1. Electrical safety and performances for household refrigerators
Fabio Gargantini IECEE Lead Assessor
IECEE Workshop August 26 & 27
Nairobi - Kenya

2. Summary
Safety and performance aspects of household refrigerating appliances
Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances
Building a Testing Laboratory for safety and performance tests of refrigerating appliances

3. Safety and performance aspects of household refrigerating appliances

4. Standards on safety and performance of household refrigerators
Why a standard is needed
To give a common harmonized approach to the evaluation and testing of a product
To be used as common reference for the producer, the laboratory, the client, the Regulators, the Market surveillance Authorities
To serve as reference for the international trade and acceptance of products worldwide

5. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Refrigerators are covered by ​​IEC Edition 7.1:2012
IEC supplements or modifies IEC Edition 5:2010
Appliances covered:
refrigerators for household and similar use
ice-makers with motor-compressor and ice-makers incorporated in frozen food storage compartments
refrigerating appliances and ice-makers for use in camping, touring caravans and boats for leisure purposes.

6. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Examples of appliances NOT covered by IEC :
motor-compressors (IEC );
appliances intended to be used in the open air
appliances designed exclusively for industrial purposes
appliances with remote motor-compressors;
commercial dispensing appliances and vending appliances (IEC );
commercial refrigerators and freezers (IEC );
commercial ice-cream appliances.

7. Safety of refrigerating appliances
IEC covers safety requirements
IEC does not cover:
Performances and energy efficiency
Fitness for use
RoHs
PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
WEEE

8. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Main risks covered by IEC Series :
Risks of electrical origin: access to live parts or parts that may be live in case of faults
Risks due to contacts with hot accessible surfaces
Risks due to access to moving parts
Risks due to flames and fire

9. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Main points of IEC
Scope and definition
Instructions and marking
Accessibility to live parts
Heating and abnormal use
Construction: grounding connections, resistance of materials
Protection to penetration of liquids or solids
Insulation distances
Resistance to fire/no spread of flames

10. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Accessibility to live parts (Cl. 8)
Accessibility to live parts with a test finger to verify if no active parts are accessible
For Class II appliances, only double or reinforced insulation can be touched by the test pin (pin 15 mm long, with 3 mm diameter).

11. Safety of refrigerating appliances
How the test is carried out?

12. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Examples of different probes for accessibility to live parts (Cl. 8)

13. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Heating test (Cl.11)
Scope: to verifiy that temperatures of accessible surface and components are within limit prescribed for the specific material
Test set-up: appliances installed in a test corner and thermocouples positioned in the relevant parts of the appliance (e.g. components, accessible surfaces, plastic materials, wiring)
Appliances supplied and temperatures measured with appropriate equipment & instruments

14. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Protection against moisture (Cl.15)
Scope: to verifiy that penetration of water does not cause reduction in creepage and clearances
Test set-up: appliances subjected to water penetration
Product under test a luminaire, but test set-up is the same !
The results of the test:

15. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Abnormal use (Cl.19)
Scope: to verifiy that non operation of temperature control devices, or overload, or EMC phenomena, or failures in components, do not cause safety problems
Test set-up: appliances subjected to consequences of unwished situations (e.g shortcircuit of thermostats)
Some results of the test :

16. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Stability Test (Cl.20)
Scope: to verify that overturning of the product does not cause safety problems
Test set-up: appliance placed on an inclined plane

17. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Mechhanical resistance (Cl.21)
Scope: to verifiy that product resists to impacts
Test set-up: appliance subjected to impacts with impact hammer

18. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Supply connection (Cl.25 & 26)
Scope: to verifiy that means for connection to supply are suitable
Tests: verification of terminals and supply cable subject to pull and push force

19. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Provision for earthing (Cl.27)
Scope: to verifiy that means for earthing are suitable
Tests: verification of suitability of earth connection

20. Safety of refrigerating appliances
Resistance to heat and fire (Cl.30)
Scope: to verify that plastic materials have adequate characteristics to avoid deformation or leakages or spread of fire
Tests carried out:
Ball pressure
CTI
Current Tracking Index
Glow Wire

21. Performance and noise emission of household refrigerators
Covered by ​​IEC Ed for performances and IEC Ed for noise Emission
​​IEC is a stand alone standard
IEC is a part 2 of EN Ed and shall be read with Ed
Appliances covered by IEC and IEC : all refrigerators for household and similar use

22. Performance and noise emission of household refrigerators
Appliances NOT covered by IEC and IEC
ice-makers with motor-compressor and ice-makers incorporated in frozen food storage compartments
appliances designed exclusively for industrial purposes
appliances with remote motor-compressors;
commercial dispensing appliances and vending appliances
commercial refrigerators and freezers
commercial ice-cream appliances.

