IEC 61242:1995/AMD1:2008

Amendment 1 - Electrical accessories - Cable reels for household and similar purposes

Amendement 1 - Petit appareillage électrique - Cordons prolongateurs enroulés sur tambour pour usages domestiques et analogues

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 29-Jan-2008
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 29.060 - Electrical wires and cables
• ICS: 29.120.99 - Other electrical accessories
• Technical Committee: SC 23B - Plugs, socket-outlets and switches
• Drafting Committee: MT 10 - TC 23/SC 23B/MT 10
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 15-Feb-2008
• Completion Date: 30-Jan-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61242
Edition 1.0 2008-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
Electrical accessories – Cable reels for household and similar purposes

Petit appareillage électrique – Cordons prolongateurs enroulés sur tambour
pour usages domestiques et analogues

IEC 61242 A1:2008
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, 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 either IEC or
IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
ƒ Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
ƒ IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
ƒ Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: [e-mail]
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.
ƒ Catalogue des publications de la CEI: www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut-f.htm
Le Catalogue en-ligne de la CEI vous permet d’effectuer des recherches en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence,
texte, comité d’études,…). Il donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les publications retirées ou remplacées.
ƒ Just Published CEI: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI. Just Published détaille deux fois par mois les nouvelles
publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
Vocabulaire Electrotechnique International en ligne.
ƒ Service Clients: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv/custserv_entry-f.htm
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette publication ou si vous avez des questions, visitez le FAQ du
Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: [e-mail]
Tél.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
IEC 61242
Edition 1.0 2008-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
Electrical accessories – Cable reels for household and similar purposes

Petit appareillage électrique – Cordons prolongateurs enroulés sur tambour
pour usages domestiques et analogues

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
M
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.060; 29.120.99 ISBN 2-8318-9591-X

– 2 – 61242 Amend.1 © IEC:2008
FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by subcommittee 23B: Plugs, socket-outlets and
switches, of IEC technical committee 23: Electrical accessories.
The text of this amendment is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
23B/872/FDIS 23B/883/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this amendment can be found in the report
on voting indicated in the above table.
The committee has decided that the contents of this amendment and the base publication will

remain unchanged until the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under
"http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the
publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
_____________
Page 8
1 Scope
Replace the whole text of this clause by the following:
This International Standard applies to cable reels for a.c. only, with a rated voltage above
50 V and not exceeding 250 V for single-phase cable reels and above 50 V and not exceeding
440 V for all other cable reels, and a rated current not exceeding 16 A. They are intended for
household, commercial and light industrial and similar purposes, either indoors or outdoors,
with particular reference to safety in normal use.
This standard does not apply to:
– cable reeling devices incorporated in appliances or luminaires;
– cable reeling devices associated with appliances or luminaires.
NOTE 1 Requirements for cable reeling devices incorporated in appliances are specified in IEC 60335-1 and
IEC 60335-2-2.
NOTE 2 Requirements for cable reeling devices incorporated in luminaires are specified in IEC 60598-1 and
IEC 60598-2-25.
NOTE 3 A cable reeling device associated with an appliance or luminaire is a device designed to supply a specific
appliance or luminaire. It must be fixed to or delivered with the appliance or luminaire, without being incorporated
in it and having its own enclosure which provides protection against electric shock. An example is a cable reeling
device associated with handlamps according to IEC 60598-2-8.
This standard may be used as a guide for cable reeling devices incorporated or associated in
appliances or luminaires as far as it is applicable.

61242 Amend.1 © IEC:2008 – 3 –
Cable reels complying with this standard are suitable for use at ambient temperatures not
normally exceeding 25 °C, but occasionally reaching 35 °C.
In locations where special conditions prevail, special construction may be required.
2 Normative references
Replace the text introducing the normative references by the following:
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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.
Replace the whole list of references by the following:
IEC 60050-441:1984, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Chapter 441: Switchgear,
controlgear and fuses
IEC 60112:2003, Method for the determination of the proof and the comparative tracking
indices of solid insulating materials
IEC 60227 (all parts), Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltage up to and
including 450/750 V
IEC 60245 (all parts), Rubber insulated cables – Rated voltages up to and including
450/750 V
IEC 60417, Graphical symbols for use on equipment
IEC 60529:1989, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
IEC 60695-2-10:2000, Fire hazard testing – Part 2-10: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods –
Glow-wire apparatus and common test procedure
IEC 60695-2-11:2000, Fire hazard testing – Part 2-11: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods
– Glow-wire flammability test method for end-products
IEC 60730-2-9, Automatic electrical controls for household and similar use – Part 2-9:
Particular requirements for temperature sensing controls
IEC 60884 (all parts), Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes
IEC 60999 (all parts), Connecting devices – Electrical copper conductors – Safety
requirements for screw-type and screwless-type clamping units
ISO 1456:2003, Metallic coatings – Electrodeposited coatings of nickel plus chromium and
of copper plus nickel plus chromium
ISO 2081:1986, Metallic coatings – Electroplated coatings of zinc on iron or steel
ISO 2093:1986, Electroplated coatings of tin – Specification and test methods
3 Definitions
Replace Definition 3.3 by the following new definition:

