IEC 60598-2-20:2022

Luminaires - Part 2-20: Particular requirements - Lighting chains

IEC 60598-2-20:2022 specifies requirements for lighting chains fitted with series, parallel or a combination of series/parallel connected light sources for use either indoors or outdoors on supply voltages not exceeding 250 V. This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2014. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- specific provisions for temporarily installed protected lighting (TPL) chains have been added;
- new terms and definitions have been added.

Luminaires - Partie 2-20: Exigences particulières - Guirlandes lumineuses

L'IEC 60598-2-20:2022 spécifie les exigences applicables aux guirlandes lumineuses équipées de sources lumineuses montées en série, en parallèle ou en combinaison série/parallèle pour utilisation à l'intérieur ou à l'extérieur, pour des tensions d'alimentation qui ne dépassent pas 250 V. Cette cinquième édition annule et remplace la quatrième édition parue en 2014. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente:
- des dispositions spécifiques aux guirlandes lumineuses protégées installées temporairement (TPL) ont été ajoutées;
- de nouveaux termes et définitions ont été ajoutés.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jan-2022
• ICS: 29.140.40 - Luminaires
• Technical Committee: SC 34D - Luminaires
• Drafting Committee: WG 1 - TC 34/SC 34D/WG 1
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 25-Feb-2022
• Completion Date: 31-Jan-2022

Relations

• Revises: IEC 60598-2-20:2014 - Luminaires - Part 2-20: Particular requirements - Lighting chains
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 60598-2-20:2014/COR1:2016 - Corrigendum 1 - Luminaires - Part 2-20: Particular requirements - Lighting chains
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60598-2-20 ®
Edition 5.0 2022-01
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Luminaires –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements – Lighting chains

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
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About the IEC
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International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

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IEC 60598-2-20 ®
Edition 5.0 2022-01
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Luminaires –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements – Lighting chains
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 29.140.40 ISBN 978-2-8322-4239-1

– 2 – IEC 60598-2-20:2022 RLV © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 2
20.1 Scope . 7
20.2 Normative references . 7
20.3 Terms and definitions . 8
20.4 General test requirements . 10
20.5 Classification of luminaires . 10
20.5.1 General . 10
20.5.2 Protection against electric shock . 10
20.5.3 Protection against dust, solid objects and moisture . 10
20.6 Marking . 10
20.6.1 General . 10
20.6.2 Lighting chain marking . 11
20.6.3 Lighting chain and packing packaging marking . 11
20.6.4 Packing Packaging or instructions marking . 11
20.7 Construction . 12
20.7.1 General . 12
20.7.2 Lampholders . 12
20.7.3 Terminal blocks . 12
20.7.4 Terminals and supply connections . 13
20.7.5 Gaskets . 13
20.7.6 Mechanical strength . 13
20.7.7 Lamp bridging devices . 13
20.7.8 Control units and controlgear . 13
20.7.9 Lamp rotation . 14
20.7.10 Lamp insertion/ and withdrawal force . 14
20.7.11 Lamp mechanical requirements . 14
20.7.12 Temporarily installed protected lighting (TPL) chains . 14
20.8 Creepage distances and clearances . 15
20.9 Provisions for earthing . 15
20.10 Terminals . 15
20.11 External and internal wiring . 15
20.11.1 General . 15
20.11.2 Cables for lighting chains . 15
20.11.3 Cord anchorage test . 16
20.11.4 Plugs and cable length . 16
20.11.5 Maximum length of extendable class II lighting chains . 16
20.12 Protection against electric shock . 16
20.12.1 General . 16
20.12.2 Divisible plug . 17
20.12.3 Electrification of decorations . 18
20.12.4 Contacts of push-in lampholders . 18
20.12.5 Blanking plugs . 20
20.13 Endurance tests and thermal tests . 20
20.13.1 General . 20

20.13.2 Test voltage . 20
20.13.3 Lamp bridging devices . 21
20.13.4 Short-circuit test of rectifier . 21
20.14 Resistance to dust, solid objects and moisture . 21
20.15 Insulation resistance and electric strength . 21
20.16 Resistance to heat, fire and tracking . 21
Annex A (normative) Requirements for interconnecting connectors for use in lighting
chains . 23
Bibliography . 25

Figure 1 – Examples of different types of lighting chains . 10
Figure 2 – Example of a connector to a divisible plug for lighting chains . 18
Figure 3 – Example of test device suitable for checking security of lampholder contacts . 20

Table 1 – Cables or cord types for lighting chains . 15
Table 2 – Conductor size for lighting chains . 16

– 4 – IEC 60598-2-20:2022 RLV © IEC 2022
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
LUMINAIRES –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements – Lighting chains

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 this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as "IEC Publication(s)"). Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
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rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes made to
the previous edition IEC 60598-2-20:2014. A vertical bar appears in the margin wherever a change
has been made. Additions are in green text, deletions are in strikethrough red text.

