EN IEC 63522-46:2026
(Main)Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 46: Impulse voltage test
General Information
- Abstract
This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing along with the appropriate severities and conditions for measurements and tests designed to assess the ability of DUTs to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use.
This document defines a standard test method for impulse voltage test.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 27-Aug-2026
- Technical Committee
- CLC/SR 94 - All-or-nothing electrical relays
- Drafting Committee
- IEC/TC 94 - IEC_TC_94
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
- Start Date
- 28-Aug-2026
- Due Date
- 01-Sep-2023
- Completion Date
- 28-Aug-2026
Overview
EN IEC 63522-46:2026 – Electrical Relays – Tests and Measurements – Part 46: Impulse Voltage Test is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) under the auspices of the CENELEC (CLC) organization. This part of the IEC 63522 series specifies the procedures and requirements for the impulse voltage test, a critical evaluation to verify the insulation strength of electrical relays against transient overvoltages.
Impulse voltage testing is important for ensuring relays can withstand electrical surges that may occur during transportation, storage, and normal operation. This test contributes to the overall reliability, safety, and lifespan of relay components used in low-voltage and high-voltage electrical equipment.
Key Topics
Purpose of the Impulse Voltage Test
The impulse voltage test assesses whether relay insulation can endure transient overvoltages without breakdown or flashover, demonstrating the relay's ability to operate safely under severe electrical conditions.Test Procedure and Setup
- Preconditioning requirements as specified by relevant product standards.
- Test environments and conditioning periods prior to testing.
- Impulse voltage values sourced from referenced standards such as IEC 60664-1 and waveform requirements per IEC 61180.
- Application of altitude correction to simulate actual use-case scenarios.
- Example test circuits and recommended points for voltage application are provided for consistency and repeatability.
Evaluation Criteria
- Pass/fail is determined by the absence of dielectric breakdown, flashover, and by adhering to maximum permissible leakage current limits.
- Further functional and dielectric strength tests may be performed in accordance with related standards to ensure comprehensive evaluation.
Reporting Requirements
- The standard recommends detailed documentation of test results, including device identification, testing conditions, waveform details, and compliance results, to support traceability and reproducibility.
Applications
EN IEC 63522-46:2026 is applicable to manufacturers, testing laboratories, and certification bodies involved in the design, quality assurance, and type testing of electrical relays. Primary practical applications include:
Product Qualification and Certification
Ensures relays meet international safety and performance requirements by verifying the insulation system's robustness against high-energy voltage spikes.Design and Development
Supports engineers in designing relay products with appropriate insulation and surge withstand capabilities, facilitating compliance with global market access requirements.Quality and Compliance Testing
Provides standardized procedures for routine production testing, type approval, and failure analysis, helping maintain product safety and reliability.Integration into Electrical Systems
Important for utility, industrial, and commercial equipment designers who need to select or specify relays that will reliably operate in environments with exposure to transient voltages.
Related Standards
EN IEC 63522-46:2026 references and is closely aligned with several key international standards:
- IEC 60664-1:2020 – Insulation coordination for equipment within low-voltage supply systems
- IEC 61180:2016 – High-voltage test techniques for low-voltage equipment
- IEC 63522-0 – Electrical relays – Tests and measurements – General requirements
- IEC 63522-4 – Electrical relays – Dielectric strength test
- IEC 63522-7 – Electrical relays – Functional tests
- IEC 60060-1:2010 – High-voltage test techniques – General definitions and requirements
Additionally, for electromagnetic compatibility of relays, see IEC 63522-42 (EMC, under preparation), and for requirements specific to special relay types, consult related IEC relay standards.
By providing structured methodologies and clear testing requirements for impulse voltage withstand, EN IEC 63522-46:2026 enhances the safety, reliability, and marketability of electrical relays across diverse industries.
Relations
- Refers
FprEN IEC 63522-0:2026 - Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 0: General and guidance - Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
- Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
- Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
- Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
- Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
- Refers
EN IEC 63522-4:2026 - Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 4: Dielectric strength test - Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN IEC 63522-46:2026 is a standard published by CLC. Its full title is "Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 46: Impulse voltage test". This standard covers: This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing along with the appropriate severities and conditions for measurements and tests designed to assess the ability of DUTs to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use. This document defines a standard test method for impulse voltage test.
