Overview
IEC 60705:2010/AMD2:2018 is the second amendment to the international standard IEC 60705, which establishes the methods for measuring the performance of household microwave ovens. Published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 2018, this amendment updates definitions, test procedures, and measurement methods to ensure consistency and accuracy in evaluating microwave oven performance. It applies to microwave ovens for household use, including models with grills and combination microwave ovens. The standard focuses on the key performance characteristics relevant to consumers, specifying how these should be measured under standardized conditions.
Key Topics
- Scope and Applicability: Covers household microwave ovens capable of accommodating loads with minimum dimensions (diameter ≥ 200 mm, height ≥ 120 mm). Excludes safety requirements and ovens that use conventional heating alone.
- Definitions: Updates include clear definitions of microwave ovens, combination microwave ovens, microwave functions, and ovens with grill functions. This ensures uniform terminology across testing methods.
- Performance Measurement Methods:
- Microwave power output
- Usable cavity dimensions and volume
- Heating efficiency and energy consumption
- Specific heating tests for beverages, simulated foods, and selected recipes (e.g., sponge cake, meatloaf, potato gratin)
- Multiple beaker test replacing earlier multiple cup test to assess heating uniformity
- Measurement of energy consumption during microwave function and low power modes
- Test Load Specifications: Detailed prescriptions for test objects, containers, and food samples to standardize experimental conditions.
- Energy Consumption: Procedures for measuring energy consumption during cooking cycles and standby or low power modes, allowing for assessment of device efficiency.
Applications
- Manufacturers: Use this standard to design, test, and certify microwave ovens ensuring compliance with international performance benchmarks.
- Quality Control: Enables manufacturers and testing laboratories to perform repeatable, standardized performance tests to validate appliance specifications and claims.
- Consumers and Retailers: Provides reliable data for product comparison, empowering informed purchasing decisions based on proven performance attributes such as power output, efficiency, and heating effectiveness.
- Regulatory Bodies: Supports the enforcement of performance and energy efficiency regulations related to household microwave ovens on national and international levels.
- Research and Development: Assists in benchmarking new microwave oven technologies and hybrid cooking functions involving grills or steam, promoting innovation within prescribed standards.
Related Standards
- IEC 60335-2-25 and IEC 60335-2-90: Safety standards for household microwave ovens addressing electrical and operational safety.
- IEC 60350-1:2016: Covers household electric cooking appliances including ranges, ovens, steam ovens, and grills, providing complementary definitions and performance measurement methods.
- IEC 60350: Relates to conventional cooking appliances with heating elements, distinct from microwave technology.
- Additional IEC standards for electrotechnical terminology and testing procedures, accessible via the IEC Electropedia and IEC Webstore.
This amendment reinforces the consistent assessment of household microwave ovens and their evolving cooking technologies by establishing rigorous, clear, and practical measurement methodologies. Adherence to IEC 60705:2010/AMD2:2018 ensures products meet performance expectations and energy efficiency requirements, benefiting manufacturers, consumers, and regulators worldwide.
