IEC 63008:2020

Household and similar electrical appliances - Accessibility of control elements, doors, lids, drawers and handles

IEC 63008:2020 contains accessibility requirements to enable more accessible use of certain elements found on household and similar electrical appliances by older persons and persons with disabilities. It provides guidance to achieve accessible design of only control elements (e.g. knobs, buttons), including control panels, display screens and doors, lids, drawers and handles. It does not enable the full assessment of the overall accessibility of a household appliance. This document covers supporting and auxiliary functions that a user performs regularly. Assembly, installation, configuration or repair of appliances are excluded.
This document provides test methods and data that support accessible design.
This document gives guidance to apply ISO/TR 22441:2008 and ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014 to the design of various interactive elements of household and similar electrical appliances. It does not deal with remote controls, or control via network or mobile applications. Touch control elements are covered in this document, but new interaction controls, such as gestures and speech control, are not covered.
This document does not deal with safety issues.

Appareils électrodomestiques et analogues - Accessibilité des éléments de commande, portes, abattants, tiroirs et poignées

L'IEC 63008:2020 contient des exigences d'accessibilité afin de permettre une utilisation plus accessible par les personnes âgées et les personnes handicapées de certains éléments présents sur les appareils électrodomestiques et analogues. Elle fournit des recommandations relatives à l'élaboration de conceptions accessibles des seuls éléments de commande (par exemple, les boutons), y compris les panneaux de commande, écran d'affichage, portes, abattants, tiroirs et poignées. Elle ne permet pas l'évaluation complète de l'accessibilité globale d'un appareil électrodomestique. Le présent document couvre les fonctions auxiliaires et de soutien dont un utilisateur se sert régulièrement. L'assemblage, l'installation, la configuration ou la réparation des appareils en sont exclus.
Le présent document fournit des méthodes d'essai et des données destinées à soutenir la conception accessible.
Le présent document fournit des recommandations relatives à l'application de l'ISO/TR 22441:2008 et du Guide ISO/IEC 71:2014 à la conception de différents éléments interactifs d'appareils électrodomestiques et analogues. Il ne traite pas des commandes à distance, ou des commandes par réseau ou applications mobiles. Les éléments de commande tactile sont traités dans le présent document, mais les nouvelles commandes interactives telles que les commandes vocales et les commandes gestuelles ne le sont pas.
Le présent document ne traite pas des questions de sécurité.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 26-Mar-2020
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 97.030 - Domestic electrical appliances in general
• Technical Committee: TC 59 - Performance of household and similar electrical appliances
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Completion Date: 27-Mar-2020

Standards Content (sample)

IEC 63008
Edition 1.0 2020-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Household and similar electrical appliances – Accessibility of control elements,
doors, lids, drawers and handles
Appareils électrodomestiques et analogues – Accessibilité des éléments de
commande, portes, abattants, tiroirs et poignées
IEC 63008 :2020-03(en-fr)
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
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---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
IEC 63008
Edition 1.0 2020-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Household and similar electrical appliances – Accessibility of control elements,
doors, lids, drawers and handles
Appareils électrodomestiques et analogues – Accessibilité des éléments de
commande, portes, abattants, tiroirs et poignées
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 97.030 ISBN 978-2-8322-8036-2

Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

Attention! Veuillez vous assurer que vous avez obtenu cette publication via un distributeur agréé.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
– 2 – IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020
CONTENTS

FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................... 4

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 6

1 Scope .............................................................................................................................. 7

2 Normative references ...................................................................................................... 7

3 Terms and definitions ...................................................................................................... 8

4 Classification of control elements, doors, lids, drawers and handles ................................ 9

4.1 Classification of control elements ............................................................................ 9

4.1.1 Rotary control elements and knobs .................................................................. 9

4.1.2 Slide controls ................................................................................................... 9

4.1.3 Buttons and switches ..................................................................................... 10

4.1.4 Control panels ............................................................................................... 11

4.2 Classification of doors, lids and drawers ............................................................... 11

4.2.1 Doors and lids ............................................................................................... 11

4.2.2 Drawers ......................................................................................................... 11

4.2.3 Handgrips and finger grips ............................................................................. 11

4.3 Classification of handles ....................................................................................... 11

5 Accessibility considerations ........................................................................................... 12

5.1 Users’ characteristics ............................................................................................ 12

5.1.1 General ......................................................................................................... 12

5.1.2 Impairments ................................................................................................... 12

5.2 Procedure ............................................................................................................. 13

6 General conditions for the measurements ...................................................................... 13

6.1 Ambient conditions................................................................................................ 13

6.2 Installation and positioning of the appliance .......................................................... 13

6.3 Measurements ...................................................................................................... 14

6.3.1 General ......................................................................................................... 14

6.3.2 Linear dimensions ......................................................................................... 14

6.3.3 Angle ............................................................................................................. 14

6.3.4 Force ............................................................................................................. 14

6.3.5 Torque ........................................................................................................... 14

6.3.6 Rounding ....................................................................................................... 14

7 Test procedure .............................................................................................................. 14

7.1 Method ................................................................................................................. 14

