EN 61770:2009/A12:2022

Electric appliances connected to the water mains - Avoidance of backsiphonage and failure of hose-sets

The standard specifies requirements for appliances for household and similar purposes to prevent the backflow of non-potable water into the water mains. It also specifies requirements for hose sets used for connecting such appliances to the water mains that supply water at a pressure not exceeding 1 MPa.

Elektrische Geräte zum Anschluss an die Wasserversorgungsanlage - Vermeidung von Rücksaugung und des Versagens von Schlauchsätzen

Appareils électriques raccordés au réseau d'alimentation en eau - Exigences pour éviter le retour d'eau par siphonnage et la défaillance des ensembles de raccordement

Električne naprave, priključene na vodovod - Preprečevanje povratnega vodnega udara in odpovedi cevnega sestava - Dopolnilo A12

Ta mednarodni standard določa zahteve za naprave za gospodinjska in podobna opravila za preprečevanje povratnega vodnega udara nepitne vode v vodovod. Določa tudi zahteve za cevne sestave, ki se uporabljajo za povezovanje takih naprav z vodovodom, ki dovaja vodo pod tlakom, ki ne presega 1 MPa.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-2022
• ICS: 91.140.60 - Water supply systems
• ICS: 97.030 - Domestic electrical appliances in general
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 61 - Safety of household and similar electrical appliances
• Drafting Committee: CLC/TC 61 - Safety of household and similar electrical appliances
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 10-Jun-2022
• Due Date: 05-Aug-2022
• Completion Date: 10-Jun-2022
• Directive: 2014/35/EU - Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Mandate: M/511 - Mandate to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI relating to harmonised standards in the field of the Low Voltage Directive
• Ref Project: SIST EN 61770:2009/A12:2022 - Electric appliances connected to the water mains - Avoidance of backsiphonage and failure of hose-sets

Relations

• Amends: EN 61770:2009 - Electric appliances connected to the water mains - Avoidance of backsiphonage and failure of hose-sets
• Effective Date: 16-Apr-2019
• Corrected By: EN 61770:2009/A12:2022/AC:2023-06 - Electric appliances connected to the water mains - Avoidance of backsiphonage and failure of hose-sets
• Effective Date: 16-May-2023

Overview

EN 61770:2009/A12:2022 (CENELEC/CLC) is a European amendment to EN 61770:2009 that updates requirements for electric appliances connected to the water mains to prevent backsiphonage, backflow and hose-set failures. The standard applies to household and similar electrical appliances and to hose-sets used to connect those appliances to potable water supplies (hose-set rating: supply pressure not exceeding 1 MPa). Amendment A12 (approved 2021‑11‑15) clarifies definitions, test procedures and installation/interface requirements and aligns the standard with related water-supply safety rules.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & purpose: Prevent non-potable water entering the potable water mains via appliances and hose‑sets.
• Connection arrangement: Defines all components between tap and backflow-prevention device (e.g., hose-sets, inlet valves). Introduces risk-based treatment when non‑potable-contact components have total water volume ≤ 1 L (treated as risk category 2).
• Air gaps (AB / AD):
  • Revised definitions and verification rules for air gaps and unobstructed overflows.
  • Dimensional guidance: clearances expressed in terms of feed orifice diameter (D), critical water level (h) and minimum distances (examples: 2D, minimum 5 mm).
  • Non-circular overflow arrangements accepted; verification uses the largest inscribed rectangle.
• Pipe interrupters:
  • Updates for devices with and without movable parts, including minimum clearances and construction notes (e.g., some dimensions revised from 3 mm to 4 mm).
• Hose-sets and connection assemblies:
  • New Figure showing typical connection arrangement.
  • Requirements and tests addressing hose-set integrity and potential failure modes.
• Backflow preventers (reduced pressure zone):
  • Updated test arrangements, endurance test references and table numbering for verification of pressure differences and relief flow.
• Documentation & drainage:
  • Appliances with a water-discharging device must include an air break to drain or provide installation documentation; otherwise fluid is considered category 5 (highest risk).
• Testing & references:
  • Normative references updated (e.g., EN IEC 60730‑2‑8) and EN 1717 added to bibliography.

Practical applications & users

Who uses EN 61770:2009/A12:2022:

• Manufacturers of household appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters) for product design and compliance.
• Hose-set and component suppliers for material and dimensional specifications.
• Test laboratories and conformity assessors for standardized performance and endurance testing.
• Installers, water utilities and regulators to ensure safe connection practices and prevent contamination of potable networks.
• Compliance teams aligning products with EU directives and national implementations.

