Australia’s appliance manufacturing sector is preparing for a major design update following a standards amendment that will require new washing machines to include a dual-action start mechanism from July 2026.
In an exclusive interview with Australian Manufacturing, Standards Australia Engagement Manager George Sfinas said the amendment to AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2020 Amd 1:2024 aims to reduce the risk of unintentional activation, particularly involving children, by embedding safety controls directly into appliance design.
The update, finalised by Standards Australia, requires manufacturers to ensure that two deliberate user actions are needed before a wash cycle can begin.
The amendment was influenced by a series of overseas safety incidents, including a 2021 tragedy in Christchurch involving a child trapped inside a washing machine, prompting renewed attention to appliance safety across Australia and neighbouring New Zealand.
“The amendment… has been designed to work to address the risk of children being trapped inside front-loading washing machines and unintentionally starting a wash cycle,” Sfinas said.
“From a manufacturing perspective, the issue is that existing single-action start designs allowed unintended activation, particularly by children… reliance on user behaviour or warnings alone was insufficient, requiring a design-level safety control.”
Sfinas noted the dual-action start requirement means washing machines must be engineered so that two distinct user inputs are necessary before operation can begin.
The change will affect human-machine interface design, control logic and safety interlocks, with machines required to prevent a wash cycle from starting unless both actions occur in the correct sequence and cannot be bypassed.
“The amendment requires washing machines to incorporate a dual-action start mechanism, meaning two deliberate and distinct user actions are required before a cycle can begin,” Sfinas said.
“For engineering teams, this affects human-machine interface design… control logic, so the machine does not start unless both actions occur in the correct sequence… and verification that actions cannot be bypassed.”
Manufacturers may achieve compliance through software updates, hardware redesign, or a combination of both depending on product architecture.
Software modifications could include updated control logic, timing constraints or input validation, while hardware changes may be necessary where existing control panels cannot support dual-action operation.
Standards Australia described the change as technically moderate rather than a fundamental redesign, a factor that supported the two-year transition period allowing manufacturers to update designs without requiring full platform redevelopment.
“The changes are considered moderate rather than fundamental, which is why regulators provided two-year transition periods to allow manufacturers to modify existing designs rather than undertake full platform redesigns,” Sfinas said.
Testing and certification processes will focus on demonstrating that machines cannot be started by a single action and that the dual-action mechanism performs reliably under defined test conditions.
Manufacturers will also need to ensure compliance with clause 20.106 of either AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2020 Amendment 1:2024 or AS/NZS 60335.2.7:2024.
“Manufacturers will need to demonstrate that the appliance cannot be started by a single action, the dual-action mechanism functions reliably under test conditions, and the design meets clause 20.106 requirements,” Sfinas said.
With the July 2026 implementation date approaching, Standards Australia is advising manufacturers to begin preparation early to avoid redesign pressures and certification delays.
Recommended actions include assessing current models against the new technical clause, updating control systems where required, and engaging testing laboratories early in the development process.
“Manufacturers should be assessing existing models… updating designs and control logic where needed… engaging testing laboratories early to avoid certification bottlenecks… and aligning product roadmaps so non-compliant models are phased out before mid-2026,” Sfinas said.
The amendment may also require Australia-specific product variants for companies using global platform architectures, as the dual-action requirement is not universally mandated under the global framework of the International Electrotechnical Commission.
Offshore manufacturing operations and global product lines may therefore require market-specific firmware, control panels or certification documentation.
Standards Australia said it intends to propose the amendment to the International Electrotechnical Commission to help reduce long-term product divergence and potentially support broader international adoption of the safety approach.
More broadly, the update reflects a shift in appliance safety standards toward design-embedded protection measures and misuse-prevention strategies.
Manufacturers were encouraged to integrate child-safety scenarios into early-stage risk assessments and product development planning, as future revisions across the IEC 60335 series may increase scrutiny of control logic and user interface design.
“Proactively embedding child-safety and misuse scenarios into design risk assessments could help manufacturers stay ahead of upcoming IEC and regional updates,” Sfinas said.
The amendment forms part of continuing work across the IEC 60335 standards family, which focuses on improving enclosure temperature control, operational safety and appliance performance.
Standards Australia emphasised that it facilitates the development of technical standards but does not regulate or enforce compliance, noting that implementation typically occurs through industry and regulatory adoption.
It noted the new requirement is expected to affect manufacturers supplying washing machines to the Australian and New Zealand markets, particularly those using shared global product platforms, as industry participants move toward meeting the 2026 deadline.
