IEC 60879:2019

Overview

IEC 60879:2019 specifies standardized methods for measuring the performance of comfort fans and their regulators for household and similar purposes. It covers conventional propeller fans, pedestal/table/wall/louvre fans, tower fans and bladeless fans, and ceiling fans. The standard applies to fans with rated voltages up to 250 V (single‑phase) or 480 V (other) and a rated power input of less than 125 W. This edition updates fan definitions, enables modern test instrumentation, and adds acoustic noise and standby power measurement methods.

Key topics and requirements

• Classification: Two testing groups - (1) pedestal, table, wall, louvre, tower and bladeless fans; (2) ceiling fans. Wherever applicable, “fan” includes associated regulators.
• Performance measurements:
  • Maximum fan flow rate (measured at the outlet with oscillation/louvres off).
  • Fan power input at maximum flow rate (excluding auxiliary functions like lighting).
  • Service value (ratio of calculated maximum flow rate to measured fan power input).
  • Regulator performance (measurement of regulation ratio for fans and bladeless designs).
  • Sound power level (A‑weighted, per IEC 60704-2-7).
  • Standby power measurement (per IEC 62301).
• Test conditions and procedures: General conditions (atmospheric conditions, conditioning, voltage/frequency, running‑in, operation modes), specific test setups for ceiling vs. other fans, and methods for bladeless/tower fan airflow measurement.
• Documentation requirements: Manufacturers must provide in instructions - rated fan flow rate (m3/min), service value (m3/min)/W, standby power (W), and sound power level (dB(A)).
• Supporting material: Annexes detail anemometer positioning, typical vane anemometer dimensions/accuracy, and tower fan orientation for testing; test chamber and measurement configuration figures are included.

Applications and who uses it

• Manufacturers and product designers - to validate and optimize fan performance, efficiency (service value), noise, and standby consumption during development.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - for reproducible, internationally harmonized measurement methods and reporting.
• Regulatory agencies and retailers - to compare products against declared values and regulatory labeling requirements.
• Quality assurance teams - to ensure consistent production performance and compliance.

Related standards

• Normative references used: IEC 60704-2-7 (fan acoustics) and IEC 62301 (standby power).
• IEC 60879 does not cover electrical safety (see IEC 60335-2-80), ventilating fan performance (IEC 60665), or electromagnetic compatibility (CISPR 14‑1/14‑2, IEC 61000‑3‑2, IEC 61000‑3‑3).

Keywords: IEC 60879, comfort fans, performance measurement, bladeless fans, tower fans, fan flow rate, service value, fan sound power level, standby power.