IEC 80601-2-59:2008

IEC 80601-2-59
Edition 1.0 2008-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Medical electrical equipment –
Part 2-59: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance
of screening thermographs for human febrile temperature screening

Appareils électromédicaux –
Partie 2-59: Exigences particulières pour la sécurité de base et les performances
essentielles des imageurs thermiques pour le dépistage des humains fébriles

IEC 80601-2-59:2008

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
THIS PUBLICATION IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
Copyright © 2008 IEC, Geneva, Switzerland

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either IEC or
IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: inmail@iec.ch
Web: www.iec.ch

About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
ƒ Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
ƒ IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
ƒ Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00


A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.
ƒ Catalogue des publications de la CEI: www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut-f.htm
Le Catalogue en-ligne de la CEI vous permet d’effectuer des recherches en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence,
texte, comité d’études,…). Il donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les publications retirées ou remplacées.
ƒ Just Published CEI: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI. Just Published détaille deux fois par mois les nouvelles
publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
Vocabulaire Electrotechnique International en ligne.
ƒ Service Clients: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv/custserv_entry-f.htm
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette publication ou si vous avez des questions, visitez le FAQ du
Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tél.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
IEC 80601-2-59
Edition 1.0 2008-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Medical electrical equipment –
Part 2-59: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance
of screening thermographs for human febrile temperature screening

Appareils électromédicaux –
Partie 2-59: Exigences particulières pour la sécurité de base et les performances
essentielles des imageurs thermiques pour le dépistage des humains fébriles

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
V
CODE PRIX
ICS 11.040.55 ISBN 978-2-88910-784-1

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
– 2 – 80601-2-59 © IEC:2008
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
INTRODUCTION.5
201.1 Scope, object and related standards.6
201.2 Normative references.7
201.3 Terms and definitions .8
201.4 General requirements.10
201.5 General requirements for testing of ME EQUIPMENT .10
201.6 Classification of ME EQUIPMENT and ME SYSTEMS .11
201.7 ME EQUIPMENT identification, marking and documents .11
201.8 Protection against electrical HAZARDS from ME EQUIPMENT .11
201.9 Protection against mechanical HAZARDS of ME EQUIPMENT and ME SYSTEMS .12
201.10 Protection against unwanted and excessive radiation HAZARDS .12
201.11 Protection against excessive temperatures and other HAZARDS .12
201.12 Accuracy of controls and instruments and protection against hazardous
outputs .12
201.13 HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS and fault conditions .13
201.14 PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRICAL MEDICAL SYSTEMS (PEMS) .13
201.15 Construction of ME EQUIPMENT.13
201.16 ME SYSTEMS.13
201.17 Electromagnetic compatibility of ME EQUIPMENT and ME SYSTEMS .13
201.101 Laboratory accuracy of a screening thermograph.14
201.102 Screening thermograph alarm conditions .17
Annexes .18
Annex C (informative) Guide to marking and labelling requirements for ME EQUIPMENT
and ME SYSTEMS.18
Annex AA (informative) Particular guidance and rationale.20
Annex BB (normative) CALIBRATION SOURCE .26
Annex CC (informative) Reference to the essential principles .27
Bibliography.29
Index of defined terms used in this particular standard.34

Figure AA.1 – Relative drift of 4 DETECTORS as a function of time.24

Table 201.101 – Distributed ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE requirements .10
Table 201.C.101 – ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS, instructions for use of a SCREENING
THERMOGRAPH .18
Table 201.C.102 – ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS, technical description of a SCREENING
THERMOGRAPH .19
Table AA.1 – Example of relevant uncertainty terms for a SCREENING THERMOGRAPH .22
Table CC.1 – Correspondence between this particular standard and the essential
principles .27

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
80601-2-59 © IEC:2008 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

MEDICAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT –

Part 2-59: Particular requirements for the basic safety
and essential performance of screening thermographs
for human febrile temperature screening


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 in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
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) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International standard IEC 80601-2-59 has been prepared by a Joint Working Group of IEC
subcommittee 62D: Electromedical equipment, of IEC technical committee 62: Electrical
equipment in medical practice, and of ISO subcommittee SC3: Lung ventilators and related
equipment, of ISO technical committee 121: Anaesthetic and respiratory equipment.
The text of this particular standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
62D/697/FDIS 62D/720/RVD