– 4 – 61242 Amend.1 © IEC:2008
3.3
cable reel
device constructed and intended so that a non-detachable flexible cable or a detachable
flexible cable can be wound onto the reel
NOTE Plugs and socket-outlets supplied with cable reels are considered as part of the reel.
Replace definition 3.4 by the following new definitions:
3.4
flexible cable
cable whose structure and materials make it suitable to be flexed while in service

3.4.1
non-detachable flexible cable
flexible cable which is fixed and wired to a cable reel
3.4.2
detachable flexible cable
flexible cable which is not wired to a cable reel
Add the following new definitions:
3.23
weak point
intentionally weak non-resettable part intended to rupture the current under overload or
abnormal conditions to prevent the occurrence of a condition which might impair compliance
with this standard, and whose replacement can not be carried out without making the cable
reel useless
NOTE Such part may be a component or a part of a component, such as a resistor or a capacitor, or a thermal
link incorporated in the cable reel.
3.24
cord extension set
assembly consisting of one flexible cable fitted with one plug and a single or multiple portable
socket-outlet
5 General conditions for type testing
Replace the title of this clause by the following:
5 General remarks on tests
5.1 Add, at the end of 5.1, the following new paragraph:
Cable reels according to 6.3.2 are tested with the detachable flexible cable(s) as marked on
the cable reels (see 7.3.2).
61242 Amend.1 © IEC:2008 – 5 –
5.2 Replace the second paragraph of this subclause by the following:
For the test of 20.1, additional samples may be required in order to determine the highest
possible current at which the weak point will not operate.
Unless otherwise specified, the components of the cable reels are tested in accordance with
the requirements of the relevant standard, as applicable.
6 Classification
Replace 6.3 by the following:
6.3 the method of connecting the flexible cable:
a) cable reels with a non-detachable flexible cable
1) rewirable
2) non-rewirable
b) cable reels with a detachable flexible cable
Replace 6.5 by the following:
6.5 the degree of protection against harmful effects due to the ingress of water
– IPX0: accessories not protected against ingress of water
– IPX4: accessories protected against splashing water
– IPX5: accessories protected against water jets
NOTE For an explanation of IP codes, see IEC 60529.
Replace 6.6 by the following:
6.6 the protection against excessive temperatures:
– incorporating thermal cut-outs and/or current cut-outs;
– incorporating weak points.
7 Marking
7.1 Delete the second and third paragraphs, including the note.
Replace 7.3 by the following:
7.3 Cable reels classified according to item 1) of 6.3 a) and 6.3 b) shall be marked as
follows:
7.3.1 for cable reels classified according to item 1) of 6.3.a):
– terminals intended exclusively for the neutral conductor shall be marked with the letter N;
– earthing terminals shall be marked with symbol for protective earth (IEC 60417-5019
(2006-08));
– marking indicating the cross-sectional area, the type and the length of the flexible cable
shall be placed where it is clearly visible.

– 6 – 61242 Amend.1 © IEC:2008
These markings shall be so placed that they are easily legible whilst replacing the flexible
cable and they shall not be placed on screws, removable washers or on other parts which
might easily be removed when connecting conductors.
7.3.2 for cable reels classified according to 6.3b):
– marking indicating the characteristics of the cord extension set (cross-sectional area, the
type designation and the length of the flexible cable and the rated current and the type of
the plug and the portable socket-outlet) shall be placed where it is clearly visible.
These markings shall be so placed on the reel that they are easily legible in normal use and
they shall not be placed on screws, removable washers or on other parts which might easily
be removed.
NOTE These markings may include more than one type of cord extension set.
7.4 Add the following text at the end of the subclause:
For cable reels incorporating weak point(s), the manufacturer shall inform the user that the
further use of the cable reel may be impaired when the maximum load is exceeded.
This information shall be given on the product and on the packaging, if any.
11 Flexible cables and their connection
Add the following paragraphs after the first paragraph of 11.1:
Detachable flexible cable shall be a cord extension set according to the relevant part of
IEC 60884 series and comply with the relevant national standard taking into account other
requirements of this claus
...