M/346 - Surfaces Temperatures

This document provides guidance for assessing the risk of a burn from unintentional contact with readily accessible surfaces of electrical equipment under the scope of the Low Voltage Directive. This document establishes surface temperature limits, where such limits are required, and describes the maximum contact periods with a hot surface that a person may be subjected to without being exposed to a risk of burn. Curves of maximum temperatures versus contact times are described for different types of material with different types of surfaces. This document does not address temperature limits for hot functional surfaces. This document applies to surfaces of products likely to be touched by any person. The limit values may be taken into consideration by Technical Committees in determining surface temperature limits in product standards. Manufacturers may also use the limit values to assist in their risk assessment, if a product standard is not applied.
It is not within the scope of this document to set temperature limits for the following zones or surfaces:
- hot functional surfaces;
- adjacent surfaces;
- handles, control knobs including keypads, keyboards and the like;
- surfaces not likely to be touched.

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