What is the scope of the IEC/EN 60335 series?

The IEC/EN 60335 series covers the electrical safety of household and similar electrical appliances. The horizontal part is IEC/EN 60335-1, edition 6.0 published in 2020 by IEC committee TC 61, with subsequent amendments in the IEC catalogue. It applies to appliances whose rated voltage does not exceed 250 V single-phase and 480 V multi-phase. The Parts 2-xx, more than one hundred particular standards, set the type-specific requirements for individual appliance categories (refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, heat pumps). In the United States, the transposition is UL 60335-1, aligned with IEC but including national deviations under the National Electrical Code.

How do EN 60335-1 and the Parts 2-xx interact?

EN 60335-1 lays out the general requirements common to all household and similar electrical appliances: protection against electric shock, temperature rise, abnormal operation, mechanical stability, marking, instructions and material compatibility. Each Part 2-xx, for example EN 60335-2-7 for washing machines or EN 60335-2-24 for refrigerators and freezers, modifies, supplements or replaces specific clauses of Part 1 for the appliance type concerned. A Part 2-xx must always be read together with Part 1, never on its own. Any Part 1 provision that the Part 2-xx does not explicitly modify remains applicable.

Is EN 60335 mandatory for CE marking?

Yes for appliances falling under the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU. The directive covers the placement on the European market of electrical equipment intended for use at a nominal voltage between 50 and 1000 V AC and between 75 and 1500 V DC. EN 60335-1 and the EN 60335-2-xx standards are published as harmonised standards under the LVD through notices in the Official Journal of the European Union. Their application grants presumption of conformity with the essential electrical safety objectives for the equipment categories covered. The harmonised reference (edition, amendment, cessation date) must be checked on the European Commission LVD page.

Where is the boundary between IEC 60335-1 and IEC 62368-1?

The two standards address distinct product families. IEC 60335-1 covers household and similar electrical appliances: cooking, laundry, air-conditioning, white goods, small appliances, non-professional tools. IEC 62368-1 covers audio video, information technology and communications equipment: televisions, computers, networking equipment, telecommunication terminals. The classification criterion is the primary function of the product. A television remains under 62368-1 even when integrated in a kitchen. A connected cooking appliance remains under 60335-2-xx for its primary function, with a possible complementary evaluation on the communication module. For the detailed boundary, see the [IEC 62368-1 guide](/en/guides/iec-62368-1-safety-engineering/).

What do temperature-rise and abnormal-operation tests measure?

Temperature-rise tests determine the steady-state temperatures reached by windings, accessible surfaces, electronic components and insulators during normal operation. The limits are tabulated in Part 1 (dedicated annex) and in each Part 2-xx for the appliance type. Abnormal-operation tests verify that the failure of a critical component (motor stall, thermostat short-circuit, ventilation failure) does not lead to a hazardous condition: fire, ejection of molten material, electric shock, emission of toxic smoke. These two families of tests are the backbone of a 60335 campaign.

What insulation and access requirements does Part 1 set?

EN 60335-1 distinguishes three appliance classes based on the protection against electric shock. Class I relies on basic insulation combined with a protective earth bond to the accessible metal parts. Class II relies on double insulation or reinforced insulation, with no protective earth. Class III operates on safety extra-low voltage (SELV). IP ratings against the ingress of solids and liquids derive from IEC 60529 and are specified in each Part 2-xx according to the installation environment (humid kitchen, bathroom, outdoor). Accessibility rules use the standard test finger and test pin defined in IEC 61032.

Is a UL 60335-1 mark required in the United States?

In the United States, electrical safety of household appliances is handled through NRTLs (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories) recognised by OSHA. UL 60335-1, published by UL Standards and Engagement, is the US transposition of IEC 60335-1 with national deviations linked to the National Electrical Code (NEC), to cord and plug requirements and to material categorisation. Certification is materialised by an NRTL mark on the product (UL, Intertek ETL, TUV Rheinland, CSA or another recognised body). The Parts 2-xx each have their UL transposition (for example UL 60335-2-40 for heat pumps, UL 60335-2-24 for refrigeration). Retail distribution in the United States without an NRTL mark is rare because insurers and distributors require it contractually.

What pitfalls recur in 60335 campaigns?

