ETIM class EC000042 covers miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) rated per IEC/EN 60898-1 or IEC/EN 60947-2. It includes standard residential and commercial MCBs but not RCBOs, motor protection switches, or molded-case circuit breakers, which have their own classes.
Product scope
EC000042 is where you classify any standalone MCB: the DIN-rail-mounted breakers that sit in every distribution board from residential panels to commercial switchgear. Single-pole, two-pole, three-pole, and four-pole variants all belong here.
What doesn't belong: RCBOs (combined MCB + residual current device) have a separate class. Motor circuit breakers tested to IEC 60947-4-1 go elsewhere. Molded-case circuit breakers (MCCBs) rated above typical MCB ranges have their own EC code. If the product has an integrated earth leakage function, it's not EC000042.
Key features
EC000042 carries around 25 features. These are the ones that matter most for catalog data and filter accuracy.
| EF Code | Feature | Type | Example value |
|---|---|---|---|
| EF000889 | Tripping characteristic | Alphanumeric | B, C, D |
| EF008618 | Number of poles (total) | Numeric | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| EF000227 | Current rating | Numeric (A) | 16 |
| EF009556 | Breaking capacity Icn at 230V | Numeric (kA) | 6 |
| EF000187 | Voltage type | Alphanumeric | AC, DC, AC/DC |
| EF005474 | Degree of protection | Alphanumeric | IP20 |
Other features cover rated insulation voltage (EF001366), wire cross section ranges for solid and stranded conductors, power loss per pole (EF005387), and whether the device supports additional accessories like auxiliary contacts or shunt trips (EF008148).
Worked example
Classifying a Schneider iC60N 16A C-curve MCB
| Feature | EF Code | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Tripping characteristic | EF000889 | C |
| Number of poles (total) | EF008618 | 1 |
| Current rating | EF000227 | 16 A |
| Breaking capacity Icn at 230V | EF009556 | 6 kA |
| Voltage type | EF000187 | AC |
| Width (module count) | EF002950 | 1 |
| Degree of protection | EF005474 | IP20 |
Common classification mistakes
Three errors show up repeatedly when teams classify MCBs into EC000042.
Putting RCBOs in this class. An RCBO has a residual current function. It belongs in a different ETIM class. If the product name includes "RCBO" or "residual current," it's not EC000042.
Confusing breaking capacity fields. EC000042 has separate features for Icn at 230V (EF009556), Icn at 400V (EF009555), Icu at 230V (EF009557), and Icu at 400V (EF009558). Icn is the rated capacity per EN 60898 (residential standard). Icu is the rated capacity per IEC 60947-2 (industrial standard). Mixing them up produces data that looks right but filters wrong.
A 6kA MCB rated per EN 60898 and a 6kA MCB rated per IEC 60947-2 are tested differently. Putting the Icn value into the Icu field (or vice versa) will mislead buyers comparing breaking capacity across product lines.
Leaving the tripping characteristic empty. B, C, and D curves are the most filtered attribute for MCBs after current rating. An MCB record without a tripping characteristic is functionally invisible to anyone searching by curve type.
Check your ETIM classification against the standard with the ETIM classification checker. For background on how ETIM works inside BMEcat files, see What is ETIM in BMEcat. And if your distributor just asked you to deliver ETIM-classified data, start with Your Distributor Just Asked for ETIM Data.