IEC 60335-2-27:2024

Overview

IEC 60335-2-27:2024 is the seventh edition of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard addressing the safety of household and similar electrical appliances for skin exposure to optical radiation. This standard is part of the IEC 60335 series, which sets out both general safety requirements and particular requirements for specific appliance types. Focusing on devices such as home tanning lamps, salon tanning beds, and similar appliances that emit light from 100 nm to 1 mm wavelengths, IEC 60335-2-27:2024 ensures safe operation for both AC and DC appliances with rated voltages up to 250 V (single-phase) and 480 V (other appliances).

The 2024 edition includes technical revisions aligned with IEC 60335-1:2020, introduces clear surface temperature limits, updates normative annexes, and clarifies requirements on risk, liability, and product instructions to enhance end-user protection and global market relevance.

Key Topics

• Scope of Application

  • Covers appliances designed for skin exposure to optical radiation used at home or in commercial settings such as tanning salons and beauty parlours.
  • Excludes medical devices, appliances for hair or skin care, sauna heaters, and units operating in hazardous environments.

• Updated Safety Requirements

  • Added limits for accessible surface temperatures.
  • Enhanced clarity around user instructions and marking requirements for improved consumer safety.
  • Refined specific requirements for battery-operated appliances, and clarified application of test probes in commercial environments.

• Risk, Liability, and Compliance

  • Now includes explicit requirements addressing product liability and risk assessment.
  • Modification and conversion of some notes to mandatory normative text for enforceability.
  • Product use instructions and warnings must meet stricter criteria for clarity and accessibility.

• Testing and Performance Evaluation

  • Revised and extended test protocols, including those for battery safety, temperature limits, and radiation emissions.
  • Updated normative annexes, including detailed exposure schedules, regional irradiance limits, and guidance for measuring luminance and surface temperatures.

Applications

IEC 60335-2-27:2024 is essential for:

• Manufacturers: Ensuring that new electric tanning beds, facial tanners, and similar appliances comply with the latest international safety benchmarks, reducing recall risk and enhancing product trust.
• Testing Laboratories and Certification Bodies: Conducting conformity assessment, testing and certification of skin exposure appliances according to harmonized global standards.
• Regulatory Agencies: Referencing clear, internationally-recognized safety requirements for appliances emitting optical radiation in consumer and commercial environments.
• Importers and Distributors: Verifying that supplied appliances carry the necessary markings, instructions, and compliance documentation for global market access.
• Salon and Spa Operators: Assuring customers that installations meet rigorous safety standards, particularly in regulated markets with health authority oversight.

Related Standards

• IEC 60335-1:2020: General requirements for household and similar electrical appliances, forming the base safety framework.
• IEC 60335-2-23: Requirements for appliances specifically for skin or hair care.
• IEC 60335-2-53: Sauna heating appliances and infrared cabin safety.
• IEC 60335-2-113: Cosmetic and beauty care appliances with lasers and intense light sources.
• IEC 60601: Medical electrical equipment safety requirements (excludes non-medical appliances).
• National Standards: Local regulations may set additional exposure limits or operational requirements; IEC 60335-2-27:2024 provides annexed tables summarizing national differences.

IEC 60335-2-27:2024 sets a global benchmark for the safety of electrical appliances for controlled skin exposure to optical radiation, supporting harmonization, user safety, and market confidence across the appliance value chain.