Several pitfalls show up in notified-body and NRTL reports. First, relying on a legacy edition of 60335-1 (former 5.x editions) when edition 6.0:2020 is in force, which invalidates presumption of conformity under LVD. Second, omitting the deviations introduced by the applicable Part 2-xx: Part 1 as modified by Part 2 has thresholds, durations and tests distinct from Part 1 alone. Third, declaring a nominal IP without verifying it in the actual test conditions of the Part 2-xx (for example a claimed IPX4 tested only at IPX1). Fourth, forgetting that an accessible or semi-accessible heating element must be tested in all its foreseen use modes (user preference, thermostat fault, ventilation failure).

EN 60335: safety of household electrical appliances

Author Hugues Orgitello Last updated 27 May 2026 ~14 min read

Guide - EN 60335

The IEC/EN 60335 series governs the electrical safety of household and similar electrical appliances. Maintained by IEC committee TC 61, it is composed of a horizontal part, EN 60335-1 (Part 1, general requirements), and a family of more than one hundred particular standards, EN 60335-2-xx (Parts 2-xx), each covering one appliance type. Under Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, applying the harmonised references of the series grants presumption of conformity with the essential electrical safety requirements for CE marking. In the United States, the UL 60335-1 transposition (and its corresponding Parts 2-xx) serves as the basis for NRTL certifications. This page lays out the structure of the series, the scope of Part 1, the interaction with the Parts 2-xx, the typical test sequence, the boundary with IEC 62368-1, and the pitfalls observed in practice.

Origin and structure of the series

The 60335 series is one of the oldest in the IEC catalogue covering household appliances. Its logic rests on a two-layer split: a horizontal part that lays out the common foundation for all appliances, and a set of vertical parts (the Parts 2-xx) that specialise the requirements by appliance category.

Level	Reference	Role
Horizontal part	IEC/EN 60335-1	General requirements applicable to all household and similar electrical appliances
Particular parts	IEC/EN 60335-2-xx	Modifications, exclusions and additions specific to a given appliance type

The current edition of Part 1 is edition 6.0 published in 2020 by the IEC (IEC 60335-1:2020), with later amendments in the catalogue. The European transposition EN 60335-1 is published by CENELEC and listed as a harmonised standard under the Low Voltage Directive. The exact reference (edition, amendment, cessation date) must be checked on the official European Commission harmonised-standards list for the LVD, which evolves through successive communications in the Official Journal.

The nominal electrical scope of the series is defined in clause 1 of Part 1: appliances whose rated voltage does not exceed 250 V single-phase and 480 V multi-phase. Appliances above these voltages fall under distinct industrial standards. Extra-low-voltage appliances (SELV, battery-powered) enter the scope when the overall function belongs to the household category, with modulated requirements.

The corpus is maintained by IEC TC 61 (Safety of household and similar electrical appliances). The sub-committees SC 61B, SC 61C, SC 61D, SC 61H and SC 61J specialise the Parts 2-xx across the main appliance families (cooking, refrigeration, laundry, motorisation, tools, air-conditioning).

The historical rationale behind the horizontal-plus-particular split is that the same baseline safety logic applies to every household appliance regardless of its function, while the actual hazards differ widely between, say, a microwave oven and a tumble dryer. Maintaining a single horizontal trunk avoids duplicating common requirements across more than one hundred separate texts, while the particular standards capture the type-specific hazards, durations and limits without polluting the common trunk. The same architecture is used by many other IEC families (60601 for medical, 62841 for hand-held tools), and it allows a coordinated revision of the cross-cutting requirements (clearance and creepage tables, abnormal-operation framework) without re-opening every vertical standard.

The horizontal part EN 60335-1

EN 60335-1 sets out the common normative trunk. Its table of contents follows the classic structure of IEC electrical safety standards: classification, marking, protection against electric shock, leakage currents, dielectric strength, temperature rise, abnormal operation, stability and mechanical hazards, heat resistance, components, connections, clearances and creepages, materials.

The protection classes against electric shock follow the classic electrotechnical nomenclature.

Class	Principle	Typical application
Class I	Basic insulation plus protective earth bond on all accessible metal parts	Refrigerators, dishwashers, built-in ovens, washing machines
Class II	Double insulation or reinforced insulation, no protective earth	Vacuum cleaners, shavers, certain small appliances in plastic housings
Class III	Safety extra-low voltage (SELV), supplied by an external safety transformer or a battery	Toys, certain cordless tools, battery appliances

The insulation classes drive the dielectric-strength HiPot thresholds, the clearances in air and the creepages, tabulated against the working voltage and the pollution degree according to IEC 60664-1. Part 1 carries these tables and adjusts them for the household-appliance context.

