Vol. 18 No.2 March-April 1998

• We tested five brands of steam irons - Philips, Black & Decker Bajaj, Spherehot, Morphy Richards and Kenstar. All failed to meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications in one or more parameters. Though the ISI mark is not mandatory for steam irons, they have to conform to the standards as they come under the Household Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 1981.
  
• Bajaj and Kenstar cost the least at Rs 995 (carton price). Philips at Rs 1,295 (carton price) was the costliest brand. Spherehot did not give any information on price on its carton.
  
• Black & Decker Bajaj and Kenstar were the only brands with built-in safety features which automatically shut off the iron in case of thermostat failure. However, the safety device of one sample of Kenstar did not work properly.
  
• Philips, Spherehot and Morphy Richards had no extra built-in safety feature which could prevent fire in case of a thermostat failure. Therefore, they failed the test for abnormal operation.
  
• All the brands failed the cyclic fluctuation test which is done to test the thermostat accuracy and stability. The fabric may be damaged if thermostat does not work properly. The cyclic fluctuation at the hottest point, as per the standard prevailing during our test, should not exceed 7°C, Only one out of two samples of Black & Decker Bajaj gave a borderline result of 7°C. The rest ranged between 9°C and 17.5°C.
  
• Spherehot was the only brand whose plug could withstand temperature up to 125°C as specified by the BIS. All the other plugs were found substandard as they could not withstand such a high temperature.
  
• Kenstar and Morphy Richards could not emit steam for a minimum of 20 minutes as required by the standard. This means they have to be refilled more often, and can iron fewer clothes at a time.
  
• All the brands failed to give a minimum quantity of steam at the rate of 8g/min. Less steam could make ironing less effective.
  
• Philips was judged the most convenient brand while Black & Decker Bajaj was found the most effective by our panellists.
  
• Philips and Kenstar had good visibility of water tank.
  
• Only Philips, Spherehot and Black & Decker Bajaj had the auto cleaning feature which makes cleaning easier.
  
• Bajaj had the best internal wiring design, though all brands passed the test for internal wiring.
  
• Philips alone had extra steam facility.
  
• All brands had non-stick sole plates, except Kenstar.
  
• Black & Decker Bajaj gave a range for ‘Polyester’ found in no other brand.
  
• Fabric information in, Morphy Richards was not embossed, but printed on a paper, which may come off after some use.

Details of the test report can be had in INSIGHT

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