IEC 60695-1-12:2026

• Abstract:

  IEC 60695-1-12:2026 specifies methodologies of fire safety engineering for electrotechnical products by providing:; - an explanation of the principles and uses of fire safety engineering;; - guidance on the use of fire safety engineering in the design of electrotechnical products;; - fire safety engineering terminology, and concepts;; - an indication of properties, data and tests needed for input into fire safety engineering assessment; and; - informative references.; This document is intended to provide guidance for product committees on fire safety engineering methods and performance-based tests for use in performance-based designs and fire hazard assessments of electrotechnical materials, assemblies, products and systems. More detailed information on fire safety engineering is contained in ISO 23932‑1. This basic safety publication focusing on safety guidance is primarily intended for use by committees in the preparation of safety publications in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC Guide 51. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2015. This edition constitutes a technical revision.; This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:; a) whole text is renewed to contain the most recent technologies of fire safety engineering mainly developed by ISO/TC92 Fire safety SC4 Fire safety engineering.; b) Annex A is changed to show example of application of FSE in an international standard.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-Sep-2026
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 29.020 - Electrical engineering in general
• Technical Committee: TC 89 - Fire hazard testing
• Drafting Committee: WG 11 - TC 89/WG 11
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 25-Sep-2026
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2026

• Revises: IEC 60695-1-12:2015 - Fire hazard testing - Part 1-12: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Fire safety engineering
• Effective Date: 15-Mar-2024

IEC 60695-1-12 ®
Edition 2.0 2026-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
REDLINE VERSION
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
HORIZONTAL PUBLICATION
Fire hazard testing -
Part 1-12: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products -
Fire safety engineering
ICS 13.220.40; 29.020 ISBN 978-2-8327-1539-0
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CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 The fire safety engineering process . 15
4.1 General . 15
4.2 Fire safety engineering calculations . 16
4.3 Validity of methods . 17
5 Benefits of fire safety engineering . 18
6 Objectives, requirements and performance of fire safety engineering . 19
6.1 General . 19
6.2 Safety of life . 19
6.3 Conservation of property . 19
6.4 Continuity of operation . 19
6.5 Protection of the natural environment . 20
6.6 Preservation of heritage . 20
7 Functional requirements . 20
8 Performance criteria . 20
8.1 General . 20
8.2 Explicit performance criteria . 20
8.3 Implicit performance criteria . 21
9 Design fire scenarios and design fires . 21
9.1 Design fire scenarios . 21
9.2 Design fires . 22
10 Data for fire safety engineering . 22
11 Tests on electrotechnical products. 23
11.1 General . 23
11.2 Condition for evaluation in fire tests . 23
11.3 Test selection and/or development . 23
12 Evaluation of electrotechnical products . 24
12.1 As the source of ignition of a fire . 24
12.2 As the victim of a fire . 26
Annex A (informative) A probabilistic fire risk assessment .
Annex A (informative) An example of application of Fire Safety Engineering (FSE)
Method for prediction of flammability of materials in microgravity environment . 34
A.1 Background . 34
A.2 Method of application of Fire Safety Engineering (FSE) to predict the
flammability of materials in microgravity environment . 34
A.3 Details of the application of FSE . 34
Bibliography . 35

Figure 1 – Flowchart illustrating an example of the fire safety engineering
process as applied to a major project in the built environment .
Figure 1 – FSE process – Design, implementation and management . 16
Table 1 – Examples of design fire scenario . 21
Table 2 – Common ignition phenomena encountered in electrotechnical products . 25
Table A.1 – Long start-up mode: enclosure (shell) temperatures in the most heated up-
point .
Table A.2 – The enclosure temperature at the most heated point when working under
abnormal conditions .
Table A.3 – Failure data for abnormal operation .

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Fire hazard testing -
Part 1-12: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard
of electrotechnical products - Fire safety engineering

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
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9) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
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This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes made
to the previous edition IEC 60695-1-12:2015. 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 60695-1-12 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 89: Fire hazard testing. It is an
International Standard.
This document has been given the status of a horizontal document in accordance with the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. It has the status of a basic safety publication in accordance with
IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC Guide 51.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2015. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) whole text is renewed to contain the most recent technologies of fire safety engineering
mainly developed by ISO/TC92 Fire safety SC4 Fire safety engineering.
b) Annex A is changed to show example of application of FSE in an international standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
89/1631/CDV 89/1670/RVC
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.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and
developed in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC
Supplement, available at www.iec.ch/members_experts/reference. The main document types
developed by IEC are described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all the parts in the 60695 series, under the general title Fire hazard testing, can be
found on the IEC web site.
