Switches for appliances - Part 1: General requirements

This part of IEC 61058 applies to switches for appliances. The switches are intended to control electrical appliances and other equipment for household or similar purposes with a rated voltage not exceeding 480 V and a rated current not exceeding 63 A.

Switches for appliances are intended to be operated by

– A person via an actuating member
– Indirect actuation
– An actuating sensing unit.

Transmission of a signal between the actuating member or sensing unit and the switch may be connected by optical, acoustic, thermal, electrical or other relevant connection and may include remote controlled units.

This part of IEC 61058 applies to switches for appliances provided with additional control functions governed by the switch provided with electronic circuits and devices that are necessary for the intended and/or correct operation of the switch.

This part of IEC 61058 applies to circuitry when evaluated with a switch and necessary for the switching function.

This part of IEC 61058 applies in general to switches for appliances in conjunction with the following parts:

– Part 1-1: Requirements for mechanical switches, and/or
– Part 1-2: Requirements for electronic switches.

This part of IEC 61058 does not apply to devices covered by:

– IEC 60669 (all parts), Switches for household and similar fixed-electrical installations, and
– IEC 60730 (all parts), Automatic electrical controls.

This part of IEC 61058 does not contain requirements for safety isolating switches (IEC 60050-811:1991, 811-29-17).

NOTE 1 For switches used in tropical climates, additional requirements may be necessary.

NOTE 2 Attention is drawn to the fact that the end product standards for appliances may contain additional or alternative requirements for switches.

NOTE 3 Throughout this part of IEC 61058, the word appliance means appliance or equipment.

1DV.1 D2 Modification of Clause 1 to add the following to indicate which switches do not apply:

These requirements do not cover switches that are covered by an existing standard such as those constructed so that they can be installed readily in a flush-device box intended to be used in a wiring system that complies with CSA C22.1 and NFPA 70. This part does not apply to switches intended to be covered within the scope of CSA C22.2 No. 111, UL 20, CSA C22.2 No. 4, UL 98, CSA C22.2 No. 205, or UL 773A.

1DV.2 D2 Modification of Clause 1 to add the following note:

NOTE 4 The term earthing as used in this standard relates to bonding.