IEC 60335-2-79:2021

Overview

IEC 60335-2-79:2021 is the fifth edition (2021) of the IEC safety standard for high pressure cleaners and steam cleaners used in household and similar environments. It specifies particular safety requirements to be used in conjunction with IEC 60335-1 (the general safety standard). The standard covers high-pressure cleaners without traction drive with a rated pressure ≥ 2.5 MPa and ≤ 35 MPa, and steam or steam-stage hot-water cleaners with specified capacity/pressure limits (capacity ≤ 100 L, rated pressure ≤ 2.5 MPa, and capacity × pressure ≤ 5 MPa·l). Power sources covered include mains motors, battery-operated motors, internal combustion engines, and hydraulic/pneumatic drives.

Key Topics and Requirements

The standard supplements IEC 60335-1 and addresses particular technical areas for high pressure cleaners and steam cleaners, including:

• Scope and classification (indoor/outdoor, household/commercial)
• Marking and user instructions (warnings, potable-water connection notices)
• Electrical safety: protection against live parts, leakage current, transient overvoltages, moisture resistance, insulation and earthing
• Drive and motor requirements: starting, power input/current limits, battery charging and battery-operated appliance provisions
• Thermal and mechanical safety: heating limits, stability, mechanical strength, resistance to heat and fire
• Construction and components: internal wiring, terminals, screws, clearances and creepage distances
• Operational tests: endurance, abnormal operation, and tests for vibration and acoustical noise (informative annexes)
• Special topics: backsiphonage prevention (normative annexes), battery-specific requirements (Annexes B/S/BB), and test methods for vibration and noise

Significant technical updates in the 2021 edition include editorial/technical alignment with IEC 60335-1:2020, clarification for hand‑held and battery‑operated high pressure cleaners, and general editorial improvements.

Practical Applications

• Enables manufacturers to design and certify pressure washers, steam cleaners, and related equipment to meet international safety requirements.
• Guides test laboratories and certification bodies on applicable test regimes and documentation.
• Assists product safety engineers, compliance officers, importers, and rental companies in verifying safe operation, labeling, and end-user instructions.
• Useful for procurement teams specifying safety requirements for commercial cleaning fleets.

Who Should Use This Standard

• Equipment manufacturers and design engineers
• Test laboratories and certification bodies
• Regulatory agencies, safety managers, and compliance teams
• Technical writers preparing manuals and warning labels

Related Standards

• IEC 60335-1 (required companion standard)
• IEC 60335-2-54 (domestic liquid/steam cleaners - different scope)
• IEC 60745, IEC 61029, IEC 62841 (hand-held motor tools - excluded)
• IEC 60601 (medical appliances - excluded)
• ISO 4254-6 (agricultural sprayers - excluded)

Keywords: IEC 60335-2-79, high pressure cleaners, steam cleaners, safety standard, pressure washer compliance, battery-operated cleaners, IEC 60335-1.