IEC 60335-2-28:2021

Overview

IEC 60335-2-28:2021 - Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-28: Particular requirements for sewing machines - is the fifth edition (2021) of the IEC safety standard for electric sewing machines. It covers safety requirements for household and similar sewing machines (including overlock machines and electrical sets) supplied from single‑phase AC not exceeding 250 V, other supplies up to 480 V, as well as DC- and battery-operated appliances. This edition is a technical revision aligned with IEC 60335-1:2020 and replaces the 2002 edition and 2008 amendment.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard supplements IEC 60335-1 with sewing-machine-specific provisions and addresses common hazards (electrical, mechanical, thermal, fire, radiation). Major technical topics include:

• Scope and applicability - household, similar use, and sewing machines used by laymen in shops/light industry; excludes exclusive industrial machines and appliances for corrosive/explosive atmospheres.
• Electrical safety - protection against access to live parts, leakage current, electric strength, transient overvoltages.
• Motor and starting requirements - safe starting of motor‑driven sewing mechanisms.
• Heating and surface temperatures - introduction of limits on temperature rise of externally accessible surfaces and specified surface temperature measurement methods.
• Battery‑operated appliances - clarified requirements and normative guidance (Annex B) for separable and detachable batteries.
• Mechanical safety - stability, mechanical strength, moving parts protection, and hazards from needles and feed mechanisms.
• Construction and wiring - internal wiring, terminals, earthing provisions, clearances and creepage distances.
• Tests and test probes - application of test probe 19 and other test methods for measuring accessibility and temperatures.
• Durability and abnormal conditions - endurance, moisture resistance, overload, abnormal operation and fire resistance.
• Marking and instructions - mandatory user information and safety labelling.

Practical applications - who uses this standard

IEC 60335-2-28 is essential for:

• Sewing machine manufacturers and designers for product development and safety-by-design.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing compliance testing and issuing conformity assessments.
• Regulatory authorities and procurement teams ensuring products meet internationally recognised safety requirements.
• Compliance and safety engineers conducting risk assessments, pre-compliance checks, and technical documentation.
• Importers and distributors verifying that household sewing machines meet market entry rules.

Related standards and national considerations

• Use in conjunction with the latest edition of IEC 60335-1 (Part 1).
• Part 2 takes precedence over generic/horizontal standards for same hazards.
• For machines used in vehicles, ships or aircraft, or in jurisdictions with additional national rules (health, labour), additional requirements may apply.

Keywords: IEC 60335-2-28, sewing machine safety standard, household appliances safety, battery-operated sewing machines, temperature rise limits, test probe 19, IEC 60335-1.