IP ratings against the ingress of solids and liquids derive from IEC 60529. Part 1 sets the generic limits. Each Part 2-xx specifies the minimum IP rating required according to the installation environment (humid kitchen, bathroom, outdoor, partial immersion for a washing machine). The accessibility rules for live parts use the standard test finger and the test pins defined in IEC 61032.

Marking and instruction requirements occupy a dedicated chapter: rated voltage, frequency, rated power, insulation class, IP rating, model number, manufacturer or trade name, normative references. The minimum content of the user instructions (local language, warnings, foreseen use conditions, cleaning, maintenance) is specified. The Parts 2-xx add type-specific notices (for example children warnings on washing machines, electricity-water warnings on cooking appliances).

Part 1 also frames the requirements on internal components likely to govern the overall safety of the appliance. Motors must comply with IEC 60034 series for general performance and with the relevant Part 2-xx for the specific abnormal-operation tests (rotor block, locked rotor temperature). Transformers fall under IEC 61558, with sub-parts dedicated to safety isolating transformers (61558-2-6) and to specific household transformer applications. Automatic controls (thermostats, timers, electronic regulators) fall under the IEC 60730 series, with sub-parts covering electronic controls (60730-2-9), thermal-cut-outs and the burning-test family. Thermal links fall under IEC 60691. Capacitors used across the mains supply fall under IEC 60384-14 with safety classes X1, X2, Y1, Y2. The dossier must list each critical component with its certificate or compliance evidence, since the test laboratory will cross-check the bill of materials against the declared certifications.

The Parts 2-xx: particular standards

The EN 60335-2-xx family includes more than one hundred particular standards. Each sets the deviations, additions and requirements specific to one appliance type. A Part 2-xx is never read on its own: it applies on top of Part 1, explicitly modifying certain clauses. Any provision not modified remains governed by Part 1.

The table below lists the Parts 2-xx most commonly encountered.

Reference	Appliance category
EN 60335-2-1	Portable cooking ranges, non-built-in ovens
EN 60335-2-2	Vacuum cleaners and water-suction cleaning appliances
EN 60335-2-3	Electric irons
EN 60335-2-4	Spin extractors
EN 60335-2-6	Stationary cooking ranges, hobs, ovens and similar appliances
EN 60335-2-7	Washing machines
EN 60335-2-8	Shavers, hair clippers and similar appliances
EN 60335-2-9	Grills, toasters and similar portable cooking appliances
EN 60335-2-11	Tumble dryers
EN 60335-2-13	Deep fat fryers, frying pans and similar appliances
EN 60335-2-14	Kitchen machines and similar appliances
EN 60335-2-15	Liquid-heating appliances
EN 60335-2-24	Refrigerating appliances, ice-cream makers and ice-makers
EN 60335-2-25	Microwave ovens, combination microwave ovens
EN 60335-2-29	Battery chargers
EN 60335-2-40	Electrical heat pumps, air-conditioners and dehumidifiers
EN 60335-2-41	Pumps
EN 60335-2-80	Fans
EN 60335-2-95	Drives for vertically moving garage doors for residential use

The full list in the IEC catalogue exceeds one hundred references, some older ones being phased out and others under revision. For any given project, the rule of prudence is to query the IEC database directly to identify the applicable Part 2-xx, its current edition, its harmonised-standard status under LVD and the presence of any amendments.

A single appliance may fall under several Parts 2-xx in parallel when it combines several functions. A combination microwave-and-convection oven falls under both EN 60335-2-25 (microwave) and EN 60335-2-6 (cooking), with the two sets of requirements evaluated on the relevant components. This combination is made explicit in the test report.

Typical test sequence

A EN 60335 test campaign is carried out in a laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 on the relevant household-appliance safety scope. The sequence combines documentary review and physical tests on a prototype, with a significant share of thermal measurements and endurance tests.

