EN 61211:2005

Insulators of ceramic material or glass for overhead lines with a nominal voltage greater than 1 000 V - Impulse puncture testing in air

Deals with impulse puncture testing in air of ceramic and glass insulator units of class B: cap and pin, pin type (including pin-post type) and class B long rod insulators. May be applied also in tests on Class B insulators of other materials (e.g. polymers and composites). However, it may be useful to consider the possible need to adjust the test procedure accordingly.

Isolatoren aus keramischem Werkstoff oder Glas für Freileitungen mit einer Nennspannung über 1 kV - Stoßspannungs-Durchschlagsprüfungen unter Luftatmosphäre

Isolateurs en matière céramique ou en verre destinés aux lignes aériennes de tension nominale supérieure à 1 000 V - Essais de perforation par chocs dans l'air

Traite des essais de perforation dans l'air des isolateurs en céramique ou en verre de la classe B: capot et tige, rigides à tige (comprenant le type rigide pin-post) et les isolateurs à fût long de la classe B. Peut aussi être appliquée aux isolateurs de la classe B fabriqués avec d'autres matériaux (par exemple polymères et composites). Cependant, il peut être utile, dans ce cas, de considérer la nécessité de modifier la procédure d'essai.

Keramični ali stekleni izolatorji za nadzemne vode z nazivno napetostjo nad 1.000 V – Preskušanje na impulzne preboje v zraku (IEC 61211:2004)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Mar-2005
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Feb-2008
• ICS: 29.080.10 - Insulators
• Technical Committee: CLC/SR 36 - Insulators for substations
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 36 - IEC_TC_36
• Parallel Committee: IEC/SC 36B - IEC_SC_36B
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 31-Mar-2005
• Completion Date: 31-Mar-2005
• Ref Project: SIST EN 61211:2006 - Insulators of ceramic material or glass for overhead lines with a nominal voltage greater than 1 000 V - Impulse puncture testing in air

Overview

EN 61211:2005 (IEC 61211:2004) specifies a standardized method for impulse puncture testing in air of ceramic and glass insulator units for overhead power lines with nominal voltages greater than 1 000 V. The scope covers Class B insulators (cap-and-pin, pin-type including pin-post, and long-rod insulators) and can be applied to other materials (polymers, composites) with appropriate procedural adjustments. The standard defines test objectives, mounting arrangements, measurement requirements and acceptance criteria to assess an insulator’s impulse puncture withstand capability.

Key topics and requirements

• Test focus: Impulse voltage puncture testing in air to determine the peak voltage at which an insulator punctures or flashes over.
• Peak value emphasis: The measured peak voltage across the insulator is the primary criterion for reproducible results; steepness criterion is not adopted because it depends strongly on test circuit impedance.
• Per unit (p.u.) specification: Test voltages are given on a per unit basis; Annex A explains determining the reference voltage (U) for p.u. values.
• Measurement uncertainty: The standard requires definition and control of measurement uncertainty for short-front impulse voltages; Annex B gives guidance on measuring short-front high-voltage impulses and suitable divider configurations.
• Mounting arrangements: Detailed guidance for mounting cap-and-pin, pin-type and long-rod insulators to ensure consistent mechanical and electrical stress during the test.
• Test procedure details: Defines polarity, starting polarity, possible polarity reversals, time intervals between consecutive impulses and the chopping/flashover behavior relevant to puncture detection.
• Sample sizing and retest: Specifies the number of insulators for type and sample tests, acceptance criteria, puncture determination and procedures for retesting failed samples.
• Instrumentation: References measurement system requirements (linking to IEC 60060 series and IEC 61083-1) for accurate impulse acquisition.

Applications and who uses it

• Insulator manufacturers: Type qualification, design validation and production quality control.
• High-voltage test laboratories: Standardized test set-up, measurement protocols and reporting for reliable comparison across labs.
• Power utilities and transmission operators: Specifying procurement and acceptance tests for overhead line insulators.
• Certification bodies and R&D teams: Compliance verification, failure analysis and product development for improved puncture performance.

