IEC 63241-2-6:2023

Overview

IEC 63241-2-6:2023 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), focusing on the dust measurement procedures specific to hand-held hammers powered by electric motors. This standard serves as a supplemental document to IEC 63241-1, providing particular requirements and additional guidance for testing, measurement, and reporting of dust emissions generated by hand-held hammers during use. By aligning with IEC 63241-2-6:2023, manufacturers, test laboratories, and regulators can ensure a harmonized approach to evaluating dust emissions, supporting occupational health and product safety objectives.

Key Topics

• Scope and Applicability

  • This standard applies exclusively to hand-held hammers, including percussion and rotary hammers, specifying modifications and additions to the general dust measurement procedures found in IEC 63241-1.

• Test Procedures

  • Outlines detailed test setups for measuring dust generated by hand-held hammers under specified conditions.
  • Defines the use of specific concrete blocks without and with reinforcement, as well as the arrangement and operating conditions for tools with different masses.
  • Covers both rotary hammers and percussion hammers, with clarity on operating in various modes (rotary, percussion only).

• Instrumentation and Measurement

  • Leverages the principles and equipment described in IEC 63241-1, with additional requirements to ensure accurate and reproducible dust measurement results tailored to hand-held hammers.
  • Specifies proper reporting of respirable dust concentrations.

• Definitions and Terminology

  • Provides clear definitions for “percussion hammer” and “rotary hammer,” facilitating consistent interpretation across the industry.

• Reporting Requirements

  • Details the information that must be included in test reports, emphasizing the mean value of respirable dust concentration and specifics if test cycle durations are extended.

Applications

Adopting IEC 63241-2-6:2023 offers significant practical benefits across several domains:

• Manufacturers of Hand-Held Hammers

  • Enables alignment of product development and validation with recognized international standards.
  • Assists in substantiating claims regarding dust emission control and compliance with workplace health regulations.

• Testing and Certification Laboratories

  • Provides a standardized method for assessing hand-held hammers, ensuring consistency and repeatability in dust measurement results.
  • Supports laboratories in offering third-party validation and safety certification services for electric motor-operated tools.

• Regulatory Authorities and Safety Inspectors

  • IEC 63241-2-6:2023 can be referenced in regulatory frameworks to set minimum requirements for dust control performance of hand-held hammers, helping to enhance worker safety and environmental compliance.

• Occupational Health and Safety Professionals

  • Supports effective risk assessment and management by providing scientifically-grounded measurement techniques for tool-generated dust.

Related Standards

IEC 63241-2-6:2023 forms part of a broader set of international standards for electric motor-operated tools and dust measurement:

• IEC 63241-1:2023 - General requirements for dust measurement procedures for motor-operated tools.
• EN 10080:2005 - Relevant for specifications on steel reinforcement in concrete used during test procedures.
• Other parts of the IEC 63241 series - Covering particular requirements for additional categories of electric power tools and associated dust measurement methods.

By integrating IEC 63241-2-6:2023 into manufacturing and quality control practices, organizations demonstrate commitment to international best practices regarding dust emissions from hand-held hammers, aligning with global safety, health, and performance expectations. For the most current information on this and related standards, the official IEC Webstore remains the authoritative source.