UL IEC 60601 3RD Edition Approved for Medical Applications

Powervar, a global leader in power management systems, is pleased to announce that its complete range of power conditioning equipment for medical applications has been approved as compliant with the UL IEC 60601 3rd edition for medical electrical equipment. The standard, which governs safety and effectiveness, came into force within the European Union on 1 June, 2012.

“We believe that Powervar is the only power conditioning equipment manufacturer in the world which is currently producing power conditioners which are compliant with this new standard,” said UK Country Manager, Rob Morris. “Now that the standard has come into force, only electrical medical equipment which meets the standard can be sold in the EU.”

IEC 60601 is a series of technical standards published by the International Electrotechnical Commission and certified by UL, the independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organisation, that govern the safety and effectiveness of medical electrical equipment. This particular standard refers to patient-proximity medical equipment, which typically includes applications such as cardiac monitoring equipment or x-ray machines.

Power conditioners regulate poor quality power such as electrical noise, surges and spikes that can often damage or completely knock out equipment. In the medical sector this can mean protecting sensitive equipment such as cardiac monitors, medical imaging and ventilators.