IEC 61010-1

IEC 61010-1 - Safety for Measurement, Control and Lab Equipment

Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use - Part 1: General requirements

Maintained by Giorgi Gaprindashvili Published February 18, 2026 Updated September 18, 2026 Editorial check September 2026

What the measurement categories mean

For mains measurement, CAT II, CAT III and CAT IV describe different connection environments. Read the category together with its voltage rating and the applicable IEC 61010 measuring-circuit requirements; older CAT I wording is legacy terminology in this context.

Key facts

Full title: Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use - Part 1: General requirements
Published by: IEC (TC 66)
Current edition: Edition 3.1: IEC 61010-1:2010 + Amendment 1:2016 (consolidated publication). Check the IEC catalogue for later published revisions.
Replaces: 2nd edition (2001)
Applies to: Electrical test & measurement, industrial process-control, and laboratory equipment and accessories; the third edition includes professional and non-professional versions.
Status: Group safety publication under IEC Guide 104
Measuring circuits: IEC 61010-2-030:2023 (edition 3.0) contains particular requirements for equipment having external testing or measuring circuits.

Defined by function, across professional and non-professional use

IEC 61010-1 covers electrical test and measurement equipment, industrial process-control equipment, laboratory equipment and their accessories wherever they are intended to be used. The third edition expanded the scope to all locations where these products may be used, so both professional and non-professional versions are within scope. Part 1 supplies the general requirements; particular parts in the IEC 61010-2 series modify or add requirements for specific equipment or functions.

The standard addresses hazards such as electric shock, fire, mechanical hazards, excessive temperature and energy-related hazards through construction, protective measures and tests. Product scope still matters: being an electrical product used near a laboratory or factory does not by itself make IEC 61010-1 the applicable standard.

Measurement categories belong with the measuring-circuit requirements

For equipment with testing or measuring circuits connected to external circuits, the current particular standard is IEC 61010-2-030:2023. Measurement categories are used for measuring circuits connected to different parts of low-voltage mains installations; the category marking must be read together with its voltage rating and the instrument documentation.

CAT II, CAT III and CAT IV describe different mains measurement environments, broadly progressing from utilization points to distribution and then the source of the installation. Older material often uses CAT I for protected or non-mains circuits, but current IEC 61010 family documents use wording such as not rated for measurements within CAT II, III or IV instead of treating CAT I as a current mains measurement category. Do not substitute a measurement CAT marking for an installation overvoltage-category selection in another standard.

What changed in the third edition

The third edition broadened the scope to all locations and to professional and non-professional versions of the covered products. It also moved detailed testing and measuring-circuit requirements out of Part 1 into IEC 61010-2-030. Part 1 added or expanded material on risk assessment, pollution-degree reduction, protective coatings and working-voltage determination for mains circuits.

Those topics connect naturally to insulation coordination, but this page is a scope and edition guide, not a substitute for the applicable clauses, the relevant Part 2, or a conformity assessment.

Tools that use this standard

Creepage & clearance calculator

Related standards

Standard	Relationship	What it means
IEC 61010-2 series	Extended by	Part 2 standards add particular requirements. IEC 61010-2-030:2023 addresses equipment having testing or measuring circuits connected to external devices or circuits.
IEC 62368-1	Often confused with	Different scope: 61010-1 covers measurement, control and laboratory equipment; 62368-1 covers audio/video and IT equipment.
IEC 60664-1	Relies on	Insulation-coordination concepts overlap, but IEC 61010 requirements and the applicable Part 2 determine the product-specific safety context; do not transfer calculator assumptions automatically.

Frequently asked questions

What is IEC 61010-1 used for?

It is the general safety standard for electrical test and measurement equipment, industrial process-control equipment, laboratory equipment and their accessories. The third edition explicitly covers professional and non-professional versions wherever the covered products are intended to be used.

What is the current published edition of IEC 61010-1?

The current published consolidated Part 1 checked in September 2026 is IEC 61010-1:2010+AMD1:2016, edition 3.1. Particular standards can add or modify requirements for specific equipment or functions. Always verify the IEC catalogue for any later published revision before relying on an edition.

Where are the measurement-category requirements for test instruments?

Part 1 moved the detailed testing and measuring-circuit requirements into IEC 61010-2-030. The current published IEC 61010-2-030:2023 applies to equipment having testing or measuring circuits connected to devices or circuits outside the measurement equipment.

What do CAT II, CAT III and CAT IV mean?

They identify different mains measurement environments for test and measuring circuits. In broad terms, CAT II is associated with utilization points, CAT III with the distribution part of a building installation, and CAT IV with the source of the installation. The category must be read together with the voltage rating and the equipment documentation; the detailed current requirements are in the applicable IEC 61010 Part 2.

Is CAT I still the normal term for circuits not connected to mains?

Older IEC 61010 material commonly used CAT I for protected or non-mains circuits. Current IEC 61010 family documents have replaced that terminology in relevant measurement-equipment contexts with wording such as not rated for measurements within CAT II, III or IV. Treat CAT I on older equipment or literature as legacy terminology and verify the applicable edition and product documentation.

Is a higher CAT number always better?

No. The category describes the measurement environment, and the marked voltage is part of the rating. Equipment must be suitable for the actual circuit and use case; a higher-looking category label by itself is not a universal statement of better performance or suitability.

Is a measurement CAT rating the same as an overvoltage category used for insulation coordination?

No. The concepts are related to transient environments, but a measurement-category marking under the IEC 61010 measuring-circuit requirements is not an interchangeable selector for the installation overvoltage category used by another insulation-coordination method. Use the rule set that applies to the equipment and circuit being assessed.

What is the difference between IEC 61010-1 and IEC 62368-1?

They have different scopes. IEC 61010-1 covers the measurement, control and laboratory equipment families defined by its scope, while IEC 62368-1 covers audio/video, information and communication technology equipment. Product function and the applicable scope determine which standard family is relevant.

Does IEC 61010-1 certify my instrument?

No. It specifies safety requirements. Conformity or certification for a real product depends on the applicable edition, relevant Part 2 standards, construction, tests and the market-specific conformity route.

Source: IEC webstore — IEC 61010-1 consolidated edition 3.1. An overview for design reference - verify against the current edition before relying on it for compliance.