CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026

• Abstract:

  This standard provides guidance on test methods to mitigate the risks of fire that are particular to electric tumble dryers.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 02-Aug-2026
• ICS: 13.120 - Domestic safety
• ICS: 97.060 - Laundry appliances
• 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: 6055 - Ratification Completed (DOR) - Publishing
• Start Date: 06-Jul-2026
• Due Date: 07-Jul-2027
• Completion Date: 06-Jul-2026
• Ref Project: kSIST-TS CLC IEC/FprTS 63576:2026 - Evaluation methods for protection against risk of fire in electric tumble dryers

• Refers: ISO 817:2024 - Refrigerants — Designation and safety classification
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2026
• Refers: EN IEC 60335-1:2023 - Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 1: General requirements
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2026
• Refers: prEN IEC 60335-2-11:2025 - Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-11: Particular requirements for tumble dryers
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2026

CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 is a CENELEC document on evaluation methods for protection against risk of fire in electric tumble dryers. It specifies test methods for assessing whether lint accumulation and related faults can lead to fire spread in these appliances, so it is mainly for manufacturers, test laboratories, and safety and conformity teams working with tumble dryers.

What does CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 specify?

CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 gives guidance on test methods for the fire risks that are particular to electric tumble dryers. It is organized around a short clause structure and two annexes that support the test set-up.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Nominal and standard exhaust duct for vented-type tumble dryer testing
Annex B	Capability and features of the test room

Clause 1 states the scope, Clause 2 lists the referenced standards, Clause 3 defines the key terms used in the method, and Clause 4 contains the test method itself. Annex A is normative, so its duct arrangement is part of the method for vented-type machines. Annex B is informative, so it helps users build a suitable test room and run the test safely.

What are the key requirements of CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026?

The central requirement in CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 is that there shall be no fire spread out of the appliance due to fluff or lint accumulation. In practice, the test is trying to show whether lint inside the enclosure can ignite and then escape to the outside surfaces.

Clause 4 requires the permanent labels to be applied to their intended surfaces, although printing on the labels is not needed for the test. For heat pump type tumble dryers that contain a flammable refrigerant, the refrigerant is removed before testing and the heat pump is filled with helium or nitrogen at rated operating pressure. This reduces the hazard during the fire test while keeping the sealed system condition relevant.

The test room has to allow combustion products to be discharged and fresh air to enter, without introducing oxygen-deficient air into the test arrangement. If mechanical ventilation is used, the air stream must not blow across the sample. For vented-type tumble dryers, the appliance is installed with the exhaust duct system defined in Annex A.

The internal ignition set-up is built with cheesecloth that has been conditioned before use. The bottom of the internal cavity, and the top surfaces of electrical components, internal wiring, connections, and heating element enclosures near the bottom of the appliance, are covered with multiple layers of cheesecloth. The test also uses strips of cheesecloth where needed to connect areas and help flame transfer. In practice, this means the test is designed to challenge the appliance at likely lint-collection points and to observe whether fire can move through internal spaces.

The appliance is tested in an unenergized condition with dry textile material loaded at half of the maximum load stated in the instructions. The internal cheesecloth is ignited near electrical components, away from ventilation openings, and can be re-ignited if needed. The test continues until the result is clear or for a limited duration. The external cheesecloth on the outside surfaces and beneath the appliance must not ignite.

Clause 4 then repeats the fire-containment test on a new sample with the appliance energized on one drying cycle at the highest heat setting. Controls that would interrupt the test are defeated, and ignition takes place after the appliance has operated for a set period. The key outcome again is no ignition of the external cheesecloth. For heat pump type tumble dryers using flammable refrigerant, the heat pump system remains pressurized throughout this part of the test.

Annex A defines the exhaust duct conditions for vented-type tumble dryer testing. It gives the pressure and airflow relationship and shows the standard duct and simulator arrangement. That matters because exhaust backpressure can change drying and fire behavior. Annex B describes chamber size, airflow, temperature, humidity, lighting, and observation needs for the test room.

What terms does CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 define?

• tumble dryer - An appliance that dries textile material by tumbling it in a rotating drum while heated air is blown through.
• heat pump type tumble dryer - A tumble dryer that uses a refrigerating system with sealed motor-compressors for the drying process.
• flammable refrigerant - A refrigerant classified as A2L, A2, or A3 in accordance with ISO 817.
• vented-type tumble dryer - A tumble dryer that exhausts the drying air from the appliance through an air duct.
• cheesecloth - A specified bleached cotton cloth used as the fire-test material inside and outside the appliance.

Who uses CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026?

CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 is used by appliance manufacturers, test laboratories, certification bodies, and safety engineers working on electric tumble dryers. Quality managers and buyers can use it to understand what kind of fire-risk evaluation a product has been designed and tested against. It is especially relevant for vented-type tumble dryers and heat pump type tumble dryers.

What changed in CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 from the previous edition?

CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 consists of the text of IEC TS 63576:2025, prepared by IEC Technical Committee 61. The document itself identifies that IEC text as the basis for the CENELEC publication.

Which standards are used with CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026?

• IEC 60335-1:2020 - Provides the general safety requirements for household and similar electrical appliances.
• IEC 60335-2-11:2024 - Provides the particular safety requirements for tumble dryers, including the dry textile material referenced in the test method.
• ISO 817 - Provides refrigerant designation and safety classification used for identifying flammable refrigerants.
• IEC 61121:2012 - Source noted in Annex A for the nominal and standard exhaust ducts used in vented-type tumble dryer testing.

What does the CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 document contain?

