IEC 60335-2-4:2021

Overview

IEC 60335-2-4:2021 - "Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 2-4: Particular requirements for spin extractors" is the seventh edition (2021) of the IEC product‑family safety standard for stand‑alone spin extractors and spin extractors built into washing machines with separate wash and spin containers. The standard covers appliances for household and similar use (including launderettes, farms and light industry when used by laymen) with a capacity up to 10 kg dry cloth, a drum peripheral speed up to 50 m/s, and rated supply voltages not exceeding 250 V (single‑phase) or 480 V (other appliances).

This edition is a technical revision that aligns with IEC 60335‑1 (Edition 5) and introduces test probe 18 in the definition of “accessible part” and for testing accessibility of live parts.

Key topics and technical requirements

IEC 60335‑2‑4 supplements IEC 60335‑1 and focuses on hazards and tests specific to spin extractors. Major topics include:

• Scope and exclusions: Covers household and similar spin extractors; excludes exclusively industrial appliances and equipment for corrosive/explosive atmospheres. Additional national or application‑specific rules may apply (e.g., vehicles, ships, aircraft).
• Electrical safety: Requirements and tests for leakage current, electric strength, transient overvoltages, insulation, and rated supply conditions.
• Mechanical safety: Stability, mechanical strength, drum containment, braking mechanisms and endurance tests to address rotating parts and mechanical hazards.
• Protection against access to live parts: Accessibility tests including the newly added test probe 18 for assessing reachability of live components.
• Thermal / fire / moisture: Heating limits, resistance to heat and fire, moisture resistance and related endurance testing.
• Marking, instructions and classification: Mandatory labelling, user instructions, and classification of IP ratings and appliance types.
• Testing and conformity: General conditions for tests, internal wiring, components, earthing and terminal requirements and software evaluation annex.

Practical applications - who uses this standard

IEC 60335‑2‑4 is used by:

• Appliance manufacturers and product designers - to design compliant spin extractors and validate safety features.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - to verify conformity, perform required electrical and mechanical tests.
• Regulatory authorities and procurement teams - to reference safety requirements for market approval and purchasing specifications.
• Safety engineers and quality assurance teams - to implement risk mitigation, labelling and instructions.

Related standards

• IEC 60335‑1 (Fifth edition) - mandatory companion standard that provides general safety requirements for household appliances; IEC 60335‑2‑4 is to be used in conjunction with Part 1.
• Other parts of the IEC 60335 series - applicable when appliances include additional functions covered by other Part 2 standards.

Keywords: IEC 60335-2-4, spin extractors safety standard, household appliance safety, test probe 18, IEC 60335-1, appliance testing, conformity, spin extractor design.