IEC/TR 60479-5, which is a technical report, provides touch voltage-duration combination
thresholds based on analysis of information concerning body impedances and current
thresholds of physiological effects, as given in IEC/TS 60479-1. Such threshold combinations
relate to specific environmental and contact conditions that determine body impedance for
particular current pathways.
This technical report considers only
(i) 50/60 Hz sinusoidal alternating voltage having no other frequency components and no
significant direct voltage component, and
(ii) direct voltage with no significant alternating component.
This technical report provides thresholds as a result of calculations based on values from
IEC/TS 60479-1, with uncertainties. Therefore thresholds proposed in this report also
correspond to values with uncertainties.
This technical report does not consider immersion of body parts and medical application.
Touch voltage-duration combination thresholds are for use by technical committees as
guidance for the determination of limits for touch voltage and touch voltage durations in
various environmental situations.
Determination of limits needs to be based on risk assessment. Factors that are part of risk
assessment include voltage threshold values (taking into account contact area, skin moisture
condition, body current pathway) provided by this technical report, as well as other factors not
covered such as:
– reduction of the likelihood of contact (by obstacles, barriers, warnings, placing out of
reach, training, etc.); or
– reduction of touch voltage compared to the fault voltage (such as by equipotential
bonding); or
– additional resistance in series with the human body (such as gloves, shoes, carpet, etc.).
IEC TR 60479-5:2007 Referenced Document
IEC 60990 Methods of measurement of touch current and protective conductor current*, 2016-05-30 Update
IEC TR 60479-5:2007 history
2013IEC TR 60479-5:2007/COR1:2013 Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Part 5: Touch voltage threshold values for physiological effects; Corrigendum 1
2007IEC TR 60479-5:2007 Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Part 5: Touch voltage threshold values for physiological effects