Related standards

• EN 1717 - Protection against pollution of potable water (important cross-reference for backflow prevention).
• EN IEC 60730-2-8 (2020) - Requirements for electrically operated water valves used in household appliances.

Keywords: EN 61770:2009/A12:2022, backsiphonage, backflow prevention, hose-sets, air gap, pipe interrupter, household appliances, water mains, CENELEC, EN 1717.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2022
Električne naprave, priključene na vodovod - Preprečevanje povratnega vodnega
udara in odpovedi cevnega sestava - Dopolnilo A12
Electric appliances connected to the water mains - Avoidance of backsiphonage and
failure of hose-sets
Elektrische Geräte zum Anschluss an die Wasserversorgungsanlage - Vermeidung von
Rücksaugung und des Versagens von Schlauchsätzen
Appareils électriques raccordés au réseau d'alimentation en eau - Exigences pour éviter
le retour d'eau par siphonnage et la défaillance des ensembles de raccordement
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 61770:2009/A12:2022
ICS:
91.140.60 Sistemi za oskrbo z vodo Water supply systems
97.030 Električni aparati za dom na Domestic electrical
splošno appliances in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 61770:2009/A12

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM June 2022
ICS 91.140.60; 97.030
English Version
Electric appliances connected to the water mains - Avoidance of
backsiphonage and failure of hose-sets
Appareils électriques raccordés au réseau d'alimentation en Elektrische Geräte zum Anschluss an die
eau - Exigences pour éviter le retour d'eau par siphonnage Wasserversorgungsanlage - Vermeidung von Rücksaugung
et la défaillance des ensembles de raccordement und des Versagens von Schlauchsätzen
This amendment A12 modifies the European Standard EN 61770:2009; it was approved by CENELEC on 2021-11-15. CENELEC members
are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this amendment the status of a
national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This amendment exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as
the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 61770:2009/A12:2022 E

European foreword
This document (EN 61770:2009/A12:2022) has been prepared by CLC/TC 61 “Safety of household and similar
electrical appliances” in collaboration with CEN/TC 164 “water supply”.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which this document has to be (dop) 2022-12-10
implemented at national level by publication of an
identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting (dow) 2025-06-10
with this document have to be withdrawn

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CENELEC by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A complete
listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.

Text of A12:2021 of EN 61770:2009
1 Modification to Introduction
This European Amendment A12 supplements or modifies the corresponding clauses of
EN 61770:2009+A11:2018+A1:2019
2 Modification to clause “3 Terms and definitions”
3.4 airgaps
3.4.Z1 airgap (general)
Add the following note at the end of the clause:
NOTE 1 to entry: a distance is considered to be unobstructed if the air flow into the feed pipe under vacuum conditions is not
restricted by the construction of the appliance.
3.Z6 diameter of feed pipe (bore D)
Replace the definition of diameter of feed pipe with the following:
Internal diameter size of the outlet feed orifice (or calculated from the equivalent cross sectional area)
NOTE 1 to entry: The dimension of the diameter “D” is in mm
Add Note 2 to entry.
NOTE 2 to entry: If a water valve is used for calculations, then the internal diameter of the outlet connection is used or the
minimum feed orifice diameter, whichever is smaller.
Add new definition:
3.Z9 Connection arrangement
All components in contact with water, located between the water tap and the backflow-prevention device and
according 4.2 incorporated in or fixed to the electrical appliance
NOTE 1 to entry: Hose-sets and inlet-valves are typical components of the connection arrangement.
NOTE 2 to entry: For further information, see Figure Z22 – connection arrangement.
3 Modification to clause “4 General requirements”
4.Z1
Modify “NOTE” with “NOTE Z1”
Add the following sentence:
If components of the connection arrangement are not suitable for contact with water intended for human
consumption, but risk analysis does not show specific hazards and if the total volume of water in contact with
those components is equal or less than 1 l, they shall be considered as risk category 2 and be protected against
backflow and backsiphonage accordingly.
NOTE Z2: The backflow prevention device is installed before the first component downstream of the connection
arrangement that is not suitable for water intended for human consumption.

4 Modification to clause “6 Air gaps”
Modify the subclauses as follow:
6.Z2 Overflow arrangements
Add the following text at the end of the clause:
The air break to drain shall not obstruct the overflow.
An overflow is to be regarded as unobstructed if during the investigation of the assembly in each possible
functional position the critical water level h is not increased.
6.Z2.1 AB air gaps overflow
Add the following text after the first paragraph:
The overflow arrangements at the receivi
...