Mastering the Stove Guard standard EN 50615
Different standards are common written agreements, requirements, and recommendations regarding, for example, the characteristics of a product or service. The Stove Guard standard EN 50615 provides the framework for the operation of the stove guard.
The Stove Guard standard EN 50615 is part of a family of standards. This means that stove guards are also subject to a number of other regulations. For example, safety regulations for household electrical appliances also apply to stove guards. The stove guard standard is a product standard that specifically addresses the unique features of stove guards.
The requirements of the stove guard standard can be roughly divided into two parts: regulations governing the operation and characteristics of the device.
Operation of Stove Guards: Cooking Tests
An important part of verifying the reliability of stove guards is testing the operation of the stove guard in practice. The standard specifies in detail how the tests should be conducted. For example, the amount of oil in relation to the size of the pot used is detailed in a table, and the test kitchen must resemble a typical kitchen with upper and lower cabinets.
The power of the cooker hood can affect the test results, so all tests are conducted both with the cooker hood turned off and at full power.
The stove guard standard categorises stove guards as follows:
Group A – Extinguishing. The stove guard must extinguish an already started fire. Although the fire may not spread widely, flames and the extinguishing system inevitably cause material damage.
Group B – Preventive. The stove guard must cut off the power to the stove before a fire starts. This requires advanced technology and is by far the most common due to its efficiency.
Group AB – Combination. Group AB stove guards must be able to both anticipate and extinguish fires.
The majority of stove fires could be completely prevented with a category B stove guard. They are superior in terms of price-quality ratio, and most stove guards on the market belong to this category. Therefore, we focus particularly on the requirements for type B.
Category B Cooking Tests
Category B stove guards are tested with three different cooking tests:
1. False Alarms
The purpose of this first cooking test is to ensure that the stove guard does not interfere with normal cooking. The test requires three water pots and one oil pot. Water is boiled for 20 minutes, after which the oil pot is heated at full power while the water pots are simmering nearby.The stove guard must cut off the power to the stove before the oil heats to 330 degrees, but it must not cut off the power before the oil is at least 200 degrees.
2. Testing the Plates Individually
This test ensures that the stove guard cuts off the power to the stove in a dangerous situation even in non-optimal conditions. The oil pot is heated on one plate, and empty pots are placed on the others to create blind spots. The test is repeated on all plates, and the stove guard must cut off the power in each case so that the oil does not ignite.
3. Worst-Case Scenario
In this test, the plate that performed the worst in the previous test is selected. The pot used is replaced with a cast iron pan, and the test is repeated. In this test too, the stove guard must cut off the power to the stove early enough. The oil in the pan must not ignite even after the power is cut off.
Other Requirements for Stove Guards
The cooking tests aim to ensure the operation of the stove guard as comprehensively as possible. However, since there are many types of kitchens and cooking situations, the stove guard instructions must specify, for example, the allowed installation locations, the method of attaching the device, and the maximum width of the stove. This minimises the risk of disturbances caused by incorrect installation.
The Stove Guard standard EN 50615 also creates other requirements for stove guards. It may be necessary to adjust the sensitivity of the device either during installation or afterwards. An incorrect sensitivity level can affect the reliability of the stove guard, so changing the sensitivity settings must not happen accidentally or automatically.
Additionally, the stove guard standard pays attention to, for example, the device’s ability to stay in place, testing its functionality when the stove guard is already in use, and the possibility of temporarily turning off the device.
Many requirements for kitchen electrical appliances apply to stove guards as they are. These requirements relate to, among other things, residual current protection, the durability and moisture resistance of the device, and its components.
Timely Response
To be useful in a real situation, the stove guard must react to dangerous situations with sufficient sensitivity, but on the other hand, it must not interfere with cooking or cause unnecessary alarms. The Stove Guard standard EN 50615 aims to ensure this.
The Innohome Stove Guard is the first stove guard to meet the stove guard standard, and Innohome has a long history of developing and manufacturing stove guards. In addition to the stove guard standard, stove guards must also meet other requirements. For example, Innohome Stove Guards also comply with radio equipment and electrical safety requirements.