IEC 60335-2-61:2024

Overview

IEC 60335-2-61:2024 - "Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-61: Particular requirements for thermal storage room heaters" - is the third edition (2024) of the IEC safety standard for self-contained electric thermal‑storage room heaters used in households and similar environments. It covers appliances intended to heat the room in which they are located, with rated supply voltages up to 250 V (single‑phase) and 480 V (other appliances, including DC). This edition is a technical revision aligned with IEC 60335-1:2020.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and exclusions: Applies to self-contained thermal‑storage room heaters; excludes built‑in heaters, central heating systems, sauna heaters, flexible sheet heaters, industrial-only appliances, and heaters for special atmospheres or certain transport applications.
• Alignment with IEC 60335-1: To be used together with the latest edition of IEC 60335‑1 and its amendments for general safety requirements.
• Updated test methods and probes: Introduction of test probe 19 and implementation of Figure 101 for measuring external surface temperatures.
• Surface temperature limits and measurement: Revised temperature limits and defined procedures for measuring temperatures (Clause 11.3, 11.8, Table 101).
• Electrical safety: Requirements for leakage current, electric strength, transient overvoltages, power input/current accuracy, and insulation clearances.
• Mechanical and thermal safety: Tests for stability, mechanical hazards, heating elements, overload/endurance, abnormal operation and resistance to heat/fire.
• Construction and components: Rules for marking and instructions, internal wiring, components, terminals, earthing, screws/connections, and protection against access to live parts.
• Normative and informative annexes: Extensive annexes cover batteries, ageing tests, motor protectors, needle‑flame tests, software evaluation, measurement guidance and more.

Practical applications

• Design and development of safe thermal‑storage room heaters (product engineers and designers).
• Type testing and certification for compliance with international safety requirements (testing laboratories and certification bodies).
• Regulatory assessment and conformity demonstrations for market access (manufacturers and compliance teams).
• Risk assessment and technical documentation used for CE/UKCA marking and national approvals.
• Reference for updating product instructions, warnings and marking to meet safety obligations.

Who should use this standard

• Appliance manufacturers and OEMs of thermal‑storage heaters
• Product safety engineers and compliance officers
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies
• Regulatory authorities and standards committees
• Design consultants and technical writers preparing manuals and labels

Related standards

• IEC 60335‑1 (General requirements)
• IEC 60335‑2‑30 (if direct‑acting heating elements are incorporated)
• IEC 60335‑2‑53 (sauna heaters)
• IEC 60335‑2‑96 (flexible sheet heating elements)

Keywords: IEC 60335-2-61:2024, thermal storage room heaters, safety standard, IEC 60335-1, surface temperature, test probe 19, appliance compliance, electrical safety.