Guidance on Safety Testing for Storage Water Heaters according to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN

Storage Water Heaters (electric water heating and storage appliances) are classified as electrical and electronic devices that must strictly comply with Electrical safety standards under QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN. To assist businesses in obtaining the necessary Licenses and Permits for Storage Water Heaters in Vietnam, Phuc Gia provides essential details on testing and the Declaration of Regulation Conformity process in the following article.

See more: Capacity Profile Of Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation

Table of contents

1. Mandatory timeline for businesses to complete Testing and the Certificate of Conformity for electric water heating and storage devices under QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN.

Pursuant to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN and its amendment QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN/SĐ01:2016, Storage Water Heaters are classified as electrical and electronic devices requiring mandatory Technical regulation Compliance. Since June 1, 2010, these products must undergo rigorous testing and certification to obtain the necessary Licenses and Permits for Storage Water Heaters in Vietnam, including the affixation of the CR mark and registration with the Regulatory Authority before market circulation.

2. The importance of testing electric water heating and storage appliances under QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN

Storage Water Heaters are widely used in places such as households, hospitals, and schools. These devices involve a combination of electricity, electromagnetism, and water, and are used directly by consumers. Therefore, if the product quality is not guaranteed, it poses dangers such as electric shock, fire, explosion, or electromagnetic/radiation interference, affecting health and even human lives.

Consequently, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) issued QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN, which sets specific requirements for electrical safety, material quality, and technical standards for 13 devices: “Instantaneous water heaters, Storage water heaters, Hair dryers and other hair care appliances, Kettles, Rice cookers, Electric fans, Electric irons, Microwave ovens, Electric ovens, Portable electric grills, Wires and cables, Immersion heaters, Tea or coffee makers, and Hand dryers.”

In summary, compliance with this regulation is a legal requirement that businesses must fulfill to bring products to market. It is also a necessary action to protect consumers and build market trust. Accordingly, Storage Water Heaters must undergo QCVN 4 testing as required by MOST, following TCVN 5699-2-21:2013 – IEC 60335-2-21:2012 (replacing the previous TCVN 5699-2-21:2007 – IEC 60335-2-21:2004).

3. Types of electric appliances for heating and storing hot water subject to testing under QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN

QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN stipulates that electric water heating and storage devices (Storage Water Heaters) must comply with TCVN 5699-2-21:2013 – IEC 60335-2-21:2012 (replacing the previous TCVN 5699-2-21:2007 – IEC 60335-2-21:2004). This standard defines the scope of applicable products as follows:

Storage Water Heaters powered by electricity for household and similar purposes, designed to heat water to a temperature below boiling, with a rated voltage not exceeding 250 V for single-phase appliances and 480 V for other appliances.
Appliances not intended for normal household use but which may still be a source of danger to the public, such as those intended to be used by laymen in shops, light industry, and on farms.
Appliances designed for use in vehicles, ships, or aircraft, which may require additional requirements.

Notes on applying QCVN 4 to electric water heating and storage appliances:

Standard TCVN 5699-2-21:2013 – IEC 60335-2-21:2012 does not apply to immersion heaters designed to be retrofitted into closed-type storage water heaters having heat exchangers with means for retrofitting. These units must comply with the requirements in Annex AA of this standard.
When importing or manufacturing, it is necessary to note national regulations; for example, Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand do not permit retrofitted immersion heaters in closed-type storage water heaters with heat exchangers unless specific requirements are met.

4. Technical testing requirements for Storage Water Heaters according to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN

Electric appliances for heating and storing water (Storage Water Heaters) must apply technical requirements under TCVN 5699-2-21:2013 – IEC 60335-2-21:2012 (replacing the previous TCVN 5699-2-21:2007 – IEC 60335-2-21:2004) when undergoing testing/certification according to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN. This document was compiled by the National Standards Technical Committee TCVN/TC/E2 for Household Electrical Appliances, proposed by the Commission for Standards, Metrology and Quality of Vietnam (STAMEQ), and published by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

TCVN 5699-2-21:2013 – IEC 60335-2-21:2012 “specifies accepted levels of protection against electrical, mechanical, thermal, fire, and radiation hazards of appliances when operating under normal use conditions, taking into account the manufacturer’s instructions. This standard also covers foreseeable abnormal situations that may occur in practice and considers how electromagnetic phenomena may affect the safe operation of the equipment.”

Furthermore, this standard considers requirements specified in the TCVN 7447 (IEC 60364) series of standards wherever possible to remain compatible with wiring rules when the device is connected to the mains. However, wiring rules may vary across different countries. Additionally, several technical requirements for Storage Water Heaters are applied according to TCVN 5699-1 (IEC 60335-1) – Part 1 (General requirements for household and similar electrical appliances).

In summary, to test Storage Water Heaters according to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN, clients must follow the provisions in TCVN 5699-2-21:2013 – IEC 60335-2-21:2012. This includes many technical requirements adopted from Part 1, TCVN 5699-1 (IEC 60335-1), along with specific additional regulations unique to this type of equipment.

5. How Phuc Gia® supports clients in Testing and Certification according to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN

Phuc Gia® will support clients in the following items:

a) Registration for State Inspection of product conformity certification

– Legal assessment of dossiers: Our team of experts will analyze the conformity assessment dossiers for legal validity.

– Phuc Gia® represents the client to complete online registration procedures:

Preparing and drafting the dossier;
Registering for State Inspection of product conformity certification.

b) Electrical safety testing for conformity certification

Phuc Gia® will assist businesses in contacting designated laboratories for sampling and testing according to TCVN 5699-2-21:2013 (IEC 60335-2-21:2012).

c) Certification of Conformity (QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN) at the Ministry of Science and Technology

– Detailed legal procedure consulting:

Consulting on regulations and procedures for applying for a Certificate of Conformity;
Consulting on testing issues: typical samples and test parameters for each specific product;
Consulting on preparing the Conformity registration dossier;
Consulting on other related legal inquiries.

– Legal assessment of dossiers:

A team of experts and lawyers will analyze the legal compliance of the dossier (meetings with lawyers can be arranged upon request);
Supporting translation and notarization of relevant documents.

– Phuc Gia® represents the client to complete the Certificate of Conformity application:

Preparing and drafting the dossier;
Representing the client to submit the dossier at the Ministry of Science and Technology;
Responsible for tracking the dossier, receiving results, or handling feedback from specialized agencies.

For the cost of each testing – certification step and related inquiries, please contact Phuc Gia® Inspection Testing Center for detailed support from our professional and dedicated consulting team.

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PHUC GIA LABORATORY CORPORATION

PHUC GIA CERTIFICATION CENTER

PHUC GIA INSPECTION TESTING CENTER

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E-mail: lab@phucgia.com.vn/cert@phucgia.com.vn/info@phucgia.com.vn

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