IEC 61439-3:2012 defines the specific requirements for distribution boards intended to be operated by ordinary persons (DBO). DBOs have the following criteria:
- intended to be operated by ordinary persons (e.g. switching operations and replacing fuse-links), e.g. in domestic (household) applications;
- outgoing circuits contain protective devices, intended to be operated by ordinary persons, complying e.g. with IEC 60898-1, IEC 61008, IEC 61009, IEC 62423 and IEC 60269-3;
- rated voltage to earth does not exceed 300 V a.c.;
- rated current (Inc) of the outgoing circuits does not exceed 125 A and the rated current (InA) of the DBO does not exceed 250 A;
- intended for the distribution of electrical energy;
- enclosed, stationary;
- for indoor or outdoor use.
This first edition cancels and replaces the first edition of IEC 60439-3 (1990), Amendment 1 (1993) and Amendment 2 (2001). It constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to IEC 60439-3 (including the amendments):
- alignment with IEC 61439-1:2011.

This publication is to be read in conjunction with IEC 61439-1:2011. The contents of the corrigenda of September 2013 and March 2019 have been included in this copy.