prEN IEC 60243-2:2026

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 21-Feb-2028
• ICS: 17.220.99 - Other standards related to electricity and magnetism
• 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
• Current Stage: 4020 - Enquiry circulated - Enquiry
• Start Date: 31-Jul-2026
• Due Date: 28-Apr-2023
• Completion Date: 31-Jul-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN IEC 60243-2:2026 - Electric strength of insulating materials - Test methods - Part 2: Additional requirements for tests using direct voltage

• Revises: EN 60243-2:2014 - Electric strength of insulating materials - Test methods - Part 2: Additional requirements for tests using direct voltage
• Effective Date: 23-Jan-2023

Overview

prEN IEC 60243-2:2026 establishes additional requirements for the determination of electric strength in solid insulating materials when tested under direct voltage (DC) stress. Developed by CLC and IEC Technical Committee 112, this international standard supplements IEC 60243-1, which addresses AC testing, by focusing specifically on procedures, sample preparation, and measurement techniques unique to direct voltage applications. The standard is relevant for manufacturers, laboratories, and electrical engineers involved in evaluating and qualifying insulating materials used in electrical transmission, distribution, and equipment manufacturing.

Key Topics

• Test Scope: Outlines procedures for measuring breakdown and electric strength of solid insulating materials under direct voltage in conditions that may differ significantly from those under alternating current (AC).
• Test Preparation:
  • Defines requirements for electrode configurations and sample shapes.
  • Specifies pre-test conditioning of samples, typically at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5)% relative humidity for at least 24 hours.
• Testing Environments:
  • Guidance on the use of air, insulating liquids like transformer oil (per IEC 60296), silicone fluid, and synthetic esters (IEC 61099) as test media.
  • Includes detailed instructions for immersion testing to ensure material and test liquid compatibility.
• Electric Apparatus Requirements:
  • Details characteristics for voltage sources, including control over polarity, voltage ripple, and safety measures.
  • Specifies voltage measurement and current-limiting devices to prevent electrical hazards and equipment damage.
• Test Procedures:
  • Defines the application method for direct voltage, voltage ramp rates, and breakdown criteria (e.g., sudden increase in current).
  • Provides direction for statistical reporting of results and mandatory data to be included in test documentation.

Applications

prEN IEC 60243-2:2026 is critical for:

• Material Qualification: Determining the suitability of insulating materials for use in DC electrical equipment, such as transformers, switchgear, and cables.
• Product Safety and Performance Testing: Essential for manufacturers and laboratories to ensure materials withstand expected DC operating conditions without electrical breakdown, enhancing equipment reliability and safety.
• Research and Development: Provides standardized methods for evaluating new insulating materials under direct voltage, supporting innovation in high-voltage engineering.
• Conformance Assessment: Supports compliance with international safety and quality standards by providing harmonized testing procedures accepted worldwide.

By following this standard, organizations can achieve greater accuracy, repeatability, and comparability in dielectric breakdown testing, vital for critical infrastructure and high-voltage applications.

Related Standards

For comprehensive insulation system assessment and dielectric testing, prEN IEC 60243-2:2026 should be used in conjunction with:

• IEC 60243-1:2013 - Electric strength of insulating materials - Test methods - Part 1: Tests at power frequencies
• IEC 60296 - Fluids for electrotechnical applications - Mineral insulating oils for electrical equipment
• IEC 61099 - Insulating liquids - Specifications for unused synthetic organic esters for electrical purposes
• IEC 60836 - Specifications for unused silicone insulating liquids for electrotechnical purposes
• IEC 62539:2007 - Guide for the statistical analysis of electrical insulation breakdown data
• IEEE 930-1987 (R1995) - IEEE guide for statistical analysis of electrical insulation voltage endurance data

These related standards provide further guidance on test methods, insulating media, and statistical evaluation, ensuring robust and harmonized practices in electric strength testing across the electrical and electronics industry.

