GB 12021.4-2026Maximum allowable values of the energy consumption, water consumption and grades for electric washing machines and washer-dryers (English PDF)

1 Scope

This document specifies the grades of energy and water efficiency, the technical requirements and the test methods for household and similar electric washing machines (hereafter "washing machines") and washer-dryers.

It applies to electric washing machines and washer-dryers with a rated washing capacity per drum (tub) of not more than 25.0 kg and a single-phase rated voltage of not more than 250 V, used by non-professionals in homes, shops, schools and similar places. For impeller washer-dryers, and for drum washer-dryers with a rated drying capacity per drum of not more than 1.0 kg, only the washing function is assessed.

It does not apply to washing machines without a spinning function, to washing machines and washer-dryers without a programme or function for washing cotton fabrics, or to special-purpose washing machines, washer-dryers and dry-cleaning machines used by professionals.

2 Normative references

The contents of the following documents constitute indispensable provisions of this document through normative reference in the text. For dated references, only the edition corresponding to that date applies. For undated references, the latest edition, including all amendments, applies.

GB/T 411 Cotton printed and dyed fabrics · GB/T 4288 Household and similar electric washing machines · GB/T 23118 Tumble dryers and washer-dryers for household and similar use · GB/T 23119 Household and similar electrical appliances - Water for performance testing

3 Terms and definitions

The terms and definitions given in GB/T 4288 and GB/T 23118, together with the following, apply to this document.

electric washing machine: appliance driven by electrical energy that washes clothes by mechanical action. Note: by washing method, electric washing machines are divided into impeller washing machines (the load is wholly or partly immersed in the wash water and washed by an impeller turning continuously or reversing on a timer; this includes fully automatic impeller machines and twin-tub machines), drum washing machines (the load is placed in a drum, partly immersed in water, and washed by the drum turning continuously or reversing on a timer) and agitator washing machines (the load is wholly or partly immersed in the wash water and washed by the reciprocating movement of an agitator blade).

mini washing machine: electric washing machine with a rated washing capacity per drum (tub) of not more than 2.0 kg.

washer-dryer: appliance that washes, spins and dries fabrics, with all three functions performed in a single drum (tub).

standard washing programme: complete washing programme able to wash normally soiled cotton clothes within one cycle, comprising washing, rinsing and spinning. Note: it is one of the preset programmes, declared by the manufacturer in the instructions for use, selected in the same way as the other preset programmes and clearly identifiable by the user; it is displayed on the appliance's control panel unless programme selection is only possible over a network connection.

standard wash-dry combined programme: complete programme by which a washer-dryer washes and dries normally soiled cotton clothes, comprising washing, rinsing, spinning and drying. Note: the programme is continuous, without interruption or additional action by the operator; where the washer-dryer offers no continuous wash-and-dry programme, the standard washing programme and the drying programme are combined, the drying programme being started within 2 min of the end of the washing cycle with no manual operation other than its selection.

rated capacity: maximum mass of dry standard cotton fabric that the manufacturer declares can be treated in one operation, in kilograms (kg). Note: according to the functions of the product, the declared rated capacity is divided into rated washing capacity, rated drying capacity and so on; it is expressed in steps of 0.5 kg at or above 1 kg and of 0.1 kg below 1 kg, and for multi-drum (tub) products it may be the sum of the capacities of the individual drums (tubs).

full load: test load for one standard washing programme or standard wash-dry combined programme whose target mass is the rated washing capacity or the rated drying capacity of the machine under test.

half load: test load for one standard washing programme whose target mass is 50 % of the rated washing capacity of the machine under test.

energy consumption: weighted average of the electricity consumed in completing the standard washing programme at full load and at half load under the specified operating conditions, or the electricity consumed in completing the standard wash-dry combined programme at full load, including the correction for any deviation in the final moisture content, in kilowatt hours (kWh).

water consumption: weighted average of the water consumed in completing the standard washing programme at full load and at half load under the specified operating conditions, or the water consumed in completing the standard wash-dry combined programme at full load, in litres (L).

programme duration: weighted average of the running times of the standard washing programme at full load and at half load under the specified operating conditions, or the running time of the standard wash-dry combined programme at full load, in minutes (min). Note: the running time is measured from the start of the programme, excluding any delay set by the user, to its end, when the power consumption of the appliance has fallen to a steady state, no function is being performed and the user can take out the load.

energy consumption per kilogram: weighted average of the energy consumption per unit capacity of one standard washing programme at full load and at half load under the specified operating conditions, or that of the standard wash-dry combined programme at full load, in kilowatt hours per kilogram (kWh/kg).

water consumption per kilogram: weighted average of the water consumption per unit capacity of one standard washing programme at full load and at half load under the specified operating conditions, or that of the standard wash-dry combined programme at full load, in litres per kilogram (L/kg).

