September 15, 2022
The third edition of UL 60335-2-24, the Standard for Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – Safety – Part 2-24: Particular Requirements for Refrigerating Appliances, Ice-Cream Appliances and Ice-Makers, was published on July 29.
The third edition works in conjunction with the sixth edition of UL 60335-1, the Standard for Safety of Household and Similar Appliances, Part 1: General Requirements, dated Oct. 31, 2016.
As a safety science leader, UL Solutions facilitates the development of standards such as UL 60335-2-24, which establishes requirements for protection against a variety of hazards that can result from normal use — electrical, mechanical, thermal, fire, radiation — as well as certain abnormal situations that might also occur. Establishing consistent requirements to address current hazards plays an important role in supporting safer products in the marketplace.
The updated version of UL 60335-2-24 includes several key changes:
- Moisture resistance – Two new spillage tests were added to assess the potential for egress of moisture into the appliance. Both involve volumes of liquid, including a rinse agent spilled in the refrigerated cabinet and onto the exterior top of the appliance. The tests assess the potential effect on electrical insulation, which, when defeated or disrupted, can lead to electric shock incidents. Adding the rinse agent into the test simulates various cleaning mixtures used in practice. It is more aggressive than water alone, allowing the solution to access smaller areas around electrical insulation.
- Abnormal operation – New tests were added for ice makers and ice cream appliances. These tests are intended to limit hazards resulting from potential faults that can occur during normal use. Examples include timer stop, magnetic valve failure, operation with an empty container, and open-circuited or short-circuited components.
- In refrigerating appliances, thermal insulation is typically an extremely flammable material that requires protection against ignition sources. Therefore, specific guidelines for materials in contact with thermal insulation now include requirements for one of the following:
- Metallic materials having a thickness not less than 0.2 mm and having a melting point temperature not less than 1,000°C
- A polymeric material classified as 5VA is allowable, provided that the test sample used for the classification is not thicker than the relevant part of the appliance.
- A single layer of non-polymeric material that has undergone testing per the new Annex EE
- A material with multiple layers, at least one of which is non-polymeric, tested in accordance with the new Annex EE