IEC 60335-2-91:2002

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-91: Particular requirements for walk-behind and hand-held lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers

Applicable to safety of mains-operated walk behind and hand held lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers, with cutting element(s) of non metallic filament line or freely pivoting non metallic cutter(s), with a kinetic energy of not more than 10 J each, rated voltage being not more than 250 V for single-phase appliances and 480 V for other appliances.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Aug-2002
• ICS: 65.060.70 - Horticultural equipment
• Technical Committee: TC 116 - Safety of motor-operated electric tools
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Start Date: 12-Feb-2008
• Completion Date: 26-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revises: IEC 60335-2-91:1997/COR1:2000 - Corrigendum No 1
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC 60335-2-91:2008 - Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-91: Particular requirements for walk-behind and hand-held lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 60335-2-91:1997 - Safety of household and similar electrical appliances - Part 2-91: Particular requirements for walk-behind and hand-held lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
60335-2-91
Second edition
2002-08
Household and similar electrical appliances –
Safety –
Part 2-91:
Particular requirements for walk-behind and hand-held
lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers
Appareils électrodomestiques et analogues –
Sécurité –
Partie 2-91:
Règles particulières pour les coupe-gazon et les
coupe-bordures portatifs et à conducteur à pied

Reference number
Publication numbering
As from 1 January 1997 all IEC publications are issued with a designation in the

60000 series. For example, IEC 34-1 is now referred to as IEC 60034-1.

Consolidated editions
The IEC is now publishing consolidated versions of its publications. For example,

edition numbers 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 refer, respectively, to the base publication, the

base publication incorporating amendment 1 and the base publication incorporating

amendments 1 and 2.
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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
60335-2-91
Second edition
2002-08
Household and similar electrical appliances –
Safety –
Part 2-91:
Particular requirements for walk-behind and hand-held
lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers
Appareils électrodomestiques et analogues –
Sécurité –
Partie 2-91:
Règles particulières pour les coupe-gazon et les
coupe-bordures portatifs et à conducteur à pied

 IEC 2002  Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission, 3, rue de Varembé, PO Box 131, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Telephone: [phone] Telefax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]  Web: www.iec.ch
PRICE CODE
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
U
International Electrotechnical Commission
Международная Электротехническая Комиссия
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – 60335-2-91  IEC:2002(E)

CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4

INTRODUCTION .6

1 Scope . 7

2 Normative references. 7

3 Definitions . 8

4 General requirement . 8
5 General conditions for the tests . 8
6 Classification . 9
7 Marking and instructions . 9
8 Protection against access to live parts .10
9 Starting of motor-operated appliances .10
10 Power input and current.10
11 Heating.10
12 Void .11
13 Leakage current and electric strength at operating temperature .11
14 Transient overvoltages.11
15 Moisture resistance.11
16 Leakage current and electric strength .11
17 Overload protection of transformers and associated circuits.11
18 Endurance .11
19 Abnormal operation.11
20 Stability and mechanical hazards.11
21 Mechanical strength.12
22 Construction .14
23 Internal wiring.16
24 Components .16
25 Supply connection and external flexible cords.16
26 Terminals for external conductors .16

27 Provision for earthing.16
28 Screws and connections .16
29 Clearances, creepage distances and solid insulation .16
30 Resistance to heat and fire .17
31 Resistance to rusting .17
32 Radiation, toxicity and similar hazards .17
Annexes.22
Annex AA (normative) Principles of guarding.22
Annex BB (normative) Examples of symbols which may be used on lawn trimmers and
lawn edge trimmers .26

60335-2-91 © IEC:2002(E) – 3 –

Bibliography.28

Table AA.1 – Extent of reach.23

Table AA.2 – Values of a and b .24

Table AA.3 – Values of a and b .24

Figure 101 – Guard, lawn trimmer .18

Figure 102 – Guard, lawn edge trimmer .19

Figure 103 – Guard strength test (hand-held appliances) .20

Figure 104 – Cutting head strength test.20
Figure 105 – Cutting means measurement .21
Figure AA.1 – Determination of standard aperture.25

– 4 – 60335-2-91  IEC:2002(E)

