IEC 60445:2021

Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and identification - Identification of equipment terminals, conductor terminations and conductors

IEC 60445:2021

Name:IEC 60445:2021   Standard name:Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and identification - Identification of equipment terminals, conductor terminations and conductors
Standard number:IEC 60445:2021   language:English language
Release Date:15-Jul-2021   technical committee:TC 3 - Documentation, graphical symbols and representations of technical information
Drafting committee:MT 22 - TC 3/MT 22   ICS number:01.080.20 - Graphical symbols for use on specific equipment

IEC 60445
Edition 7.0 2021-07
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and
identification – Identification of equipment terminals, conductor terminations
and conductors




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IEC 60445
Edition 7.0 2021-07
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and
identification – Identification of equipment terminals, conductor terminations
and conductors
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 01.080.20; 13.110; 29.020 ISBN 978-2-8322-4189-9

– 2 – IEC 60445:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Methods of identification . 10
5 Application of identification means . 11
6 Identification by colours . 11
6.1 General . 11
6.2 Use of single colours . 12
6.2.1 Permitted colours The use of the single colours GREEN and YELLOW . 12
6.2.2 Neutral or mid-point conductor . 12
6.2.3 Line conductor in AC system . 12
6.2.4 Line conductor in DC system . 12
6.2.5 Functional earthing conductor . 12
6.3 Use of bi-colour combinations . 13
6.3.1 Permitted colours . 13
6.3.2 Protective conductor . 13
6.3.3 PEN conductor . 13
6.3.4 PEL conductor . 14
6.3.5 PEM conductor . 14
6.3.6 Protective bonding conductor . 14
7 Identification by alphanumeric notation . 14
7.1 General . 14
7.2 Equipment terminal identification – Marking principles . 15
7.3 Identification of certain designated conductors . 17
7.3.1 General . 17
7.3.2 Neutral conductor . 17
7.3.3 Protective conductor . 18
7.3.4 PEN conductor . 18
7.3.5 PEL conductor . 18
7.3.6 PEM conductor . 18
7.3.7 Protective bonding conductor . 18
7.3.8 Functional earthing conductor . 18
7.3.9 Functional bonding conductor . 18
7.3.10 Mid-point conductor . 18
7.3.11 Line conductor . 18
7.3.12 System-referencing-conductor . 19
Annex A (informative) Colours, alphanumeric notations and graphical symbols used
for identification of conductors and terminals . 20
Annex B (informative) List of notes concerning particular conditions in certain
countries . 22
Bibliography . 28

Figure 1 – Single element with two terminals . 15

Figure 2 – Single element with four terminals: Two endpoints and two intermediate
points . 15
Figure 3 – Three-phase equipment with six terminals . 16
Figure 4 – Three-element equipment with twelve terminals: Six endpoints and six
intermediate points . 16
Figure 5 – Equipment with groups of elements . 17
Figure 6 – Interconnection of equipment terminals and certain designated conductors . 17

Table A.1 – Colours, alphanumeric notations and graphical symbols used for
identification of conductors and terminals . 20

– 4 – IEC 60445:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
BASIC AND SAFETY PRINCIPLES FOR MAN-MACHINE
INTERFACE, MARKING AND IDENTIFICATION –
IDENTIFICATION OF EQUIPMENT TERMINALS,
CONDUCTOR TERMINATIONS AND CONDUCTORS

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
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6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
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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.
This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes made to
the previous edition IEC 60445:2017. A vertical bar appears in the margin wherever a change has
been made. Additions are in green text, deletions are in strikethrough red text.

IEC 60445 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 3: Documentation, graphical symbols
and representations of technical information. It is an International Standard.
It has the status of a basic safety publication in accordance with IEC Guide 104.
This seventh edition cancels and replaces the sixth edition published in 2017. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) the definitions have been aligned with IEC 60050-195:2021 and IEC 60050-826:— ;
b) the provisions for colour to be used for identification of certain designated conductors are
made requirements and not only recommendations;
c) introduction of a new subclause on marking of protective terminals for multiple power supply
inputs on equipment.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
3/1491/FDIS 3/1517/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at /members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at /standardsdev/publications.
The reader's attention is draw
...

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