IEC 60335-2-23 addresses the safety requirements for electric appliances designed for the care of the skin or hair of people or animals. These appliances are intended for household and similar purposes, with a rated voltage of not more than 250 V. Examples of these appliances are curling combs, curling irons, curling rollers with separate heaters, facial saunas, hairdryers, hair straighteners, hand dryers, heaters for detachable curlers and permanent-wave appliances.
Appliances not intended for normal household use but that nevertheless may be a source of danger to the public, such as appliances intended to be used by laymen in shops, in light industry and on farms, are within the scope of IEC 60335-2-23.
IEC 60335-2-23 deals with the reasonably foreseeable hazards presented by appliances that are encountered by all persons. However, in general, it does not consider persons (including children) whose physical, sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience and knowledge prevents them from using the appliance safely without supervision or instruction.
The text of IEC 60335-2-23:2016 has been approved in Europe as EN IEC 60335-2-23:2023 without any changes.