Full information on the voting for the approval of this particular standard can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table. In ISO, the standard has been approved by
12 P-members out of 15 having cast a vote.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
– 4 – 80601-2-59 © IEC:2008
In this standard, the following print types are used:
– Requirements and definitions: roman type.
– Test specifications: italic type.
– Informative material appearing outside of tables, such as notes, examples and references: in smaller type.
Normative text of tables is also in a smaller type.
– TERMS DEFINED IN CLAUSE 3 OF THE GENERAL STANDARD, IN THIS PARTICULAR STANDARD OR AS
NOTED: SMALL CAPITALS.
In referring to the structure of this standard, the term
– “clause” means one of the seventeen numbered divisions within the table of contents,
inclusive of all subdivisions (e.g. Clause 7 includes subclauses 7.1, 7.2, etc.);
– “subclause” means a numbered subdivision of a clause (e.g. 7.1, 7.2 and 7.2.1 are all
subclauses of Clause 7).
References to clauses within this standard are preceded by the term “Clause” followed by the
clause number. References to subclauses within this particular standard are by number only.
In this standard, the conjunctive “or” is used as an “inclusive or” so a statement is true if any
combination of the conditions is true.
The verbal forms used in this standard conform to usage described in Annex H of the ISO/IEC
Directives, Part 2. For the purposes of this standard, the auxiliary verb:
– “shall” means that compliance with a requirement or a test is mandatory for compliance
with this standard;
– “should” means that compliance with a requirement or a test is recommended but is not
mandatory for compliance with this standard;
– “may” is used to describe a permissible way to achieve compliance with a requirement or
test.
An asterisk (*) as the first character of a title or at the beginning of a paragraph or table title
indicates that there is guidance or rationale related to that item in Annex AA.
A list of all parts of the IEC 60601 series, published under the general title: Medical electrical
equipment, can be found on the IEC website
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result 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 April 2009 have been included in this copy.

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
80601-2-59 © IEC:2008 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
The minimum safety requirements specified in this particular standard are considered to
provide for a practical degree of safety in the operation of ME EQUIPMENT for human febrile
temperature screening.
This document describes ME EQUIPMENT that uses infrared technology to detect naturally
emitted heat at the skin surface of the FACE. Such ME EQUIPMENT can be useful at ports-of-
entry or ports-of-exit and the entrances to buildings under indoor environmental conditions to
separate febrile from afebrile individuals to help prevent the spread of communicable
diseases. Care can be needed when evaluating individuals under changing environmental
conditions, but the inner canthus of the eye has been demonstrated to be a robust
1)
measurement site and is supplied by the internal carotid artery. [ 40]
A body core temperature of 38 °C or above was used as the criterion to restrict traveling
during the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic (April 2003). [73] The US
Center for Disease Control advises that SARS typically begins with a temperature above
38 °C, which is 1 °C higher than normal human body core temperature which averages around
37 °C. [29] It is hard to give an accurate assessment of how many people were checked by
infrared temperature measurements in China during the SARS epidemic. There is official
Chinese government data indicating that during a two-month period in the spring of 2003, 30
million travelers were screened in China. From this cohort, 9 292 travelers with elevated
temperature were detected and 38 were suspected of being SARS carriers. SARS was
diagnosed in 21 of these cases. All elevated temperatures were confirmed using traditional
clinical temperature measurements of body temperature. Although it is hard to determine the
human body's core temperature accurately by infrared measurement of SKIN TEMPERATURE, it
is a potential method for screening for elevated temperature values. [36 ] [7 3] [75]
This particular standard amends and supplements IEC 60601-1 (third edition, 2005): Medical
electrical equipment – Part 1: General requirements for safety and essential performance,
hereinafter referred to as the General Standard (see 1.4).
The requirements are followed by specifications for the relevant tests.
A "General guidance and rationale" section giving some explanatory notes, where
appropriate, about the more important requirements is included in annex AA. It is considered
that knowledge of the reasons for these requirements will not only facilitate the proper
application of the standard but will, in due course, expedite any revision necessitated by
changes in clinical practice or as a result of developments in technology. However, this annex
does not form part of the requirements of this standard.

—————————
1)
Figures in square brackets refer to the Bibliography.

