IEC 60335-2-104:2003

Overview

IEC 60335-2-104:2003 is the IEC particular-standard for the safety of electrical appliances used to recover and/or recycle refrigerant from air‑conditioning and refrigeration equipment. It supplements and modifies the general safety requirements in IEC 60335-1 and applies to appliances incorporating open drive or motor‑compressors with rated voltages up to 250 V single‑phase and 600 V for other appliances. The standard addresses normal and foreseeable abnormal operation to protect against electrical, mechanical, thermal, fire and radiation hazards.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and application: Household and similar appliances and service equipment for shops, light industry and farms; excludes dedicated industrial processing units and devices for corrosive/explosive atmospheres.
• Electrical safety: Requirements for protection against access to live parts, leakage current, dielectric strength and transient overvoltages; references IEC 60335-1 for general clauses.
• Motor and compressor considerations: Special provisions when motor‑compressors are used; normative reference to IEC 60335-2-34.
• Mechanical and thermal tests: Endurance, abnormal operation, mechanical strength, stability and heating tests with specified temperature limit tables and maximum winding temperatures.
• Marking and instructions: Mandatory markings, rated voltage/current, and user/service instructions to ensure safe use and matching of multiple assemblies.
• Test methods and annexes: Includes annexes for vacuum levels (AA), particulate definitions for contaminated refrigerant (BB), compatibility tests (CC) and swelling oil requirements (DD).
• Regulatory interaction: Notes compatibility with wiring rules (IEC 60364) and cross‑reference to refrigeration safety in ISO 5149.

Practical applications and users

• Manufacturers designing or certifying refrigerant recovery/recycling machines and service tools.
• Component suppliers (motors, compressors, pressure/vacuum controls) ensuring parts meet appliance-level safety.
• Test laboratories performing type testing, endurance and abnormal‑condition tests in accordance with IEC methods.
• Compliance officers, procurement teams and regulators assessing conformity for market access.
• Service organizations selecting equipment for safe refrigerant handling in HVAC/R repair and maintenance.

Related standards

• IEC 60335-1 - General safety requirements for household and similar electrical appliances (base standard).
• IEC 60335-2-34 - Particular requirements for motor‑compressors (normative reference).
• ISO 5149 - Safety requirements for mechanical refrigerating systems (informative cross‑reference).

Complying with IEC 60335-2-104 helps manufacturers and service providers demonstrate that refrigerant recovery and recycling appliances meet internationally recognized electrical and mechanical safety practices for household and similar use.