IEC TR 60479-5-2007 PDF

Full title and description

IEC TR 60479-5:2007 — Effects of current on human beings and livestock — Part 5: Touch voltage threshold values for physiological effects. This Technical Report gives guidance and calculated touch voltage–duration threshold combinations (with associated uncertainties) to help determine limits for touch voltages under specific contact and environmental conditions.

Abstract

This technical report presents methodology and numerical threshold values relating touch voltage and duration to likely physiological effects for humans and livestock. Based on body impedance models and effect thresholds in IEC/TS 60479-1, it provides touch-voltage vs time curves and example calculations for common contact pathways. The report covers 50/60 Hz sinusoidal alternating voltage (with no significant DC component) and direct voltage (with no significant alternating component). It is intended as guidance for technical committees, designers and safety practitioners when selecting limits and performing risk assessments; it does not cover immersion or medical applications.

General information

• Status: Published (Technical Report); corrigendum issued.
• Publication date: 7 November 2007 (Corrigendum 1 published July 11, 2013).
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 13.200; 29.020.
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2007) — IEC TR 60479-5:2007; Corrigendum 1:2013 included in later copies.
• Number of pages: 113 pages (technical report length as published by IEC).

Scope

Provides touch voltage–duration threshold combinations for physiological effects arising from current through the body under defined contact and environmental conditions. The report addresses touch voltages for 50/60 Hz sinusoidal AC (no significant DC component) and for DC (no significant AC component). It describes body-impedance assumptions, current-pathway scenarios, uncertainty treatment, and example calculations to allow technical committees and safety engineers to derive or justify limits for touch voltage and exposure duration in specific situations. It excludes immersion scenarios and medical-device applications.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and classification of physiological effects related to current (startle, let-go, ventricular fibrillation risk, etc.).
• Touch voltage–duration threshold curves derived from body-impedance models and IEC/TS 60479-1 data.
• Methodology for converting touch voltage to touch current for various contact and environmental conditions.
• Treatment of uncertainties in threshold values and recommended conservative approaches for limits.
• Guidance on environmental and contact factors that alter body impedance (wet/dry skin, contact area, footwear, floor surface, equipotential bonding).
• Example calculations and use-cases to assist standards committees and designers in setting protective limits.

Typical use and users

Used by IEC technical committees when drafting or revising safety-related standards, national standards bodies adopting IEC guidance, electrical installation and equipment designers, safety and risk-assessment engineers, utility and substation designers, and regulatory authorities. It supports selection of touch-voltage limits, design of equipotential bonding and protective measures, and risk assessments where electrical contact exposure is possible.

Related standards

Closely related to IEC/TS 60479-1 (general aspects and body impedance data) and other parts of the IEC 60479 series. Relevant measurement and test standards such as IEC 60990 (methods of measurement of touch current) are commonly used together with this TR. National adoptions and identical publications exist (for example IS/IEC and national electrotechnical committee reprints). A corrigendum to IEC TR 60479-5:2007 was published in 2013 and has been incorporated into later distributions.

Keywords

touch voltage, threshold values, physiological effects, body impedance, IEC 60479, electrical shock, ventricular fibrillation, touch current, duration curves, risk assessment, equipotential bonding, corrigendum

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC TR 60479-5:2007 is a Technical Report giving recommended touch voltage–duration threshold combinations and guidance on their derivation for assessing physiological effects of electrical contact on humans and livestock.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the calculation and presentation of touch voltage thresholds for physiological effects for 50/60 Hz sinusoidal AC (no significant DC) and for DC (no significant AC), including body-impedance assumptions, environmental/contact conditions, uncertainty treatment, and example calculations. It does not cover immersion or medical-device scenarios.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: IEC technical committees, standards writers, electrical designers, safety and risk-assessment engineers, utilities, regulators and national standards bodies that need guidance on setting touch-voltage limits and protective measures.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The original Technical Report was published on 7 November 2007. Corrigendum 1 was published 11 July 2013 and is commonly included with the document. As of February 26, 2026 this edition plus the 2013 corrigendum remains the published IEC TR for part 5; users should confirm on the IEC webstore or with their national standards body for any later revisions or reprints (some national bodies have produced identical or bilingual reprints in later years).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 5 of the IEC 60479 series, which addresses effects of current on human beings and livestock. Part 1 (general aspects and body-impedance data) is a key companion document, and other parts of the series cover related phenomena.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: touch voltage, threshold, physiological effects, body impedance, touch current, ventricular fibrillation, IEC 60479, duration curves, risk assessment.