CE marking is a declaration; the test report is the evidence
A mobile cold chain box that runs on 220–240 V mains falls under the EU Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU). Under that directive there is no "CE certificate" issued by an authority. The manufacturer declares conformity, signs an EU Declaration of Conformity and keeps a technical file. The most convincing part of that file is a test report showing that the product meets a harmonised standard, because meeting the harmonised standard gives a presumption of conformity with the directive.
For refrigerating appliances the harmonised standard is EN 60335-1, the general safety standard for household and similar electrical appliances, read together with Part 2-24, the particular requirements for refrigerating appliances, ice-cream appliances and ice-makers. Part 2-24 changes and adds to Part 1 where a refrigerator needs different rules, for example for compressors, defrost water and flammable gases.
So when you evaluate a supplier, the useful question is not "do you have CE?" but "which standard, which edition, which model, which laboratory, and may I see the full report?"
What our report covers
| Item | Entry in report No. 2607B0999SHA-001 |
|---|---|
| Test procedure | CE-LVD |
| Laboratory | Intertek Testing Services (Shanghai FTZ) Co., Ltd. |
| International standard | IEC 60335-2-24:2020 with IEC 60335-1:2010, AMD1:2013 and AMD2:2016 |
| European standards | EN IEC 60335-2-24:2022 + A11:2022, with EN 60335-1:2012 + AC:2014 + A11:2014 + A13:2017 + A1:2019 + A14:2019 + A2:2019 + A15:2021 + A16:2023 |
| Electromagnetic fields | EN 62233:2008 + AC:2008 |
| Test report form | IEC60335_2_24U, originated by VDE Prüf- und Zertifizierungsinstitut; master form dated 2024-11-01 |
| Scope of testing | Full tests on model LMS22-850W; EU group and national differences checked |
| Product described as | Mobile low-temperature cold storage box |
Two details are worth noticing. First, the European amendments are listed one by one up to A16:2023. A report that cites only "EN 60335-1" without amendments does not tell you which version was applied. Second, the European and national differences were checked and fill a 22-page attachment. An IEC-only report is not enough for the EU, because the European edition adds requirements of its own.
Reading the ratings line
The report records the unit as 220–240 V~, 50 Hz, 850 W, Class I, with C5H10 as the insulation blowing gas and climate classes SN/N/ST/T. Each item tells a buyer something.
| Rating | What it means | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| 220–240 V~, 50 Hz | The supply the unit was tested on | Matches EU and UK mains. A 110 V / 60 Hz version would need its own evaluation. |
| 850 W | Rated power input, checked against the measured input during testing | Size your circuit, inverter or generator for it. |
| Class I | Protection against electric shock relies on basic insulation plus a protective earth | The plug and the socket must be earthed. Do not use ungrounded adapters. |
| C5H10 (cyclopentane) | The gas used to blow the polyurethane insulation foam | It is flammable, so the standard requires a warning mark; see below. |
| Climate class T | Declared for ambient temperatures from +16 °C to +43 °C | Relevant for the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and summer loading docks. |
The four climate classes are defined by ambient temperature: SN from +10 to +32 °C, N from +16 to +32 °C, ST from +16 to +38 °C and T from +16 to +43 °C. A unit declared SN/N/ST/T is expected to work and stay safe across +10 to +43 °C ambient.
What IEC 60335-2-24 actually tests
The standard is long because it tries to imagine everything that could make an appliance dangerous, including misuse and faults. The main groups of tests are:
| Group of tests | What the laboratory does |
|---|---|
| Marking and instructions | Checks the rating plate, warning symbols and the instructions for completeness and durability |
| Protection against live parts | Uses test probes to make sure live parts cannot be touched, with covers removed that a user could remove |
| Power input and heating | Runs the unit at rated conditions and measures input power and the temperature of windings, wiring, insulation and surfaces |
| Leakage current and electric strength | Measures current leaking to accessible parts and applies a high test voltage across insulation |
| Moisture resistance | Checks that defrost water, condensation and spillage cannot reach live parts |
| Abnormal operation | Simulates faults such as a locked compressor or a stopped fan and checks that nothing becomes dangerous |
| Stability and mechanical strength | Checks that the unit does not tip over and that its enclosure survives impacts |
| Construction, wiring and components | Reviews internal wiring, supply cord, earthing, creepage distances and clearances, and the rating of each component |
| Resistance to heat and fire | Tests plastic parts near live parts with glow-wire and ball-pressure tests |
| Flammable gases | Applies extra rules where a flammable refrigerant or blowing agent is present |
EN 62233 is a separate method for assessing exposure to the electromagnetic fields an appliance produces. It is about people near the appliance, not about interference with other equipment.
The warning mark you will find inside the unit
Because the insulation is blown with cyclopentane, the report requires the flammable-gas marking and the ISO 7010 W021 symbol ("Warning: risk of fire / flammable materials") to be visible when someone opens the unit to reach the compressor. The triangle must be at least 15 mm high. Service technicians and recyclers rely on this mark: foam containing a flammable blowing agent must not be cut with hot tools or shredded without precautions.
The refrigerant in the LMS980 is a different matter. It is R513A, a non-flammable A1 blend; see our R513A guide.
How "pass" was decided
The report states that conformity was decided on the "simple acceptance" rule: each measured value is compared directly with the limit in the standard, without adding or subtracting the measurement uncertainty. That is normal for IEC 60335 testing, because the standard itself does not specify a decision rule. If your market or your customer requires guard bands, ask for them before testing, not afterwards.
What the report does not prove
- It is not a CB certificate. The report uses the IECEE test report form, but it states that it is not valid as a CB test report unless signed by an approved CB Testing Laboratory and attached to a CB Test Certificate issued by a National Certification Body. If you need CB for markets outside the EU, say so.
- It does not cover EMC. Electromagnetic compatibility falls under a different directive, 2014/30/EU, with its own standards and tests.
- It covers one model. The results apply to LMS22-850W. Another model, or a significant change to this one, needs its own evidence.
- It does not measure cooling performance. A safety standard asks whether the unit is safe, not how fast it cools. Our pull-down records are a separate, in-house document; see how we test a cold chain box before it ships.
- It does not replace importer duties. The report notes that the name and address of the importer or authorised representative are added to the marking label after the product enters the importing country, and that nameplate text is translated for non-English and non-German markets.
A checklist for importers
- Ask for the full report, not only the cover page or a summary certificate.
- Match the model or type designation in the report with the rating plate on the unit you are buying. For the LMS980 that is LMS22-850W.
- Check that the voltage and frequency in the report match your market.
- Check the standard editions, including amendments, and that European differences were assessed.
- Ask for the EU Declaration of Conformity and confirm which other directives it lists, such as EMC and RoHS.
- Plan the importer label and the user manual in your language before the goods ship.
Want to see the report? We send the full Intertek report No. 2607B0999SHA-001 on request. A summary is on our certifications and testing page, and the product is described on the LMS980 page.