BANNOCKBURN, IL -- IPC-2221B, the long-awaited update to the bare board design standard, has been released.

After nearly 10 years, IPC has published IPC-2221B, "Generic Standard on Printed Board Design," the base standard for determining everything from conductor spacing to hole size.

IPC-2221A was published in May 2003.

The updated standard includes a section on surface finish alternatives, with the descriptions of their use reportedly tailored to aid the designer's decision-making. Information on palletization details new information on routing or crackering the panelized boards using either breakaway tabs or "mouse bites."

Other major revisions were to the electrical testing section, which adds greater detail about the various tests available, including continuity, Hi-Pot, and impedance.

A new appendix to IPC-2221 details the new test coupons to be used to ensure designs meet IPC-6012C, Qualification and Performance Specification for Rigid Printed Boards, and IPC-6013B, Qualification and Performance Specification for Flexible Printed Boards.

IPC-2221B is intended to be used with IPC-2222A, Sectional Design Standard for Rigid Organic Printed Boards, which was published in 2010, and IPC-2223C, Sectional Design Standard for Flexible Printed Boards, which was published in 2011.