IEC 60695-1 consists of the following parts:
Part 1-10: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - General
guidelines
Part 1-11: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Fire hazard
assessment
Part 1-12: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Fire safety
engineering
Part 1-30: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Preselection
testing process - General guidelines
Part 1-40: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Insulating
liquids.
This document is to be used in conjunction with IEC 60695-1-10 and IEC 60695-1-11.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
– reconfirmed,
– withdrawn, or
– revised.
INTRODUCTION
Fire safety engineering
Fire safety engineering (FSE) is the application of engineering methods based on scientific
principles to the development or assessment of designs in the built environment through the
analysis of specific fire scenarios or through the quantification of risk for a group of fire
scenarios.
Typical objectives of FSE are:
a) to protect life safety,
b) to protect property,
c) to maintain the continuity of operations,
d) to protect the natural environment, and
e) to preserve heritage.
The analysis of FSE is usually based on calculations that use input data obtained principally
from quantitative fire tests as described in IEC 60695-1-11.
Fire safety engineering (FSE) is a discipline increasingly being used in support of performance-
based national fire safety regulations in many states and regional jurisdictions throughout the
world. The eight parts of ISO/TR 13387 (see Clause 2 and [1] to [6]) and ISO 23932 outline the
fundamental methodologies and uses of FSE. Further detailed aspects of FSE are covered in
ISO 16730 [7], ISO/TS 16732 [8], ISO/TS 16733, ISO 16734 [9], ISO 16735 [10], ISO 16736
[11], ISO 16737 [12] and ISO/TR 16738. ISO 23932-1 [1] , developed by ISO TC 92/SC 4,
outlines the fundamental methodologies and uses of FSE. Further detailed aspects of FSE are
covered in ISO 16730-1 [2], ISO 16732-1 [3], ISO 16733-1 [4], ISO 24678-2 [5], ISO 24678-3
[6], ISO 24678-4 [7] and ISO/TR 16738 [8].
In addition to performance-based regulations, many nations are also using FSE to supplement
prescriptive regulations by applying FSE principles to specific design aspects, where reduced
costs, alternative practices, improved performance and improved safety are the objectives.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is using FSE and the ISO standards mentioned
above to develop fire safety designs for ships as described in IMO MSC/Circ.1002[27]. These
are considered to bring an improvement in the design based on prescriptive fire safety
requirements of electrotechnical products.
There are handbooks, guides and literatures which give information with regards to FSE. See
Bibliography [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38].
Qualitative and quantitative fire tests
Many standardized qualitative fire test methods give information on the performance of a
material or end product as measured in the test, which may or may. Such information usually
is not be related to a real fire scenario or real installation practices. These qualitative fire test
methods result in a "pass" or "fail" and/or a product or material ranking. They play an important
role in prescriptive regulations, and the results of a qualitative test can be used indirectly in fire
hazard assessment of electrotechnical products, but they are not suitable for directly supporting
performance-based design.
Most standardized test methods developed by IEC TC 89 for electrotechnical products are of
the qualitative type. It is agreed within ISO TC 92 and IEC TC 89 that this type of fire test will
___________
Numbers in square brackets refer to the Bibliography.
continue to be maintained and, where necessary, developed. It is recognized that, even if the
use of these standards is in prescriptive codes, product data from many of these standards may
can be potentially adaptable for fire safety engineering purposes.
In contrast, quantitative fire tests are increasingly being developed and used, and these provide
data that can be inputs to fire safety engineering calculations.
Various ISO standards [14] to [23] for quantitative fire tests have been developed by
ISO TC 92/SC 1, Fire safety - Initiation and growth of fire, some of which can be used to assess
the performance of electrotechnical products (see 9.4), and referred to in the series of
IEC 60695, e.g. IEC TS 60695-5-2 [9], IEC 60695-6-2 [10], IEC 60695-7-2 [11], IEC 60695-8-2
[12] and IEC 60695-9-2 [13].
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60695 is intended as a general guideline for IEC Product Committees and
provides specifies methodologies of fire safety engineering for electrotechnical products by
providing:
– an explanation of the principles and uses of fire safety engineering;
– guidance on the use of fire safety engineering in the design of electrotechnical products;
– fire safety engineering terminology, and concepts;
– an indication of properties, data and tests needed for input into fire safety engineering
assessment; and
– informative references.
