IEC 60335-2-44:2021

Overview - IEC 60335-2-44:2021 (Part 2-44) - Safety requirements for ironers

IEC 60335-2-44:2021 specifies safety requirements for electric ironers (household and similar), including ironing presses, mangles, rotary ironers for one-person operation and trouser presses. It covers appliances with rated voltages up to 250 V single-phase and 480 V for other appliances, and applies to appliances used by laymen in shops, light industry and on farms. This fourth edition (with Amendment 1) is a technical revision aligned with IEC 60335-1:2020 and introduces important updates such as accessible surface temperature limits and the exclusion of battery-operated appliances.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope and exclusions
  • Applies to domestic and similar electric ironers; excludes multi-person rotary ironers (rollers normally >1.6 m), appliances for exclusive industrial use, appliances for hazardous atmospheres, electric irons (covered by IEC 60335-2-3) and battery-operated units.
• Safety alignment
  • This Part 2 supplements or modifies IEC 60335-1; it must be used together with the latest applicable edition of Part 1.
• Heating and temperature control
  • Introduces accessible surface temperature limits (Clause 11) and references Table 101 for maximum temperature rises of external surfaces under normal operation.
• Electrical safety
  • Clauses address protection against live parts, leakage current and dielectric strength at operating temperature, transient overvoltages and supply connection requirements.
• Mechanical and thermal hazards
  • Requirements for stability, mechanical strength, construction, guards, and prevention of contact with moving or heated parts (Clauses 20–22).
• Tests and conformity
  • General conditions for tests, endurance and abnormal operation tests, moisture resistance, and specific component and wiring requirements are defined.
• Annexes
  • Includes normative annexes such as Annex R (software evaluation) and Annex B on battery-operated appliances (noting battery exclusion).

Practical applications - who uses this standard

• Manufacturers and product designers of ironing presses, mangles, rotary ironers and trouser presses - for design validation and compliance.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - for type testing, safety verification and issuing conformity reports.
• Regulators and safety authorities - to reference national safety requirements and import controls.
• Compliance engineers and safety managers - to implement risk mitigation, marking and instructions per Clauses 7 and 22.
• Purchasing/specification teams - to ensure supplied equipment meets international safety norms for household and similar use.

Related standards (if applicable)

• IEC 60335-1 - General requirements for household and similar electrical appliances (to be used together with Part 2-44).
• IEC 60335-2-3 - Particular requirements for electric irons (different product family).
• National wiring rules and health/labour authority regulations may add requirements beyond IEC 60335-2-44.

Keywords: IEC 60335-2-44, ironers safety standard, household appliances safety, ironing press standard, mangles, accessible surface temperature, IEC 60335-1.