IEC 60456

IEC 60456:2024 specifies methods for measuring the performance of electric washing machines for household use, with or without heating devices, and utilising cold and/or hot water supply, including those which specify the use of no detergent for normal use. It is also applicable to washing machines for communal use in blocks of flats or in launderettes and to electrical household appliances for both washing and drying textiles (household washer-dryers) with respect only to their washing related functions. It also deals with electrical appliances for water extraction by centrifugal force (spin extractors).
Household washer-dryer combined performance is assessed to IEC 62512.
Household tumble dryer performance is assessed to IEC 61121.
The object is to state and define the performance characteristics of household washing machines, the washing related functions of washer-dryers and water extraction function of spin extractors, and to describe the test methods for measuring these characteristics.
This document does not apply to washing machines for commercial use such as in commercial laundries.
The preparation of methods for measuring the performance of washing machines for commercial use is under evaluation.
This document does not specify the acoustical noise measurement for household washing machines.
Acoustical noise measurements and evaluation for household washing machines are specified in IEC 60704-1, IEC 60704-2-4 and IEC 60704-3.
This document is not intended to be used for the comparative evaluation of detergents.
This sixth edition cancels and replaces the fifth edition published in 2010 and its Amendment 1:2022. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) Title changed from previous edition to more accurately describe application: "Washing machines for household use – Methods for measuring the performance".
b) Separation of the test method results from the number of test runs in a test series, with the independence of each test run or test series, allowing different test classes to be evaluated.
c) Introduction of a new standard powder detergent IEC-P, that substitutes the standard powder detergent IEC-A* by replacing sodium perborate with sodium percarbonate, for a better correlation with market offerings and in line with health/safety recommendations. Introduction of the new standard liquid detergents IEC-L and of the new wool standard detergent IEC-W with associated dosage instructions.
d) Introduction of new measurement and evaluation methods for:
- wool cleaning performance,
- LAS rinsing performance,
- gentleness of action,
- low power mode consumption,
- temperature inside the washload,
- intermittently recurring functions,
- cold water washing machines,
- replacing washing performance by cleaning performance.
e) Addition of alternative ambient conditions for conditioning of the test load with associated correction factors.
f) Extension of the description of the washing machine loading, up to and beyond 25 kg of cotton test load, and introduction of a new mixed polyester-cotton load.
g) Addition of the necessary definitions, measurement, and calculation methods for the evaluation of multi-compartment washing machines.
h) Relocation of supplementary information to the IEC free-access supporting documents dashboard: reference machine maintenance information, test materials supplier information, expanded uncertainty values and any other pertinent information for the general public.