IEC 62115:2017

Overview

IEC 62115:2017 (with Amendment 1, 2025) - "Electric toys – Safety" - is the international safety standard for electric toys intended for play by children under 14 years of age. It defines safety requirements, tests and markings for any toy with at least one function dependent on electricity, regardless of power source (batteries, transformers, solar cells or inductive coupling). The scope also covers toys’ packaging when the packaging itself has play value. This edition is a technical revision of the first edition and includes updated test conditions, new warnings (e.g., for button/coin batteries and ride‑on toys), and expanded requirements for optical radiation, EMF measurement guidance and remote‑control safety.

Key Topics and Requirements

• General requirements and test conditions (Clause 4–6, 5): Rewritten general test conditions and modified criteria for reduced testing to reflect toy categories and risk profiles.
• Marking, instructions and warnings (Clause 7): New specific warnings for button/coin batteries and for ride‑on toys; battery compartment marking examples are provided.
• Power and abnormal operation (Clauses 8–10): Requirements for power inputs, heating limits, electrical strength and abnormal operation tests to reduce fire and shock risks.
• Construction and mechanical safety (Clauses 12–13): Accessibility of batteries, toys placed above a child, and requirements for toys connected to other equipment.
• Optical radiation and LEDs (Annex E, F, G, H): Updated measurement methods, use of LED technical data sheets to check Accessible Emission Limits (AEL), and flowcharts/examples for assessing UV/visible/IR emissions.
• EMF guidance (Annex I): Informative methods for measuring electromagnetic fields generated by integrated field sources.
• Remote controls for electric ride‑on toys (Annex J): Normative requirements specific to remote-control systems for ride-on toys.
• Components, wiring, clearances and fire resistance (Clauses 14–18): Protection of cords, component safety, creepage/clearance distances and resistance to heat and flame.

Practical Applications

• Product design: Integrate safety by design (battery accessibility, shielding, optical limits).
• Pre‑compliance and testing: Use the specified test methods and annexes to validate temperature rise, electrical strength, optical emissions and EMF.
• Technical documentation: Implement required markings, warnings and user instructions to meet regulatory and market access expectations.
• Certification and conformity assessment: Testing labs and certification bodies apply IEC 62115 as the benchmark for electrical safety of toys.

Who Uses IEC 62115

• Toy manufacturers and designers
• Independent testing laboratories and certification bodies
• Regulatory agencies and market surveillance authorities
• Importers, retailers and compliance officers

Related Standards

• ISO 8124 series (other toy safety aspects)
• Relevant IEC standards referenced in normative references (for electrical and radiation test methods)

IEC 62115 is essential for ensuring electric toys safety, guiding manufacturers and conformity assessors through up‑to‑date electrical, optical and EMF requirements for toys powered by any electrical source.