On October 12, 2022, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) issued the standard IEC 60335-2-17:2022 Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances - Part 2-17: Particular Requirements for Electric Blankets, Electric Heating Pads, Electric Heating Clothes and Similar Flexible Heating Appliances. IEC 60335-2-17:2022 relates to the safety of electric blankets, electric pads, electric clothing and other flexible heating appliances used for household and similar purposes to heat beds or human bodies. The rated voltage does not exceed 250V, including DC powered appliances and battery driven appliances. This standard also applies to control elements supplied with appliances.
IEC issued the standard of electric blanket IEC 60335-2-17:2022
Instruments that are not for general household use but may cause danger to the public, such as those intended to be used in beauty salons or by people in cold environments, also fall within the scope of this standard.
Requirements and tests on electrothermal clothing are specified in the normative appendix CC.
In practical terms, this standard deals with the common risks caused by appliances encountered by all people in the residential and residential surrounding environment. However, in general, the following situations were not considered:
-People (including children) who cannot safely use electrical appliances without supervision or guidance due to limited physical, cognitive or intellectual level or lack of experience and knowledge;
-Children playing with equipment.
Children can use tools without supervision only when they have received sufficient guidance from their parents or guardians and are considered safe to use tools.
It is worth noting that:
-Additional requirements may be required for appliances used on vehicles, ships or aircraft;
-In many countries, additional requirements have been established by national health authorities, national authorities responsible for labour protection and similar authorities.
This standard does not apply to:
-Appliances used in special environments, such as places where corrosive or explosive gases (dust, steam or gaseous substances) exist;
-Rigid bed heaters, such as metal or ceramic beds;
-Water bed heaters (IEC 60335-2-66);
-Electric heaters for animal breeding and feeding (IEC 60,335-2-71);
-Foot warmers and heating pads (IEC 60335-2-81);
-Special appliances used by personnel in medical monitoring (IEC 60601-2-35);
-Heating carpet (IEC 60335-2-106).
This fourth edition constitutes a technical revision, canceling and replacing the third edition of the 2012 standard IEC 60335-2-17:2012, the revised IEC 60335-2-17:2012/AMD1:2015 and the revised IEC 60335-2-17:2012/AMD2:2019.
Compared with the previous version, the new version of the standard makes the following major technical changes:
a) Make it consistent with IEC 60335-1:2020 standard;
b) Convert individual notes into normative texts (Clause 1, 19.106, 21.103, 21.104, 21.110, 30.1, 30.102, Appendix BB, CC. 19.3);
c) The definition of control element (3.6.105) is clarified;
d) Modified the power supply voltage (5.12) of the adjustment appliance (except the controlled appliance) when the rated input power is multiplied by a factor;
e) The test for blankets that cannot be folded with five thicknesses is clarified (19.101);
f) Updated compliance standards to cover electrode damage (21.1);
g) The mattress test method based on stiffness index of elastic part (21.111.1, Appendix DD) is clarified;
h) The test requirements for non annular heating elements are specified (21.111.3);
i) Requirements for protecting users from overheating injury in case of interruption of main power supply (22.110) are added;
j) The pressure test method (30.1) of IEC 60320-1:2001 standard has been added;
k) The test method of fire resistance test (30.101.1, 30.102) has been updated.
Part 2 of this standard shall be used together with the latest version of IEC 60335-1 and its amendments, unless this version excludes it, in which case the latest version of other standards not excluding its use shall be used.