CLC IEC/TS 63576:2026 contains one main test method, one normative annex for vented-type exhaust duct arrangements, and one informative annex for test-room capability and layout. It also includes figures for the pressure-airflow curve, the standard exhaust duct, and the exhaust simulator. The document is aimed at fire-risk evaluation, so its contents are focused on specimen preparation, ignition arrangement, ventilation conditions, and the observation of fire spread rather than on product performance measurement.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2026
Metode ocenjevanja zaščite pred nevarnostjo požara pri električnih sušilnih strojih
Evaluation methods for protection against risk of fire in electric tumble dryers
Bewertungsmethoden für den Schutz vor Brandgefahren in elektrischen
Wäschetrocknern
-
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CLC IEC/FprTS 63576:2026
ICS:
13.120 Varnost na domu Domestic safety
13.220.01 Varstvo pred požarom na Protection against fire in
splošno general
97.060 Aparati za nego perila Laundry appliances
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FINAL DRAFT
CLC IEC/FprTS 63576
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
March 2026
ICS 13.120; 97.060 -
English Version
Evaluation methods for protection against risk of fire in electric
tumble dryers
(IEC/TS 63576:2025)
- Bewertungsmethoden für den Schutz vor Brandgefahren in
(IEC/TS 63576:2025) elektrischen Wäschetrocknern
(IEC/TS 63576:2025)
This draft Technical Specification is submitted to CENELEC members for vote by correspondence.
Deadline for CENELEC: 2026-05-29.

The text of this draft consists of the text of IEC/TS 63576:2025.

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,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a Technical Specification. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice
and shall not be referred to a Technical Specification.

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
© 2026 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Project: 82800 Ref. No. CLC IEC/FprTS 63576:2026 E

CLC IEC/FprTS 63576:2026 (E)
1 European foreword
2 This document (CLC IEC/FprTS 63576:2026) consists of the text of IEC TS 63576:2025 prepared by IEC/TC 61
3 "Safety of household and similar electrical appliances".
4 This document is currently submitted to voting in accordance with the Internal Regulations, Part 2, Subclause
5 11.3.3 for acceptance as a CENELEC Technical Specification.
6 The following dates are proposed:
• latest date by which the existence of this (doa) dav + 6 months
document has to be announced at national level
CLC IEC/FprTS 63576:2026 (E)
8 Annex ZA
9 (normative)
11 Normative references to international publications
12 with their corresponding European publications
13 The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
14 requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the
15 latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
16 NOTE 1 Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant
17 EN/HD applies.
18 NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
19 www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60335-1 2020 Household and similar electrical appliances EN IEC 60335-1 2023
– Safety – Part 1: General requirements
+ A11 2023
+ A12 —
IEC 60335-2-11 2024 Household and similar electrical appliances EN IEC 60335-2-11 —
– Safety – Part 2-11: Particular 3
+ A11 —
requirements for tumble dryers
ISO 817 - Refrigerants – Designation and safety - -
classification
In preparation. Stage at the time of Vote: EN IEC 60335-1:2023/prAB:2025.
In preparation. Stage at the time of Vote: prEN IEC 60335-2-11:2025.
In preparation. Stage at the time of Vote: prEN IEC 60335-2-11:2025/prAA:2025.
IEC TS 63576 ®
Edition 1.0 2025-04
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATION
Evaluation methods for protection against risk of fire in electric tumble dryers

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 13.120; 97.060 ISBN 978-2-8327-0357-1

– 2 – IEC TS 63576:2025 © IEC 2025
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms . 6
3.1 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Test method . 7
Annex A (normative) Nominal and standard exhaust duct for vented-type tumble dryer
testing . 9
A.1 Nominal exhaust duct for tumble dryer testing . 9
A.2 Standard exhaust duct for vented-type tumble dryer testing . 9
Annex B (informative) Capability and features of the test room . 12
Bibliography . 13

Figure A.1 – Pressure/volumetric air flow curve . 9
Figure A.2 – Standard exhaust duct . 10
Figure A.3 – Standard exhaust simulator . 11

IEC TS 63576:2025 © IEC 2025 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
EVALUATION METHODS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RISK OF FIRE IN
ELECTRIC TUMBLE DRYERS
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
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preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
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consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). IEC takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in
respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, IEC had not received notice of (a) patent(s), which
may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent
the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at https://patents.iec.ch. IEC
shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC TS 63576 has been prepared by IEC Technical Committee 61: Safety of household and
similar electrical appliances. It is a Technical Specification.
The text of this Technical Specification is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
61/7385/DTS 61/7426/RVDTS
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this Technical Specification is English.

– 4 – IEC TS 63576:2025 © IEC 2025
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
The following print types are used:
– requirements: in roman type;
– test specifications: in italic type;
– notes: in small roman type.
Words in bold in the text are defined in Clause 3. When a definition concerns an adjective, the
adjective and the associated noun are also in bold.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.
IEC TS 63576:2025 © IEC 2025 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
Electric tumble dryers are prone to the accumulation of lint within the electrical enclosure of the
appliance. Since a tumble dryer is normally not airtight, fabric fibres can pass through small air
gaps during operation. These fibres that escape the air flow path end up as accumulated lint in
the bottom sections of the enclosure. Although tumble dryers are generally designed to
minimize this, it is difficult to eliminate it completely.
The accumulated lint within the enclosure provides an additional fuel source that can increase
the severity of hazards caused by electric component faults as well as abnormal overheating
conditions. TC 61 has expressed the need to develop this Technical Specification to provide
additional evaluation methods to determine the safety of electric tumble dryers with respect to
the accumulation of lint within the enclosure.

– 6 – IEC TS 63576:2025 © IEC 2025
EVALUATION METHODS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RISK OF FIRE IN
ELECTRIC TUMBLE DRYERS
1 Scope
This document provides guida
...