IEC 60335-2-92:2002

Overview

IEC 60335-2-92:2002 is the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) product‑safety standard that specifies particular requirements for pedestrian‑controlled, mains‑operated electric lawn scarifiers and aerators. It supplements IEC 60335-1 (general household appliance safety) and covers scarifiers and aerators with rotating cutters used to remove thatch, moss or to cut vertically into the lawn face. The standard applies to appliances designed primarily for home use with a rated voltage up to 250 V single phase. This edition (second, 2002) includes the corrigendum of May 2003.

Key topics and requirements

The standard addresses a comprehensive set of safety and test requirements specific to lawn scarifiers and aerators, including:

• Electrical safety and insulation - requirements for leakage current, dielectric strength, transient overvoltages and earthing to reduce electrical hazards when connected to mains.
• Mechanical hazards and guarding - protection against access to rotating cutters, thrown‑object mitigation (test enclosures and target panels), operator‑zone clearances and guarding verification (figures and test rods).
• Starting, controls and labeling - safe starting procedures for motor‑operated appliances, symbol use and marking, and clear user instructions.
• Stability and mechanical strength - tests for tipping resistance, structural integrity and strength of cutting means.
• Endurance and abnormal operation tests - checks for safe operation under long‑term use and under fault/abnormal conditions.
• Environmental resistance - moisture resistance, heating, resistance to rusting and fire/thermal considerations.
• Test annexes and fixtures - normative annexes (AA, BB, CC) define thrown‑object test enclosures, base fixtures and recommended test reports.

Normative references incorporated include ISO standards for paper testing (ISO 2758), operator dimensions (ISO 3411), control symbols (ISO 3767), safety colours/signs (ISO 3864) and safety distances to prevent limb access (ISO 13852).

Applications

IEC 60335-2-92 is used to:

• Demonstrate product safety compliance for electric lawn scarifiers and aerators intended for consumer/home use.
• Define test methods and acceptability criteria used by test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies.
• Inform design decisions for manufacturers and design engineers to implement guarding, electrical protection and user information.
• Support regulatory approvals, market access and CE/UKCA conformity where applicable.

Who should use this standard

• Appliance manufacturers and design engineers
• Product safety and compliance managers
• Third‑party test labs and certification bodies
• Regulatory authorities and standards committees
• Safety assessors and procurement specialists specifying safe garden equipment

Related standards

• IEC 60335-1 (General requirements for household and similar electrical appliances)
• IEC 60335-2-77 (lawnmowers) and IEC 60335-2-91 (lawn trimmers) - for other lawn equipment families
• ISO 13852, ISO 3767 series, ISO 3411 (referenced normative documents)

Keywords: IEC 60335-2-92, lawn scarifiers, aerators, pedestrian‑controlled, mains‑operated, appliance safety, electrical safety standard, guarding, thrown‑object test.