When sourcing power cords for the Danish market, most buyers know to look for the distinctive half-moon (D-shaped) earthing pin of the Type-K plug. But looks can be deceiving. The real compliance risk hides in a small field on the DEMKO certificate: Standard Sheet.
Denmark’s current plug standard is DS 60884-2-D1 (formerly SB 107-2-D1 / Afsnit 107-2-D1). Within this standard are multiple standard sheets, and the two that matter most for the power cord industry are DK2-1a and DK2-5a. Both share the same iconic D-shaped earthing pin, and at a glance the housings look nearly identical — but the pin geometry and, more importantly, the certified scope are completely different.
DK2-5a: The IT/ITE Plug That Dominates the Market
Most Danish Type-K plugs in circulation carry this marking on their DEMKO certificate:
Standard Sheet: DK2-5aCertificate description: Non-rewirable, two-pole IT plug with earthing pin (plug for information technology equipment).
Key characteristics:
- The L/N pins are slightly angled/offset, while the earthing pin keeps its half-moon D shape.
- High mechanical compatibility: it fits both ordinary Danish household DK2-1a sockets and the DK2-5a surge-protected sockets used in IT/computer rooms.
- Electrical rating: 10/13/16A, 250V~, Class I, IP20, with H03VV-F / H05VV-F cables.
- Advantages: mature tooling, readily available DEMKO certificates, short lead time — widely used for adapters, computers and IT equipment.
- Critical limitation: the certificate scope is restricted to IT/ITE equipment.
Key warning: “Physically fits a household socket” is NOT the same as “approved for household appliances.” If a DK2-5a plug is used on a home appliance, Danish market surveillance authorities can challenge it on certificate scope — creating a real risk of rejection.
DK2-1a: The Standard Plug for Household Appliances
DK2-1a is the standard sheet for household / general-purpose appliance plugs.
- The L/N pins are vertical (no offset); the earthing pin remains half-moon D shaped.
- Mechanical rule: it fits ordinary household DK2-1a sockets, but cannot be inserted into DK2-5a IT sockets — a deliberate one-way error-prevention design that keeps ordinary appliances off computer surge-protection circuits.
- DK2-1a also defines a rarely-used alternative small round earthing pin, which is almost never adopted in mass production.
The industry reality: ready-made DK2-1a DEMKO certificates are scarce. A DK2-1a version usually means new tooling and a fresh DEMKO test & certification cycle — adding tooling cost, certification cost and lead time.
DK2-1a vs DK2-5a at a Glance
| Item | DK2-5a (IT plug) | DK2-1a (household plug) |
|---|---|---|
| Certified category | IT / ITE equipment plug | Household / general-purpose appliance plug |
| L/N pins | Slightly angled/offset | Vertical, no offset |
| Earthing pin | Half-moon D | Half-moon D (small round alternative) |
| Fits household DK2-1a socket | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Fits DK2-5a IT socket | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Ready-made certificates | Widely available | Scarce — usually requires new certification |
| Suitable products | Computers, adapters, monitors, IT devices | Home appliances, wellness/medical devices, general equipment |
| Household-project risk | Requires written customer confirmation | Fully compliant, no surveillance risk |
How to Choose for Your Project
- Never judge by plug appearance alone — always check the
Additional Information→Standard Sheetfield on the DEMKO certificate. - IT/ITE products (adapters, computer accessories): DK2-5a is fully suitable and the industry default.
- Household appliances, wellness/medical devices, and non-ITE products:
- Option ① Use DK2-5a: obtain written confirmation from the customer acknowledging the original certificate scope is IT equipment and the market-surveillance risk is on the customer.
- Option ② Use DK2-1a: the fully compliant choice, but budget for new certification cost and lead time.
- Don’t confuse the rarely-used “small round earthing pin” alternative inside DK2-1a — it is almost never adopted for new projects.
For the Danish market, the compliance evidence is not whether the plug fits and powers on — the product scope on the DEMKO certificate is the core proof for customs and market surveillance.
Work With a Manufacturer That Reads the Certificate
At HENG-WELL, we supply power cords for the Danish market with more than 15 years of manufacturing experience and 160+ international certifications. Before we quote, our engineers confirm the correct Standard Sheet for your application — so you never pay for a plug that fits but isn’t approved for your product.