23. News on standard for performance of household refrigerators
IEC under significant revision process
CDV circulated in May 2013
Comments by August 2013
By end 2013 it should be possible to release an FDIS, depending on comments from NCs
New Edition should be published in 2014

24. Why a new edition
Variety of standards used worldwide linked to regional regulatory measures, such as energy labelling.
Revision aims at a global acceptance and application.
The new Edition will have very significant changes and major improvements.
Revision is in fact an integration of different worldwide standards into one

25. New Standard on Performance of household refrigerators
IEC , Definitions and General conditions for testing:
IEC : Determination of linear dimensions, volumes and areas - Energy consumption test
IEC : Other checks
air-tightness of doors, lids or drawer seals
opening force of doors or lids
durability of doors, lids and drawers
mechanical strength of shelves and similar components
storage temperatures, temperature rise test
freezing test
ice-making test
cooling test (not in 1st Edition)

26. New Standard on performance of household refrigerators
Energy consumption tests:
Performed with the appliance in empty condition rather than loaded with test packages
Significant reduction of the uncertainty in the test result is expected
The thermal capacity of frozen food compartments is reduced, the testing time will be shortened.

27. New Standard on performance of household refrigerators
Energy consumption test
Performed at two ambient temperatures (16 and 32 °C instead of only at 25 °C)
Rated energy consumption calculated by a combination of the results at 16 and 32 °C
The weighting factor to be defined and can be different depending on the world region
Fresh food compartment temperature reduced to 4 °C

28. New Standard on performance of household refrigerators
Energy consumption test:
A new adaptive test algorithm defines the time needed for a stable and reproducible test
Test time reduced from a 70 ÷ 120 h to 10 ÷ 30 h
Very short test times for regular behaving products
Test time automatically increases for products having an irregular control behavior
Algorithm is also applicable to frost-free appliances
This new procedure will reduce the uncertainty and the costs of the tests

29. New Standard on performance of household refrigerators
Temperature performance testing
Storage temperature tests still performed with packages
The warmest package in frozen food compartments must meet the -18 °C to guarantee proper conservation
Load scheme drastically simplified using only 0.5 kg packages
A new cooling capacity performance test introduced for fresh food compartments

30. New Standard on performance of household refrigerators
Due to changes in reference temperatures, ambient temperatures and procedures, changes to the rated energy consumption are evident for all products
Rated energy consumption of refrigerators-only will increase
Rated energy consumption of frozen food compartments will decrease
Combination appliances will be between these two extremes.

31. New Standard on performance of household refrigerators
The new energy consumption values can be matched reasonably to the current values, though actual values will be different for every product

32. Related parameters in a test under EEE Scheme
Volume
Noise
Temperature
Rising
Time
Storage
Freezing
capacity
Energy-
consumption

33. The impact of the new standard
As the new global standard significantly differs from the current standard, many questions may arise. Points to be addressed: 1. The change in rated energy consumption of a series of appliances in various categories as a function of the weighing factor 2. The effect on the uncertainty of the test results 3. Have ambiguities been effectively removed? 4. Effect on testing costs

34. The new standard in the international arena
High worldwide interest in the new IEC 62552
China new energy label will include the most important changes of the new standard (freezer unloaded, test at ambient temperature 16°C and 32°C, etc.)
2015 energy regulations in Australia/New Zealand will be based on the new global standard
Europe will consider the new standard in revision process of Ecodesign and Energy labelling Regulations

35. Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances

36. Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances
Demonstration that specified requirements (IEC Standards) relating to a product, process, system, person or body are fulfilled
Testing, inspection and certification are part of the concept of Conformity Assessment either as a stand alone activity or all together.

37. Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances under IECEE Scheme
IECEE is operating Third Party conformity assessment schemes Third-party conformity assessment activity is performed by a person or body that is independent from the person or organization that provides the product, and of users of that product. Criteria for the independence of conformity assessment bodies and accreditation bodies are provided in the International Standards and Guides applicable to their activities

38. Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances under IECEE Scheme
Safety
Category HOUS – Household and similar
equipment
Standars applied IEC and IEC
Performances and energy efficiency
Category E3
Standards applied IEC and IEC

39. Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances under IECEE Scheme
Products are tested to IEC standards with provision for supplementary testing for national differences, when relevant.
Reciprocal recognition of test results among all participating Certification Bodies simplifies the granting of certification or approval at national levels.
CB Test Certificates and associated Test Reports facilitate obtaining secondary certifications.

40. Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances under IECEE Scheme
Why a CB Certificate + Test Report
Quick testing and certification
Worldwide recognition
Accelerate Product Acceptance
Recognized by Regulators & Authorities
Accepted by Retailers and Buyers
Expanded markets
Faster TtM

41. IECEE Certificate and Test Report

42. Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances
IECEE CB-Scheme process
NCB
A Issues CB Test Certificate with Testing Report
Applicant
Application to the NCB A
Applicant receives CB Test Certificate and associated Test Report
NCB
A processes application and
CBTL
carries out the testing
CB Test Certificate + Test Report
Applicant sends documents to
NCB
B/C/D/n...
IEC
CBTL
A completes Testing to the
Standard +
National Difference
NCB
B/C/D/n.. processes the
received documents and grants its
certification marks)
CBTL
A Issues Test Report
NCB
A reviews and validates the
Test Report
Applicant is granted with
NCB
B/C/D/n.. certification mark
within 15 working days

43. Conformity Assessment of household refrigerating appliances
CB-Scheme Direct acceptance by the market place
Applicant request certificate for their product
Applicant receives CB Test Certificate and associated
Test Report
Application to the
NCB
NCB
processes application and assigns a
CBTL
to carry
out the testing
CB Test Certificate + Test Report
Applicant addresses
CB Test Certificate +Test Report to
Retailers, Buyers, vendors and National Regulatory Authority
CBTL
completes Testing to the
IEC
Standard + National Difference
Retailers, Buyers, vendors and
National Regulatory Authority
purchase
/accept the
CBTC /
CBTR to
allow access to their respective market
CBTL
Issues Test Report
NCB
receives and validates the
Test Report
NCB
Issues CB Test Certificate
Product can be sold in the relevant market

44. Building a Testing Laboratory for safety and performance tests of refrigerating appliances

45. Building a Testing Laboratory for safety and performance tests
What is important?
Quality system set-up according to ISO/IEC 17025
The key components for a good laboratory:
Testing apparatus
Measuring instruments and their calibration (CTL-OP 111)
Personnel
Procedures

46. Main test apparatus for safety tests
Suitable air conditioning throughout the whole lab
Suitable control of characteristics of supply voltage and frequency (CTL-OP 110)
Temperature controlled chambers
Environmental chamber min 93% humidity
Room for tests on materials (CTI, Glow Wire, Needle flame test)
IP Test apparatus

47. Main test equipment and measuring instruments for safety tests
Voltmeters. ammeters, multimeters, temperature recorders, scanners,
Thermocouples (CTL-OP 108 and 109)
Series of test probes for Cl. 8, 11, 20, 22
Leakage current meter, HV test supply, earth continuity tester
Force gauges, impact hammer, masses, inclined plan, torque screwdriver, water pressure test,
Ball pressure, needle flame
Critical consumable material (e.g. exhane, paper for GW, gas for needle flame)

48. Tests than can be subcontracted for safety tests
EMC tests (Cl )
Oxigen bomb test
Tests on components (e.g. on motor compressor, capacitors)
Coated printed circuit boards
Software evaluation
Vibration tests
Tests for flammable refrigerants

49. The CTL list of test equipment
For IEC
For IEC

50. Main test equipment and measuring instruments for performance tests
In addition to those required for safety tests:
Specific suitable control of characteristics of supply voltage and frequency (CTL-OP 110)
Specific temperature controlled room
Calibrater meter and ruler for volume measurements
Test packages
Device for durability of hinges of doors

51. Main test equipment and measuring instruments for noise tests
Suitable control of characteristics of supply voltage and frequency
Specific anechoic or reverberation room (very expensive)
Reference Sound Source (RSS)
High sensibility microphones
In most cases noise measurements are subcontracted

52. Main items for testing engineers and reviewers
University or technical school degree on electrotechnics, electronics, telecommunications
Theroetical and practical training and experience on tests according to the relevant standard(s)
Participation to standarisation activities
Knowledge of IECEE Scheme (e.g CTL DSHs, ODs, IEC ISs)

53. Thank you! Fabio Gargantini IECEE Lead Assessor
IECEE Workshop August 26 & 27
Nairobi - Kenya