4 Grades of energy and water efficiency

General: washing machines and washer-dryers are graded for energy and water efficiency on five levels, grade 1 being the highest. Multi-drum (tub) products meet the requirements for washing machines or for washer-dryers separately, according to the washing method, the mode of operation and the functions each drum (tub) can perform.

Mini washing machines (Table 1): grade 1 requires an energy consumption per kilogram of not more than 0.110 kWh/kg and a water consumption per kilogram of not more than 12.0 L/kg; grade 2, 0.150 kWh/kg and 20.0 L/kg; grade 3, 0.200 kWh/kg and 28.0 L/kg; grade 4, 0.270 kWh/kg and 32.0 L/kg; grade 5, 0.350 kWh/kg and 36.0 L/kg.

Drum washing machines other than mini machines (Table 2): grade 1 requires not more than 0.080 kWh/kg and 8.0 L/kg; grade 2, 0.090 kWh/kg and 9.0 L/kg; grade 3, 0.110 kWh/kg and 10.0 L/kg; grade 4, 0.130 kWh/kg and 11.0 L/kg; grade 5, 0.150 kWh/kg and 13.0 L/kg.

Impeller and agitator washing machines other than mini machines (Table 3): grade 1 requires not more than 0.010 kWh/kg and 15.0 L/kg; grade 2, 0.013 kWh/kg and 18.0 L/kg; grade 3, 0.016 kWh/kg and 21.0 L/kg; grade 4, 0.020 kWh/kg and 24.0 L/kg; grade 5, 0.024 kWh/kg and 27.0 L/kg.

Washer-dryers: on the standard washing programme they meet the grades of 4.2; on the standard wash-dry combined programme (Table 4) grade 1 requires not more than 0.400 kWh/kg and 9.0 L/kg; grade 2, 0.670 kWh/kg and 13.0 L/kg; grade 3, 0.790 kWh/kg and 17.0 L/kg; grade 4, 0.910 kWh/kg and 21.0 L/kg; grade 5, 1.200 kWh/kg and 35.0 L/kg.

5 Technical requirements

Maximum allowable values: for the standard washing programme the maximum allowable values of energy and water efficiency are the grade 5 figures of Tables 1, 2 and 3 according to the type of product; for the standard wash-dry combined programme they are the grade 5 figures of Table 4. Multi-drum (tub) products meet the values for washing machines or washer-dryers separately, according to the washing method, the mode of operation and the functions each drum (tub) can perform.

Washing performance of washing machines at full and half load: mini machines with a rated capacity above 1.0 kg require a washing ratio of not less than 0.80, and those of 1.0 kg or less not less than 0.65; drum machines require not less than 1.03; impeller and agitator machines with a rated capacity above 4.0 kg require not less than 0.90, and those of 4.0 kg or less not less than 0.80.

Rinsing performance at full and half load: the mass of detergent remaining per unit mass of the standard rinsing test piece shall not exceed 5.0 mg/g.

Spinning performance at full and half load: the moisture content of the test load shall not exceed 115 % for mini machines and 100 % for the others.

Programme duration: not more than 192 min for drum washing machines and not more than 96 min for impeller and agitator washing machines.

Washer-dryers: on the standard washing programme they meet the requirements of 5.2. On the standard wash-dry combined programme the washing ratio shall be not less than 1.03 where the rated washing capacity exceeds 2.0 kg and not less than 0.80 where it is 2.0 kg or less; the detergent remaining per unit mass of the standard rinsing test piece shall not exceed 5.0 mg/g; the final moisture content of the test load shall not exceed 3 %; and the programme duration shall not exceed 600 min where the rated drying capacity is 7.0 kg or less and 660 min where it is greater.

Multi-drum (tub) products: each drum (tub) meets the relevant performance requirements for washing machines or washer-dryers, according to its washing method and the functions it can perform.

