Preface:

This is the third edition of CSA C388, Energy performance and capacity measurement of household microwave ovens. It supersedes the previous editions published in 1989 and 1980, under the title Energy consumption test methods for household microwave ovens.

The major change to this edition is the alignment of the test methods with USDOE.

The purpose of this Standard is to establish a uniform procedure for evaluating the energy efficiency of microwave ovens which are of interest to the user, and to describe the standard methods for measuring this characteristic.

The standard methods included herein are intended to provide a means by which different brands and models of microwave ovens can be compared and evaluated with respect to energy consumption.

This Standard is not intended to preclude or to prevent improvement and innovation in product design and performance.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Scope:

1.1
This Standard applies to cord-connected microwave ovens intended for use on nominal 120/240 V branch circuits and microwave ovens intended for permanent connection to branch circuits up to 240 V, manufactured for use in homes and similar locations.

1.2
This Standard specifies methods of testing the energy consumption in both active and standby modes of electrically operated microwave ovens as well as measuring the cavity volume.

1.3
This Standard applies to microwave ovens designed to heat food by use of microwave energy. The forms of microwave ovens include portable, countertop, counter-mounted, stationary, stationary-combination, built-in, and built-in combination, microwave/conventional cook top, microwave/conventional oven, microwave/conventional range, and convection microwave oven.

1.4
The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.

1.5
In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.