IEC 61340-5-1-2024 PDF

Full title and description

IEC 61340-5-1:2024 — Electrostatics - Part 5-1: Protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena - General requirements. This international standard specifies administrative and technical requirements for establishing, implementing and maintaining an ESD (electrostatic discharge) control program for organizations that manufacture, process, assemble, install, package, label, service, test, inspect, transport or otherwise handle electrical and electronic parts, assemblies and equipment.

Abstract

The 2024 edition (Edition 3.0) updates the general requirements for ESD control programs, including clarified and new definitions (insulators, isolated conductors), updated personnel grounding and garment references, strengthened packaging requirements and product qualification expectations, and a streamlined approach to compliance verification (with reference to IEC 61340-5-4). Limits and thresholds of interest are specified (for example: items with HBM withstand voltages ≥ 100 V, CDM ≥ 200 V, and isolated conductors limited to < 35 V).

General information

• Status: Published / Active.
• Publication date: 21 May 2024.
• Publisher: IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
• ICS / categories: 17.220.99, 29.020.
• Edition / version: Edition 3.0 (2024).
• Number of pages: 43 pages.

(Publication details and bibliographic data are taken from the IEC product record.)

Scope

IEC 61340-5-1:2024 applies to organizations and processes that handle electrostatic-sensitive devices (ESDS) and specifies requirements for an ESD control program to protect devices from electrostatic phenomena. The document addresses device handling, personnel grounding/equipotential bonding, ESD protected areas (EPAs), packaging and marking, compliance verification planning, and administrative program elements such as training and product qualification plans. The standard does not apply to electrically-initiated explosive devices or to flammable liquids, gases and powders.

Key topics and requirements

• Establishment and maintenance of a formal ESD control program including an ESD control program manager or coordinator, tailoring statements and documented plans (ESD control plan, training plan, product qualification plan, compliance verification plan).
• Grounding and equipotential bonding system requirements for workstations and EPAs, plus updated personnel grounding including references to groundable static control garment systems.
• Definitions and handling rules for insulators and isolated conductors; isolated conductor voltage limit (less than 35 V) and thresholds for device withstand voltages (HBM ≥ 100 V, CDM ≥ 200 V).
• ESD Protected Area (EPA) technical requirements (worksurface, flooring, wrist/heel straps, footwear systems) and options for equipotential bonding or continuous grounding.
• Packaging and marking requirements, including a new summary table for packaging and obligations for compliance verification of packaging items.
• Compliance verification: simplified approach referencing IEC 61340-5-4 for testing and verification of ESD control items; updated tables summarizing technical requirements and test responsibilities.
• Product qualification plan requirements — expectations for demonstrating that products/processes meet the ESD protection needs defined by the program.

Typical use and users

This standard is used by electronics manufacturers, subcontractors, contract assemblers, test and inspection facilities, design and repair centers, and logistics/packaging operations that handle electrostatic-sensitive parts and assemblies. It is used by ESD program managers, quality and reliability engineers, process engineers, facility managers, and compliance/testing laboratories to define, implement and verify ESD control measures. Organizations seeking alignment with internationally accepted ESD program practices also use this standard.

Related standards

Key related documents and references include IEC TR 61340-5-2 (guidance on implementation), IEC 61340-5-3 and IEC 61340-5-4 (packaging and compliance verification guidance), earlier editions of IEC 61340-5-1 (2016 and earlier), and national/adopted equivalents such as EN IEC adoptions and ANSI/ESD S20.20 (technically equivalent guidance for ESD control programs). Users commonly refer to related measurement and test standards cited within the 61340 series when performing compliance verification.

Keywords

electrostatics, ESD, ESD control program, ESD protected area (EPA), human body model (HBM), charge device model (CDM), isolated conductor, personnel grounding, equipotential bonding, packaging, compliance verification, product qualification.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61340-5-1:2024 is an international standard that sets the general requirements for protecting electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena by defining the administrative and technical elements of an ESD control program.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers program governance (roles, tailoring, documentation), personnel grounding and garments, EPAs and grounding/equipotential bonding systems, packaging and marking requirements, product qualification and compliance verification planning and testing. It also clarifies definitions (e.g., insulators, isolated conductors) and threshold values for HBM, CDM and isolated conductor voltages.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Electronics manufacturers, assemblers, test and repair centers, packaging and logistics operations, ESD program managers/coordinators, quality and process engineers, and test laboratories use the standard to establish and verify ESD control practices.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC 61340-5-1:2024 (Edition 3.0) is the current published edition (published 21 May 2024) and replaces the previous 2016 edition. The IEC product record lists this edition as the active standard with a stability date into 2029.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the IEC 61340 series on electrostatics. Complementary parts and technical reports (for example IEC TR 61340-5-2, IEC 61340-5-3, IEC 61340-5-4) provide implementation guidance, packaging details and compliance verification/testing methods used alongside Part 5-1.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Key keywords include ESD, electrostatics, ESD protected area (EPA), grounding, HBM, CDM, isolated conductor, packaging, compliance verification, and product qualification. These reflect the primary topics addressed by the standard.