IEC TC 23H

IEC SC 23H – Plugs, Socket-Outlets and Couplers for Industrial Applications and Electric Vehicles

IEC Subcommittee 23H (IEC SC 23H) develops International Standards for plugs, socket-outlets, connectors, and couplers used in industrial applications and electric vehicle (EV) charging systems.
These standards specify the safety, performance, design, testing, and interchangeability requirements for heavy-duty electrical connection devices.

IEC SC 23H publications cover industrial plugs and socket-outlets, appliance couplers, EV charging connectors, and related accessories for low-voltage power distribution.
The standards ensure reliable electrical connections, protection against electric shock, mechanical durability, and safe operation in demanding industrial and outdoor environments.

They also support interoperability between electric vehicles and charging infrastructure across international markets. Manufacturers, testing laboratories, certification bodies, utilities, and electrical engineers rely on IEC SC 23H standards to ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and compatibility.
These standards play a key role in advancing industrial electrical installations, modern charging infrastructure, and the global transition to electric mobility.

List of Standard (IEC TC 23H):

1. IEC 60309-1:2021 __ Plugs, fixed or portable socket-outlets and appliance inlets for industrial purposes – Part 1: General requirements
2. IEC 60309-2:2021 __ Plugs, fixed or portable socket-outlets and appliance inlets for industrial purposes – Part 2: Dimensional compatibility requirements for pin and contact-tube accessories
3. IEC 60309-4:2021 __ Plugs, fixed or portable socket-outlets and appliance inlets for industrial purposes – Part 4: Switched socket-outlets with or without interlock
4. IEC 60309-5:2017 __ Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers for industrial purposes – Part 5: Dimensional compatibility and interchangeability requirements for plugs, socket-outlets, ship connectors and ship inlets for low-voltage shore connection systems (LVSC)
5. IEC 61316:1999 __ Industrial cable reels
6. IEC 62196-1:2022 __ Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles – Part 1: General requirements
7. IEC 62196-2:2022 __ Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles – Part 2: Dimensional compatibility requirements for AC pin and contact-tube accessories
8. IEC 62196-3:2022 __ Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles – Part 3: Dimensional compatibility requirements for DC and AC/DC pin and contact-tube vehicle couplers
9. IEC TS 62196-3-1:2020 SCAN __ Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles – Part 3-1: Vehicle connector, vehicle inlet and cable assembly for DC charging intended to be used with a thermal management system
10. IEC 62196-6:2022 __ Plugs, socket-outlets, vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets – Conductive charging of electric vehicles – Part 6: Dimensional compatibility requirements for DC pin and contact-tube vehicle couplers intended to be used for DC EV supply equipment where protection relies on electrical separation
11. IEC 62613-1:2011 __ Plugs, socket-outlets and ship couplers for high-voltage shore connection (HVSC) systems – Part 1: General requirements
12. IEC 62613-2:2016 __ Plugs, socket-outlets and ship couplers for high-voltage shore connection systems (HVSC-systems) – Part 2: Dimensional compatibility and interchangeability requirements for accessories to be used by various types of ships
13. IEC 62986:2017 __ Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers with arcuate contacts
14. IEC TS 63066:2017 __ Low-voltage docking connectors for removable energy storage units