Die neue EN 60204-1:2018/A1:2025

Compared with EN 60204-1:2018, EN 60204-1:2018+A1:2025 contains only a few changes of substantive importance. The vast majority of the amendments relate to updated references to standards and editorial revisions. The European standard references listed in Annex ZA have also been amended accordingly. 

A large proportion of the textual changes were already included in the European edition of EN 60204-1:2018. In fact, the international standard IEC 60204-1 was adapted to the existing European wording. For users of the European standard, there are therefore only a few technically relevant changes. 

The key changes are summarised below:  

1. EMC – Relocation of a paragraph to Annex H 

In Section 4.4.2 ‘Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)’, a paragraph has been moved to the informative Annex H.2. This describes the conditions under which the requirements for immunity and emissions of electrical equipment may be considered to have been met. 

The text in question had been deleted from this section in EN 60204-1:2018 and has now been reinstated in the informative Annex H.2. This does not introduce any new requirements; the guidance has simply been moved to a different section within the standard.  

2. Clarification of the requirements for the protective conductor 

In clause 8.2.1, the wording of the final bullet point in the first paragraph has been clarified. The previous wording ‘conductive parts of the machine’ has been replaced by ‘conductive structural parts of the machine which are used for protective equipotential bonding’. 

This change provides a clearer definition of the conductive structural parts that are included in the protective equipotential bonding system.  

3. Machine frame as a component of the protective conductor system 

In addition, in Section 8.2.2, the phrase ‘conductive structural parts of the machine’ has been removed from the first bullet point of the last paragraph. 

The amendments in Sections 8.2.1 and 8.2.2 are directly related and may be interpreted to mean that conductive structural parts – such as the machine frame – may in future themselves form part of the protective conductor system. Previously, whilst these components had to be connected to the protective conductor system, they were not permitted to serve as part of the protective conductor system in their own right.

If structural components are used as protective conductors in future, they must, of course, meet all the requirements placed on protective conductors in terms of conductivity, durability and reliability.  

4. Correction of test references for TN and TT systems 

In Section 18.2.3 ‘Test 2 – Verification of fault-loop impedance and the suitability of the associated overcurrent protection device’, the references to the test procedures have been corrected. 

The standard now clearly refers to: 

• Annex A.1.4 for TN systems and 
• Annex A.2.4 for TT systems. 

This is an editorial clarification; it does not result in any changes to the content of the test requirements.