Keywords: electric strength, insulating materials, direct voltage testing, dielectric breakdown, DC insulation test, IEC 60243-2, CLC standard, electrical insulation, dielectric test methods, high voltage testing.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Električna trdnost izolacijskih snovi - Preskusne metode - 2. del: Dodatne zahteve
za preskuse z enosmerno napetostjo
Electric strength of insulating materials - Test methods - Part 2: Additional requirements
for tests using direct voltage
Elektrische Durchschlagfestigkeit von isolierenden Werkstoffen - Prüfverfahren - Teil 2:
Zusätzliche Anforderungen für Prüfungen mit Gleichspannung
Rigidité diélectrique des matériaux isolants - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 2: Exigences
complémentaires pour les essais à tension continue
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 60243-2:2026
ICS:
17.220.99 Drugi standardi v zvezi z Other standards related to
elektriko in magnetizmom electricity and magnetism
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.

112/733/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 60243-2 ED4
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2026-07-31 2026-10-23
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
112/709/CD, 112/727/CC
IEC TC 112 : EVALUATION AND QUALIFICATION OF ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS
SECRETARIAT: SECRETARY:
Germany Mr Bernd Komanschek
OF INTEREST TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: HORIZONTAL FUNCTION(S):
TC 15
ASPECTS CONCERNED:
Electricity transmission and distribution
SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING NOT SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING
Attention IEC-CENELEC parallel voting
The attention of IEC National Committees, members of
CENELEC, is drawn to the fact that this Committee Draft for
Vote (CDV) is submitted for parallel voting.
The CENELEC members are invited to vote through the
CENELEC online voting system.
This document is still under study and subject to change. It should not be used for reference purposes.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which t hey are
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to be included should this proposal proceed. Recipients are reminded that the CDV stage is the final stage for submitting ISC
clauses. (SEE AC/22/2007 OR NEW GUIDANCE DOC).

TITLE:
Electric strength of insulating materials – Test methods – Part 2: Additional requirements for tests using
direct voltage
PROPOSED STABILITY DATE: 2029
NOTE FROM TC/SC OFFICERS:
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IEC CDV 60243-2 © IEC 2026
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 2
INTRODUCTION . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Significance of the test . 5
5 Electrodes and test specimens . 6
6 Conditioning before tests . 6
7 Surrounding medium . 6
7.1 General . 6
7.2 Tests in air at elevated temperature . 6
7.3 Test in liquids . 6
7.3.1 Immersion Test . 7
7.4 Tests in solid casting materials . 7
8 Electrical apparatus . 7
8.1 Voltage source . 7
8.2 Voltage measurement . 8
9 Procedure . 8
10 Mode of increase of voltage . 8
11 Criterion of breakdown . 8
12 Number of tests . 8
13 Report . 8
Bibliography . 10

IEC CDV 60243-2 © IEC 2026
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Electric strength of insulating materials – Test methods –
Part 2: Additional requirements for tests using direct voltage

FOREWORD
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IEC CDV 60243-2 © IEC 2026
information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at https://patents.iec.ch.
IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 60243-2 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 112: Evaluation and qualification
of electrical insulation materials and systems. It is an International Standard.
This 4th edition cancels and replaces the 3rd edition published in2013,. This edition constitutes
a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) Used the requirements from IEC 60243-1 for writing chapter 6 and 7
b) Updated the paragraphs in chapter 6 and 7 regarding the needs for tests under d.c.
c) Harmonized the specification of the test voltage source according to IEC 60060-1
This standard shall be read in conjunction with IEC 60243-1.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
112/XX/XXX 112/XX/XXX
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English [change
language if necessary].
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at http://www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC
are described in greater detail at http://www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60243 series, published under the general title Electric strength of
insulating materials – Test methods, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under http://webstore.iec.ch in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
– reconfirmed,
– withdrawn, or
– revised.
IEC CDV 60243-2 © IEC 2026
INTRODUCTION
This document describes the evaluation of eelectric strength under direct voltage stress for
determining the performance of solid insulating materials.
IEC CDV 60243-2 © IEC 2026
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60243 gives requirements additional to those in IEC 60243-1:2013 for the
determination of the electric strength of solid insulating materials under direct voltage stre
...