shall correspond to Figure 4. For tests according to 9.9.1.3, the test circuit shall correspond to
Figure 5 or Figure 6, as applicable.
The instruments for the measurement of the residual current shall display (or allow to
determine) the true r.m.s. value.
NOTE The information for instrument measurement is available at the following CTL webserver:

Unless otherwise specified, the tests are performed with no load at the reference temperature
of 20 °C ± 5 °C.
The RCBO shall perform the tests of 9.9.1.2, 9.9.1.3 and 9.9.1.4, as applicable. Each test is
made on one pole only, taken at random, with five measurements, unless otherwise specified.
For RCBOs having more than one rated frequency, the tests shall be carried out at the lowest
and highest frequency, except for test in 9.9.1.2 e), where verification is performed at only
one frequency.
For RCBOs having multiple settings of residual operating current, the tests shall be made for
each setting.
9.9.1.2 Tests for all RCBOs
The test conditions according to 9.9.1.1 apply to all RCBOs.
a) Verification of correct operation in case of a steady increase of the residual current.
and S and the RCBO being in the closed position, the residual
The test switches S
1 2
current is steadily increased, starting from a value not higher than 0,2 I , trying to attain
∆n
the value of I within 30 s, the tripping current being measured each time.
∆n
All five measured values shall be situated between I and I .
∆no ∆n
b) Verification of correct operation on closing on a residual current
The test circuit being calibrated at the value of the rated residual operating current I and
∆n
the test switches S and S being closed, the RCBO is closed so as to simulate service
1 2
conditions as closely as possible. The break time is measured five times. No measurement
shall exceed the limiting value specified for I in Table 2, according to the type of RCBO.
∆n
c) Verification of correct operation in case of sudden appearance of residual current

– 4 – 61009-1 Amend. 2 © IEC:2013
1) All types
The test circuit being successively calibrated at each of the values of residual current
specified in Table 2, the test switch S and the RCBO being in the closed position, the
test voltage is suddenly established by closing the test switch S .
The RCBO shall trip during each test.
Five measurements of the break time are made at each value of residual current.
No value shall exceed the relevant specified limiting value given in Table 2.
2) Additional test for type S
The test circuit being successively calibrated at each of the values of residual current
specified in Table 2, the test switch S and the RCBO being in the closed position, the
residual current is suddenly established by closing the test switch S for periods
corresponding to the relevant minimum non-actuating times, with a tolerance of %.
− 5
Each application of residual current shall be separated from the previous one by an
interval of at least 1 min.
The RCBO shall not trip during any of the tests.
d) Verification of correct operation in case of sudden appearance of residual currents
between 5 I and 500 A
∆n
The test circuit is calibrated at any two values of the residual current chosen at random
within the range 5 A to 200 A, among the following list 5 A, 10 A, 20 A, 50 A, 100 A,
200 A.
NOTE In Australia the measurement of the break time is made at 5 A, 10 A, 20 A, 50 A, 100 A, 200 A.
The test switch S and the RCBO being in the closed position, the residual current is
suddenly established by closing the test switch S .
The RCBO shall trip during each test. The break time shall not exceed the times given in
Table 2.
The test is made once for each value of residual current on one pole only, taken at
random.
e) Verification of correct operation with load
The tests of 9.9.1.2 b) and 9.9.1.2 c) are repeated, the pole under test and one other pole
of the RCCB being loaded with rated current, this current being established shortly before
the test.
For the test of 9.9.1.2 c), the switch S and the RCBO are in closed position. The residual
current is established by closing S .
f) Tests at the temperature limits
The RCBO shall perform the tests specified in 9.9.1.2 c) under the following conditions,
successively:
1) ambient temperature: –5 °C, off-load;
2) ambient temperature: +40 °C, the RCBO having been previously loaded with the rated
current, at any convenient voltage, until it attains thermal steady-state conditions.
In practice these conditions are reached when the variation of temperature-rise does
not exceed 1 K per hour.
For the tripping tests in 2), the flow of rated current may be interrupted, provided that
the total interruption period does not exceed 30 s. As soon as the sum of interruption
periods exceed 30 s, the RCBO shall be loaded again with rated current for 5 min
before next tripping time measurement.
NOTE Preheating may be carried out at any convenient voltage at either 50 Hz or 60 Hz but auxiliary circuits shall
be connected to their normal operating voltage (particularly for components depending on line voltage).

