Full Description

This clause of Part 1 is replaced by the following.

This part of IEC 60335 deals with the safety of microwave appliances intended for commercial use, their rated voltage being not more than 250 V for single-phase appliances connected between one phase and neutral and 480 V for other appliances.

As far as is practicable, this standard deals with the common hazards presented by these types of appliances.

Appliances covered by this standard incorporate an open-ended applicator (as example an overview is given in Figure 103) for treatment of the load. They are divided into three types:
– with insertion applicator, typically for moisture removal by insertion into holes in floors, walls or ceilings (an example is given in Figure 106);
– with large area contacting applicator, typically for drying of floors, walls or ceilings (examples are given in Figure 104 and Figure 105);
– with small area contacting applicator, typically for paint removal and spot-heating (an example is given in Figure 107).

Microwave appliances with insertion applicator, large area contacting applicator or small area contacting applicator are using electromagnetic energy in one or several of the ISM frequency bands between 300 MHz and 30 GHz, for supplying energy to an external load which is heated so that a resulting process of drying, moisture transport which can result in forces due to formation of steam, decomposition or chemical modification, melting, or termination of organisms such as bacteria or fungus occurs.

NOTE 101 ISM frequency bands are the electromagnetic frequencies established by the ITU and reproduced in CISPR 11.

NOTE 102 Food and beverages are not loads in the meaning of this standard.

Appliances with insertion applicator and with large area contacting applicator are portable appliances. Appliances with small area contacting applicator are handheld appliances.

Appliances that use non-electrical energy are within the scope of this standard. The microwave-related portion is considered motor-operated.

The rationales for the microwave barrier and associated leakage tests are described in informative Annex AA.

Attention is drawn to the fact that
– these appliances can radiate microwave energy outside a restricted area where they are used. The additional requirements specified by national authorities responsible for the protection for non-ionising radiation that the limit of power flux density is 10 W/m2, averaged over any time period of 6 min, outside this restricted area is taken into consideration in this standard;
– these appliances are intended to exclusively treat the load in normal operation, i.e. this standard does not apply to appliances or systems employing free space microwave propagation;
– for appliances intended to be used in tropical countries, special requirements can be necessary;
– in many countries, additional requirements are specified by the national health authorities, and national authorities responsible for the protection of labour and for non-ionising radiation protection.

This standard does not apply to
– household microwave ovens, including combination microwave ovens (IEC 60335-2-25);
– commercial microwave ovens with a cavity door, commercial combination microwave ovens with a cavity door and commercial microwave ovens without a cavity door and with transportation means (IEC 60335-2-90);
– industrial microwave heating equipment (IEC 60519-6);
– appliances for medical purposes (IEC 60601-1);
– appliances and equipment for laboratory use (IEC 61010 series);
– appliances intended to be used in locations where special conditions prevail, such as the presence of a corrosive or explosive atmosphere (dust, vapour or gas);

Some of the specifications and tests in this standard are not applicable for other than 2 450 MHz appliances.