By sion932 
Released on August 27, 2025, by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Amendment 2 (AMD2) to IEC 62552-2:2015 represents a significant update to the performance requirements and test methods for household refrigerating appliances. As part of the IEC 62552 series, which is divided into three coordinated parts, this amendment refines technical specifications to align with evolving industry needs, energy efficiency goals, and consumer expectations for reliability and performance. This article explores the key content, scope, and implications of IEC 62552-2:2015/AMD2:2025 for manufacturers, testing bodies, and the broader refrigeration industry.
Overview of the IEC 62552 Series Framework
The IEC 62552 series establishes a comprehensive set of standards for household refrigerating appliances, covering scope, definitions, test conditions, performance requirements, and energy consumption measurement. It is structured into three parts to ensure clarity and specificity:
- Part 1: Focuses on scope, definitions, instrumentation, test room setup, and general preparation of refrigerating products, laying the foundation for consistent testing across all subsequent parts.
- Part 2: Specifies general performance requirements and corresponding test methods (the core focus of this amendment), including cooling capacity, freezing capacity, storage performance, and other critical operational parameters.
- Part 3: Governs energy consumption calculation and volume determination, complementing Part 2 to provide a holistic evaluation of appliance performance and efficiency.
IEC 62552-2:2015/AMD2:2025 builds on the 2015 edition and its first amendment (AMD1:2020), integrating updated technical requirements to address emerging technologies and market demands. The consolidated version, which includes the original 2015 standard, AMD1:2020, and AMD2:2025, is designated as Edition 1.2 and is now the authoritative reference for performance testing of household refrigerators, freezers, and combined units.
Key Technical Content of AMD2:2025
As a targeted amendment, AMD2:2025 refines and expands the performance requirements outlined in the base standard, with a focus on enhancing test accuracy, adapting to new appliance designs, and improving alignment with global energy efficiency regulations. The key updates and core requirements include the following aspects:
1. Core Performance Parameters
The amendment retains the core performance metrics defined in the original standard but introduces stricter tolerance ranges and updated test protocols to reflect real-world usage scenarios. These metrics include:
- Cooling Capacity: Measured in watts (W), this parameter evaluates the appliance’s ability to remove heat from refrigerated compartments under specified test conditions. AMD2:2025 clarifies sensor placement and ambient temperature controls to reduce measurement variability.
- Freezing Capacity: Assesses the appliance’s capability to freeze a specified quantity of food within a defined timeframe. The amendment updates the test load composition to better simulate typical household food items, ensuring results are more representative of actual performance.
- Storage Performance: Specifies temperature stability requirements for different compartments (e.g., fresh food, chill, wine storage) to ensure food preservation quality. AMD2:2025 adds provisions for testing temperature uniformity across compartment volumes, addressing consumer concerns about inconsistent cooling.
- Automatic Ice-Making Capacity: For appliances equipped with ice-makers, the amendment refines test procedures to measure ice production rate and quality under standardized conditions, filling gaps in previous requirements for modern ice-making technologies.
2. Enhanced Test Methods and Conditions
A key focus of AMD2:2025 is improving the reliability and repeatability of test results. The amendment updates general test conditions, including:
- Precise specifications for test room temperature, humidity, and air circulation to mimic typical household environments more accurately.
- Clarified guidelines for appliance preparation, such as defrost cycle management and initial temperature stabilization, to eliminate procedural inconsistencies between testing laboratories.
- Updated requirements for sensor placement in unfrozen compartments, chill compartments, and wine storage areas, ensuring temperature measurements are taken at the most representative locations.
3. Additional Performance Considerations
Beyond core cooling and freezing performance, AMD2:2025 acknowledges broader consumer and industry priorities by reinforcing requirements for:
- Energy Efficiency: While energy consumption is primarily governed by Part 3, the amendment aligns performance test conditions with energy measurement protocols to ensure consistency between performance and efficiency evaluations.
- Noise Levels: Recognizing the importance of quiet operation in household appliances, the amendment references complementary standards for noise measurement, ensuring performance assessments account for acoustic comfort.
- Constructural and Design Integrity: Implicit in performance requirements is the expectation that appliance design (e.g., insulation, door seals) supports consistent performance over time. The amendment indirectly reinforces these aspects by linking structural performance to temperature stability metrics.
Industry Implications of IEC 62552-2:2015/AMD2:2025
The release of AMD2:2025 has far-reaching implications for stakeholders across the household refrigeration value chain:
For Manufacturers
Manufacturers must update their product design and testing processes to comply with the revised requirements. This may involve optimizing cooling systems for improved temperature uniformity, refining ice-making mechanisms to meet new capacity standards, and adjusting test protocols to align with updated sensor placement and ambient conditions. Compliance with AMD2:2025 will be essential for market access in regions that adopt IEC standards, driving innovation in energy-efficient and high-performance refrigeration technologies.
For Testing and Certification Bodies
Testing laboratories must revise their procedures to reflect the amendment’s updated test methods and tolerance ranges. This includes calibrating instrumentation to meet new accuracy requirements, adjusting test room setups, and training personnel on revised protocols. Certification bodies will rely on the consolidated standard to validate product compliance, ensuring a level playing field for manufacturers and building consumer trust in product performance claims.
For Consumers and Regulatory Bodies
The amendment enhances consumer protection by ensuring that performance claims (e.g., cooling capacity, freezing speed) are based on rigorous, standardized testing. Regulatory bodies will use the updated standard to develop or revise national energy efficiency and safety regulations, aligning regional requirements with global best practices. Ultimately, this leads to more reliable, efficient, and consistent household refrigerating appliances in the market.
IEC 62552-2:2015/AMD2:2025 represents a critical update to the performance standards for household refrigerating appliances, reflecting the IEC’s commitment to adapting to technological advancements and evolving market needs. By refining test methods, clarifying performance metrics, and aligning with global efficiency goals, the amendment provides a robust framework for evaluating appliance performance. For manufacturers, compliance will drive innovation and market competitiveness, while consumers and regulators benefit from enhanced product reliability and consistent quality. As the standard is adopted globally, it will play a key role in shaping the future of energy-efficient and high-performance household refrigeration.
References
- IEC 62552-2:2015+AMD1:2020+AMD2:2025 CSV. Household Refrigerating Appliances – Characteristics and Test Methods – Part 2: Performance Requirements. IEC, 2025.
- VDE VERLAG. Preview: IEC 62552-2 (Ed.1.2 2025-08). 2025.
- Technické normy. IEC 62552-2:2015/AMD2:2025 – Amendment 2. 2025.
- IEC Webstore. IEC 62552-2 (Ed.1.1 2020-11) Consolidated Version. 2020.