IS/IEC 60898 Part 1 : 2002Electrical accessories - Circuit-breakers for overcurrent protection for household and similar installations - Part 1: Circuit-breakers for ac operation
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IS/IEC 60898:2002 Part 1 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for electrical accessories - circuit-breakers for overcurrent protection for household and similar installations - part 1: circuit-breakers for ac operation. This standard specifies requirements for AC miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) used for overcurrent protection in household and similar low-voltage installations up to 440V. It defines their classification (B, C, D curves), construction, performance characteristics, and testing methods to ensure safety against overload and short-circuits. It is the fundamental standard for all MCBs used in residential and commercial buildings.
Specifies requirements for circuit-breakers for overcurrent protection of household and similar installations designed for operation with alternating current.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Type C is the most common for general purpose loads (lighting, sockets). Type B is for sensitive or resistive loads. Type D is for high inrush current loads like motors and transformers.
! Ensure the Short Circuit Breaking Capacity (Icn) of the MCB is higher than the prospective short circuit current (PSCC) at the point of installation for safety.
! This standard is for AC operation only. For DC applications, refer to IS/IEC 60898-2.
IEC 60898-1:2019International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International
HighCurrent
Electrical accessories - Circuit-breakers for overcurrent protection for household and similar installations - Part 1: Circuit-breakers for a.c. operation
The direct international successor to the standard on which IS/IEC 60898:2002 is based.
EN 60898-1:2019European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), Europe
HighCurrent
Electrical accessories - Circuit-breakers for overcurrent protection for household and similar installations - Part 1: Circuit-breakers for a.c. operation
The European harmonized version, technically equivalent to the latest IEC 60898-1.
BS EN 60898-1:2019British Standards Institution (BSI), United Kingdom
HighCurrent
Circuit-breakers for overcurrent protection for household and similar installations. Circuit-breakers for a.c. operation
The UK's adoption of the European standard, covering the same products and applications.
UL 489Underwriters Laboratories (UL), USA
LowCurrent
Molded-Case Circuit Breakers, Molded-Case Switches, and Circuit-Breaker Enclosures
Covers functionally similar devices but with different testing protocols, ratings, and applications for the North American market.
Key Differences
≠IS/IEC 60898:2002 is a dual-numbered standard based on the withdrawn IEC 60898:1995, whereas the current international benchmark is IEC 60898-1:2019, which includes two decades of technical updates and refinements.
≠The Indian standard specifies a higher reference ambient temperature of 40°C for calibration and testing of thermal tripping elements to suit Indian climatic conditions, compared to 30°C in the IEC/EN standards.
≠The Indian standard includes a mandatory ISI certification mark (Standard Mark) requirement for products sold in India, which is a national regulatory requirement not present in the IEC standard.
≠Current international standards like IEC 60898-1:2019 may have more stringent or detailed requirements for aspects like discrimination with upstream fuses and verification of energy limiting class (I²t characteristics).
Key Similarities
≈The core scope is identical: covering circuit-breakers for a.c. operation intended for use by uninstructed persons in household and similar installations, with rated currents typically up to 125 A.
≈The classification of instantaneous tripping characteristics (B, C, and D curves) is the same. For example, a Type C breaker has an instantaneous trip range of 5 to 10 times the rated current in both IS/IEC and IEC standards.
≈Both standards mandate fundamental safety and constructional requirements, such as the device being 'trip-free' (cannot be held 'ON' during a fault) and having clear 'ON'/'OFF' (I/O) indication.
≈The set of preferred values for rated current (e.g., 6, 10, 16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 63 A) and rated voltage are harmonized across the standards.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Reference Ambient Temperature (for thermal trip)
40 °C
30 °C
IEC 60898-1:2019
Instantaneous Tripping Current (Type B)
> 3 In to ≤ 5 In
> 3 In to ≤ 5 In
IEC 60898-1:2019
Conventional Non-Tripping Current (Thermal)
1.13 In
1.13 In
IEC 60898-1:2019
Conventional Tripping Current (Thermal)
1.45 In
1.45 In
IEC 60898-1:2019
Glow-wire Test Temperature (Insulating parts holding live parts)
960 °C
960 °C
IEC 60898-1:2019
Rated Service Short-Circuit Breaking Capacity (Ics)
May be a percentage of Icn (e.g., 75%) or equal to Icn, based on manufacturer's declaration as per IEC 60898:1995.
Mandated values based on Icn. For household MCBs (Icn ≤ 6kA), Ics must be equal to Icn (100%). For others, it's 75% of Icn or a minimum of 7.5kA.
IEC 60898-1:2019
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
What is the difference between B, C, and D curve MCBs?+
They have different instantaneous magnetic tripping ranges for short-circuit protection: B-type (3-5 In), C-type (5-10 In), and D-type (10-20 In), as defined in Clause 5.3.6 and Table 7.
What does the number in a box, like '10000', on an MCB mean?+
It indicates the rated short-circuit breaking capacity (Icn) in Amperes, e.g., 10,000 A or 10 kA, as per the marking requirements in Clause 6.
Can I use an MCB from this standard in an industrial panel?+
No, this is for household and similar installations. For industrial applications with higher breaking capacity or coordination needs, use breakers compliant with IS/IEC 60947-2.
What is the maximum rated current covered by this standard?+
The standard covers circuit-breakers with a rated current (In) not exceeding 125 A. (Clause 1)