As a key component for circuit protection, the need for safety certification for varistors (MOVs) depends on the application scenario and the compliance requirements of the terminal product. The following is a clear analysis:
Core conclusion: Varistors themselves do not have mandatory certification, but end product safety regulations will trace their compliance
No separate mandatory certification for electronic components
Varistors are passive electronic components, and international standards do not require them to obtain separate safety certifications (such as UL, T Ü V, CQC, etc.). Manufacturers can independently declare compliance with relevant standards (such as IEC 61051, GB/T 10193, etc.).
Terminal product certification, driver component compliance
When varistors are used in terminal products that require safety certification (such as power adapters, household appliances, industrial equipment), the whole machine certification body (such as UL, T Ü V) will require them to comply with specific safety standards, otherwise the whole machine certification may fail.
Core safety requirements that varistors must meet
If the end product involves safety certification, the varistor must pass the following key tests:
Electrical Safety Standards
Flame retardant rating (UL 94 V0/V1): The epoxy encapsulation material must meet flame retardancy to prevent fire.
Voltage endurance and leakage current: comply with the insulation coordination requirements of IEC 60664.
Failure mode safety: Failure should not cause a short circuit or fire (must pass UL 1449 or IEC 61643 failure tests).
Reliability standards
Life and durability: Through high accelerated aging tests (such as 1000 hours at 85 ℃/85% RH).
Surge withstand capability: meets the impact resistance requirements of IEC 6100045 for lightning surges.
Environmental regulations
Compliant with RoHS and REACH restrictions on hazardous substances (such as lead and cadmium content).
Authentication requirements for typical application scenarios
|Application Fields | Certification Necessity | Key Standards|
|Consumer Electronics (Chargers) | MOV Compliance Required for Mandatory Certification | UL 609501/IEC 623681|
|Industrial Equipment | Customer or Industry Standard Requirements | IEC 61051/UL 1449|
|Automotive Electronics | Must comply with AECQ200 automotive specifications | AECQ200 (temperature/vibration/lifespan)|
|Medical equipment | Mandatory traceability components for high-risk products | IEC 606011 (leakage current/isolation)|
Manufacturer's Choice: Differences between Certified and Non Certified Models
Certified MOV:
Provide complete test reports (such as UL file number, T Ü V certificate) to ensure data traceability, accelerate the whole machine certification process, and reduce design risks.
(Example: Bourns' MOV series comes with UL 1449 Type 5 report)
Unverified MOV:
The cost is relatively low, but the whole machine factory needs to verify its compliance on its own, which may increase testing costs and cycles. If the data is incomplete, the whole machine certification may be rejected.
Practical advice: How to ensure compliance
Clarify the market for terminal products
Export to North America: Choose models that comply with UL 1449 (such as VDE certification compatible with IEC).
EU market: requires EN 6164311 report.
Chinese market: CQC certification is required (based on GB/T 10193).
Request key documents
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Flame retardant level test report
Failure Mode Analysis (such as UL 1449's "Open Circuit Failure" certification)
Environmental Compliance Declaration (RoHS/REACH)
Prioritize choosing certified brands
Major manufacturers such as Littelfuse, TDK, Vishay, etc. provide full certification support to avoid supply chain risks.
Varistors do not require independent safety certification, but their compliance directly determines whether the end product can pass safety certification. Engineers must select models with corresponding test data or certification based on the regulatory requirements of the target market to avoid the risk of complete machine certification failure or recall due to component issues. In high reliability fields such as healthcare and automotive, using varistors with AECQ200 or ISO 13485 systems is a more reliable choice.