Permissible deviations from the declared values (Table 5): energy consumption +7.0 %; water consumption +5.0 %; programme duration +10.0 % or +30 min, whichever is the smaller; washing ratio -0.035; moisture content of the test load +10.0 %; rinsing performance +20.0 %. At the same time the calculated energy and water consumption per kilogram shall not exceed the limits of the corresponding grade.

6 Test methods

Test conditions: the tests are carried out indoors at an ambient temperature of 23 degrees Celsius plus or minus 2, free from draughts, strong sunlight and other heat radiation, at a relative humidity of 60 % plus or minus 10 for the standard washing programme and of 55 % plus or minus 5 for the standard wash-dry combined programme, except where a test specifies other ambient conditions.

The test supply is single-phase sinusoidal alternating current at 220 V and 50 Hz, the voltage and frequency being held within plus or minus 1 % of the rated values.

The test water temperature is 15 degrees Celsius plus or minus 2 at the inlet of the washing machine, the reference washing machine and the washer-dryer. For machines that fill automatically, the water pressure at the inlet hose is 240 kPa plus or minus 50 and is maintained throughout the run. The hardness of the test water is 0.4 mmol/L to 0.6 mmol/L, prepared by the methods of GB/T 23119; the water used for the test and the water used to precondition the test load shall have the same hardness. Note: the hardness is the total hardness of Ca2+ and Mg2+, in millimoles per litre.

The test instruments shall meet Annex A. The energy and water efficiency of washing machines is tested according to Annex B, that of washer-dryers according to Annex C and that of multi-drum (tub) products according to Annex D.

7 Implementation of the standard

For products manufactured or imported before this document takes effect, it applies from the twenty-fifth month after its date of implementation.

A Annex A (normative) Requirements for the test instruments

The laboratory shall have procedures ensuring that all the test instruments work properly and are calibrated at regular intervals.

Ambient temperature and humidity: thermometer in degrees Celsius, resolution 0.1 degrees or better, maximum permissible error plus or minus 1 degree; hygrometer in per cent, resolution 1 %, maximum permissible error plus or minus 3 %. Ambient temperature and humidity shall be monitored within 3 m of the machine under test and recorded continuously throughout the test at intervals of not more than 1 min.

Voltage and frequency: the maximum permissible error of the electrical measuring instrument is 0.5 %; voltage and frequency are recorded continuously at intervals of not more than 1 min.

Test water system: the laboratory shall have a stable control system keeping the water temperature, pressure and quality constant, with temperature and pressure recorded continuously at intervals of not more than 1 s. Water temperature is measured with a thermometer of resolution 0.1 degrees or better and maximum permissible error plus or minus 0.6 degrees, at a point close to the outlet but not in the main water line; water pressure with a gauge of resolution 10 kPa or better and maximum permissible error plus or minus 5 %; water hardness with a hardness meter of resolution 0.01 mmol/L or better and maximum permissible error plus or minus 2 %, together with a titrator delivering not more than 0.01 mL per step; and conductivity with a meter of maximum permissible error plus or minus 5 % at a water temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.

The annex further specifies the instruments for measuring energy consumption, water consumption, programme duration, mass, washing performance and rinsing performance.

B Annex B (normative) Test method for the energy and water efficiency of washing machines

The annex gives the general requirements, the test load, the standard detergent, the reference washing machine, and the tests for washing performance, rinsing performance, spinning performance, energy consumption, water consumption and programme duration, together with the conditions for a valid test and the calculation of the test indexes.

C Annex C (normative) Test method for the energy and water efficiency of washer-dryers

The annex gives the general requirements, the test load and the standard detergent, and the tests for washing performance, rinsing performance, energy consumption, water consumption, programme duration and final moisture content, together with the conditions for a valid test and the calculation of the test indexes.

D Annex D (normative) Test method for the energy and water efficiency of multi-drum (tub) products

The annex gives the test method for multi-drum (tub) washing machines and for multi-drum (tub) washer-dryers.

E Annex E (normative) Carbon black standard soiled fabric

The annex specifies the fabric, its pretreatment, the preparation of the soiling liquid, the preparation and the inspection of the standard soiled fabric, its storage and the precautions to be observed in preparing it.

F Annex F (normative) Cotton standard washing fabric and standard rinsing test piece

The annex specifies the cotton standard washing fabric and the standard rinsing test piece.