This document is not intended to be a detailed technical design guide, but is intended to provide
guidance for product committees on fire safety engineering methods and performance-based
tests for use in performance-based designs and fire hazard assessments of electrotechnical
materials, assemblies, products and systems. More detailed information on fire safety
engineering is contained in the ISO/TR 13387 series of documents (see Clause 2 and [1] to [6])
and in ISO 23932 in ISO 23932-1 [1].
NOTE Further detailed aspects of FSE are covered in ISO 16730 [7], ISO/TS 16732 [8], ISO/TS 16733,
ISO 16734 [9], ISO 16735 [10], ISO 16736 [11], ISO 16737 [12] and ISO/TR 16738 ISO 16730-1 [2], ISO 16732-1 [3],
ISO 16733-1 [4], ISO 24678-2 [5], ISO 24678-3 [6], ISO 24678-4 [7] and ISO/TR 16738 [8].
This basic safety publication focusing on safety guidance is primarily intended for use by
technical committees in the preparation of standards safety publications in accordance with the
principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 [39] and ISO/IEC Guide 51 [40].
One of the responsibilities of a technical committee is, wherever applicable, to make use of
basic safety publications in the preparation of its publications. The requirements, test methods
or test conditions of this basic safety publication will not apply unless specifically referred to or
included in the relevant publications.
This document has the status of a horizontal publication in accordance with IEC Guide 108 [43].
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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.
IEC 60695-1-10:2016, Fire hazard testing - Part 1-10: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard
of electrotechnical products - General guidelines
IEC 60695-1-11, Fire hazard testing - Part 1-11: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of
electrotechnical products - Fire hazard assessment
IEC 60695-4:2021, Fire hazard testing - Part 4: Terminology concerning fire tests for
electrotechnical products
IEC Guide 104, The preparation of safety publications and the use of basic safety publications
and group safety publications
ISO/IEC Guide 51, Safety aspects – Guidelines for inclusion in standards
ISO 13943:20082017, Fire safety - Vocabulary
ISO/TR 13387-2: Fire safety engineering – Part 2: Design fire scenarios and design fires
ISO/TR 13387-8, Fire safety engineering – Part 8: Life safety: Occupant behaviour, location
and condition
ISO/TS 16733, Fire safety engineering – Selection of design fire scenarios and design fires
ISO/TR 16738, Fire safety engineering – Technical information on methods for evaluating
behaviour and movement of people
ISO/TR 17252:2008, Fire tests – Applicability of reaction to fire tests to fire modelling and fire
safety engineering
ISO 23932:2009, Fire safety engineering – General principles
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60695-4:2021 and
ISO 13943:2017 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
– IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
– ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 13943:2008 and
IEC 60695-4:2012, some of which are reproduced below for the user’s convenience, as well as
the following apply.
3.1
absorptivity
fraction of the incident radiation that is absorbed by a surface on which it falls
Note 1 to entry: Absorptivity is dimensionless.
3.2
active fire protection
action taken to reduce or prevent the spread and effects of fire in response to the detection of
the fire
Note 1 to entry: Examples include the application of agents (e.g. halon gas or water spray) to the fire, or the control
of ventilation.
3.3
available safe escape time
ASET
time available for escape
for an individual occupant, the calculated time interval between the time of ignition and the time
at which conditions become such that the occupant is estimated to be incapacitated, i.e. unable
to take effective action to escape to a safe refuge or place of safety
see also required safe escape time (3.40).
Note 1 to entry: The time of ignition can be known, e.g. in the case of a fire model or a fire test, or it may be
assumed, e.g. it may be based upon an estimate working back from the time of detection. The basis on which the
time of ignition is determined is always stated.
Note 2 to entry: This definition equates incapacitation with failure to escape. Other criteria for ASET are possible.
If an alternate criterion is selected, it is necessary that it be stated.
Note 3 to entry: Each occupant can have a different value of ASET, depending on that occupant’s personal
characteristics.
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.20]
3.4
built environment
building or other structure
EXAMPLES (1) Off-shore platforms; (2) civil engineering works, such as tunnels, bridges and mines; and (3) means
of transportation, such as motor vehicles and marine vessels.
Note 1 to entry: ISO 6707-1 [13] contains a number of terms and definitions for concepts related to the built
environment.
