Overview
IEC 62321 is the lab rulebook. When you actually have to measure the lead or flame retardant in a part, it defines the test so two labs get the same answer.
Three standards do three jobs. IEC 62321 measures substances, IEC 62474 declares them as data, and EN IEC 63000 documents the RoHS assessment.
What it covers
It is a multi-part standard giving consistent methods to determine the concentration of restricted substances in electrotechnical products, including:
- a fast XRF screening method to flag which samples need closer analysis;
- precise wet-chemistry and instrumental methods for lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, certain brominated flame retardants (PBB/PBDE), and phthalates.
Why it matters
Supplier declarations are usually enough, but when data is missing or doubtful you fall back on testing. A defensible RoHS file needs the test to follow a recognised method. That method is IEC 62321, maintained by IEC/TC 111.
Note: This is an educational summary maintained by the Pareo team. Confirm the current parts and methods against the official standard.