IEC 60598-2-20 has been prepared by subcommittee 34D: Luminaires, of IEC technical
committee 34: Lighting. It is an International Standard.
This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2014. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) specific provisions for temporarily installed protected lighting (TPL) chains have been
added;
b) new terms and definitions have been added.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
34D/1646/FDIS 34D/16
...

IEC 60598-2-20 ®
Edition 5.0 2022-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Luminaires –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements – Lighting chains

Luminaires –
Partie 2-20: Exigences particulières – Guirlandes lumineuses

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC Products & Services Portal - products.iec.ch
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containing more than 22 300 terminological entries in English
details all new publications released. Available online and
and French, with equivalent terms in 19 additional languages.
once a month by email.
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(IEV) online.
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need further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
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IEC 60598-2-20 ®
Edition 5.0 2022-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Luminaires –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements – Lighting chains

Luminaires –
Partie 2-20: Exigences particulières – Guirlandes lumineuses

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.140.40 ISBN 978-2-8322-1071-3

– 2 – IEC 60598-2-20:2022 © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
20.1 Scope . 7
20.2 Normative references . 7
20.3 Terms and definitions . 8
20.4 General test requirements . 10
20.5 Classification of luminaires . 10
20.5.1 General . 10
20.5.2 Protection against electric shock . 10
20.5.3 Protection against dust, solid objects and moisture . 10
20.6 Marking . 10
20.6.1 General . 10
20.6.2 Lighting chain marking . 11
20.6.3 Lighting chain and packaging marking . 11
20.6.4 Packaging or instructions marking . 11
20.7 Construction . 12
20.7.1 General . 12
20.7.2 Lampholders . 12
20.7.3 Terminal blocks . 12
20.7.4 Terminals and supply connections . 13
20.7.5 Gaskets . 13
20.7.6 Mechanical strength . 13
20.7.7 Lamp bridging devices . 13
20.7.8 Control units and controlgear . 13
20.7.9 Lamp rotation . 14
20.7.10 Lamp insertion and withdrawal force . 14
20.7.11 Lamp mechanical requirements . 14
20.7.12 Temporarily installed protected lighting (TPL) chains . 14
20.8 Creepage distances and clearances . 15
20.9 Provisions for earthing . 15
20.10 Terminals . 15
20.11 External and internal wiring . 15
20.11.1 General . 15
20.11.2 Cables for lighting chains . 15
20.11.3 Cord anchorage test . 16
20.11.4 Plugs and cable length . 16
20.11.5 Maximum length of extendable class II lighting chains . 16
20.12 Protection against electric shock . 17
20.12.1 General . 17
20.12.2 Divisible plug . 17
20.12.3 Electrification of decorations . 17
20.12.4 Contacts of push-in lampholders . 18
20.12.5 Blanking plugs . 18
20.13 Endurance tests and thermal tests . 19
20.13.1 General . 19

20.13.2 Test voltage . 19
20.13.3 Lamp bridging devices . 19
20.13.4 Short-circuit test of rectifier . 19
20.14 Resistance to dust, solid objects and moisture . 19
20.15 Insulation resistance and electric strength . 20
20.16 Resistance to heat, fire and tracking . 20
Annex A (normative) Requirements for interconnecting connectors for use in lighting
chains . 21
Bibliography . 23

Figure 1 – Examples of different types of lighting chains . 10
Figure 2 – Example of a connector to a divisible plug for lighting chains . 17
Figure 3 – Example of test device suitable for checking security of lampholder contacts . 18

Table 1 – Cable or cord types for lighting chains . 15
Table 2 – Conductor size for lighting chains . 16

– 4 – IEC 60598-2-20:2022 © IEC 2022
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
LUMINAIRES –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements – Lighting chains

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 this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as "IEC Publication(s)"). Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While a
...