Booklet explains safety test requirements

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jul 11, 2008

Provides all the relevant information in relation to commonly used definitions, symbols, different leakage measurements, schematics, pass/fail limits, single fault conditions and other details.

A new free A5 guide from electromedical test instrumentation specialist Rigel Medical explains the requirements of the new BS EN62353 electrical safety testing requirements.

The original IEC62353 international test standard is now out as a BS standard and Rigel's booklet "IEC62353 Medical electrical equipment - Recurrent test and test after repair of medical electrical equipment" explains what's required to ensure the in-service electrical safety of electromedical equipment and systems.

The booklet is designed for biomedical engineering personnel, medical equipment service engineers and manufacturers of medical devices.

It explains the requirements in easy to follow terms and provides all the relevant information in relation to commonly used definitions, symbols, different leakage measurements, schematics, pass/fail limits, single fault conditions and other details.

Importantly the standard incorporates tests beyond those of type testing.

Specifically it seeks to provide a uniform and unambiguous means of assessing the safety of medical equipment, while maintaining the relation to IEC60601-1 manufacturing standard and minimising the risks to the person conducting the assessment.

The new standard recognises that the laboratory conditions described in IEC60601-1 cannot always be guaranteed when in-service testing of medical devices is undertaken.

As a result, test measurements that require certain environmental conditions may not always be applicable or consistent for the testing of equipment that is already in use.

The handy booklet produced by Rigel explains these and other matters.

In doing so it is designed to provide a useful insight for both new and experienced users of electrical safety test equipment and a simple reference guide to issues relating to everyday testing.