Upstream documentary review: appliance classification analysis, identification of the applicable Part 2-xx, electrical schematics, mechanical exploded view, datasheets of critical components (motors, thermostats, thermal fuses, controllers), list of housing and internal materials with their UL 94 classification,
Marking and instruction tests: conformity of rating plates, legibility, durability, presence of the required warnings, completeness of the user manual,
Classification tests: verification of the declared insulation class, measurement of the rated voltage and rated power, consistency check with the marking,
Power and current tests: measurement of the input power and input current at steady state, comparison with the rated values, application of the tabulated tolerances,
Temperature-rise tests: measurement of the temperatures reached by windings, accessible surfaces, electronic components and insulators during normal operation and under the foreseen use modes, comparison with the limits of Part 1 as modified by the Part 2-xx,
Leakage-current and dielectric-strength tests: measurement of the earth-leakage current and accessible-enclosure leakage at steady state, application of the HiPot test voltages on each declared insulation interface,
Abnormal-operation tests: motor rotor block, thermostat short-circuit, ventilation failure, sensor failure, simulated overheat, verification that the fault condition does not lead to a fire risk, ejection or electric shock,
Mechanical tests: stability, enclosure robustness, impact resistance, fastening of removable parts, endurance tests of switches and thermostats over the tabulated cycle count,
Humidity and IP tests: climate-chamber conditioning, verification of the declared IP ratings using the corresponding test modes (IPX1 to IPX9K depending on Part 2-xx), measurement of leakage current after humidification,
Critical-component tests: conformity of motors, transformers, thermostats and thermal fuses to the relevant IEC sub-standards (IEC 60730 for automatic control devices, IEC 60691 for thermal fuses),
Downstream documentary review: drafting of the test report in the IECEE CB format for multi-national certifications, accompanied by photos, measurement curves and test conditions.

For details of the test sequence in a CE context, see the CE tests page and the list of harmonised standards on the CE standards page.

EN 60335 versus IEC 62368-1: the functional boundary

The boundary between EN 60335 (household appliances) and IEC 62368-1 (audio video, IT, communications) is one of the recurring questions on modern products with significant embedded electronics. The classification rule rests on the primary function of the product, not on the presence of embedded electronics.

Primary function	Applicable standard
Cooking, heating, refrigeration, washing, ventilation	EN 60335-1 plus the corresponding Part 2-xx
Audio, video, information processing, communication	IEC 62368-1
Lighting	IEC 60598 (luminaires), out of 60335 scope
Hand-held electric motor-operated tools (drills, saws)	IEC 62841 (separate series)
Medical equipment with a patient applied part	IEC 60601-1 (see IEC 60601-1 guide)

Hybrid cases require a case-by-case analysis. A television remains under 62368-1 even if it includes a timer function or a Wi-Fi link to a cooking appliance: its primary function is still audio-video display. Conversely, a connected cooking appliance with a touchscreen remains under 60335-2-xx for its cooking function, the user-interface electronics being evaluated within the 60335 framework (abnormal-operation tests of the electronics module, accessibility of internal energy sources), without a full switch to 62368-1.

Where doubt persists, the practice is to document the analysis in the technical file and consult the notified body upstream. A dual evaluation is sometimes necessary for products combining very distinct sub-assemblies (for example a built-in unit combining a cooking function and a separate TV display).

UL 60335-1 in the United States and CSA C22.2 No. 60335-1 in Canada

The US transposition of IEC 60335-1 is UL 60335-1, published by UL Standards and Engagement. The content is aligned with IEC 60335-1 except for national deviations linked to the National Electrical Code (NEC), to cord and plug requirements, to material categorisation and to US-market-specific signage.

Certification of an appliance for the United States goes through an NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) recognised by OSHA. A test report compliant with UL 60335-1 (Part 1) together with a UL 60335-2-xx assessment (Part 2) for the appliance type gives rise to an NRTL mark on the product (UL, Intertek ETL, TUV Rheinland, CSA or another). Maintaining the mark requires an Initial Production Inspection and a periodic Follow-Up Service.

In Canada, the transposition is CSA C22.2 No. 60335-1, published by the CSA Group, with its corresponding Parts 2-xx (for example CSA C22.2 No. 60335-2-40 for heat pumps). The CSA mark, or an equivalent NRTL Canadian mark recognised by the provinces, is required for placement on the Canadian market. A test report in the IECEE CB format can cover the IEC, EU, US and CA scopes by applying the documented national deviations.

