EN 61621:1997

Dry, solid insulating materials - Resistance test to high-voltage, low-current arc discharges

Describes a test method which can provide preliminary differentiation between similar insulating materials, with respect to their resistance to damage when exposed to high-voltage, low-current arc discharges, occurring close to their surfaces. Due to its convenience and the short time required for testing, the test method is applicable for preliminary screening of test materials, for detecting the effects of changes in formulation and for quality control testing.

Trockene, feste Isolierstoffe - Prüfung der Lichtbogenbeständigkeit bei hoher Spannung und niedrigem Strom

Matériaux isolants solides secs - Essai de résistance aux décharges à l'arc haute tension, faible courant

Décrit une méthode d'essai permettant, dans un premier temps, une différenciation parmi des matériaux isolants similaires, selon leur résistance aux dommages quand ils sont exposés à des décharges haute tension, faible courant se produisant à proximité de la surface. La méthode d'essai s'applique en raison de sa commodité et de la brièveté nécessaire de l'essai, pour faire un contrôle préliminaire des matériaux, afin de détecter l'effet des modifications dans la composition, et pour des essais de contrôle de qualité.

Dry, solid insulating materials - Resistance test to high-voltage, low-current arc dicharges (IEC 61261:1997)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 12-Nov-1997
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Jun-1998
• ICS: 29.035.01 - Insulating materials in general
• Technical Committee: CLC/SR 112 - Evaluation and qualification of electrical insulating materials and systems (to be defined)
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 112 - IEC_TC_112
• Parallel Committee: IEC/SC 15E - IEC_SC_15E
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 13-Nov-1997
• Completion Date: 13-Nov-1997
• Directive: 2006/95/EC - Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (codified version)
• Directive: 73/23/EEC - Electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Ref Project: SIST EN 61621:2001 - Dry, solid insulating materials - Resistance test to high-voltage, low-current arc discharges

Overview

EN 61621:1997 - Dry, solid insulating materials - Resistance test to high-voltage, low‑current arc discharges (CLC; identical to IEC 61261:1997) specifies a practical test method for assessing how dry, solid insulating materials resist damage from high‑voltage, low‑current arc discharges that occur close to material surfaces. The method is intended as a preliminary screening tool: it is convenient, quick to perform, and useful for differentiating similar materials, monitoring formulation changes, and performing routine quality control.

Key topics

• Scope and purpose: defines the objective of the resistance-to-arc test as a means of preliminary differentiation and screening rather than as a comprehensive qualification.
• Test principle: subjects samples of dry, solid insulating materials to localized high‑voltage, low‑current arc discharges near the surface to observe and compare damage susceptibility.
• Test convenience: emphasizes short test durations and simplicity, making it suitable for production or development laboratories.
• Evaluation approach: focuses on observable damage and relative resistance - used to detect effects of formulation changes or to flag poor-performing batches.
• Limitations: intended for preliminary screening; not a full replacement for long‑term ageing, breakdown voltage, or environmental endurance tests.

Applications

EN 61621 is valuable wherever surface arcing may impact insulation performance and early material selection or process control is needed. Typical applications include:

• Preliminary screening of new insulating formulations during R&D
• Quality control checks on production batches of dry, solid insulating materials
• Comparing candidate materials for use in electrical equipment susceptible to surface arcing
• Detecting the effect of fillers, additives or process changes on arc resistance

Using EN 61621 helps engineers and materials scientists rapidly rank materials and identify those requiring more comprehensive electrical or environmental testing.

Who uses this standard

• Material manufacturers and compound formulators performing R&D and QC
• Test laboratories conducting routine screening and comparative tests
• Electrical and design engineers selecting insulating materials for components where surface arcing is a concern
• Procurement and quality assurance teams aiming to detect formulation or production variances

Related standards

• IEC 61261:1997 - the equivalent international document referenced by EN 61621
• Other insulation and dielectric test standards (for full qualification and environmental or long‑term performance testing)

Keywords: EN 61621, IEC 61261, dry solid insulating materials, arc discharge test, high‑voltage low‑current, arc resistance, material screening, quality control, insulation testing.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2001
Dry, solid insulating materials - Resistance test to high-voltage, low-current arc
dicharges (IEC 61261:1997)
Dry, solid insulating materials - Resistance test to high-voltage, low-current arc
discharges
Trockene, feste Isolierstoffe - Prüfung der Lichtbogenbeständigkeit bei hoher Spannung
und niedrigem Strom
Matériaux isolants solides secs - Essai de résistance aux décharges à l'arc haute
tension, faible courant
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 61621:1997
ICS:
29.035.01 Izolacijski materiali na Insulating materials in
splošno general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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