SIST EN 61249-8-7:1997

Overview

EN 61249-8-7:1996 (CLC) is the European sectional specification that defines requirements for the qualification of marking legend inks used on printed circuit boards (PCBs). It covers non-conductive films and coatings specifically for marking/legend inks and provides guidance on assessing the suitability of printed boards that include such inks. The document is aligned with the IEC variant referenced in the source (IEC 1249-8-7:1996).

Key Topics

The standard addresses the practical and performance aspects necessary to ensure reliable PCB markings. Major technical topics and requirements include:

• Scope and definitions for marking/legend inks and related terms used on printed boards.
• Qualification criteria for inks used for component identifiers, logos, polarity marks and other board legends.
• Performance characteristics the inks must meet, such as adhesion, durability, and legibility under normal handling and assembly.
• Environmental and ageing considerations that affect mark permanence and readability over the product lifetime.
• Process compatibility with PCB manufacturing and assembly (soldering, cleaning, conformal coating compatibility).
• Inspection and acceptance guidance to evaluate printed boards that feature marking inks.
• Documentation and labelling expectations for ink materials and qualification evidence.

Note: The standard provides requirements and guidance rather than prescriptive numeric process parameters; consult the full text for specific test and acceptance clauses.

Applications

EN 61249-8-7:1996 is directly useful for:

• PCB manufacturers selecting or qualifying marking/legend inks for new or existing board finishes.
• Ink formulators and suppliers who need to validate product performance for PCB applications.
• Quality engineers and test laboratories that perform qualification, conformity checks, and failure analysis of board markings.
• Contract assemblers and OEMs ensuring that markings remain legible and non-detrimental through soldering and assembly.
• Procurement teams specifying compliant marking inks in material purchase specifications.

Benefits include improved traceability, reduced assembly errors, and assurance that markings will withstand manufacturing and in-service conditions.

Related Standards

• The EN classification is part of the wider Materials for interconnection structures series and is aligned with the referenced IEC sectional document (IEC 1249-8-7:1996).
• Relevant to broader PCB material and process standards concerning solderability, conformal coatings, and printed wiring board quality (consult full standards list for exact cross-references).

Keywords: marking legend inks, PCB marking inks, EN 61249-8-7, qualification of inks, printed boards, non-conductive films, legend durability, PCB ink standards.