Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) is a term defined by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), which develops international electrical safety standards used widely outside North America. SELV describes extra-low voltage circuits designed to minimise shock risk through voltage limits and protective separation. In the United States, the National Electrical Code (NEC) uses Class 2 circuit classification under Article 725 to define power-limited, low-voltage circuits with similar safety intent. Class 2 circuits are therefore the closest NEC equivalent to SELV, with Class 3 covering higher power-limited applications where applicable.