About Standard Clarity
Standard Clarity is a free set of engineering calculators tied to the standards they come from. Size a PCB trace, decode an IP rating, check creepage and clearance, or convert a wire gauge, and you also see the IPC, IEC, UL, NEMA or NEC clause behind the number, with the working shown.
Most calculators hand you a result and leave you to trust it. The aim here is the opposite. Every tool names its governing standard and section, shows the formula it uses, and flags when your inputs fall outside the range that standard was tested on. You should be able to trace any figure back to its source.
What you'll find here
The tools are grouped by discipline:
- PCB design - trace width, via-current estimation, resistance and impedance, with the source formulas and document status shown. IPC-2221C is actively revised; older IPC-2141/IPC-2152 methods are clearly identified as historical or no-longer-maintained references where used.
- Enclosure and safety - IP and NEMA ratings, creepage and clearance, UL 94 flammability, and related protection standards from IEC, UL and NEMA.
- Converters and references - wire gauge, ampacity, capacity and unit conversions, with the reference tables behind them.
Alongside the calculators, short guides explain the standards themselves: what they cover, where they differ, and which one to use.
How the tools are built
The tools document their equations, reference data and assumptions. Some use published approximations rather than a complete standard method. Software checks establish arithmetic behavior for specified cases; they do not establish the safety or compliance of a finished design.
Each tool should be read together with its displayed scope and limitations. Coverage differs between tools, and an example default is not a design recommendation. Results are a starting point for checking the applicable standard and real operating conditions.
Scope and limits
Standard Clarity is a reference, not a replacement for the standard itself or for professional judgment. It does not reproduce official standards texts, which remain the property of their publishers, and it does not certify, test, or approve any design. For requirements that carry legal or safety weight, consult the current edition of the applicable standard and a qualified professional. Each result is meant to be verified against the standard edition that applies to your work.
Who maintains Standard Clarity
Standard Clarity is built and maintained by Giorgi Gaprindashvili (Giorgi Gapri), an independent web developer. It grew out of a habit of building small, accurate reference tools and a frustration with calculators that give a number and no source. The sources and checking process are described in the Editorial Policy. Questions, corrections and suggestions are always welcome through the contact page.
Independence
Standard Clarity is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for IPC, IEC, UL, NEMA, the NFPA, or any other standards or certification body. Standard names and numbers are used only to identify the documents the tools are based on; those standards remain the property of their respective owners.
Contact
Found an error, or want a tool added? Get in touch. Corrections to the calculations are taken seriously and fixed quickly.