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Frequently Asked Questions

TC 23 is a Technical Committee within the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It is named "Electrical accessories" and is responsible for: To prepare standards for electrical accessories and related systems, for AC and DC, for household and similar purposes, the word “similar” including locations such as offices, commercial and industrial premises, hospitals, public buildings, etc. These accessories1 and related systems are: Intended for fixed installations or for use in or with appliances2 and other electrical or electronic equipment, and may include electronic components, and related software and digital interfaces. normally installed by instructed or skilled persons and are normally used by ordinary persons3. 1 - Electrical Accessories are in particular Connecting devices, clamping units, adaptors, cables reels, cord extensions sets and cord sets, devices for the connection of luminaires, plugs and socket-outlets, couplers, Home and Building Electronic Systems / Building Automation & Control Systems, switches (mechanical and electronic), electronic extension unit for fixed installation, contactors, Electrical energy efficiency products and systems, sound signalling devices Cable management systems, enclosures for accessories, Automatic reclosing devices, circuit breakers for overcurrent protection, devices mitigating the risk of fire due to the effect of arc fault currents, devices protecting against electric shock, additional functions for protection devices, power frequency overvoltage protection devices, protection devices for charging electrical vehicles. Note: the additional functions (measuring, monitoring, communication) for protection devices do not address functional safety aspects. 2 - Examples of accessories intended for use in or with appliances: plugs, socket outlet, switches, appliances couplers, circuit breakers. 3 - For the terms “skilled persons", "instructed persons" and “ordinary persons", see Publication IEC 61140; 3.30, 3.31 and 3.32 To coordinate between the different subcommittees of TC 23 and with other technical bodies within and outside IEC, aspects concerning safety, EMC, digitization, coordination, performance, compatibility interoperability, interchangeability, energy efficiency, sustainability and terminology for electrical accessories contributing to the global management of the electrical energy. As many electrical accessories and related systems are fundamental parts of the building infrastructure, this will require coordination/cooperation with TCs, such as TC 21, TC 22, TC 34, TC 57, TC 61, TC 64, TC 72, TC 82 and TC 108. For Lighting Systems within Building premises, TC 23 is responsible for Electrical Accessories, such as control devices and certain aspects of dedicated networks. Note: Details of work on control devices and Lighting Systems are currently under consideration in IEC JAG13 TC23 - TC34. Group Safety Functions Connecting devices, either as separate entities or as integral parts of an end product, primarily for connecting external electrical supply conductors, for use with conductor cross- sectional area of 0,2 mm² up to and including 35 mm² copper conductors and up to and including 50 mm² aluminium conductors but excluding connecting devices intended for data and signal circuits. Safety requirements related to electrical hazards of products and interfaces of equipment to be connected to Home and Building Electronic Systems (HBES) and Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) 4. 4 - Originally approved by ACOS and SMB, yet ongoing discussions are taking place with ACOS, TC61 and TC72. Residual current devices (under responsibility of SC 23E, for definition, refer to IEC 60755) See IEC website for the complete TC 23 and SCs structures and scopes This committee has published 395 standards.

TC 23 develops IEC standards in the area of Information technology. The scope of work includes: To prepare standards for electrical accessories and related systems, for AC and DC, for household and similar purposes, the word “similar” including locations such as offices, commercial and industrial premises, hospitals, public buildings, etc. These accessories1 and related systems are: Intended for fixed installations or for use in or with appliances2 and other electrical or electronic equipment, and may include electronic components, and related software and digital interfaces. normally installed by instructed or skilled persons and are normally used by ordinary persons3. 1 - Electrical Accessories are in particular Connecting devices, clamping units, adaptors, cables reels, cord extensions sets and cord sets, devices for the connection of luminaires, plugs and socket-outlets, couplers, Home and Building Electronic Systems / Building Automation & Control Systems, switches (mechanical and electronic), electronic extension unit for fixed installation, contactors, Electrical energy efficiency products and systems, sound signalling devices Cable management systems, enclosures for accessories, Automatic reclosing devices, circuit breakers for overcurrent protection, devices mitigating the risk of fire due to the effect of arc fault currents, devices protecting against electric shock, additional functions for protection devices, power frequency overvoltage protection devices, protection devices for charging electrical vehicles. Note: the additional functions (measuring, monitoring, communication) for protection devices do not address functional safety aspects. 2 - Examples of accessories intended for use in or with appliances: plugs, socket outlet, switches, appliances couplers, circuit breakers. 3 - For the terms “skilled persons", "instructed persons" and “ordinary persons", see Publication IEC 61140; 3.30, 3.31 and 3.32 To coordinate between the different subcommittees of TC 23 and with other technical bodies within and outside IEC, aspects concerning safety, EMC, digitization, coordination, performance, compatibility interoperability, interchangeability, energy efficiency, sustainability and terminology for electrical accessories contributing to the global management of the electrical energy. As many electrical accessories and related systems are fundamental parts of the building infrastructure, this will require coordination/cooperation with TCs, such as TC 21, TC 22, TC 34, TC 57, TC 61, TC 64, TC 72, TC 82 and TC 108. For Lighting Systems within Building premises, TC 23 is responsible for Electrical Accessories, such as control devices and certain aspects of dedicated networks. Note: Details of work on control devices and Lighting Systems are currently under consideration in IEC JAG13 TC23 - TC34. Group Safety Functions Connecting devices, either as separate entities or as integral parts of an end product, primarily for connecting external electrical supply conductors, for use with conductor cross- sectional area of 0,2 mm² up to and including 35 mm² copper conductors and up to and including 50 mm² aluminium conductors but excluding connecting devices intended for data and signal circuits. Safety requirements related to electrical hazards of products and interfaces of equipment to be connected to Home and Building Electronic Systems (HBES) and Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) 4. 4 - Originally approved by ACOS and SMB, yet ongoing discussions are taking place with ACOS, TC61 and TC72. Residual current devices (under responsibility of SC 23E, for definition, refer to IEC 60755) See IEC website for the complete TC 23 and SCs structures and scopes Currently, there are 395 published standards from this technical committee.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the world's leading organization for the preparation and publication of international standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies. Founded in 1906, the IEC provides a global platform for companies, industries, and governments to meet, discuss, and develop the international standards they require.

A Technical Committee (TC) in IEC is a group of experts responsible for developing international standards in a specific technical area. TCs are composed of national member body delegates and work through consensus to create standards that meet global industry needs. Each TC may have subcommittees (SCs) and working groups (WGs) for specialized topics.