Following the successive releases of the international standard IEC 62368-1:2023 (Edition 4) and the EU standard EN IEC 62368-1:2024 (Edition 4), the U.S. standard UL 62368-1:2025 (Edition 4) was officially launched on July 31, 2025, and concurrently adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a U.S. national standard. The release of UL 62368-1:2025 marks a new phase in the safety regulations for audio/video, information, and communication technology (AV/ICT) equipment in the United States.

Compared to the previous version UL 62368-1:2019/R:2021, the key updates of the new UL 62368-1:2025 are as follows:

Key Updates of UL 62368-1:2025 (Edition 4)

1. No Longer Accepts Components Certified to Legacy Standards
   Components/parts certified to the legacy standards IEC 60950-1 (for IT equipment) or IEC 60065 (for audio/video equipment) are no longer accepted. Manufacturers relying on such legacy-certified components must urgently review their Bill of Materials (BOM). It is expected that many manufacturers will need to re-certify or replace a significant number of components/parts.

2. Updated Structural Requirements for Button Batteries
   Structural requirements for button batteries have been revised, with the addition of compliance mandates for UL 4200A (a safety standard for products containing button batteries).

3. Revised External Circuit Requirements
   Tables related to external circuit requirements have been updated, and the definition of external circuit classifications has been corrected to align with IEC TR 62102. Additionally, overvoltage values for different categories of external circuits have been revised and corrected.

4. Updated Openings Requirements for Fire-Resistant Enclosures
   Requirements for openings in fire-resistant enclosures have been updated, primarily correcting the dimensional specifications for side openings.

5. Enhanced Foreign Object Detection (FOD) Testing for Wireless Chargers
   Requirements for FOD testing of wireless chargers have been clarified: prior to testing, the centers of the coils of the wireless charger and the device being charged must be aligned or assisted in alignment. Two test scenarios have been added:

   • Part A: Power on first, then place foreign objects;
   • Part B: Place foreign objects first, then power on.

6. New Mandates for Fusing Resistors
   For fusing resistors used as safety protection in products, an additional requirement has been added: fusing resistors must comply with IEC 60127-8.

7. Updated Requirements for Liquid Cooling Components
   For modular liquid cooling systems (LFC) with a capacity exceeding 1 liter, new requirements have been established, including leakage detection, fluid compatibility, and pressure relief. These requirements apply to advanced thermal management scenarios such as AI servers and high-performance computing (HPC) equipment.

8. Extensive Updates to Rechargeable Lithium Battery Requirements
   Mandatory requirements for fixed lithium battery systems have been added, covering non-portable equipment such as data center backup power supplies and large-scale energy storage devices. For batteries with segmented parameters, segmented testing has been explicitly mandated.

9. New Fire Spread Testing for Specific Device Structures
   Fire spread testing induced by external heat sources has been added for:

   • Equipment with mesh/grid structures;
   • Equipment using breathable materials;
   • Equipment with foam/fabric-covered surfaces.

Key Technical Changes of IEC 62368-1:2023 (Edition 4)

The international standard IEC 62368-1:2023 (Edition 4) was officially published on May 26, 2023. Its key updates compared to Edition 3 include:

1. No longer accepts components or parts certified to IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065.
2. Updated detailed testing requirements for devices containing button batteries.
3. Revision to Clause M.4: The term "portable" has been removed from "Additional safeguards for equipment containing a portable secondary [battery]". This means the requirements of Clause M.4 now also apply to non-portable battery products, expanding the scope of testing.

Scope of Impact of the Standard Update

The update to IEC 62368-1 affects a wide range of technical products, including:

1. Electrical and electronic equipment
2. Audio/video products
3. Information technology (IT) products
4. Commercial office automation equipment (≤600V)
5. Power supply products
6. Servers
7. Displays
8. Televisions
9. Laptops, personal computers (PCs), and PC peripherals

Manufacturers in relevant industries are advised to proactively plan and design their products in advance to ensure a smooth transition to the new standard.

Brief Introduction to UL 62368-1

UL 62368-1 is a safety standard developed based on the principle of Hazard-Based Safety Engineering (HBSE), introducing concepts slightly different from existing regulatory standards. It covers hazards to humans and the environment posed by information products and audio/video equipment, as well as corresponding hazard mitigation measures. In essence, UL 62368-1 is a merged version of UL 60065 (for AV equipment) and UL 60950 (for IT equipment).

In North America, UL announced that starting from June 20, 2019:

• For new UL certification applications for audio/video (A/V), information technology equipment (ITE), and related products, only UL 62368-1 is accepted (UL 60950-1 is no longer an option).
• Existing certified projects with major changes (e.g., primary circuit modifications) are also required to upgrade to UL 62368-1.

Products Covered by UL 62368-1

The new standard applies to a wide range of high-tech products, including:

1. Computers and network products: Servers, computers, routers, laptops/desktops, and their power supplies.
2. Consumer electronics: Amplifiers, home theater systems, digital cameras, and personal music players.
3. Screens and display devices: Monitors, televisions, and digital projectors.
4. Communication products: Network infrastructure equipment, wireless and mobile phones, and similar communication devices (including battery-powered devices).
5. Office equipment: Copiers and paper shredders.
6. Musical instruments.
7. Similar AV, information, and communication technology equipment: Devices used in homes, schools, data centers, commercial, and professional environments.

Process for Obtaining UL 62368-1 Test Report

1. Submit an application form;
2. Provide a quotation based on the application content and send it to the client;
3. The client makes payment according to the quotation and prepares samples for submission;
4. Conduct product testing;
5. Issue a test report based on the test results (if the product meets requirements).