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

_____________
HOUSEHOLD AND SIMILAR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES –

SAFETY –
Part 2-91: Particular requirements for walk-behind

and hand-held lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers

FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization
comprising all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to
promote international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic
fields. To this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt
with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental
organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates closely with the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement
between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an
international consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has
representation from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the
form of standards, technical specifications, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National
Committees in that sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International
Standards transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any
divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or regional standard shall be clearly
indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with one of its standards.
6) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the
subject of patent rights. The IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This part of International Standard IEC 60335 has been prepared by IEC subcommittee 61F:
Safety of hand-held motor-operated electric tools, of IEC technical committee 61: Safety of
household and similar electrical appliances.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1997. It constitutes a
technical revision.
The text of this part of IEC 60335 is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
61F/449/FDIS 61F/469/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This part 2 is to be used in conjunction with the latest edition of IEC 60335-1 and its
amendments. It was established on the basis of the fourth edition (2000) of that standard.
NOTE 1 When “Part 1” is mentioned in this standard, it refers to IEC 60335-1.
This part 2 supplements or modifies the corresponding clauses in IEC 60335-1, so as to
convert that publication into the IEC standard: Safety requirements for walk-behind and hand-
held electric lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers.

60335-2-91 © IEC:2002(E) – 5 –

Where a particular subclause of Part 1 is not mentioned in this part 2, that subclause applies

as far as is reasonable. Where this standard states “addition”, “modification” or “replacement”,

the relevant text in Part 1 is to be adapted accordingly.

NOTE 2 The following numbering system is used

– subclauses, tables and figures that are numbered starting from 101 are additional to those in Part 1;

– unless notes are in a new subclause or involve notes in Part 1, they are numbered starting from 101, including
those in a replaced clause or subclause;

NOTE 3 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 publication will remain unchanged until
2004. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

– 6 – 60335-2-91  IEC:2002(E)

INTRODUCTION
It has been assumed in the drafting of this international standard that the execution of its

provisions is entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced persons.

This standard recognizes the internationally accepted level of protection against hazards such

as electrical, mechanical, thermal, fire and radiation of appliances when operated as in

normal use taking into account the manufacturer's instructions. It also covers abnormal

situations that can be expected in practice.

This standard takes into account the requirements of IEC 60364 as far as possible so that

there is compatibility with the wiring rules when the appliance is connected to the supply
mains. However, national wiring rules may differ.
If an appliance within the scope of this standard also incorporates functions that are covered
by another part 2 of IEC 60335, the relevant part 2 is applied to each function separately, as
far as is reasonable. If applicable, the influence of one function on the other is taken into
account.
This standard is a product family standard dealing with the safety of appliances and takes
precedence over horizontal and generic standards covering the same subject.
An appliance that complies with the text of this standard will not necessarily be considered to
comply with the safety principles of the standard if, when examined and tested, it is found to
have other features that impair the level of safety covered by these requirements.
An appliance employing materials or having forms of construction differing from those detailed
in the requirements of this standard may be examined and tested according to the intent of
the requirements and, if found to be substantially equivalent, may be considered to comply
with the standard.
60335-2-91 © IEC:2002(E) – 7 –

HOUSEHOLD AND SIMILAR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES –

SAFETY –
Part 2-91: Particular requirements for walk-behind

and hand-held lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers

1 Scope
This clause of Part 1 is replaced by the following.
This International Standard deals with the safety of mains-operated walk-behind and
hand-held lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers, with cutting element(s) of non-metallic
filament line or freely pivoting non-metallic cutter(s), with a kinetic energy of not more than 10
J each, used by a standing operator for cutting grass, their rated voltage being not more than
250 V for single-phase appliances and 480 V for other appliances.
NOTE 101 In this standard hand-held and walk-behind lawn trimmers and lawn edge trimmers are referred to
collectively as appliances.
As far as is practicable, this standard deals with the common hazards presented by
appliances that are encountered by all persons in and around the home. However, in general,
it does not take into account
– the use of appliances by young children or infirm persons without supervision;
– playing with the appliance by young children.
NOTE 102 Attention is drawn to the fact that
– in many countries additional requirements are specified by the national health authorities, the national
authorities responsible for the protection of labour, the national water supply authorities and similar
authorities.
NOTE 103 This standard does not apply to
– to scissor type or rigid bladed lawn trimmers or lawn edge trimmers.
2 Normative references
This clause of Part 1 is applicable except as follows.
Addition:
ISO 3767-1:1998, Tractors, machinery for agriculture and forestry, powered lawn and garden
equipment – Symbols for operator controls and other displays – Part 1: Common symbols
ISO 3767-3:1995, Tractors, machinery for agriculture and forestry, powered lawn and garden
equipment – Symbols for operator controls and other displays – Part 3: Symbols for powered
lawn and garden equipment
ISO 3864, Safety colours and safety signs
ISO 5395:1990, Power lawn-mowers, lawn tractors, lawn and garden tractors, professional
mowers and lawn and garden tractors with mowing attachments – Definitions, safety
requirements and test procedures
ISO 11448:1997, Powered shredders and chippers – Definitions, safety requirements and test
procedures
– 8 – 60335-2-91  IEC:2002(E)

