Overview
IEC TR 63167:2024 is a Technical Report from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that provides general guidance for the assessment of contact current arising from human exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (EMF). The report covers steady‑state contact currents in the frequency range DC to 110 MHz where a person touches a conductive object that is not a live part but has an induced potential due to electric or magnetic induction. Transient spark discharges are explicitly excluded. IEC TR 63167 distinguishes contact‑current assessment from electrical safety rules for direct contact with live parts and aligns with contemporary international EMF guidelines.
Key topics
- Definition and scope: Clarifies what is meant by contact current, touch current and indirect effects from non‑electrified conductive objects in EMF environments.
- Frequency and exposure limits: Covers DC to 110 MHz and steady‑state currents only; describes how these relate to international EMF guideline approaches (see Annex A for reference levels and guidance).
- Assumed exposure scenarios:
- Capacitive coupling (power lines)
- Inductive coupling (power lines)
- Induction heating equipment
- Wireless power transfer (WPT)
- Broadcasting environments
- Measurement and evaluation methods:
- Existing touch‑current measurement networks used in electrical safety standards
- Modeling human body impedance and computational 3D body models
- Proposed measurement approaches: using human subjects, using human‑equivalent impedances/circuits, and calculating contact current from open‑circuit voltage
- Considerations for weighting touch current for perception/startle reactions
- Standardization considerations: Recommendations and open items for developing harmonized methods to evaluate contact current in EMF contexts.
Applications and who uses it
IEC TR 63167 is practical for:
- EMF assessors and health & safety professionals performing exposure assessments near power lines, broadcasting antennas, WPT systems or induction heaters.
- Product and system designers (WPT, induction heating, telecommunications) needing guidance on induced contact potentials and mitigation measures.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessors seeking measurement approaches compatible with EMF guidance.
- Standards developers and regulators (including national committees and IEC TC 106) who harmonize exposure evaluation methods and reference levels.
Related standards and references
- International EMF guidelines (e.g., ICNIRP)
- IEEE standards on human exposure and touch current (e.g., IEEE Std C95.1, IEEE C95.3)
- Relevant IEC electrical safety standards and technical specifications (examples noted in the report include IEC TS 62996)
- IEC TR 63167 was prepared by IEC TC 106 (methods for assessment of fields associated with human exposure)
Keywords: IEC TR 63167, contact current assessment, human exposure, EMF, touch current, DC to 110 MHz, wireless power transfer, induction heating, measurement methods.