As of February 26, 2023, the 2006 versions of EN 50470-1/-3, the harmonized standards for energy meters for the European Measuring Instrument Directive MID 2014/32/EU, have been withdrawn from the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and therefore they are no longer harmonized standards. Unlikely, there is still uncertainty about when the newly updated documents (EN 62052-11:2021 / EN 50470-3:2022) will be published so we have ended up with a period in which no harmonized standards are available for certification to the Measuring Instrument Directive (MID).
How to deal with this? Notified bodies, the entities such as KEMA Labs authorized to issue MID compliance certifications, acquire a key role in such a peculiar transition period, since they represent the ones who can manage the gap. Knowing very well the new versions (EN 62052-11:2021 / EN 50470-3:2022) and being accredited for performing the tests prescribed in those standards, a notified body is expected to offer only the new versions for certification by advising, guiding and recommending manufacturers to implement their products according to EN 62052-11:2021 / EN 50470-3:2022, as they contain all the latest requirements for smart energy meters.
KEMA Labs already adapted to the new 2020 standards by implementing new test procedures or revising existing test procedures and methods. Next to this, also the product safety standard EN-IEC 62052-31 was implemented with state-of-the-art facilities for switch endurance testing at different power factors and switch short circuit testing up to 10.000 A, single fault testing, and safety assessment. For the clock and timing accuracy tests the laboratory has access to a GPS time synchronization network with PPS, IRIG-B, and PTP. But the standardization process never stops. At this moment working groups within IEC TC13 are developing new standards for new technologies. In 2021 the first edition of the IEC 62053-41 for DC meters was introduced and new teams of experts have been called to work on both AC and DC meters for connection through Low Power Instrument Transformers (LPIT), very interesting new equipment defined in another series of standards, the IEC 61869. Other ongoing activities are focusing on hot topics like dependability, cyber security and embedded software requirements.
KEMA Labs offers type testing to all different versions of the EN-IEC products standards and is notified body for the Measuring Instrument Directive (MID 2014/32/EU). On request, special national tests or tests per client instructions can be added. We are constantly developing our laboratories and skills to cope with the future.