Have a Denmark project? Tell us your application — IT equipment or household appliance — and we’ll recommend the right DK standard sheet and cable, with a quote for the right certification, not just the right plug.
Denmark Type K Plugs: Why DK2-1a and DK2-5a Are Not Interchangeable
Two plugs that look identical and are not
Denmark uses the Type K plug — the familiar two round pins with a half-moon (D-shaped) earth pin. Buy it twice from two suppliers and the plugs may look the same on the bench. They are not the same product.
The difference is not visible. It lives in one field of the DEMKO certificate: Standard Sheet.
The Danish plug standard is DS 60884-2-D1 (previously published under the older designation SB 107-2-D1). Inside it are several standard drawing sheets. Two of them are used commercially:
DK 2-5aDK 2-1a
DK 2-5a — the IT / ITE plug
A DK 2-5a certificate describes the product as a non-rewirable, two-pole IT plug with earthing pin — an ITE (information technology equipment) plug.
Its live and neutral pins are slightly angled; the earth pin is the same half-moon. Mechanically it is the more compatible of the two:
- it fits a Danish household wall socket, and
- it also fits the dedicated
DK 2-5asockets used in equipment rooms behind surge protection.
Rated at 250 V and available in the usual current steps, this is the sheet that most Danish IT cord stock is built to — servers, monitors, adapters, network gear.
The limit is the certificate’s scope, not the plug’s shape. The certificate covers IT / ITE equipment. Fitting a DK 2-5a plug to a household appliance is a scope question, and a Danish market-surveillance authority can raise it.
DK 2-1a — the household / general-purpose plug
DK 2-1a is the sheet defined for household and general-purpose appliances. Its live and neutral pins are straight, with no angle offset; the earth pin is the same half-moon shape.
The mechanical rule runs in one direction only:
- a
DK 2-1aplug fits a householdDK 2-1asocket - a
DK 2-1aplug does not fit aDK 2-5aIT socket
That is deliberate. It prevents household appliances from being plugged into a computer room’s surge-protected circuit. (DK 2-1a also includes an alternative small round earth-pin option that is almost never adopted in volume production.)
Side by side
DK 2-5a |
DK 2-1a |
|
|---|---|---|
| Certificate category | IT / ITE equipment | Household / general-purpose appliance |
| Live & neutral pins | Slightly angled | Straight, no offset |
| Earth pin | Half-moon D | Half-moon D (alternate small round pin exists) |
Fits household DK 2-1a socket |
Yes | Yes |
Fits DK 2-5a IT socket |
Yes | No |
| Typical use | Computers, monitors, adapters, network equipment | Household appliances, wellness and care equipment, general civil equipment |
| Risk on a household project | Scope can be challenged | None |
What to check before you buy
- Do not judge by appearance. Open the DEMKO certificate and read the
Standard Sheetfield — it is the field that decides what the lead may be used for. - Confirm the standard designation on the certificate. Current certificates read
DS 60884-2-D1with a year suffix (for example:2011or:2023); older certificates may still carry the legacy codeSB 107-2-D1. A standard number that appears on no certificate is not a standard — it is a transcription error. Ask for the certificate. - IT and adaptor projects:
DK 2-5ais the mainstream and appropriate choice. - Household, wellness or care equipment: either obtain the client’s written acknowledgement that the certificate scope is IT equipment, or specify a
DK 2-1aversion — which generally means new tooling and a fresh DEMKO test and issue. - High-current Danish IT leads are a distinct product. A
DK 2-5alead can be certified 10 A or 16 A at 250 V, but the 16 A step is tied to the cable: the certificate lists the higher current against a heavier flexible cord, not against the same cord as 10 A. Quote and label the current and the cable together.
The practical summary
Denmark is not one plug — it is two standard sheets that share an outline. The question to ask is never “does the plug fit?” but “which Standard Sheet does the certificate name, and does it cover my application?”
If you tell us the equipment and the supply arrangement, we will confirm which sheet applies and which certificate covers the assembly.
HENG-WELL supplies moulded power cords to IEC 60320, NEMA, BS 1363, AS/NZS 3112, SASO and European supply standards, and can quote Danish Type K leads to a named Standard Sheet. Certificates are available for review before order.