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.26]
3.5
compressive strength
maximum uniaxial compressive stress experienced by a material at its moment of rupture
3.6
density
mass per unit volume
3.7
design fire
quantitative description of assumed fire characteristics within the design fire scenario
Note 1 to entry: It is typically, an idealised description of the variation with time of important fire variables such as
heat release rate, flame spread rate, smoke production rate, toxic gas yields, and temperature.
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.64]
3.8
design fire scenario
specific fire scenario on which a deterministic fire-safety engineering analysis is conducted
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.65]
3.9
emissivity
ratio of the radiation emitted by a radiant source to the radiation that would be emitted by a
black body radiant source at the same temperature
Note 1 to entry: Emissivity is dimensionless.
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.75]
3.10
environment
conditions and surroundings that can influence the behaviour of an item or persons when
exposed to fire
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.80]
3.11
escape
effective action taken to reach a safe refuge or place of safety
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.82]
3.12
fire decay
stage of fire development after a fire has reached its maximum intensity and during which the
heat release rate and the temperature of the fire are decreasing
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.104]
3.13
fire effluent
totality of gases and aerosols, including suspended particles, created by combustion or
pyrolysis in a fire
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.105]
3.14
fire growth
stage of fire development during which the heat release rate and the temperature of the fire are
increasing
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.111]
3.15
fire hazard
physical object or condition with a potential for an undesirable consequence from fire
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.112]
3.16
fire hazard assessment
evaluation of the possible causes of fire, the possibility and nature of subsequent fire growth,
and the possible consequences of fire
[SOURCE: IEC 60695-4:2012, definition 3.2.10]
3.17
fire model
fire simulation
calculation method that describes a system or process related to fire development, including
fire dynamics and the effects of fire
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.116]
3.18
fire resistance
ability of a test specimen to withstand fire or give protection from it for a period of time
Note 1 to entry: Typical criteria used to assess fire resistance in a standard fire test are fire integrity, fire stability,
and thermal insulation material.
Note 2 to entry: "Fire resistant" (adj.) refers only to this ability.
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.121]
3.19
fire safety design
quantitative description of the construction of a built environment intended to meet fire safety
objectives
3.20
fire safety engineering
application of engineering methods based on a scientific principles to the development or
assessment of designs in the built environment through the analysis of specific fire scenarios
or through the quantification of risk for a group of fire scenarios
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.126]
3.21
fire-safety objective
desired outcome with respect to the probability of an unwanted fire, relative to essential aspects
of the built environment
Note 1 to entry: The essential aspects typically relate to the issues of life safety, conservation of property, continuity
of operations, protection of the environment and preservation of heritage.
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.128]
3.22
fire scenario
qualitative description of the course of a fire with respect to time, identifying key events that
characterize the studied fire and differentiate it from other possible fires
Note 1 to entry: It typically defines the ignition and fire growth processes, the fully developed fire stage, the fire
decay stage, and the environment and systems that impact on the course of the fire.
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.129]
3.23
fire test
test that measures behaviour of a fire or exposes an item to the effects of a fire
Note 1 to entry: The results of a fire test can be used to quantify fire severity or determine the fire resistance or
reaction to fire of the test specimen
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.132]
3.24
flame spread
propagation of a flame front
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.142]
3.25
fully developed fire
state of total involvement of combustible materials in a fire
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.164]
3.26
heat of combustion
DEPRECATED: calorific potential
DEPRECATED: calorific value
thermal energy produced by combustion of unit mass of a given substance
–1
Note 1 to entry: The typical units are kilojoules per gram (kJ⋅g ).
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.174]
3.27
heat of gasification
thermal energy required to change a unit mass of material from the condensed phase to the
vapour phase at a given temperature
–1
Note 1 to entry: The typical units are kilojoules per gram (kJ⋅g ).
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.175]
3.28
heat release
thermal energy released by combustion
Note 1 to entry: The typical units are joules (J).
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.176]
3.29
heat release rate
DEPRECATED: burning rate
DEPRECATED: rate of burning
rate of thermal energy production generated by combustion
Note 1 to entry: The typical units are watts (W).
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.177]
3.30
ignition
initiation of combustion
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.187]
3.31
modulus of elasticity
ratio of stress to strain within the elastic range of a material, i.e. where Hooke’s Law is obeyed
3.32
passive fire protection
action taken to reduce or prevent the spread and effects of fire by means not requiring an action
EXAMPLES (1) The division of a space into compartments using materials with inherent fire resistance to fabricate
walls, floors, doors and other barriers. (2) The use of materials with good fire behaviour.
