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, resistance and impedance, sized to IPC-2221 and IPC-2152.
- 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
Each calculator is built from the published equations and tables in the relevant standard, not from a copied script. Where a standard defines its method as a formula, that formula is implemented directly and checked against worked examples and known values before the tool goes live. Where two standards give different answers to the same question, such as IPC-2221 and IPC-2152 for trace current, the tool says so and links to a guide explaining the difference.
Standards are written for specific conditions, and a calculator that ignores them is misleading. So each tool carries the validity range of its method and warns you when an input falls outside it, instead of quietly extrapolating. Results are an engineering starting point, not a final sign-off.
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 authority behind each result comes from the published standard it cites and from the checks described in the Editorial Policy, not from any one person's opinion. 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.