Overview
IEC TR 62936:2016 - Test method development: Guidelines for substance selection - is an IEC Technical Report providing a structured process to filter, prioritize and select chemical substances for the development of test method standards. Targeted at electrotechnical products, the report uses the IEC 62474 database as the primary source of candidate substances while also allowing inclusion of substances on regulatory roadmaps or driven by market requirements (e.g., EPEAT, Energy Star, Low Halogen). The document helps standards developers focus limited resources on the “critical few” substances that most urgently need validated test methods.
Key Topics
- Scope and purpose: Guidance for selecting substances to be addressed by standardized test methods for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
- Source lists: Primary use of the IEC 62474 material-declaration database; allowance for other regulatory or market-driven candidate substances.
- Process flow: A logical screening and selection workflow (initial candidate list → filtering → prioritization → final selection).
- Substance filtering criteria (illustrative and used in scoring):
- Presence in final EEE product
- Regulatory or market requirements
- Regional and regulatory impact (e.g., RoHS, REACH, SVHC, CMR listings)
- Whether the substance is intentionally added
- Strategic considerations (market access, industry initiatives)
- Need and feasibility for test method development
- Consideration of existing standards: Assessment of whether related standards or validated methods already exist (e.g., IEC 62321 series) before initiating new method development.
- Final selection and pilot studies: Use of judgment and supplemental criteria to finalize substances for development; the report includes pilot study examples (e.g., RoHS II priority substances).
Applications
Who uses IEC TR 62936:2016 and why:
- Standards development organizations (SDOs) - to prioritize which substances need standardized test methods.
- Test laboratories and method developers - to identify candidate analytes and plan method validation efforts.
- Manufacturers of EEE - to anticipate future testing and compliance obligations and guide material declarations.
- Regulators and conformity assessment bodies - to understand priority-setting logic for test-method standardization.
- Environmental and compliance teams - for strategic planning around substance reporting and market access.
Related Standards
- IEC 62474:2012 - Material declaration for electrotechnical industry (primary substance database referenced).
- IEC 62321 (all parts) - Test methods for determinating regulated substances in EEE (often assessed before new method development).
This TR is a practical, evidence-based tool for prioritizing substance-focused test-method work to support regulatory compliance, market requirements and consistent conformity assessment across the electrotechnical sector.