Services: Electrical testing and certification, environmental or chemical testing

language
- English
- 中文

400-9269-886

NEWS CENTER

Industry News

Company News

Knowledge

Starting from June 28, 2026, Australia and New Zealand will implement mandatory washing machine safety standards

Time：

2026-07-02

Starting from June 28, 2026, Australia and New Zealand will implement mandatory "anti misoperation" requirements for front loading washing machines, requiring that washing machines must be equipped with a dual action switch mechanism, and high-capacity models must also be equipped with additional child protection functions.

Starting from June 28, 2026, Australia and New Zealand will implement mandatory AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2020 Amd 1:2024, "Household and Similar Electrical Equipment - Safety, Part 2.7: Special Requirements for Washing Machines", Section 20.106 "Prevention of Misstarting" for front loading washing machines. The aim is to prevent children from accidentally starting washing machines through technical means, thereby avoiding potential safety risks.

This standard upgrade originated from a fatal accident in New Zealand where a child was trapped in a washing machine. To prevent similar tragedies from happening again, regulatory agencies in Australia and New Zealand have strengthened child safety protection from the source of product design and launched this mandatory safety upgrade. This standard was released on June 28, 2024, with Article 20.106 providing a two-year transition period, and officially enforced for all manufacturers from June 28, 2026.

Mandatory requirements

The standard requires washing machines to be equipped with a dual action switch mechanism, which requires two independent operating actions to start the washing cycle, significantly reducing the possibility of children accidentally starting the equipment.

Start condition: Within 60 seconds after closing the door, operate two independent control devices in sequence
Restart condition: Within 60 seconds after reopening the door, operate two independent control devices in sequence

Repeated operations at the same location are not considered independent operations; Operations from two different positions on the same screen can be recognized.

Larger capacity models have stricter requirements

The new standards specifically impose stricter requirements on washing machines with large-capacity drums. For devices with a door opening larger than 200 millimeters and a drum volume exceeding 60 cubic decimeters (i.e., 60 liters), in addition to a dual-start mechanism, additional child safety features must be included. These features include protective measures to restrict children's access to internal switches and special safety protocols for remote operation.

Certificate Transition

Holding an old version certificate of AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2020 (not covered by clause 20.106): valid until November 29, 2027.

Holding an AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2020 (2024 revised version 1, covering section 20.106) certificate: Normal validity period of 5 years.

Holding a certificate for the new standard AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2024 (including clause 20.106): with a normal validity period of 5 years.

It is worth noting that from November 29, 2027, the new standard AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2024 will be fully enforced.

Compliance Recommendations

Starting from June 28, 2026, products that have not been evaluated under Amendment 20.106 will no longer be eligible for certification under AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2020 Amendment 1, which effectively sets a mandatory compliance deadline. The technical updates also include adjustments to the testing probe standards. The new standard introduces testing requirements for Test Probe 19 (applicable to fingers of children under 36 months old) and specifies that the interlock switch of drum washing machines must not be touched by Test Probe 18 (applicable to fingers of children over 36 months old). These refined testing requirements reflect the standard setters' in-depth consideration of the safety needs of children of different age groups.

As a professional third-party testing and certification service organization, Jiayu Testing has qualifications such as CMA, CNAS, CBTL, CCC, and has obtained laboratory accreditation from multiple authoritative certification agencies at home and abroad. It is equipped with advanced instruments and equipment, has a skilled professional technical team, rich industry service experience, and strong testing technology capabilities. It is proficient in various regulatory standards and specializes in providing Australian and New Zealand testing and certification services for various electronic and electrical products, ensuring that products meet relevant regulatory requirements and helping your products smoothly enter the Australian and New Zealand markets. Welcome to contact us at 400-9269-886！