NON-STEAM IRONS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 12

NON-STEAM IRONS

New Standard For Safety A revised standard spedfieation covering the quality of non-steam irons has been published by the New Zea- ' land Standards Institute. It j replaces the edition issued in 11950 and Ls a companion standard to the standard specification 1843:1964, which covers steam irons. Irons conforming to the revised standard should give satisfactory service and be free from electrical and other hazards. The new standard establishes the electrical safety of such irons by prescribing minimum requirements for the insulation of and clearances between live parts and by establishing provisions for their elements, thermostats, 1 electrical terminals and other parts. Appropriate Tests j The standard fixes tempera- : t.ure limits for the handle and control knobs. It requires a minimum of 6ft of flexible: cord to be provided for each iron. The quality of the element metal is defined, namely, a nickel-chrome alloyl with specified minimum per-I eentages of nickel and ! chrome. The stability and ex-i ternal finish of the iron are I also specified. Appropriate! tests are included to ensure I that the requirements are being carried out. The standard was prepared i by a widely-representative committee, including raanu-1 facturers, the Department of I Scientific and Industrial Research, the Electricity Department. and the Consumer! Council.

The standard mark on any non-steam iron indicates that the iron has been manufactured to the provisions of this standard and also that independent checks are made to test for regular conformance to its provisions.