The FCC does not handle electrical safety of household appliances: its scope is limited to electromagnetic compatibility (Part 15, Part 18) and to radio-spectrum usage. Electrical safety in the United States is exclusively the NRTL route.

Notable features of representative Parts 2-xx

A few Parts 2-xx deserve specific attention due to their frequency in industrial portfolios or their regulatory sensitivity.

EN 60335-2-24 (refrigerating appliances) covers refrigerators, freezers, ice-makers and ice-cream makers for household use. It specifies tests on the refrigerating circuit, containment of the refrigerant fluid, abnormal-operation conditions of the compressor, and temperature thresholds for surfaces accessible to children. Flammable refrigerants (R290, R600a) trigger reinforced containment and internal-ventilation requirements.

EN 60335-2-25 (microwave ovens) adds to the 60335-1 baseline the microwave-leakage radiation measurements (limited to 5 mW per cm2 at 5 cm from the surface under nominal operation), abnormal-operation tests of the door (safety interlocks), and tests on the magnetron and waveguide. Combined microwave-and-convection ovens fall under both 2-25 and 2-6.

EN 60335-2-40 (heat pumps and air-conditioners) covers air-to-air heat pumps, air-to-water heat pumps, reversible air-conditioners and dehumidifiers. Its most recent edition has integrated requirements on low-GWP refrigerants (R32, R290, R454B), with strict rules on containment, ventilation and maximum charge per enclosed volume by ASHRAE flammability class (A1, A2L, A3).

EN 60335-2-29 (battery chargers) covers stand-alone mains-connected chargers feeding external accumulators (cordless tools, small battery appliances). For chargers integrated in a 62368-1 product (laptop charger, for example), 62368-1 prevails. The 2-29 standard targets chargers for household appliances and non-professional tools.

EN 60335-2-95 (drives for residential garage doors) integrates the prevention requirements for entrapment and crushing risks specific to heavy automated motion: obstacle detection, reversal sequence, audible and visual signalling, mechanical robustness. A motorised residential garage door requires a joint 60335-2-95 plus EN 13241 (door product standard) evaluation, mentioned in the technical documentation.

Pitfalls observed in practice

Without claiming exhaustiveness, several issues recur in feedback from certification bodies and manufacturers.

Legacy edition of Part 1. Keeping a test report based on a 5.x edition of 60335-1 when edition 6.0:2020 is the current harmonised reference under LVD. The presumption of conformity ceases at the cessation date of the previous edition published in the Official Journal. Any certificate renewal or product modification forces an update on the current edition.
Omission of the applicable Part 2-xx deviations. Reading Part 1 without applying the modifications, exclusions and additions of the Part 2-xx leads to out-of-specification tests (thermal limits, durations, test conditions non-compliant). The practical rule is to annotate each Part 1 clause with the corresponding Part 2-xx cross-reference before engaging the test campaign.
Nominal IP declared without effective verification. A claimed IPX4 stated in the marking but tested under IPX1 conditions (vertical spray instead of lateral spray) is a direct non-conformity. The Part 2-xx specifies which IP test to apply; extracting IEC 60529 directly without cross-checking with the Part 2-xx leads to an incomplete reading.
Accessible heating element not tested in all use modes. A cooking appliance whose grill stays hot after the normal cycle must be tested in that configuration. Omitting a foreseen use mode (residual heat, thermostat fault) is a classic non-conformity at the laboratory inspection.
60335 versus 62368-1 boundary mis-drawn. A connected cooking appliance certified to 62368-1 on the basis of its electronic function without a 60335-2-xx evaluation of its primary cooking function is non-compliant with the LVD for placement on the market. The primary function, not the presence of electronics, sets the normative attachment. See the IEC 62368-1 guide for the decision grid.
Confusion between LVD and EMC. EN 60335 and the LVD cover electrical safety. Electromagnetic compatibility falls under a separate directive (2014/30/EU) and distinct standards (EN 55014-1 for household-appliance emissions, EN 55014-2 for immunity). A 60335-compliant product cannot be CE-marked without a separate EMC demonstration to EN 55014.
Laboratory subcontracting without verifying the NRTL scope for the United States. A laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 on EN 60335 is not necessarily authorised as an NRTL for the US commercial mark. The verification must be done against the OSHA scope before placing the test order, particularly for the more specialised Parts 2-xx (refrigeration, heat pumps, microwave) where the NRTL base is narrower.