Glossary

Appliance specification terms

What the figures on a datasheet or energy label mean, in plain English, with the regulation each comes from. Every term links back to the specifications that use it.

Capacity (kg)The rated capacity is the maximum weight of dry cotton laundry, in kilograms, that the manufacturer declares the machine can wash in one eco 40-60 cy… Spin speed (rpm)The maximum spin speed is how fast the drum turns in the final spin, in revolutions per minute. Faster spinning removes more water, so laundry comes … Spin-drying efficiency classThe spin-drying efficiency class, A (best) to G, rates how much water is left in the laundry after the final spin of the eco 40-60 programme, measure… Energy efficiency classThe energy efficiency class, A (most efficient) to G, is the rating on the energy label. Since March 2021 the UK and EU use a rescaled A to G scale w… Energy consumption per 100 cycles (kWh)The weighted energy consumption of 100 eco 40-60 cycles, in kilowatt-hours, as declared on the energy label. Dividing by 100 gives a typical figure p… Water consumption per cycle (litres)The weighted water consumption of one eco 40-60 cycle, in litres, averaged across full, half and quarter loads. Eco 40-60 programmeEco 40-60 is the standard programme that energy label figures are measured on. It washes normally soiled cotton laundry labelled for 40 °C or 60 °C t… Noise level (dB)The noise level is the airborne acoustic noise emitted during the spin phase of the eco 40-60 programme at full load, in decibels re 1 pW, as declare… Noise emission classThe noise emission class, A (quietest) to D, groups the declared spin noise level into bands on the energy label. Drum volume (litres)The drum volume is the internal capacity of the drum in litres. It is a physical size, unlike the rated capacity, which is a declared weight of laund… Installation typeWhether the appliance is freestanding, built-in (fully integrated behind a furniture door) or built-under (fits under a worktop with its own front). Dimensions (H x W x D)Height, width and depth of the appliance in millimetres, listed here in that order whatever order the manufacturer prints them in. Model numberThe manufacturer's code for an exact appliance, printed on the rating plate. It is what you need to find the right manual, error-code meanings and sp… GTIN / EANThe Global Trade Item Number, printed as the EAN barcode, uniquely identifies a product for retail. It is a 13-digit number that stays the same acros…