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IEC 62115:2017 — Electric Toys — Safety
Standard Snapshot: IEC 62115:2017 (2nd edition) establishes safety requirements for electric toys, covering everything from small button-battery-powered lights to large ride-on toys. The standard addresses electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical radiation hazards, with significant updates to battery safety and LED optical radiation requirements.
1. Scope and Structure
IEC 62115:2017 applies to all electric toys powered by electricity (battery or mains) with a rated voltage not exceeding 24 V DC or 24 V AC. The standard covers toys intended for children of all age groups, with requirements tailored to the specific risks associated with each toy type. It works in conjunction with ISO 8124 (mechanical safety of toys) and the general toy safety framework.
The second edition (2017) introduced significant technical changes including revised test conditions, updated battery compartment requirements, enhanced warnings for button/coin batteries, and a completely revised Annex E covering safety of toys incorporating optical radiation sources (particularly LEDs).
| Hazard Category | Key Requirements | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Power input | Input limits to prevent overheating | Clause 8 |
| Heating & abnormal operation | Temperature rise limits, fault conditions | Clause 9 |
| Electric strength | Dielectric withstand test 500-1500 V | Clause 10 |
| Mechanical strength | Drop test, impact test, stress relief | Clause 12 |
| Optical radiation (LEDs) | Accessible emission limits per AEL | Annex E |
| Battery accessibility | Tool-required compartment for accessible batteries | Clause 13.4 |
2. Battery Safety — A Major Focus
2.1 Button/Coin Battery Requirements
The 2017 edition introduced stringent requirements for toys containing button or coin batteries, driven by the serious injury risk (esophageal burns, choking) associated with ingestion. Key requirements include:
- Battery compartments must be secured with a tool (screwdriver) or require two independent simultaneous movements to open
- Warning markings on the toy, packaging, and instructions
- Compliance with IEC 60086-4 (safety of lithium batteries) for lithium button cells
Critical Safety Note: Button and coin batteries (particularly lithium 3 V types such as CR2032) can cause severe internal burns within 2 hours of ingestion. The 2017 edition’s enhanced compartment security requirements and warnings reflect this serious hazard. The standard specifically requires the warning text “Contains a button/coin battery — danger of ingestion — keep out of reach of children.”
2.2 Battery Charging and Leakage
Clause 13.4 also addresses secondary (rechargeable) batteries, requiring that charging circuits prevent overcharging and that batteries are not charged when installed in a toy in the normal play configuration unless specifically designed for charging in place.
| Battery Type | Water Quantity Added | Test Duration |
|---|---|---|
| R20 (D cell) × 1 | 5 ml | 24 h |
| R20 (D cell) × 2 | 8 ml | 24 h |
| R6 (AA cell) × 1 | 2.5 ml | 24 h |
3. Optical Radiation Safety (Annex E)
Annex E provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the safety of toys containing optical radiation sources, with particular focus on LEDs. The standard recognizes four types of optical hazards: UV, blue light, retinal thermal, and infrared. For each, Accessible Emission Limits (AEL) are defined.
The standard notably permits the use of LED manufacturer technical data sheets as an alternative to performing measurements directly, provided the data is conservative (i.e., represents worst-case conditions including temperature effects and manufacturing tolerances).
Engineering Insight: The introduction of data-sheet-based compliance assessment (Annex E) was a pragmatic response to the challenge of testing LED optical radiation in toys. Since LED output varies with temperature, drive current, and manufacturing batch, relying solely on type testing is insufficient. The standard’s acceptance of manufacturer data sheets, with appropriate safety factors, provides a more robust compliance framework.
4. Temperature Rise and Abnormal Operation
Clause 9 addresses temperature rise limits for accessible parts under normal and abnormal operating conditions. The limits vary by material type and whether the part is held, touched, or merely accessible during play. The standard also includes a flowchart-based decision process (Annex K) to guide the application of abnormal condition testing.
| Accessible Part | Maximum Temperature Rise (°C) |
|---|---|
| Metal surfaces held during normal use | 25 |
| Glass or ceramic surfaces held during normal use | 30 |
| Plastic surfaces held during normal use | 35 |
| Surfaces touched during normal use | 45 |
| Enclosure surfaces (not normally touched) | 55 |
5. Engineering Design Insights
- Reduced testing criteria: Clause 6 introduces criteria for reduced testing based on toy classification (voltage, power, construction type). Toys operating at ≤ 1.5 V DC with limited power can qualify for significantly reduced testing, which is a practical consideration for low-cost toy production.
- Protective electronic circuits (PEC): Annex D provides requirements for PECs that replace traditional safety components (e.g., thermal fuses, PTCs). This allows more sophisticated safety functions but requires reliability verification.
- Remote control safety (Annex J): The 2017 edition added requirements for remote controls of ride-on toys, addressing the risk of loss of control due to interference or battery depletion.
Pro Tip: For toy manufacturers, the reduced testing provisions in Clause 6 can significantly lower certification costs for simple toys (e.g., single-LED novelties, basic sound-making toys). However, the conservative approach is to fully test any toy that could be given to a child under 3 years old, as the reduced testing criteria do not apply to toys intended for this age group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What changed in the 2017 edition compared to the 2003 edition?
Major changes include: revised test conditions (Clause 5), modified reduced testing criteria (Clause 6), enhanced button battery warnings (Clause 7), updated battery accessibility requirements (Clause 13.4), complete rewrite of optical radiation requirements (Annex E), and new requirements for ride-on toy remote controls (Annex J).
Q2: How does the standard address LED toys and potential eye hazards?
Annex E establishes Accessible Emission Limits for LEDs based on the ICNIRP exposure guidelines. The standard classifies optical hazards into four groups (UV, blue light, retinal thermal, IR) and provides AEL tables in both radiometric (W/sr) and photometric (cd) units.
Q3: What torque must battery compartment screws withstand?
Clause 16/Table 3 specifies torque values: 0.4 N·m for screws with nominal diameter < 3 mm, 0.5 N·m for 3-4 mm screws, and 0.8 N·m for screws ≥ 4 mm. These torques are applied during the screw and connection tests to verify adequate fastening.
Q4: Are toys with electromagnetic field (EMF) sources covered by the standard?
Yes, Annex I (informative) provides measurement methods for toys with integrated field sources generating EMF, such as wireless charging coils or RFID components. However, the standard notes that formal EMF limits remain under study, and Annex I serves as guidance rather than mandatory requirements.
