UL 1026 Handle Strength Test for Slow Cookers

1. Scope
This technical specification defines the complete procedures and requirements for testing the handle strength of slow cookers in accordance with UL 1026 "Safety of Household Electric Cooking and Food Serving Appliances" Clause 58. The tests are divided into heating base handles (58.3), separate cooking vessel handles (58.4), dynamic cyclic loading (58.5), and ambient temperature repeat test (58.6), ensuring that handles do not fail under high temperature, full load, and cyclic use conditions.
Compliance: Fully adheres to UL 1026 (2021 edition) Clause 58.3–58.6 original requirements.

2. Reference Standard Original Quotes (UL 1026 Clause 58.3–58.6)
58.3 To evaluate the handles of the heating base, a slow cooker is to be loaded so that the handles support a weight equivalent to three times the total weight of: the unit, lid, and separate cooking vessel (if present) filled with water to the overflow capacity. To arrive at the appropriate test load, each component of this test is to be weighed individually, added to the total, and the total multiplied by three. The test load is to be distributed so that the normal horizontal center of gravity is not changed.
58.4 To evaluate the handles of a separate cooking vessel, the cooking vessel is to be loaded so that the handles support a weight equivalent to three times the total weight of: the vessel plus the weight of water equal to the maximum overflow capacity of water. The test load is to be distributed so that the normal horizontal center of gravity is not changed.
58.5 The weighted slow cooker is to be mounted to a test fixture such that the handle is held over a 2 – 4 inch (51 – 102 mm) wide gripping area and centered over the intended gripping area. Due to limitations of handle design, a smaller width gripping area may be used. If more than one handle is employed, the weight is to be distributed between the handles. The test fixture shall provide a dynamic load upon the handles by lifting the slow cooker at least 12 inches (305 mm) in 1 second of time and then lowering the slow cooker. The test is to be performed while the slow cooker is in a well heated condition and energized at the test voltage in 41.1.14, at the setting producing the highest handle temperatures during the Normal Temperature Test, Section 41. The dynamic loading test shall be repeated for a total of 5000 cycles.
58.6 The test in 58.5, is to be repeated with a separate sample of a slow cooker unenergized at ambient temperature.