IEC 61557-6-2019 PDF

Full title and description

Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures - Part 6: Effectiveness of residual current devices (RCD) in TT, TN and IT systems. This part of IEC 61557 specifies requirements for measuring equipment intended to test the effectiveness of RCDs (residual current devices) installed in TT, TN and IT systems; it is not intended to validate RCDs against their product standards.

Abstract

IEC 61557-6:2019 (3rd edition) defines functional, safety and metrological requirements for portable and fixed measuring equipment used to perform tripping and non‑tripping tests on residual current devices in low‑voltage distribution systems. The 2019 edition updates the previous (2007) edition by adding requirements for additional RCD types (including type B), adding recommended tripping time information (new Annex B) and aligning the document structure with the rest of the IEC 61557 series.

General information

• Status: Published / Current (active edition).
• Publication date: 26 July 2019.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 17.220.20, 29.080.01, 29.240.01.
• Edition / version: Edition 3.0 (2019).
• Number of pages: 28 pages (base publication, English/French).

Scope

This standard specifies the requirements applicable to measuring equipment for testing the effectiveness of protective measures provided by residual current devices installed in TT, TN and IT low‑voltage distribution systems (up to 1 000 V AC and 1 500 V DC). The scope covers the design and performance of equipment used to perform tripping tests (measurement of trip current and tripping time) and non‑tripping tests under defined conditions, but it does not replace product standards that verify RCD construction and type‑test performance. The edition adds requirements for new RCD types (including type B) and provides recommended tripping time information.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and symbols specific to RCD testing (residual operating current, test resistance, total earthing resistance, leakage current, etc.).
• Functional tests: tripping tests (measurement of trip current and tripping time) and non‑tripping tests under defined load and source conditions.
• Metrological performance: operating uncertainty, intrinsic uncertainty and reference conditions for determining measurement uncertainty.
• Safety and construction: requirements for test leads and probes (compliance with IEC 61010‑031), and measurement category rating for equipment used on distribution systems (minimum CAT III or CAT II as applicable).
• Requirements for testing additional RCD types, including type B devices, and a new Annex with recommended tripping times.
• Marking, user information and operational instructions required for safe and repeatable RCD testing.

Typical use and users

IEC 61557-6 is used by manufacturers of RCD test equipment to design and verify test functions and by electrical installers, commissioning engineers, maintenance technicians, inspection bodies and utilities to perform on‑site verification and periodic testing of residual current devices. It is also referenced by test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies when assessing measuring equipment intended for RCD effectiveness testing.

Related standards

Key related documents include other parts of the IEC 61557 series (especially IEC 61557‑1 for general requirements), IEC 61010 series standards for safety of electrical measurement equipment (for test leads and probes), and RCD product standards that define device type tests and manufacturing requirements. National adoptions or regional versions of IEC 61557 parts may also apply.

Keywords

RCD, residual current device, DDR, residual current, tripping test, non‑tripping test, insulation to earth, test equipment, IEC 61557, low voltage distribution, type B RCD, operating uncertainty.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61557‑6:2019 is Part 6 of the IEC 61557 series; it specifies requirements for equipment used to test the effectiveness of residual current devices (RCDs) in TT, TN and IT low‑voltage systems.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers performance, safety and metrology requirements for tripping and non‑tripping tests on RCDs (measurement of trip current, tripping times, uncertainty and test‑circuit conditions), markings and user information for test equipment. It does not replace product standards used to type‑test RCDs themselves.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers of RCD test equipment, electricians and commissioning/maintenance teams, inspection bodies, utilities and test laboratories that perform or assess RCD effectiveness testing.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The current (published) edition is IEC 61557‑6:2019 (3rd edition), published 26 July 2019; it cancels and replaces the 2007 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the IEC 61557 series, which defines requirements for equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring protective measures in low‑voltage distribution systems; IEC 61557‑1 provides general requirements applicable across the series.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Residual current device, RCD, tripping test, non‑tripping test, type B RCD, test equipment, operating uncertainty, low‑voltage distribution.