⚡ Testing of empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies (up to 1 000 V AC or 1 500 V DC) before installation of equipment — durability of marking, static loads, lifting, axial load of threaded inserts, IP degree of protection and IK impact resistance, continuity of the protective circuit, insulation, resistance to heat and fire, PN-EN IEC 62208

Electronics and EMC PN-EN IEC 62208

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN IEC 62208:2024-04 (Polish version), in full (our translation): “This document applies to empty enclosures, as supplied by the enclosure manufacturer, prior to the installation of switchgear and controlgear by the assembly manufacturer. This document specifies general definitions, classifications, characteristics and test requirements of enclosures used as parts of switchgear and controlgear assemblies (e.g. in accordance with the product standard of the multi-part standard IEC 61439), with a rated voltage not exceeding 1 000 V AC or 1 500 V DC, intended for general use in indoor or outdoor applications. NOTE 1 Additional requirements can be used for specific applications. NOTE 2 Empty enclosures according to this document are suitable for mounting electrical equipment. This document does not apply to enclosures covered by other product standards (e.g. IEC 60670-24). The assembly manufacturer is responsible for compliance with the safety requirements of the relevant product standard for the final product made using an empty enclosure. NOTE 3 This document can serve as a basic document for other technical committees”. We read the text in the sample of IEC 62208:2023 from the cover to 6.3.6 (protective measures in the documentation); we do not have 6.3.7–9 (among others service conditions, construction requirements, type tests 9.x) or the annexes.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF IEC 62208:2023 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–6.3.6). The standard was prepared by IEC subcommittee SC 121B “Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies” of TC 121 (121B/180/FDIS); the third edition replaced the second of 2011 after a technical revision. Changes: a) consideration of the modifications introduced in IEC 61439-1:2020, b) alignment of test procedures with the newest relevant standards. Annex A lists “in-some-country” clauses. Introduction: the purpose is to harmonize general requirements and verification of empty enclosures, to avoid verification in other standards. Scope (1) — as on the card. References (2), dated: IEC 60068-2-2:2007 (dry heat), IEC 60068-2-11:2021 (salt mist), IEC 60068-2-30:2005 (damp heat, cyclic 12 h + 12 h), IEC 60085:2007, IEC 60364, IEC 60529:1989 with AMD1:1999 and AMD2:2013 (IP code), IEC 60695-2-10:2021 and -2-11:2021 (glow-wire — GWEPT), IEC 60695-10-2:2014 (ball pressure), IEC 60695-11-5:2016 (needle flame), IEC TR 60890:2014 (temperature-rise calculation), IEC 62262:2002 with AMD1:2021 (IK code), ISO 178:2019 (flexural properties of plastics), ISO 179-1:2010 and 179-2:2020 (Charpy impact), ISO 2409:2020 (cross-cut test), ISO 4628-3:2016 (degree of rusting), ISO 4892-2:2013 (xenon-arc lamps), ISO 11469:2016 (marking of plastics). Terms (3): empty enclosure (for installing equipment, with a specified protection against external influences and contact; alternatively box, cabinet, desk), protected space, cover, door (hinged or sliding cover), mounting plate, cable gland plate, removable cover, inspection, rated insulation voltage Ui, class I enclosure (basic insulation and connection of a protective conductor), class II enclosure (basic and supplementary insulation or reinforced insulation), enclosure for indoor and outdoor installation. Classification (4): material (insulating, metallic, combination); method of mounting (floor-standing, wall, flush, pole); location (outdoor, indoor); degree of protection — IP code according to IEC 60529:1989 with AMD1 and AMD2, IK code according to IEC 62262:2002 with AMD1:2021. EMC (5): there are no EMC requirements for empty enclosures; when assigning a degree of protection against disturbances (EM code) reference is made to IEC 61000-5-7:2001. Marking (6.2): name or mark of the enclosure manufacturer and type designation or number, durable and legible, may be inside; compliance — by the test of 9.3 and inspection; plastic parts — according to ISO 11469; the class II symbol (IEC 60417-5172) is applied by the assembly manufacturer. Documentation (6.3): classification, instructions for handling, assembly, mounting and service conditions, reference to the standard and: dimensions in millimetres (nominal external without projecting gland plates, covers and handles, whose dimensions are given separately), mounting arrangements, permissible loads of the enclosure, mounting plates, supports and doors in newtons, lifting and transport devices (location, thread), protective measures (suitability for a class I or II assembly; for class I — whether electrical continuity is ensured by structural parts or whether separate protective conductors are needed), thermal power dissipation capability, service conditions, protected space, Ui of insulating enclosures and class II enclosures (Table 4), IK code, IP code and maximum internal temperature for insulating enclosures.

