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IEC TS 62835:2015 – Electric Toasters – Methods and Measurements for Improving Accessibility
🥂 IEC TS 62835 is a pioneering accessibility standard for household appliances. It provides the first dedicated framework for designing toasters that are usable by older persons and persons with disabilities, covering controls, markings, packaging, and mechanical aspects.
⚠️ This Technical Specification does not deal with safety issues. Safety requirements for toasters are covered separately by IEC 60335-2-9. TS 62835 focuses purely on accessibility and ergonomic design.
1. Scope and Sources of Accessibility Recommendations
IEC TS 62835:2015 contains accessibility recommendations for electric toasters to enable use by older persons and persons with disabilities. It applies ISO/IEC Guide 71 and ISO/TR 22411 to toaster design, providing test methods and data supporting accessible design. The standard covers household toasters and does not apply to professional use equipment.
Clause 4 identifies sources of accessibility recommendations, focusing on user characteristics (anthropometric data for older persons, reduced strength and dexterity, vision and cognitive considerations) and body measurements including hand length, finger length, hand width, fist width, and joint thickness (detailed in Annex A). These anthropometric data sets enable designers to match product features to real user capabilities.
2. Accessibility Assessment and Test Procedures
Clause 5 provides a comprehensive assessment framework. Tasks the user must carry out include: unpacking, lifting and carrying, placing the toaster, connecting power, operating controls (push buttons, knobs, levers, touch controls), inserting and removing bread, removing toasted items, cleaning crumb tray, and cord storage. Each task is assessed for accessibility with specific pass/fail criteria.
Clause 7 details extensive test procedures covering: printing and markings (contrast, font size minimum 5 mm for key markings), font style recommendations (sans-serif), information supplied with the toaster (instructions must be clear, available in alternative formats), mechanical aspects (layout of interactive parts, lifting force limits, crumb removal, power plug and cord), controls (push buttons, knobs with specified dimensions, levers, selection wheels, slide controls, touch controls), feedback mechanisms, markings, and packaging.
3. Engineering Design Insights for Accessible Toasters
For product designers, the standard provides quantitative design parameters. Controls: Cylindrical knobs should have diameter of 15-50 mm with height >= 5 mm. Bar-grip knobs need width >= 10 mm and height >= 5 mm. Push buttons require diameter >= 10 mm with actuation force of 1-10 N. Lever actuation force should not exceed 15 N. Visual: Minimum contrast ratio of 3:1 between markings and background. Font size for key operational markings should be at least 5 mm (x-height 3.5 mm). Force: Lifting and carrying force should not exceed 50 N for the loaded toaster. Power plug insertion/withdrawal force should not exceed 30 N.
These recommendations draw from ergonomics principles and anthropometric data from ISO/TR 22411. The standard represents a significant step toward universal design in small household appliances, enabling manufacturers to create products that serve the broadest possible user population.
Key Accessibility Design Parameters for Toasters
| Feature | Parameter | Requirement | Applicable Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push buttons | Diameter / Force | >=10 mm / 1-10 N | Clause 7.5.2 |
| Cylindrical knobs | Diameter / Height | 15-50 mm / >=5 mm | Clause 7.5.3 |
| Lever actuation | Maximum force | <=15 N | Clause 7.5.4 |
| Markings font size | Minimum height | >=5 mm (x-height 3.5 mm) | Clause 7.7.3 |
| Contrast ratio | Marking vs background | >=3:1 | Clause 7.2.2 |
| Lifting force | Loaded toaster | <=50 N | Clause 7.4.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who benefits from the accessibility recommendations in IEC TS 62835?
The primary target users are older persons and persons with disabilities. However, accessible design benefits all users – the principles of universal design mean that features improving accessibility often improve usability for everyone.
Q2: Does IEC TS 62835 replace existing toaster safety or performance standards?
No. It supplements them. Safety is covered by IEC 60335-2-9 and performance by IEC 60442. TS 62835 adds accessibility considerations that were previously absent from toaster standards.
Q3: Are the test methods in this standard mandatory?
As a Technical Specification, it provides recommendations rather than mandatory requirements. Manufacturers voluntarily adopting these recommendations can demonstrate commitment to inclusive design and may access broader market segments.