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
– 6 – 80601-2-59 © IEC:2008
MEDICAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT –

Part 2-59: Particular requirements for the basic safety
and essential performance of screening thermographs
for human febrile temperature screening



201.1 Scope, object and related standards
2)
Clause 1 of the general standard applies, except as follows:
201.1.1 * Scope
Replacement:
BASIC SAFETY and ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE of
This International Standard applies to the
SCREENING THERMOGRAPHS intended to be used for the individual non-invasive febrile
temperature screening of humans under indoor environmental conditions, hereafter referred to
as ME EQUIPMENT. This International Standard sets laboratory characterization test limits for
the SCREENING THERMOGRAPH.
NOTE A SCREENING THERMOGRAPH is intended for screening and detection of human subjects with SKIN
TEMPERATURES elevated above normal. An elevated SKIN TEMPERATURE needs to be followed up by a subsequent
temperature measurement using a clinical thermometer (see IEC 80601-2-56).
If a clause or subclause is specifically intended to be applicable to ME EQUIPMENT only, or to
ME SYSTEMS only, the title and content of that clause or subclause will say so. If that is not the
case, the clause or subclause applies both to ME EQUIPMENT and to ME SYSTEMS, as relevant.
201.1.2 Object
Replacement:
The object of this particular standard is to establish particular BASIC SAFETY and ESSENTIAL
PERFORMANCE requirements for SCREENING THERMOGRAPHS as defined in 201.3.209.
201.1.3 Collateral standards
Addition:
This particular standard refers to those applicable collateral standards that are listed in
Clause 2 of the general standard and Clause 2 of this particular standard.
IEC 60601-1-3 does not apply. All other published collateral standards in the IEC 60601-1
series apply as published.
201.1.4 Particular standards
Replacement:
In the IEC 60601 series, particular standards may modify, replace or delete requirements
contained in the general standard and collateral standards as appropriate for the particular
—————————
2)
The general standard is IEC 60601-1:2005, Medical electrical equipment – Part 1: General requirements for
basic safety and essential performance.

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
80601-2-59 © IEC:2008 – 7 –
ME EQUIPMENT under consideration, and may add other BASIC SAFETY and ESSENTIAL
PERFORMANCE requirements.
A requirement of a particular standard takes priority over the general standard.
For brevity, IEC 60601-1 is referred to in this particular standard as the general standard.
Collateral standards are referred to by their document number.
The numbering of sections, clauses and subclauses of this particular standard corresponds to
that of the general standard with the prefix “201” (e.g. 201.1 in this standard addresses the
content of Clause 1 of the general standard) or applicable collateral standard with the prefix
“20x” where x is the final digit(s) of the collateral standard document number (e.g. 202.4 in
this particular standard addresses the content of Clause 4 of the 60601-1-2 collateral
standard, 203.4 in this particular standard addresses the content of Clause 4 of the 60601-1-3
collateral standard, etc.). The changes to the text of the general standard are specified by the
use of the following words:
"Replacement" means that the clause or subclause of the general standard or applicable
collateral standard is replaced completely by the text of this particular standard.
"Addition" means that the text of this particular standard is additional to the requirements of
the general standard or applicable collateral standard.
"Amendment" means that the clause or subclause of the general standard or applicable
collateral standard is amended as indicated by the text of this particular standard.
Subclauses or figures which are additional to those of the general standard are numbered
starting from 201.101. However due to the fact that definitions in the general standard are
numbered 3.1 through 3.139, additional definitions in this standard are numbered beginning
from 201.3.201. Additional annexes are lettered AA, BB, etc., and additional items aa), bb),
etc.
Subclauses or figures which are additional to those of a collateral standard are numbered
starting from 20x, where “x” is the number of the collateral standard, e.g. 202 for
IEC 60601-1-2, 203 for IEC 60601-1-3, etc.
The term "this standard" is used to make reference to the general standard, any applicable
collateral standards and this particular standard taken together.
Where there is no corresponding clause or subclause in this particular standard, the clause or
subclause of the general standard or applicable collateral standard, although possibly not
relevant, applies without modification; where it is intended that any part of the general
standard or applicable collateral standard, although possibly relevant, is not to be applied, a
statement to that effect is given in this particular standard.
201.2 Normative references
NOTE Informative references are listed in the bibliography beginning on page 29.
Clause 2 of the general standard applies, except as follows:
Addition:
ISO/TR 13154, Medical electrical equipment – Deployment, implementation and operational
guidelines for identifying febrile humans using a screening thermograph