Related standards

• IEC 60383-1 (insulator definitions, tests, acceptance)
• IEC 60305 (cap-and-pin characteristics)
• IEC 60060-1 / IEC 60060-2 (high-voltage test techniques and measuring systems)
• IEC 61083-1 (instruments and software for impulse measurements)

EN 61211:2005 provides a harmonized, reproducible procedure for evaluating impulse puncture strength of ceramic and glass insulators - critical for safety, reliability and cross-border acceptance of high-voltage overhead line components.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2006
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9±3UHVNXãDQMHQDLPSXO]QHSUHERMHY]UDNX,(&
Insulators of ceramic material or glass for overhead lines with a nominal voltage greater
than 1 000 V - Impulse puncture testing in air
Isolatoren aus keramischem Werkstoff oder Glas für Freileitungen mit einer
Nennspannung über 1 kV - Stoßspannungs-Durchschlagsprüfungen unter
Luftatmosphäre
Isolateurs en matière céramique ou en verre destinés aux lignes aériennes de tension
nominale supérieure à 1 000 V - Essais de perforation par chocs dans l'air
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 61211:2005
ICS:
29.080.10 Izolatorji Insulators
29.240.20 Daljnovodi Power transmission and
distribution lines
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 61211
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM March 2005
ICS 29.080.10
English version
Insulators of ceramic material or glass for overhead lines
with a nominal voltage greater than 1 000 V –
Impulse puncture testing in air
(IEC 61211:2004)
Isolateurs en matière céramique  Isolatoren aus keramischem Werkstoff
ou en verre destinés aux lignes aériennes oder Glas für Freileitungen mit einer
de tension nominale supérieure à 1 000 V – Nennspannung über 1 kV –
Essais de perforation par chocs dans l'air Stoßspannungs-Durchschlagsprüfungen
(CEI 61211:2004) unter Luftatmosphäre
(IEC 61211:2004)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2005-03-01. CENELEC members are bound to
comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and
notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels

© 2005 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.

Ref. No. EN 61211:2005 E
Foreword
The text of document 36B/239/FDIS, future edition 2 of IEC 61211, prepared by SC 36B, Insulators for
overhead lines, of IEC TC 36, Insulators, was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and was
approved by CENELEC as EN 61211 on 2005-03-01.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2005-12-01
– latest date by which the national standards conflicting
with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2008-03-01
Annex ZA has been added by CENELEC.
__________
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 61211:2004 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
__________
- 3 - EN 61211:2005
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE Where an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant
EN/HD applies.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
1)
IEC 60050-471 - International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - -
(IEV)
Chapter 471: Insulators
1) 2)
IEC 60060-1 - High-voltage test techniques HD 588.1 S1 1991
Part 1: General definitions and test
requirements
1) 2)
IEC 60060-2 - Part 2: Measuring systems EN 60060-2 1994
+ A11 1998
1) 2)
IEC 60305 - Insulators for overhead lines with a EN 60305 1996
nominal voltage above 1 kV - Ceramic or
glass insulator units for a.c. systems -
Characteristics of insulator units of the
cap and pin type
1) 2)
IEC 60383-1 - Insulators for overhead lines with a EN 60383-1 1996
nominal voltage above 1 kV
Part 1: Ceramic or glass insulator units
for a.c. systems - Definitions, test
methods and acceptance criteria

1) 2)
IEC 61083-1 - Instruments and software used for EN 61083-1 2001
measurement in high-voltage impulse
tests
Part 1: Requirements for instruments

1)
Undated reference.
2)
Valid edition at date of issue.

NORME CEI
INTERNATIONALE
IEC
INTERNATIONAL
Deuxième édition
STANDARD
Second edition
2004-11
Isolateurs en matière céramique ou en verre
destinés aux lignes aériennes de tension
nominale supérieure à 1 000 V –
Essais de perforation par chocs dans l'air

Insulators of ceramic material or glass
for overhead lines with a nominal voltage
greater than 1 000 V –
Impulse puncture testing in air

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61211  IEC:2004 – 3 –
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.5
INTRODUCTION.9

