UV skin‑treatment devices, infrared physiotherapy units, LED light‑therapy masks — the market for optical‑radiation beauty appliances keeps expanding. Nevertheless, exports of such products face an unavoidable technical barrier: testing to IEC 60335‑2‑27.
Published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), IEC 60335‑2‑27 is Household and similar electrical appliances‑ Safety‑ Part 2‑27: Particular requirements for appliances for skin exposure to ultraviolet and infrared radiation. It serves as a vital technical reference for optical‑radiation beauty devices accessing global markets.
1. Standard Overview
IEC 60335‑2‑27 shall be applied together with the general safety standard IEC 60335‑1.
Rated voltage ≤ 250 V for single‑phase appliances
Rated voltage ≤ 480 V for other appliances
Applicable for household use as well as commercial environments such as beauty salons
Applicable products: UV skin‑care devices, infrared physiotherapy instruments, LED light‑therapy masks, phototherapy hair‑growth devices and other beauty‑care appliances equipped with optical‑radiation emitters (wavelength range: 100 nm to 1 mm).
Excluded products: Beauty equipment incorporating lasers or intense light sources (governed by IEC 60335‑2‑113), and medical devices (covered by the IEC 60601 series).
Version note: The latest edition is IEC 60335‑2‑27:2024 ED7. Manufacturers shall confirm the standard version adopted by target markets before initiating testing.
2. Core Test Content
Testing under IEC 60335‑2‑27 evaluates products across the following dimensions:
Optical‑radiation safety
Irradiance of ultraviolet (250‑400 nm) and infrared radiation is measured to assess potential hazards to human skin and eyes. The standard specifies radiation‑measurement procedures (Clause 32.101) and guidance on exposure‑time scheduling (Annex DD). Optical‑radiation measurements shall be performed with professional spectroradiometers under defined geometric conditions.
Electrical safety
Protection against electric shock, leakage current and electric strength under operating temperature, voltage‑withstand test, earth‑continuity test and more. These items verify that products pose no electric‑shock risks under normal and fault conditions.
Mechanical safety
Assessment covers structural stability, mechanical strength, heat‑resistance, flame‑retardance and anti‑corrosion performance. Requirements also apply to power connections, external flexible cords, screws and terminals.
Marking and instructions
Formal review of product markings, warning statements and user manuals to ensure correct product comprehension and operation by end‑users.
3. Full Testing Workflow
Step 1: Requirement consultationClarify product type, target markets and applicable standard versions with the testing laboratory. The lab will formulate a test plan and provide a quotation accordingly.
Step 2: Sample preparation and submissionManufacturers shall deliver complete product samples (including spare samples), together with technical documentation: user manuals, circuit diagrams, critical‑component list and BOM.
Step 3: Laboratory testingThe laboratory conducts comprehensive tests in compliance with the standard, including optical‑radiation measurement, electric‑strength test, heating test, abnormal‑operation test and other relevant items.
Step 4: Report issuance and reviewUpon completion of tests, an official test report is issued. To gain legal validity, the report must bear stamps from accredited bodies such as CMA and CNAS.
4. Required Documentation List
Test application form
Product user manual (including safety warnings)
Product technical specification
Circuit schematic diagram
Bill of Materials (BOM) / critical‑component list
Product nameplate data
Photos of product appearance and internal construction
Complete product prototypes (including spare samples)
5. Reference Lead Time and Cost
Testing lead time: Normally 7‑15 working days. Actual duration is affected by product complexity, retests due to non‑conformities and differences in standard versions. Expedited services are available at selected laboratories, with a minimum turnaround of 3 working days subject to sample conditions.
Cost notes: Costs mainly depend on product functional complexity, light‑source types (UV / infrared / LED) and the scope of test items.
It is recommended to carry out pre‑testing during the R&D phase to prevent market‑launch delays caused by non‑compliance.
6. Our Service Offerings
As a professional third‑party testing laboratory, we provide comprehensive services for IEC 60335‑2‑27 compliance:
Accreditation: CNAS (L15898) / CMA‑accredited laboratory with internationally‑recognised reports.
Full‑scope testing: Complete test items covering optical‑radiation safety, electrical safety, mechanical safety, marking and instruction assessment.
Specialised instrumentation: Spectroradiometers and other optical‑radiation measurement equipment complying with geometric conditions defined in the standard.
Ten‑year industry experience: Extensive testing experience for beauty devices; familiar with structural features and common non‑conformities for laser, UV, infrared and LED‑based beauty appliances.
Broad standard coverage: IEC 60335‑2‑27, IEC 60335‑1 and relevant EMC standards.
End‑to‑end support: One‑stop service covering test‑plan formulation, sample testing, non‑conformity remediation support and final report issuance.