7.2 Control elements and control panels ..................................................................... 14

7.2.1 General ......................................................................................................... 14

7.2.2 Perceive ........................................................................................................ 14

7.2.3 Recognize ..................................................................................................... 15

7.2.4 Reach ............................................................................................................ 15

7.2.5 Operate ......................................................................................................... 15

7.2.6 Monitor .......................................................................................................... 17

7.3 Doors, lids and drawers ........................................................................................ 17

7.3.1 Perceive ........................................................................................................ 17

7.3.2 Recognize ..................................................................................................... 18

7.3.3 Reach ............................................................................................................ 18

7.3.4 Operate ......................................................................................................... 18

7.3.5 Monitor .......................................................................................................... 21

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IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020 – 3 –

7.4 Handles ................................................................................................................ 21

7.4.1 Perceive ........................................................................................................ 21

7.4.2 Recognize ..................................................................................................... 21

7.4.3 Reach ............................................................................................................ 21

7.4.4 Operate ......................................................................................................... 21

7.4.5 Monitor .......................................................................................................... 23

7.5 Presentation of information on the appliance......................................................... 23

7.5.1 General ......................................................................................................... 23

7.5.2 Visual symbols .............................................................................................. 23

7.5.3 Characters ..................................................................................................... 23

7.5.4 Colour contrast .............................................................................................. 24

7.5.5 Tactile markings ............................................................................................ 24

7.5.6 Audible signals .............................................................................................. 24

7.5.7 Indicator lights ............................................................................................... 24

7.5.8 Display screens ............................................................................................. 25

Annex A (informative) Requirements of touch-control elements for visually impaired

users .................................................................................................................................... 26

Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 27

Figure 1 – Cylindrical knobs and a bar-grip knob .................................................................... 9

Figure 2 – Selection wheel ...................................................................................................... 9

Figure 3 – Slide control ......................................................................................................... 10

Figure 4 – Hand grip ............................................................................................................. 20

Figure 5 – Knuckle clearance when holding a handgrip ......................................................... 20

Figure 6 – Handle with finger shapings to be avoided ........................................................... 22

Figure 7 – Handles for supporting – examples ...................................................................... 22

Table 1 – Dimensions and activation force/torque of control elements .................................. 16

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– 4 – IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
HOUSEHOLD AND SIMILAR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES –
ACCESSIBILITY OF CONTROL ELEMENTS,
DOORS, LIDS, DRAWERS AND HANDLES
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

in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,

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Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.

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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is

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rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

IEC 63008 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 59: Performance of household and

similar electrical appliances.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
59/720/FDIS 59/723/RVD

Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in the

report on voting indicated in the above table.

This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

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IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020 – 5 –

The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the

stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to

the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
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– 6 – IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020
INTRODUCTION

Ever greater demands are now being placed on the accessibility of products, but, despite this,

there has been no easily available data for assessing and evaluating household appliances

from an accessibility perspective. An effective way to conduct product development is to work

on the basis of adequate testing methods for assessing various properties, as accessibility

recommendations can be formulated more clearly and be given greater emphasis during the

development of household and similar appliances. It is important that accessibility properties

be prioritized alongside functional, technical and production-related properties.

For this purpose, an inventory of sources with a product-accessibility focus has been drawn up,

which has given useful basic information and data for setting recommendations for the design

of household appliances. This International Standard on control elements, doors, lids, drawers

and handles is a result of this work, and provides information in the form of accessibility facts

and an understanding of the interaction of appliances and users with a wide range of abilities.

This document provides requirements, recommendations and measurements for specified

product characteristics, i.e. related to control elements, doors, lids, drawers and handles of

household and similar appliances. This contributes to their accessibility and underlying

ergonomic principles. However, products may have other aspects that are not covered in this

document, that might not be accessible. This information originates from scientific knowledge

and the theory of ergonomics, physiology, product design and other relevant disciplines. This

document applies ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014 and ISO/TR 22411:2008 to household and similar

appliances. Data is drawn from ISO/TR 22411:2008 and, if not specified there, from other

sources.

The purpose of designing and evaluating household and similar appliances with regard to

accessibility is to maximize the number of people who can readily use the products. A more

accessible product considers specific product characteristics. Such products are easier to use

and beneficial for all users. This document explains the characteristics that meet the needs and

abilities of an intended user in relation to control elements, doors, lids, drawers and handles.

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IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020 – 7 –
HOUSEHOLD AND SIMILAR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES –
ACCESSIBILITY OF CONTROL ELEMENTS,
DOORS, LIDS, DRAWERS AND HANDLES
1 Scope

This document contains accessibility requirements to enable more accessible use of certain

elements found on household and similar electrical appliances by older persons and persons

with disabilities. It provides guidance to achieve accessible design of only control elements

(e.g. knobs, buttons), including control panels, display screens and doors, lids, drawers and

handles. It does not enable the full assessment of the overall accessibility of a household

appliance. This document covers supporting and auxiliary functions that a user performs

regularly. Assembly, installation, configuration or repair of appliances are excluded.

This document provides test methods and data that support accessible design.