3.33
performance criteria
quantitative criteria, which have been agreed with a building approval authority, and which form
an acceptable basis for assessing the safety of a design for a built environment
3.34
performance-based design
design that is engineered to achieve specified objectives and performance criteria
3.35
performance-based regulation
regulation in which compliance is specified in terms of performance criteria
Note 1 to entry: Performance-based regulation is more flexible than prescriptive regulation because it focuses on
the overall outcome to be achieved rather than on component hazards.
3.36
prescriptive regulation
regulation in which the means and approach for compliance are completely or mostly specified
Note 1 to entry: Prescriptive regulation is less flexible than performance based regulation because it focuses on
component hazards rather than on the overall outcome to be achieved.
Note 2 to entry: Many fire tests were originally developed to provide input for prescriptive regulation. They are often
based on simple pass/fail criteria and are usually unable to provide data suitable for input to fire safety engineering.
3.37
qualitative fire test
fire test which is either:
a) a pass/fail test; or
b) a test which categorizes the behaviour of the test specimen by determining its position in a
rank order of performance
[SOURCE: IEC 60695-4:2012, definition 3.2.22]
3.38
quantitative fire test
fire test which takes into account the circumstances of product use in which the test conditions
are based on, or are relatable to, the circumstances of use of the test specimen, and which
measures a parameter or parameters, expressed in well defined terms and using rational
scientific units, which can be used in the quantitative assessment of fire risk
[SOURCE: IEC 60695-4:2012, definition 3.2.23]
3.39
reaction to fire
response of a test specimen when it is exposed to a fire under specified conditions in a fire test
Note 1 to entry: Fire resistance is regarded as a special case and is not normally considered as a reaction to fire
property.
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.272]
3.40
required safe escape time
RSET
time required for escape
calculated time interval required for an individual occupant to travel from their location at the
time of ignition to a safe refuge or place of safety
cf. available safe escape time (3.3).
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.277]
3.41
smoke
visible part of fire effluent
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.293]
3.42
specific heat capacity
heat capacity per unit mass
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.302]
3.43
thermal conductivity
parameter related to the rate at which heat flows through a material
Note 1 to entry: The thermal conductivity, k, is equal to (Q⋅d )/(A⋅t⋅θ ) , where Q is the amount of heat that flows in
time, t, through a material of thickness, d, and cross-sectional area, A, and which has a temperature difference, θ,
across it, and where no heat is exchanged with the surroundings.
–1 –1
Note 2 to entry: The typical units are watts per metre per kelvin (W⋅m ⋅K ).
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.322]
3.44
thermal inertia
product of thermal conductivity, density and specific heat capacity
8 2 –1 –4 –2
EXAMPLES (1) The thermal inertia of steel is 2,3 × 10 J ⋅s ⋅m ⋅K . (2) The thermal inertia of polystyrene foam
3 2 –1 –4 –2
is 1,4 × 10 J ⋅s ⋅m ⋅K .
Note 1 to entry: When a material is exposed to a heat flux, the rate of increase of surface temperature depends
strongly on the value of the thermal inertia of the material. The surface temperature of a material with a low thermal
inertia rises relatively quickly when it is heated, and vice versa.
Note 2 to entry: The typical units are joules squared per second per metre to the fourth power per kelvin squared
2 –1 –4 –2
(J ⋅s ⋅m ⋅K ).
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.326]
3.45
transverse flexural strength
maximum stress experienced by a material at its moment of rupture when measured using a
three-point test technique
3.46
ultimate tensile strength
maximum tensile stress experienced by a material during a uniaxial tensile test
4 The fire safety engineering process
4.1 General
Fire safety engineering has been and is continuing to be developed to enable the design,
implementation and maintenance of objects and structures in the built environment, using
scientific principles, so that defined fire safety engineering objectives can be met. In order to
do this, quantitative fire tests are used to provide input data for the necessary calculations.
When applied to a major project in the built environment, the fire engineering process is both
complex and comprehensive. A flow chart in Figure 1 illustrates an example of the fire safety
engineering process.
The process will encompass many different issues, for example: architectural design, structural
design, ventilation, plumbing and electrical infrastructure. The fire safety of electrotechnical
products is therefore only one aspect of a much larger process.
Fire safety engineering should be used when safety objectives cannot adequately be met by
prescriptive requirements, and can also be used in parallel with prescriptive requirements e.g.
to support, from a scientific point of view, that such requirements are valid, or to further improve
the fire safety of the product.