EN 50144-2-15:2001, Safety of hand-held electric motor operated tools – Part 2-15: Particular

requirements for hedge trimmers

3 Definitions
This clause of Part 1 is applicable except as follows.

3.1.9 Replacement:
normal operation
operation of the appliance under the following conditions: the appliance is operated at rated

voltage with the load necessary to attain rated power input
3.101
hand-held
portable appliance intended to be held in the hand during normal use, including appliances
which will not maintain their operating position unless supported, possibly assisted by wheels,
skids or similar
3.102
walk-behind
ground-supported, controlled by an operator walking behind
3.103
lawn trimmer
grass trimming machine where the cutting means operates in a plane approximately parallel
to the ground
3.104
lawn edge trimmer
grass trimming machine where the cutting means operates in a plane approximately
perpendicular to the ground
3.105
cutting means
mechanism used to provide the cutting action in which one or more cutting elements, cutting
by impact, rotate about an axis normal to the cutting plane
3.106
cutting element
single non-metallic filament line or freely pivoting non-metallic cutter

3.107
cutting head
support system for the cutting element
4 General requirement
This clause of Part 1 is applicable.
5 General conditions for the tests
This clause of Part 1 is applicable.

60335-2-91 © IEC:2002(E) – 9 –

6 Classification
This clause of Part 1 is applicable except as follows.

6.1 Replacement:
Appliances shall be of class ll or class lll with respect to protection against electric shock.

Compliance is checked by inspection and by the relevant tests.

6.2 Addition:
Walk-behind lawn trimmers and walk-behind lawn edge trimmers shall be classified as
IPX4.
7 Marking and instructions
This clause of Part 1 is applicable except as follows.
7.1 Addition:
Appliances shall be marked with their rated power input.
Appliances shall be marked with the substance of the following:
WARNING: Read operator's manual. Wear eye protection. Keep bystanders away.
Additionally, hand-held lawn trimmers and hand-held lawn edge trimmers shall be marked
with the following:
Do not expose to moisture
Symbols according to ISO 3767-1 and ISO 3767-3 may be used as appropriate. Colours shall
be in accordance with ISO 3864 unless the symbols are cast, embossed or stamped. Instead
of written markings, symbols according to Annex BB are allowed.
7.12 Addition:
An instruction sheet shall be supplied with the appliance.

The instructions shall include
a) those warnings required to be marked on the appliance together with further explanation,
where appropriate. Where symbols or pictograms are used in the marking on the
appliance, their function shall be explained;
b) instructions for the proper assembly of the appliance for use, if the appliance is not
supplied in a completely assembled form.
c) instructions for proper adjustment and maintenance of the appliance, including a warning
of the danger of rotating cutting elements, for example: "Attention! Danger! - The cutting
elements continue to rotate after the motor is switched off". Where parts are consumable
(e.g. cutter line), the part number of the replacement shall be specified;
d) instructions for the safe operation of the appliance, including a recommendation that the
appliance should be supplied via a Residual Current Device (RCD) with a tripping current
of not more than 30 mA;
e) Instructions on the operation of all controls;

– 10 – 60335-2-91  IEC:2002(E)

f) advice on the use and type of extension cords to be used (not lighter than required by

25.7);
g) the substance of the following, where appropriate:

– Before use che
...