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
– 8 – 80601-2-59 © IEC:2008
3)
ASTM E1213-97:2002 , Standard Test Method for Minimum Resolvable Temperature
Difference for Thermal Imaging Systems
201.3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60601-1:2005 and
IEC 60601-1-8:2006 apply, except as follows:
NOTE An index of defined terms is found beginning on page 34.
Addition:
201.3.201
CALIBRATION
set of operations that establish, under specified conditions, the relationship between values of
quantities indicated by a measuring instrument, or measuring system, or values represented
by a material measure or a reference material and the corresponding values realized by
standards
[ISO Guide 99, definition 2.39, modified]
201.3.202
CALIBRATION SOURCE
infrared radiation blackbody reference source of known and traceable temperature and
EMISSIVITY
201.3.203
DETECTOR
infrared thermal sensor or array of sensors able to detect infrared thermal energy radiating
from the surface of the FACE or other object
NOTE The DETECTOR responds to the net infrared radiation and converts that response into electrical signals.
201.3.204
EMISSIVITY
ratio of the emitted thermal rate of propagation of electromagnetic energy emitted by an
object as a consequence of its temperature propagated in a given direction, per unit solid
angle about that direction and per unit area projected normal to the direction of a surface to
that of a ideal blackbody at the same temperature and under the same spectral conditions
NOTE 1 The EMISSIVITY of dry human skin is accepted to be 0,98.
NOTE 2 An ideal blackbody is described by Planck’s Law.
201.3.205
EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE REFERENCE SOURCE
part of the SCREENING THERMOGRAPH that is used to ensure accurate operation between
CALIBRATIONS using an infrared radiation source of known temperature and EMISSIVITY
NOTE The EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE REFERENCE SOURCE is normally imaged in each thermogram or prior to each
thermogram.
201.3.206
FACE
anterior cranial face of the PATIENT being measured
—————————
3)
ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2959 USA

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
80601-2-59 © IEC:2008 – 9 –
201.3.207
IMAGE PIXEL
individual infrared thermal detections from the DETECTOR
NOTE The number of IMAGE PIXELS is given in an array format. e.g. number of sensors in horizontal (H) by number
of sensors in vertical (V) e.g. for a 120 (H) x 120 (V) DETECTOR array, the number of IMAGE PIXELS would be 14,400.
201.3.208
LABORATORY ACCURACY
closeness of the agreement between the result of a measurement (with SCREENING
THERMOGRAPH) and the true value of the measurand
NOTE LABORATORY ACCURACY is a qualitative concept. For a quantitative description, the term 'uncertainty’ should
be used.
201.3.209
SCREENING THERMOGRAPH
ME EQUIPMENT or ME SYSTEM that:
– detects infrared radiation emitted from the FACE from which a thermogram is obtained from
the TARGET;
– detects infrared radiation emitted from an EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE REFERENCE SOURCE;
– displays a radiometric thermal image;
– obtains a temperature reading from the TARGET; and
– compares that temperature reading to the THRESHOLD TEMPERATURE to determine if the
PATIENT is febrile
NOTE 1 A SCREENING THERMOGRAPH is a non-contact, non-invasive temperature screening ME EQUIPMENT used to
measure the FACE temperature and indicate the screened region with a different colour if the temperature is above
the THRESHOLD TEMPERATURE setting.
NOTE 2 A SCREENING THERMOGRAPH has to identify the TARGET from the thermogram to obtain the TARGET
temperature reading.
201.3.210
SELF-CORRECTION
automatic process carried out to compensate for DETECTOR drift
NOTE An uncooled microbolometer DETECTOR can be subject to significant drift in its measurements over time.
EXAMPLE To reduce the error caused by possible drift, the SCREENING THERMOGRAPH carries out a SELF-
CORRECTION.
201.3.211
SKIN TEMPERATURE
skin surface temperature as measured from the WORKABLE TARGET PLANE of a SCREENING
THERMOGRAPH, with an appropriate adjustment for skin EMISSIVITY
NOTE The EMISSIVITY of dry human skin is accepted to be 0,98.
201.3.212
TARGET
FACE selected for THRESHOLD TEMPERATURE comparison
region of the
201.3.213
TARGET PLANE
in-focus plane perpendicular to the line of sight of a SCREENING THERMOGRAPH

---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
– 10 – 80601-2-59 © IEC:2008
201.3.214
THRESHOLD TEMPERATURE
temperature setting, above which the SCREENING THERMOGRAPH indicates that the TARGET is
potentially febrile
NOTE  This is typically indicated in degrees Celsius.
201.3.215
...