STATUS (PKN catalogue cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN IEC 62208:2024-04 (Polish version, published 18-12-2025, 38 pages, price group R) has no “Withdrawn” header: Electrotechnical Sector, KT 77 Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear, ICS 29.130.20, “Introduces: EN IEC 62208:2023 [IDT], IEC 62208:2023 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 62208:2011 – Polish and English versions”. The card of PN-EN 62208:2011 (Polish version, 26 pages) has the “Withdrawn” header: withdrawal date 29-04-2024, “Replaced by: PN-EN IEC 62208:2024-04”; its scope referred to assemblies according to the EN 60439 series and enclosures for frequencies up to 1 000 Hz. The PKN search engine (query “PN-EN 62208”, 02.10.2026) shows the 2005 (e), 2006 (p), 2011 (e, p) and 2024-04 (e, p) editions. What changed for the result: according to the IEC foreword — alignment with IEC 61439-1:2020 (instead of the former 60439 series) and with the newest test standards (e.g. IEC 60068-2-11:2021, IEC 60695-2-10/-11:2021, IEC 62262/AMD1:2021); we do not know the details of the changes in the test procedures.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read 02.10.2026). The number 62208 appears in 16 records of 6 laboratories: AB 044, AB 074, AB 324, AB 665, AB 910, AB 1552. In the current scopes on the PCA website (read 02.10.2026, issues from 07.01.2026 to 01.09.2026) AB 044, AB 074 and AB 324 cite the 2024-04 edition (AB 044 also IEC 62208:2011), AB 665 and AB 910 — “PN-EN 62208” without a date, and AB 1552 — the withdrawn 2011 edition. The “Laboratories” tab: “PN-EN IEC 62208” — 4 laboratories (AB 044, AB 074, AB 324, AB 1552), “PN-EN 62208” — 4 (AB 044, AB 665, AB 910, AB 1552), “IEC 62208” — 5 (4 Polish and 1 Czech) — checked with queries of the tab on the labcoda.pl production server on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (PCA entries). “Durability of marking”, “Static load (except enclosures of insulating materials)”, “Lifting”, “Axial load of metal inserts”, “Continuity of the protective circuit”, “Degree of protection against access to hazardous parts, ingress of solid foreign objects and water”, “Temperature-rise limits”, “Impulse withstand voltage of insulation”, clearances and creepage distances (AB 074), mechanical strength.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. With the scope: testing an empty enclosure is not testing an assembly — compliance of the finished switchboard with IEC 61439 is confirmed by the assembly manufacturer (scope). With dimensions: nominal dimensions do not include projecting gland plates, covers and handles — these are given separately (6.3.2). With loads: the permissible load of a mounting plate depends on how it is fixed in the enclosure (6.3.4); in one of the scopes the entry reads explicitly “Static load (except enclosures of insulating materials)” — a result for a metal enclosure does not transfer to an insulating one. With protection: a class I enclosure must have in its documentation a description of whether protective continuity is ensured by structural parts or by separate conductors (6.3.6). With the edition: AB 1552 has only the 2011 edition in its scope, withdrawn on 29-04-2024 — with requirements referring to the former EN 60439 series.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have 6.3.7–9 or the annexes: service conditions (Clause 7), construction requirements (8) and tests (9 — among others forces and durations of loads, lifting methods, IP and IK tests, protective continuity, temperature rises, tests of resistance to heat, fire, corrosion and UV) or Table 4 (Ui) — so we give no test values.

Method principle

The empty enclosure, as supplied by the manufacturer, is classified and checked against the information in the manufacturer’s documentation (dimensions, permissible loads, devices, protection class, IP and IK degrees, Ui, heat dissipation), and then subjected to type tests: durability of marking, static loads and lifting, inserts, IP according to IEC 60529 and IK according to IEC 62262, continuity of the protective circuit, insulation, resistance to heat, fire, corrosion and UV radiation according to the referenced standards.

Applications

• Empty enclosures (cabinets, boxes, desks) for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies — type tests for enclosure manufacturers; 6 laboratories in PCA scopes
• Indoor and outdoor, metallic, insulating and combined enclosures for assemblies according to the IEC 61439 series
• Checking the enclosure manufacturer’s documentation (dimensions, loads, Ui, IP, IK, heat dissipation) before the assembly manufacturer installs equipment

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN IEC 62208:2024-04 (wersja polska; EN IEC 62208:2023 IDT, IEC 62208:2023 IDT)

Title (PL)

Puste obudowy do rozdzielnic i sterownic niskonapięciowych — Wymagania ogólne

Title (EN)

Empty enclosures for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies — General requirements

Step-by-step procedure

1. Classification and documentation

   Establish the classification (material, mounting, location, IP, IK) and check completeness of the manufacturer’s documentation (6.3). PN-EN IEC 62208:2024-04 current (PKN cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Marking

   Manufacturer’s name or mark and type designation — durable and legible; durability is checked by the test of 9.3 (we do not have its content).

3. Mechanical tests

   Static loads, lifting, threaded inserts, IK — according to Clause 9 (values and durations in the part we do not have).

4. Protection and insulation

   IP according to IEC 60529; continuity of the protective circuit (class I); insulation and Ui (insulating and class II enclosures).

5. Resistance of materials

   Heat, fire, corrosion, UV according to the referenced standards IEC 60695, IEC 60068-2, ISO 4892-2 — details in Clause 9.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard contains no safety warnings in the part we read; load and lifting tests of heavy cabinets and fire tests require safeguarding of the test setup
• TECHNICAL NOTE: the assembly manufacturer, not the manufacturer of the empty enclosure, is responsible for the safety of the finished assembly

Frequently asked questions