This part of IEC 63522 is used for testing along with the appropriate severities and conditions for measurements and tests designed to assess the ability of DUTs to perform under expected conditions of transportation, storage and all aspects of operational use. This document defines a standard test method for impulse voltage test.
EN IEC 63522-46:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 29.120.70 - Relays. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN IEC 63522-46:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to FprEN IEC 63522-0:2026, EN IEC 60664-1:2020/A1:2025, EN 61180:2016, EN IEC 63522-7:2025, EN IEC 60664-1:2020, EN IEC 63522-4:2026. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN IEC 63522-46:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Električni releji - Preskusi in meritve - 46. del: Preskus z udarno napetostjo
Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 46: Impulse voltage test
Elektrische Relais - Mess- und Prüfverfahren - Teil 46: Überspannungsfestigkeitstest
Relais électriques - Essais et mesurage - Partie 46: Essai de tension de choc
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 63522-46:2026
ICS:
29.120.70 Releji Relays
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 63522-46
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM August 2026
ICS 29.120.70
English Version
Electrical relays - Tests and measurements - Part 46: Impulse
voltage test
(IEC 63522-46:2026)
Relais électriques - Essais et mesurage - Partie 46: Essai Elektrische Relais - Mess- und Prüfverfahren - Teil 46:
de tension de choc Überspannungsfestigkeitstest
(IEC 63522-46:2026) (IEC 63522-46:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2026-07-14. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 63522-46:2026 E
European foreword
The text of document 94/1198/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 63522-46, prepared by TC 94 "Electrical
relays" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2027-08-31
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2029-08-31
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document is read in conjunction with EN IEC 63522-0:– .
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 63522-46:2026 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 60060-1:2025 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 60060-1:2025 (not modified)
IEC 61810-1 NOTE Approved as EN 61810-1
IEC 61810-10:2019 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 61810-10:2019 (not modified)
IEC 62246-1:2015 NOTE Approved as EN 62246-1:2015 (not modified)
IEC 62246-1-1:2018 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 62246-1-1:2018 (not modified)
Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: prEN IEC 63522-0:2025.
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1 Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60664-1 2020 Insulation coordination for equipment EN IEC 60664-1 2020
within low-voltage supply systems - Part 1:
Principles, requirements and tests
+ AMD1 2025 + A1 2025
IEC 61180 2016 High-voltage test techniques for low- EN 61180 2016
voltage equipment - Definitions, test and
procedure requirements, test equipment
IEC 63522-0 - Electrical relays - Tests and Measurements - -
- Part 0: General and Guidance
IEC 63522-4 - Electrical relays - Tests and measurements EN IEC 63522-4 -
- Part 4: Dielectric strength test
IEC 63522-7 - Electrical relays - Tests and measurements EN IEC 63522-7 -
- Part 7: Functional tests
IEC 63522-46 ®
Edition 1.0 2026-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Electrical relays - Tests and measurements -
Part 46: Impulse voltage test
ICS 29.120.70 ISBN 978-2-8327-1259-7
IEC 63522-46:2026-06(en)
IEC 63522-46:2026 © IEC 2026
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 2
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Test procedure . 4
4.1 Purpose . 4
4.2 Procedure . 4
4.2.1 Preconditioning . 4
4.2.2 Test . 5
4.3 Conditions to be specified . 5
5 Evaluation . 5
5.1 General . 5
5.1.1 No breakdown . 5
5.1.2 Final checking . 6
5.2 Test report . 6
Annex A (informative) Example of test circuit for impulse voltage test . 7
Bibliography . 9
Figure A.1 – Simplified circuit diagram of the combination wave generator . 7
Figure A.2 – Full impulse voltage time parameters . 8
Table A.1 – Example of test points . 7
IEC 63522-46:2026 © IEC 2026
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Electrical relays - Tests and measurements -
Part 46: Impulse voltage test
FOREWORD
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