This document gives guidance to apply ISO/TR 22441:2008 and ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014 to the

design of various interactive elements of household and similar electrical appliances. It does

not deal with remote controls, or control via network or mobile applications. Touch control

elements are covered in this document (see also Annex A), but new interaction controls, such

as gestures and speech control, are not covered.
This document does not deal with safety issues.

NOTE IEC 60335 (all parts) sets out requirements on safety issues, e.g. surface temperatures and sharp edges.

2 Normative references

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content

constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.

For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any

amendments) applies.

IEC 60417, Graphical symbols for use on equipment (available at http://www.graphical-

symbols.info/equipment)
IEC TS 62835:2015, Electric toasters for household and similar use – Methods and
measurements for improving accessibility

IEC/IEEE 82079-1:2019, Preparation of information for use (instructions for use) of products –

Part 1: Principles and general requirements

ISO 7000, Graphical symbols for use on equipment (available at http://www.graphical-

symbols.info/equipment)

ISO 7010, Graphical symbols – Safety colours and safety signs – Registered safety signs

ISO 15008:2017, Road vehicles – Ergonomic aspects of transport information and control

systems – Specifications and test procedures for in-vehicle visual presentation

ISO/TR 22411:2008, Ergonomics data and guidelines for the application of ISO/IEC Guide 71

to products and services to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities

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– 8 – IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020
ISO 80000-1:2009, Quantities and units – Part 1: General
ISO 8995-1:2002, Lighting of work places – Part 1: Indoor
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following

addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
accessibility

extent to which products, systems, services, environments and facilities can be used by people

from a population with the widest range of user needs, characteristics and capabilities to

achieve identified goals in identified contexts of use

Note 1 to entry: Context of use includes direct use or use supported by assistive technologies.

[SOURCE: ISO 9241-112:2017, 3.15]
3.2
accessible design

design focused on diverse users to maximize the number of potential users who can readily use

a system in diverse contexts

Note 1 to entry: This aim can be achieved by (1) designing systems that are readily usable by most users without

any modification, (2) making systems adaptable to different users (by providing adaptable user interfaces) and

(3) having standardized interfaces to be compatible with assistive products and assistive technology.

Note 2 to entry: Terms such as universal design, accessible design, design for all, barrier-free design, inclusive

design and transgenerational design are often used interchangeably with the same meaning.

[SOURCE: ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014, 2.19]
3.3
impairments

problems in body function or structure related to a significant deviation or loss

Note 1 to entry: Impairments can be temporary or permanent; progressive, regressive or static; intermittent or

continuous.
Note 2 to entry: See also ICF 2001 [9], WHO, A.4.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014, 2.5, modified – Note 2 to entry added.]
3.4
user
person who accesses or interacts with the appliance

[SOURCE: ISO/IEC Guide 71:2014, 2.2, modified – In the definition, "individual" has been

replaced by "person" and "a system" has been replaced by "the appliance".]
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IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020 – 9 –
4 Classification of control elements, doors, lids, drawers and handles
4.1 Classification of control elements
4.1.1 Rotary control elements and knobs

These include different knobs of different types, including cylindrical knobs and bar-grip knobs,

which can be seen in Figure 1. They may have discrete positions or continuous settings, or

both.
They may have a push function for confirming a selection or hiding the element.
Figure 1 – Cylindrical knobs and a bar-grip knob

A selection wheel, which can be seen in Figure 2, is a special kind of rotary control element. It

may have a push function for confirming a selection.
Figure 2 – Selection wheel
4.1.2 Slide controls
A slide control can be classified into the following categories:

• A small moveable part that slides within a groove to adjust a setting between defined start

and end points, usually along one axis (see Figure 3). They may have discrete positions or

continuous settings, or both.
EXAMPLE 1 Steam setting on a steam iron.

• A pictorial indicator or control element depicted in a graphical track that, while being

touched, can be dragged to adjust a setting between defined start and end points. The

indicator/control element can be moved in either a linear direction along one axis, or in a

circular direction. With this type of control, it is also often possible for the user to touch any

point along the graphical track to move the indicator/control element directly to this position

(setting).
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– 10 – IEC 63008:2020 © IEC 2020
EXAMPLE 2 Spin speed adjustment on touch screen on a washing machine.
• A lever is a special slide control.
EXAMPLE 3 Bread carriage lever on a toaster.
Key
W is the width of slide control.
H is the height of slide control.
NOTE The double arrow on the left-hand side shows the direction of operation.
Figure 3 – Slide control
4.1.3 Buttons and switches

It is the action needed to operate a button together with its interface (e.g. size and shape) that

affects its accessibility, regardless of whether the button is activated mechanically and/or

electrically. Buttons and switches can be classified into the following categories according to

the action needed:

• Latching push buttons: push buttons that latch into place, maintaining their physical state

until pressed again, when they will latch back to where they started.

• Returning push buttons: push buttons that move in the direction of the press, then move

back to their original state as the pressure is released. They may have more than one state,

for example two states turn the appliance on/off, or multiple selections for setting

temperatures.

• Countersunk buttons: like returning push buttons, but completely located within inde

...