Figure 1 – FSE process – Design, implementation and management
(ISO 23932-1:2018 [1], Figure 1)
4.2 Fire safety engineering calculations
These calculations can range from the solution of simple equations to very complex computer
models. For example, they could be used to calculate pipe sizes for sprinkler systems, or they
could be used to calculate the structural response of a load bearing building element, such as
a beam or a column, from a knowledge of the material properties at elevated temperatures, the
predicted temperatures reached in the fire and the applied loads.
At another level, requiring the use of integrated computer programs, these can be applied to
the evaluation of the life safety consequences of a specified fire, which would involve definition
of the context, the product designs, the structures, the scenarios, and then calculation of the
resulting hazards.
An electrotechnical example would be to assess the risks associated with cable fires in the built
environment using quantified data of fire growth, flame spread, smoke and toxic gas generation
of electric cables as well as the prediction of people movement.
NOTE A study at Lund University [28] simulated the escape phase in an occupied furnished building considering
two different cable installations but with various fire scenarios and means of evacuation. Cables with widely differing
material properties were chosen, not necessarily representing installed cables. The study aimed at illustrating the
power of modelling tools (simulation and FSE approach) rather than a practical selection study.
At a more strategic level, fire safety engineering can be applied by using a package of tests
and measures to a variety of different fire scenarios. Computer fire models have been
developed with four-dimensional animations (time and space) simulating multiple fire dynamics
over a range of fire scenarios, and structure responses (see an example in Bibliography [29]).
4.3 Validity of methods
The fire safety engineering process should be based on sound fire science and engineering
practice incorporating widely accepted methods, empirical data, calculations, correlation, and
computer models as contained in engineering textbooks and technical literature. There are
numerous technical resources that may be are of use in a particular fire safety design. Therefore,
it is very important that fire safety engineers and other members of the design team determine
the acceptability of the sources and methodologies used for the applications in which they are
used.
When determining the validity of a resource, it is helpful to know the process through which the
resource was developed, reviewed, and validated. For example, many fire safety codes and
standards are developed under an open consensus process conducted by recognized
professional societies, code-making organizations, or governmental bodies. Other technical
references are subject to a peer review process, such as many of the technical and engineering
journals available. Also, engineering handbooks and textbooks provide widely recognized and
technically valid information and calculation methods.
Some useful references are listed in the Bibliography – references [30] to [37].
Definition of the scope of the fire safety project
Identification of objectives, requirements
and performance criteria
Identification of hazards
Description of the fire-safety design plan
Implementation of design plan
Selection of design fire scenarios and
behavioural scenarios
Selection of engineering methods
Evaluation of the trial fire-safety design plan
Are
No Yes
performance
Final project report
criteria
satisfied?
IEC
(Adapted from Figure 1 in ISO 23932:2009)
Figure 1 – Flowchart illustrating an example of the fire safety engineering
process as applied to a major project in the built environment
5 Benefits of fire safety engineering
The benefits of fire safety engineering include the following. It may can:
a) provide design decisions based on quantitative and scientifically based principles, in order
to make safer products;
b) form an important element of the performance-based design of major projects such as
airport terminals, train stations, transportation vehicles, stadiums, convention centers, tall
buildings, bridges, power generation plants, and large atrium structures, which are of such
magnitude and complexity that they cannot be optimally designed using only present
prescriptive tests and technical guidance;
c) discipline the designer to follow a structured approach to fire safety design;
d) determine how structures, buildings, occupancies and enclosures allow a comparison of
safety levels for a variety of designs;
e) enable drafters of regulations and codes to improve the consistency of information, and
justify the removal of outdated measures;
f) enable rules to be made for construction modifications which will provide an equivalent level
of protection;
g) allow changes to be made in the balance of active fire protection and passive fire protection
while maintaining an equivalent level of safety;
h) provide data to support design decisions that are based on prescriptive regulations/codes;
i) facilitate more cost-effective design of complex structures while maintaining safety levels;
j) enable insurance underwriting to be rationalized;
k) identify topics for further fire research which have a major bearing on life safety, and
property or business loss;
l) remove obstacles to innovation for electrotechnical products, construction products; building
designs; transportation systems, building uses, and building contents;
m) enable professionals to acquire and maintain leading-edge expertise in fire-safe design;
n) assist in the development of
...

