EN 62040-1 is the European adoption of IEC 62040-1, specifying safety requirements for uninterruptible power systems (UPS), published by CENELEC. UPS systems store energy in batteries — typically VRLA lead-acid or lithium-ion — and provide seamless backup power to critical loads during mains interruptions. EN 62040-1 is the harmonised European standard for UPS safety and is required for CE marking of UPS products placed on the European market under the Low Voltage Directive.
Published by: CENELEC
Designation: EN IEC 62040-1:2019
Based on: IEC 62040-1:2017 (identical technical content)
UK equivalent: BS EN IEC 62040-1
Companion standards: EN 62040-2 (EMC), EN 62040-3 (performance methods)
Scope
EN 62040-1 applies to movable, stationary, and fixed electronic UPS systems with an output voltage not exceeding 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC. It covers UPS for use in IT environments, industrial applications, healthcare, data centres, and telecommunications. The standard addresses electrical safety, thermal safety, mechanical safety, battery-specific safety requirements, and fire protection for the complete UPS assembly including its battery, charger, inverter, and control system.
Key Requirements
EN 62040-1 specifies requirements for protection against electric shock, fire, and thermal hazards within the UPS. Battery-specific requirements address charge voltage limits, temperature monitoring, BMS protective functions for lithium-ion UPS batteries, and ventilation requirements for VRLA batteries. The standard requires that UPS incorporating lithium-ion batteries include battery management systems that prevent hazardous overcharge, over-discharge, and overtemperature conditions, and that appropriate isolation is provided between the battery and the rest of the system in fault conditions.
European Market Relevance
EN 62040-1 compliance is required for CE marking of UPS systems under the Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU) in Europe. As a harmonised standard, compliance creates a presumption of conformity with the LVD’s essential safety requirements. For battery engineers supplying lithium-ion modules for UPS integration, understanding EN 62040-1 BMS interface requirements enables correct specification of the battery safety functions and communication interfaces that UPS manufacturers require. The transition from VRLA to lithium-ion UPS batteries is increasing the relevance of the standard’s BMS requirements, which are more prescriptive for lithium systems than for the traditional lead-acid chemistry.
Disclaimer: This is not a definitive guide, just an indication and it is important that you always go back to the source for legislation.
See also: NFPA 111 (US UPS equivalent)