IEC 60335-2-25:2020

Overview

IEC 60335-2-25:2020 - Part 2-25 of the IEC 60335 series - is the international safety standard for household and similar microwave ovens, including combination microwave ovens. This seventh edition (2020) is a technical revision that replaces the 2010 edition and its amendments. It applies to appliances with a rated voltage not exceeding 250 V and is intended to be used together with IEC 60335-1 (the general requirements for household appliance safety).

The standard covers typical household appliances and those used by laymen in shops, light industry or farms, and includes normative annexes for combination microwave ovens (Annex AA) and microwave ovens intended for use on board ships (Annex BB). It does not apply to commercial, industrial, medical, or specially conditioned-location ovens (see IEC 60335-2-90, IEC 60519-6, IEC 60601).

Key topics and technical requirements

IEC 60335-2-25 supplements Part 1 and focuses on hazards and test requirements specific to microwave ovens. Main topics include:

• Construction and mechanical strength - door interlocks, enclosure integrity and stability to prevent mechanical hazards.
• Radiation, leakage control and measurement - requirements to limit microwave energy emission and methods to verify leakage during and after tests.
• Electrical safety - leakage current, dielectric strength, transient overvoltages, internal wiring, components and terminals.
• Heating, thermal and fire resistance - safe operation under normal and abnormal heating conditions; resistance to heat and ignition.
• Moisture resistance and environmental tests - to ensure safe function in typical household conditions.
• Abnormal operation and endurance tests - verification of safety under foreseeable misuse or fault conditions.
• Marking, instructions and user information - labeling and warnings for safe installation, use, maintenance and servicing.
• Specific provisions - simultaneous activation of heating elements and motors, scope exclusions, and national deviations (some countries specify different measurement or leakage limits).

Practical applications - who uses this standard

IEC 60335-2-25 is essential for:

• Appliance manufacturers designing household and combination microwave ovens
• Compliance engineers and product safety teams preparing technical files for market entry
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing type and routine testing
• Regulators and conformity assessment organizations setting national requirements
• Design and reliability engineers addressing construction, wiring, and radiation safety

Using this standard helps ensure products meet international safety expectations, reduce recall risk, and facilitate market access.

Related standards and notes

• Must be used in conjunction with IEC 60335-1 (general requirements).
• Not applicable to commercial, industrial, or medical microwave equipment - see IEC 60335-2-90, IEC 60519-6, IEC 60601.
• National deviations exist; manufacturers should check local rules (e.g., leakage measurement or installation restrictions in some countries).

Keywords: IEC 60335-2-25, microwave ovens safety standard, combination microwave ovens, household appliance safety, microwave leakage, IEC 60335-1, appliance compliance, testing and certification.