IEC 60695-1-12 ®
Edition 2.0 2026-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
HORIZONTAL PUBLICATION
Fire hazard testing -
Part 1-12: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products -
Fire safety engineering
ICS 13.220.40; 29.020  ISBN 978-2-8327-1519-2

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CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 2
INTRODUCTION . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 The fire safety engineering process . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Fire safety engineering calculations . 8
4.3 Validity of methods . 9
5 Benefits of fire safety engineering . 9
6 Objectives of fire safety engineering . 10
6.1 General . 10
6.2 Safety of life . 10
6.3 Conservation of property . 10
6.4 Continuity of operation . 10
6.5 Protection of the natural environment . 11
6.6 Preservation of heritage . 11
7 Functional requirements . 11
8 Performance criteria . 11
8.1 General . 11
8.2 Explicit performance criteria . 11
8.3 Implicit performance criteria . 12
9 Design fire scenarios and design fires . 12
9.1 Design fire scenarios . 12
9.2 Design fires . 13
10 Data for fire safety engineering . 13
11 Tests on electrotechnical products. 14
11.1 General . 14
11.2 Condition for evaluation in fire tests . 14
11.3 Test selection and/or development . 14
12 Evaluation of electrotechnical products . 15
12.1 As the source of ignition of a fire . 15
12.2 As the victim of a fire . 16
Annex A (informative) An example of application of Fire Safety Engineering (FSE)
Method for prediction of flammability of materials in microgravity environment . 17
A.1 Background . 17
A.2 Method of application of Fire Safety Engineering (FSE) to predict the
flammability of materials in microgravity environment . 17
A.3 Details of the application of FSE . 17
Bibliography . 18

Figure 1 – FSE process – Design, implementation and management . 8

Table 1 – Examples of design fire scenario . 12
Table 2 – Common ignition phenomena encountered in electrotechnical products . 15
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Fire hazard testing -
Part 1-12: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard
of electrotechnical products - Fire safety engineering

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,
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6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
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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) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). IEC takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in
respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, IEC had not received notice of (a) patent(s), which
may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent
the latest 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 60695-1-12 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 89: Fire hazard testing. It is an
International Standard.
This document has been given the status of a horizontal document in accordance with the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. It has the status of a basic safety publication in accordance with
IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC Guide 51.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2015. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) whole text is renewed to contain the most recent technologies of fire safety engineering
mainly developed by ISO/TC92 Fire safety SC4 Fire safety engineering.
b) Annex A is changed to show example of application of FSE in an international standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
89/1631/CDV 89/1670/RVC
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.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and
developed in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC
Supplement, available at www.iec.ch/members_experts/reference. The main document types
developed by IEC are described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all the parts in the 60695 series, under the general title Fire hazard testing, can be
found on the IEC web site.
IEC 60695-1 consists of the following parts:
Part 1-10: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - General
guidelines
Part 1-11: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Fire hazard
assessment
Part 1-12: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Fire safety
engineering
Part 1-30: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Preselection
testing process - General guidelines
Part 1-40: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products - Insulating
liquids.
This document is to be used in conjunction with IEC 60695-1-10 and IEC 60695-1-11.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
– reconfirmed,
– withdrawn, or
– revised.
INTRODUCTION
Fire safety engineering
Fire safety engineering (FSE) is the application of engineering methods based on scientific
principles to the development or assessment of designs in the built environment through the
analysis of specific fire scenarios or through the quantification of risk for a group of fire
scenarios.
Typical objectives of FSE are:
a) to protect life safety,
b) to protect property,
c) to maintain the continuity of operations,
d) to protect the natural environment, and
e) to preserve heritage.
The analysis of FSE is usually based on calculations that use input data obtained principally
from quantitative fire tests as described in IEC 60695-1-11.
Fire safety engineering (FSE) is a discipline increasingly being used in support of performance-
based national fire safety regulations in many states and regional jurisdictions throughout the
world. ISO 23932-1 [1] , developed by ISO TC 92/SC 4, outlines the fundamental
methodologies and uses of FSE. Further detailed aspects of FSE are covered in ISO 16730-1
[2], ISO 16732-1 [3], ISO 16733-1 [4], ISO 24678-2 [5], ISO 24678-3 [6], ISO 24678-4 [7] and
ISO/TR 16738 [8].
In addition to performance-based regulations, many nations are also using FSE to supplement
prescriptive regulations by applying FSE principles to specific design aspects, where reduced
costs, alternative practices, improved performance and improved safety are the objectives.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is using FSE and the ISO standards mentioned
above to develop fire safety designs for ships as described in IMO MSC/Circ.1002[27]. These
are considered to bring an improvement in the design of electrotechnical products.
