IEC 61010-031 Ed. 3.0 b:2022

Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use - Part 031: Safety requirements for hand-held and hand-manipulated probe assemblies for electrical test and measurement.

IEC 61010-031:2022 specifies safety requirements for hand-held and hand-manipulated probe assemblies for electrical test and measurement, and their related accessories. These probe assemblies are for non-contact or direct electrical connection between a part and electrical test and measurement equipment. They can be fixed to the equipment or be detachable accessories for the equipment.

It has the status of a group safety publication in accordance with IEC Guide 104.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2015, and Amendment 1:2018. IEC 61010-031 is a stand-alone standard. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

1. the scope has been made succinct. General information from the scope of Edition 2 has been moved to a new Clause 4. Consequently, Clause 4 to Clause 8 of Edition 2 have been renumbered. Clause 9 of Edition 2 has been deleted;
2. in Clause 2, normative references have been dated and new normative references have been added;
3. in 3.1.4, the definition of probe tip has been modified;
4. in 4.1, there is no longer any differentiation between high voltage and low voltage probe assemblies. Type C probe assemblies have been merged with Type B probe assemblies;
5. in 4.1 d) "Kelvin" probes have been added to the list of probe assemblies as a new Type E and a new Figure 5;
6. in 4.1 e), probes for voltage measurement without electrical connection to conductors have been added to the list of probe assemblies as a new Type F and a new Figure 6;
7. in 4.2.1, spread of fire is no longer considered as a hazard;
8. Subclause 4.4.2.5 from Edition 2 has been deleted;
9. Subclause 4.4.4.3 from Edition 2 has been deleted;
10. in 5.4.4.1 consideration has been given to spacings and impedance;
11. in 6.1.1, removable parts of probe tips which bear markings are allowed;
12. in 6.1.5, the voltage to be marked for measurement categories is the AC line-to-neutral or DC voltage;
13. in 7.4.2, requirements for unmated connectors have been modified as follows:
    1. Table 2 has been modified and expanded,
    2. a calculation method for clearances of connectors above 20 kV has been defined,
    3. creepage distances have been aligned with clearances;
14. in 7.4.3.1 and 7.4.3.5, requirements for IP2X probe tips with retractable sleeve have been added;
15. in 7.4.3.2, Probe tips are now applicable to non-contact probe assemblies;
16. in 7.5.2.3.2, the values of Table 5 have been modified;
17. in 7.6.2, voltage tests of clearances are done without humidity preconditioning;
18. pre-treatments for rigidity test from Clause 10 of Edition 2 have been moved to 9.2;
19. Subclause 11.1 of Edition 2 has been deleted;
20. addition of an exception for Type E probe assembly in 13.2. Removable parts of probe tips which bear markings are allowed;
21. Figure F.1 has been modified;
22. Annex G has been added, for determination of clearances for Table 2;
23. Annex H has been added, covering line-to-neutral voltages for common mains supply systems.