IEC 60335-2-32:2019 PDF

Overview

IEC 60335-2-32:2019 - “Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-32: Particular requirements for massage appliances” is the fifth-edition IEC product-family standard that specifies safety requirements for electric massage appliances. It applies to household and similar appliances with rated voltages up to 250 V (single phase) and 480 V (other appliances). Typical products covered include foot massagers (including water-filled types), hand‑held massagers, massage beds, belts, chairs and pads. This edition updates and aligns the text with IEC 60335-1 (Ed.5) and introduces new/strengthened requirements for surface temperatures, stability and mechanical strength.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and exclusions
  • Covers appliances for household and similar use and those used by laymen in shops, light industry and farms.
  • Excludes purely industrial appliances, equipment for corrosive/explosive atmospheres, motor‑less electric foot‑care devices (see IEC 60335-2-23) and beauty‑care appliances covered by IEC 60335-2-115.
  • Notes that appliances used in vehicles, ships or aircraft may require additional requirements and that national health or labour authorities can impose extra rules.
• Voltage limits
  • Rated voltage not more than 250 V for single‑phase appliances and 480 V for other appliances.
• Harmonization with Part 1
  • To be used together with the latest edition of IEC 60335-1; Part 2-32 supplements or modifies Part 1 where necessary.
• Significant technical changes (2019)
  • Alignment with IEC 60335-1 Ed.5 and its amendments.
  • Conversion of a note to normative text (11.8).
  • Additional requirements for external accessible surface temperatures (Clause 11).
  • Alternative stability requirements for hand‑held appliances (20.2).
  • New mechanical strength test for hand‑held appliances (21.1, 21.101).
• Safety domains covered
  • Electrical shock, heating and surface temperature limits, stability and mechanical hazards, mechanical strength, leakage currents, endurance, abnormal operation and construction/complying components.

Applications - who uses this standard

• Manufacturers and product designers of massage appliances (chairs, beds, hand‑held units, foot massagers) use it to design safe products and prepare technical documentation.
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies apply the standard to perform safety testing and certification.
• Regulatory authorities and standards committees reference it for market surveillance and national adoption.
• Procurement, quality and safety engineers use it to verify supplier compliance and assess product risk.

Related standards

• IEC 60335-1 (General requirements for household and similar electrical appliances) - mandatory companion standard.
• IEC 60335-2-23 - electric foot care appliances without motors (excluded scope).
• IEC 60335-2-115 - electric appliances for beauty care (separate part).

Keywords: IEC 60335-2-32:2019, massage appliances safety standard, household electrical appliance safety, IEC 60335-1, surface temperature requirements, mechanical strength test, product conformity, appliance manufacturers.