M/047 - Washing Machines
Measurement Standards for household washing machines
Mandate M/047 addresses the development of harmonized measurement standards for household washing machines. The European Commission requests European Standardization Organizations (ESOs) to establish common methods for testing and assessing the performance, energy consumption, and environmental impact of washing machines used in households. These standards aim to ensure accuracy, comparability, and transparency in product measurements, supporting regulatory requirements and facilitating market surveillance. The mandate facilitates the implementation of energy labeling and ecodesign directives by providing standardized procedures for evaluating key washing machine parameters, ultimately promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability within the European market.
Purpose
This mandate focuses on establishing measurement standards for household washing machines. Its primary aim is to create reliable, consistent, and harmonised methods for assessing the performance and energy consumption of these appliances. This supports regulatory frameworks and helps manufacturers, consumers, and regulators compare washing machines based on standardized criteria.
Standardisation request
The mandate requests the development of standardised measurement methods for household washing machines. This includes defining test procedures to measure energy efficiency, water consumption, washing performance, and any other relevant parameters affecting environmental and operational characteristics. The standards are intended to ensure comparability and accuracy in the evaluation of washing machines across the EU market.
Expected deliverables
- Clear and harmonised test methods for measuring the key performance indicators of household washing machines.
- Technical specifications detailing the conditions, parameters, and procedures for testing washing machines.
- Guidelines that facilitate compliance assessments and support legislative measures related to energy labelling and eco-design requirements.
Context
Household washing machines are widely used electrical appliances with significant energy and water consumption. Accurate and harmonised measurement standards are critical for implementing EU energy efficiency policies, consumer information directives, and environmental regulations. This mandate aligns with broader EU efforts to promote sustainable products and reduce environmental impacts through standardisation.
This mandate covers the development of measurement standards specifically for household washing machines. It focuses on creating harmonized technical specifications and testing methods to assess the performance, energy efficiency, and water consumption of these appliances used in domestic settings.
General Information
This International Standard deals with methods for measuring the performance of clothes washing machines for household use, with or without heating devices and for cold and/or hot water supply. It also deals with appliances for water extraction by centrifugal force and is applicable to appliances for both washing and drying textiles (called washer-dryers) with respect to their washing performance. The object is to state and define the principal performance characteristics of household electric washing machines and spin extractors and to describe the standard methods for measuring these characteristics. This standard is concerned neither with safety nor with performance requirements.
NOTE 1 This standard applies also to washing machines for communal use in blocks of flats or in launderettes, but washing machines for commercial laundries are not included.
NOTE 2 While this standard includes testing requirements for all types of washing machines, to date there has been only limited testing and evaluation of other than horizontal drum washing machines to this standard.
This European Standard also specifies, as far as necessary, the test methods which shall be applied in accordance with the Commission's Directive 95/12/EC of 23 May 1995 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household washing machines.
- Amendment3 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Supersedes EN 60456:2005/A11:2006 * Superseded by EN 60456:2011
- Amendment3 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Superseded by EN 60456:2005
- Amendment2 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Describes standard methods for measuring the performance of clothes washing machines and spin extractors. This covers household use, and communal use in blocks of flats and in laundrettes. It includes appliances connected to cold and/or hot water, with or without heating. It also covers special appliances for both washing and drying textiles (called washer-dryers), agitator and impeller washing machines, and water extraction by centrifugal force. The standard uses specific textile test loads and a reference washing machine.
- Standard70 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Superseded by EN 60456:1999
- Amendment12 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This European Standard specifies the test methods for measuring the performance of electric clothes washer-dryers for household use as required by the Commission Directive on energy labelling and standard product information. It deals with: performance criteria, including energy and water consumption, for the 60 °C cotton wash programme as specified in EN 60456; energy and water consumption of the drying cycle based on the Dry cotton programme as specified in EN 61121; permitted tolerances to values declared by the manufacturer and control procedures for checking these declared values. This European Standard is concerned neither with safety nor with performance requirements. NOTE: Washer-dryers for communal use in blocks of flats or in launderettes are within the scope of this Standard, but machines for commercial laundries are not included
- Standard9 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Superseded by EN 60456:2005
- Amendment2 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Describes standard methods for measuring the performance of clothes washing machines and spin extractors. This covers household use, and communal use in blocks of flats and in laundrettes. It includes appliances connected to cold and/or hot water, with or without heating. It also covers special appliances for both washing and drying textiles (called washer-dryers), agitator and impeller washing machines, and water extraction by centrifugal force. The standard uses specific textile test loads and a reference washing machine.
- Standard70 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This European Standard specifies the test methods for measuring the performance of electric clothes washer-dryers for household use as required by the Commission Directive on energy labelling and standard product information. It deals with: performance criteria, including energy and water consumption, for the 60 °C cotton wash programme as specified in EN 60456; energy and water consumption of the drying cycle based on the Dry cotton programme as specified in EN 61121; permitted tolerances to values declared by the manufacturer and control procedures for checking these declared values. This European Standard is concerned neither with safety nor with performance requirements. NOTE: Washer-dryers for communal use in blocks of flats or in launderettes are within the scope of this Standard, but machines for commercial laundries are not included
- Standard9 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Superseded by EN 60456:1999
- Amendment12 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Frequently Asked Questions
A European Standardization Mandate is a formal request from the European Commission to the European Standardization Organizations (CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI) to develop European standards (ENs) in support of EU legislation and policies. Mandates are issued under Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 and help ensure that products and services meet the essential requirements set out in EU directives and regulations.
M/047 is a European Standardization Mandate titled "Measurement Standards for household washing machines". Measurement Standards for household washing machines There are 10 standards developed under this mandate.
Standards developed in response to a mandate and cited in the Official Journal of the European Union become "harmonized standards". Products manufactured in compliance with harmonized standards benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation, facilitating CE marking and market access across the European Economic Area.