EN IEC 60730 Automatic Electrical Controls

The “EN IEC 60730 Automatic electrical controls” standard, developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and later published as a European standard within the scope of harmonization efforts, consists of the following sub-sections published under the same title:

• The standard “EN IEC 60730-1 Part 1: General requirements” applies to automatic electrical controls used in, on or in connection with household appliances and similar equipment. This standard applies to:
• The inherent safety of automatic electrical controls.
• Functional safety of automatic electrical controls and safety-related systems.
• Controls where the product's performance (e.g., the impact of EMC events) could negatively affect the overall safety and performance of the controlled system.
• Equipment safety-related operational values, operating times, and operating sequences.

This standard contains the requirements for the design, operation, and testing of automated electrical controls used in, on, or in connection with equipment.

• “The EN IEC 60730-2 standard is a critical part of the IEC 60730 family of international safety standards, focusing specifically on automatic electrical controls used in household and similar appliances (e.g., washing machines, refrigerators, ovens, air conditioners, water heaters, etc.).”

This standard is not a single standard, but rather a series of sub-sections that complement the general requirements of the EN IEC 60730-1 standard. These standards cover specific types of automatic control:

• EN IEC 60730-2-2 Specific requirements for thermal engine protectors.
• EN IEC 60730-2-3 Specific requirements for thermal protectors for ballasts of tube-type fluorescent lamps.
• EN IEC 60730-2-4 Specific temperatures for thermal protectors for ballasts of tube-type fluorescent lamps.
• EN IEC 60730-2-5 Specific requirements for automatic electric burner control systems.
• EN IEC 60730-2-6 Specific requirements for automatic electrical pressure sensing control systems, including mechanical requirements.
• EN IEC 60730-2-7 Specific requirements for timers and timer switches.
• EN IEC 60730-2-8 Specific requirements for electrically operated water valves, including mechanical requirements.
• EN IEC 60730-2-9 Specific requirements for temperature sensing control.
• EN IEC 60730-2-10 Specific requirements for motor starting relays.
• EN IEC 60730-2-11 Specific requirements for energy regulators.
• EN IEC 60730-2-12 Specific requirements for electrically operated door locks.
• EN IEC 60730-2-13 Specific requirements for humidity sensing control systems.
• EN IEC 60730-2-14 Specific requirements for electric actuators.
• EN IEC 60730-2-15 Specific requirements for automatic electric airflow, waterflow and water level sensing control systems.
• EN IEC 60730-2-16 Specific requirements for float-type automatic electric water level control systems for household and similar applications.
• EN IEC 60730-2-21 Specific requirements for storage water heaters.
• EN IEC 60730-2-22 Specific requirements for thermal engine protectors.
• EN IEC 60730-2-23 Specific requirements for electrical sensors and sensing elements.
• EN IEC 60730-2-24 Specific requirements for displacement electrical controls.
• EN IEC 60730-2-25 Specific requirements for current sensing controls.

Manufacturers of household and similar electrical appliances in the European Union are required to comply with the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU and, more commonly, the Machinery Directive or the Gas Appliances Regulation. The use of controls certified according to the relevant EN IEC 60730-2-X standard is one of the most common ways to demonstrate compliance with essential safety requirements.

The fundamental safety concepts in the EN IEC 60730-2-X standards are as follows:

• Control classes (Class A, B, C): Class B is generally required for controls that prevent unsafe operation of equipment (e.g., thermal circuit breakers).
• Software classification for programmable electronic controllers (Class A, B, C).
• Protection against electric shock, moisture, mechanical hazards, and extreme temperatures.
• Failure/failure conditions to be considered (single failure tolerance for safety-critical functions).
• EMC immunity requirements specific to the control function.

These standards are generally used by:

• Home appliance manufacturers
• Control component suppliers
• Test organizations
• Certification bodies

EN IEC 60730 standards are among the most important functional safety standards for household and similar electrical appliances worldwide. These standards are considered important for the following reasons:

• Legal requirement for market access: In European Union countries, compliance with these standards is the primary way to prove conformity with the essential safety requirements of the low voltage directive 2014/35/EU and sometimes also the machinery directive or the gas appliances regulation. Using a control certified according to a harmonized standard provides a presumption of conformity and significantly simplifies CE marking.
• They cover the functional safety of controls: Unlike general product standards (e.g., IEC 60335-1 standard for household appliances), the IEC 60730 standard focuses specifically on the automatic electrical controls inside the appliance (thermostats, timers, pressure switches, flow sensors, electronic boards, software, etc.). This ensures that the appliance operates safely or, at worst, remains safe (preventing fire, electric shock, explosion) in the event of a control failure.
• Introduces the safety classification (Class A, B, C):
• Class A: Not critical from a safety perspective (e.g., a light indicating the device is on).
• Class B: Prevents unsafe operation (most thermal circuit breakers, door locks, water level sensors, burner controls).
• Class C: Very rare, prevents specific hazards such as explosions (e.g., some gas burner controls).

Class B and C controls must remain reliable even in the event of a single failure and require much more rigorous design and testing.

• Global acceptance and supply chain efficiency: Almost every major home appliance manufacturer and control device manufacturer designs and certifies according to the EN IEC 60730 standard. A control device with EN IEC 60730 certification is accepted worldwide.
• It reduces real-life fire and electric shock hazards: Statistics from fire departments and insurance companies show that many household appliance fires start because faulty controls allow continuous heating. A properly certified thermal breaker or electronic control unit should be able to withstand many fault conditions (such as overvoltage, short circuit, motor blockage, lack of airflow) without creating a hazard.

In conclusion, EN IEC 60730 standards are the cornerstone of functional safety for automatic electrical controls in household appliances in Europe and much of the world. Choosing the correct standard and ensuring the control is tested and certified accordingly is often a mandatory step for CE marking and market access.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its customers, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services to businesses in accordance with the "EN IEC 60730 Automatic electrical controls" standard.