61009-1 Amend. 2 © IEC:2013 – 5 –
9.9.1.3 Verification of correct operation at residual currents with d.c. components
This subclause applies to type A RCBOs, under test conditions of 9.9.1.1.
a) Verification of correct operation in case of a continuous rise of residual pulsating direct
current
The test shall be performed according to Figure 5.
The auxiliary switches S and S and the RCBO shall be closed. The relevant thyristor
1 2
shall be controlled in such a manner that current delay angles α of 0°, 90° and 135° are
obtained. Each pole of the RCBO shall be tested twice at each of the current delay angles,
in position I as well as in position II of the auxiliary switch S .
For each test, the current shall be steadily increased at an approximate rate of

/30 amperes per second for RCBOs with  I > 0,01 A, and at an approximate rate
1,4 I
∆n ∆n

of 2 I /30 amperes per second for RCBOs with I ≤ 0,01 A, starting from zero. The

∆n ∆n
tripping current shall be in accordance with Table 26.
b) Verification of correct operation in case of suddenly appearing residual pulsating direct
currents
The RCBO shall be tested according to Figure 5.
The circuit being successively calibrated at the values specified hereafter and the auxiliary
switch S and the RCBO being in the closed position, the residual current is suddenly
established by closing the switch S .
The test is carried out at each value of residual current specified in Table 3, according to
the type of RCBO.
Two measurements of the break time are made at each value of residual current, at a
current delay angle α = 0° with the auxiliary switch S in position I for the first
measurement and in position II for the second measurement.
No value shall exceed the specified limiting values.
c) Verification of correct operation with load
The tests of 9.9.1.3 a) are repeated, the pole under test and one other pole of the RCBO
being loaded with the rated current, this current being established shortly before the test.
NOTE The loading with rated current is not shown in Figure 5.
d) Verification of correct operation in case of residual pulsating direct currents superimposed
by a smooth direct current of 0,006 A
The RCBO shall be tested according to Figure 6 with a half-wave rectified residual current
(current delay angle α = 0°) superimposed by a smooth direct current of 0,006 A.
Each pole of the RCBO is tested in turn, twice at each of positions I and II.
The half-wave current I , starting from zero, being steadily increased at an approximate
rate of 1,4 I /30 amperes per second for RCBOs with I > 0,01 A and 2 I /30 amperes
∆n ∆n ∆n
per second for RCBOs with I ≤ 0,01 A, the device shall trip before this half-wave current
∆n
I reaches a value not exceeding 1,4 I or 2 I respectively.
1 ∆n ∆n
Table 26 – Tripping current ranges for type A RCBOs
Tripping current
A
Angle, α
Lower limit Upper limit
°
I I
∆n ∆n
0 0,35

90 0,25 1,4 or 2 (5.3.8)


135 0,11
– 6 – 61009-1 Amend. 2 © IEC:2013
9.9.1.4 Particular test conditions for RCBOs functionally dependent on line voltage
For RCBOs functionally dependent on line voltage, each test is made at each of the following
values of the line voltage, applied to the relevant terminals: 1,1 and 0,85 times the rated line
voltage.
9.12.11.2.1 Tests on all RCBOs
Replace the second paragraph of this subclause, and the modifications brought to it by
Amendment 1, by the following:
Each overcurrent protected pole of the RCBO is subjected separately to a test in a circuit
similar to Figure 7, but with the impedance Z1 connected only to the pole to be tested and
directly connected to the Neutral without passing the current through the N-pole of the RCBO,
at a voltage of 105% of the rated phase to neutral voltage.
9.21 Verification of correct operation of residual currents with d.c. components
Replace the title and text of this subclause by “Void”.
Replace 9.24 by the following:
9.24 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
9.24.1 Tests covered by the present standard
Tests listed in Table 27 are covered by the present standard and need not to be repeated.
Table 27 – Tests covered by this standard
Reference to Tables 4 Electromagnetic phenomena Tests of IEC 61009-1
and 5 of IEC 61543: 1995 and
Amendment 1: 2004
T.1.3 Voltage amplitude variations 9.9.1.4 and 9.17
T.1.4 Voltage unbalance 9.9.1.4 and 9.17
T.1.5 Power-frequency variations 9.2
T.1.8 Magnetic fields 9.12
T.2.4 Current oscillatory transients 9.19

9.24.2 Additional tests
Tests listed in Table 29 shall be carried out according to the test sequences H, I a
...

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