The standard applies to:
It explicitly excludes:
IEC 60364 is the international standard for electrical installations in buildings. Part 5-551 specifically addresses "Selection and erection of electrical equipment – Low-voltage generating sets." iec 60364 part 551 pdf
While earlier parts of the standard deal with general protection against electric shock, Part 551 focuses on the specific hazards and operational requirements introduced when a building has its own power source. It covers generating sets that are:
Many countries adopt IEC 60364 as a national standard (e.g., BS 7671 in the UK, HD 60364 in Europe, AS/NZS 3000 in Australia). Clause 551 is often reproduced verbatim. Purchasing from your national body may be cheaper and includes local amendments. The standard applies to:
IEC standards evolve. For instance, Amendment 1 (2022) to IEC 60364-5-55 updated Clause 551 to reflect new grid-code requirements for inverters. An old PDF will miss these changes.
Imagine designing a backup generator for a small data center. Using IEC 60364-5-551, you would: It explicitly excludes: IEC 60364 is the international
Failure to follow any of these steps could lead to dangerous earth loops, electric shock during maintenance, or damage to sensitive electronics.
The next amendment to IEC 60364 part 551 (expected around 2026) will address:
Thus, obtaining the current PDF is not just for today’s compliance – it prepares you for the evolution of distributed energy resources.