UL 60950-1 Standard on Information Technology Equipment Safety

The UL 60950-1 standard is applicable to mains-powered or battery-powered information technology equipment, including electrical business equipment and associated equipment, with a rated voltage not exceeding 600 V and designed to be installed in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, CSA C22.1-09; General Requirements - Canadian Electrical Code, Part II, CSA C22.2 No. 0-10; the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70-2008; and the National Electrical Safety Code, IEEE C2-2007. The standard is also applicable to equipment designed to be installed in accordance with Article 645 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, and the Standard for the Protection of Information Technology Equipment, NFPA 75-2009. The original date of publication was March 27, 2007, with the last revision on December 19, 2011.

The UL 60950-1 standard is applicable to information technology equipment designed for use as telecommunication terminal equipment and network infrastructure equipment, regardless of the source of power. The UL 60950-1 standard and tests take into account not only normal operating conditions of the equipment but also likely fault conditions, consequential faults, foreseeable misuse and external influences such as temperature, altitude, pollution, moisture, as well as overvoltages on a mains supply, telecom network, or cable network.

The UL 60950-1 standard is also applicable to components and subassemblies intended for incorporation in information technology equipment. It is not expected that such components and subassemblies comply with every aspect of the standard, provided that the complete information technology equipment, incorporating such components and subassemblies, does comply.

The UL 60950-1 standard specifies requirements intended to reduce risks of fire, electric shock, or injury for the operator and layman who may come into contact with the equipment and, where specifically stated, for a service person. User is the term applied to all persons other than service persons. Requirements for protection should assume that users are not trained to identify hazards, but will not intentionally create a hazardous situation. Service persons are expected to use their training and skill to avoid possible injury to themselves and others due to obvious hazards that exist in service access areas of the equipment. UL 60950-1 verifies information about potential hazards is marked on the equipment or provided with the equipment, depending on the likelihood and severity of injury, or made available for service persons. In general, users shall not be exposed to hazards likely to cause injury.

 

Application of the UL 60950-1 Standard

Application of the UL 60950-1 standard is intended to reduce the risk of injury or damage due to the following conditions:

  • Electric shock
  • Energy related hazards
  • Acoustic shock at communication receivers
  • Fire
  • Heat related hazards
  • Mechanical hazards
  • Radiation
  • Chemical hazards