IEC 60974-3:2013 specifies safety requirements for industrial and professional arc striking and arc stabilizing devices used in arc welding and allied processes. This part of IEC 60974 is applicable to stand-alone units which may be connected to a separate welding power source or one where the welding power source and the arc striking and arc stabilizing device are housed in a single enclosure. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2007 and constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- changes induced by the publication of IEC 60974-1:2012.

This publication is to be read in conjunction with IEC 60974-1:2012.