1 Scope and object .13
2 Normative references.13
3 Terms and definitions .13
4 Abbreviations.15
5 Impulse voltage puncture test on insulators in air .15
5.1 General requirements for the test.15
5.2 Mounting arrangements .15
5.3 Number of insulators to be tested .21
5.4 Measurement of the test voltage .21
5.5 Test voltage.21
5.6 Test procedure .23
5.7 Puncture determination.23
5.8 Acceptance criteria .25
5.9 Re-test procedure.25

Annex A (normative) Method for determining U of the insulator for the basis of
per unit (p.u.) values .27
Annex B (informative) Information on measuring short front high voltage impulses.29

Bibliography .33

Figure 1 – Mounting arrangements of cap and pin and long rod insulators.17
Figure 2 – Mounting arrangements of different pin insulators .19
Figure 3 – Example of the applied impulse chopped at the test voltage by flashover of
the insulator .23
Figure A.1 – Example for the per unit values .27
Figure B.1 – Example of a recommendable configuration of a small size voltage divider.29

61211  IEC:2004 – 5 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
INSULATORS OF CERAMIC MATERIAL OR GLASS
FOR OVERHEAD LINES WITH A NOMINAL VOLTAGE
GREATER THAN 1 000 V –
IMPULSE PUNCTURE TESTING IN AIR

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61211 has been prepared by subcommittee 36B: Insulators for
overhead lines, of IEC technical committee 36: Insulators.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition which was issued as a technical
report in 1994. It constitutes a technical revision and now has the status of an International
Standard.
The main changes from the previous edition are related to using per unit values in the
specification of test voltage, defining measurement uncertainty and improvements in the test
procedure. In addition, minor clarifying changes have been made in the test assembly and in
requirements for test voltage measuring systems. Unnecessary annexes have been deleted
and replaced by a bibliography.

61211  IEC:2004 – 7 –
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
36B/239/FDIS 36B/242/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until the
maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
61211  IEC:2004 – 9 –
INTRODUCTION
The text of this International Standard is based on the work of Maintenance Team 13 of IEC
SC 36B and CIGRE Task Force 33.07.01 and on two ELECTRA reports. Reference is made to
these two reports in the text by [1] and [2] .
A power frequency puncture test on insulators in oil is specified in IEC 60383-1(1993) as a
sample test. An impulse voltage puncture test on insulators in air is required and applied in
more and more countries and by a growing number of utilities. The applied test procedures
differed from each other considerably. The first edition of IEC 61211(1994) gave a common
specification for an impulse over-voltage test as an alternative. That edition specified the test
method and acceptance criteria, and also gave guidance for performing the test and for
measuring the test voltage.
CIGRE WG 33.03 has followed up the edition 1 since its publication in 1994. Information has
been gathered on the usage of the technical report and on the development of test and
measurement techniques for impulse voltage puncture withstand tests on insulators in air. In
time, interest in this impulse puncture test on insulators in air has considerably increased.
Based on follow-up by CIGRE WG 33.03, IEC subcommittee 36B (Insulators for overhead
lines) decided to revise IEC 61211 with the aim to convert it into a standard.
In this standard, the changes vis-à-vis the technical report are not dramatic. The main changes
are related to using per unit values in the specification of test voltage, defining measurement
uncertainty and improvements in the test procedure. In addition, minor clarifying changes have
been made in the test assembly and in requirements for test voltage measuring systems.
Unnecessary annexes have been deleted and replaced by a bibliography.
In reference to the original motivation for the technical report and to gathered experience, the
importance of the peak voltage criterion in specifying the test voltage magnitude is stressed for
achieving reproducibility of the test. The steepness criterion cannot be adopted, because with
this the test voltage strongly depends on source impedance of the test circuit and on impulse
front linearity.
Further to peak value, the test procedure has to be specified in detail for reproducibility of the
test. Polarity of the impulse related to the pin, starting polarity, possible polarity reversals and
time interval between consecutive impulses may affect the severity of the test, and hence have
to be specified.
It is clear that measurement of these short impulse voltages needs special attention to achieve
an acceptable accuracy. IEC 60060 does not fully cover this topic. Consequently, special
requirements and guidance for measurements are given in Annex B.
This international standard assumes that the manufacturer specifies the impulse
...