There are handbooks, guides and literatures which give information with regards to FSE. See
Bibliography [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38].
Qualitative and quantitative fire tests
Many standardized qualitative fire test methods give information on the performance of a
material or end product as measured in the test. Such information usually is not related to a
real fire scenario or real installation practices. These qualitative fire test methods result in a
"pass" or "fail" and/or a product or material ranking. They play an important role in prescriptive
regulations, and the results of a qualitative test can be used indirectly in fire hazard assessment
of electrotechnical products, but they are not suitable for directly supporting performance-based
design.
Most standardized test methods developed by IEC TC 89 for electrotechnical products are of
the qualitative type. It is agreed within ISO TC 92 and IEC TC 89 that this type of fire test will
continue to be maintained and, where necessary, developed. It is recognized that, even if the
use of these standards is in prescriptive codes, product data from many of these standards can
be potentially adaptable for fire safety engineering purposes.
___________
Numbers in square brackets refer to the Bibliography.
In contrast, quantitative fire tests are increasingly being developed and used, and these provide
data that can be inputs to fire safety engineering calculations.
Various ISO standards [14] to [23] for quantitative fire tests have been developed by
ISO TC 92/SC 1, Fire safety - Initiation and growth of fire, some of which can be used to assess
the performance of electrotechnical products, and referred to in the series of IEC 60695, e.g.
IEC TS 60695-5-2 [9], IEC 60695-6-2 [10], IEC 60695-7-2 [11], IEC 60695-8-2 [12] and
IEC 60695-9-2 [13].
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60695 specifies methodologies of fire safety engineering for electrotechnical
products by providing:
– an explanation of the principles and uses of fire safety engineering;
– guidance on the use of fire safety engineering in the design of electrotechnical products;
– fire safety engineering terminology, and concepts;
– an indication of properties, data and tests needed for input into fire safety engineering
assessment; and
– informative references.
This document is intended to provide guidance for product committees on fire safety
engineering methods and performance-based tests for use in performance-based designs and
fire hazard assessments of electrotechnical materials, assemblies, products and systems. More
detailed information on fire safety engineering is contained in ISO 23932-1 [1].
NOTE Further detailed aspects of FSE are covered in ISO 16730-1 [2], ISO 16732-1 [3], ISO 16733-1 [4],
ISO 24678-2 [5], ISO 24678-3 [6], ISO 24678-4 [7] and ISO/TR 16738 [8].
This basic safety publication focusing on safety guidance is primarily intended for use by
committees in the preparation of safety publications in accordance with the principles laid down
in IEC Guide 104 [39] and ISO/IEC Guide 51 [40]
One of the responsibilities of a committee is, wherever applicable, to make use of basic safety
publications in the preparation of its publications.
This document has the status of a horizontal publication in accordance with IEC Guide 108 [43].
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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.
IEC 60695-1-10:2016, Fire hazard testing - Part 1-10: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard
of electrotechnical products - General guidelines
IEC 60695-1-11, Fire hazard testing - Part 1-11: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of
electrotechnical products - Fire hazard assessment
IEC 60695-4:2021, Fire hazard testing - Part 4: Terminology concerning fire tests for
electrotechnical products
ISO 13943:2017, Fire safety - Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60695-4:2021 and
ISO 13943:2017 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
– IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
– ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
4 The fire safety engineering process
4.1 General
Fire safety engineering has been and is continuing to be developed to enable the design,
implementation and maintenance of objects and structures in the built environment, using
scientific principles, so that defined fire safety engineering objectives can be met. In order to
do this, quantitative fire tests are used to provide input data for the necessary calculations.
When applied to a major project in the built environment, the fire engineering process is both
complex and comprehensive. A flow chart in Figure 1 illustrates an example of the fire safety
engineering process.
The process will encompass many different issues, for example: architectural design, structural
design, ventilation, plumbing and electrical infrastructure. The fire safety of electrotechnical
products is therefore only one aspect of a much larger process.
Fire safety engineering should be used when safety objectives cannot adequately be met by
prescriptive requirements, and can also be used in parallel with prescriptive requirements e.g.
to support, from a scientific point of view, that such requirements are valid, or to further improve
the fire safety of the product.
Figure 1 – FSE process – Design, implementation and management
(ISO 23932-1:2018 [1], Figure 1)
4.2 Fire safety engineering calculations
These calculations can range from the solution of simple equations to very complex computer
models. For example, they could be used to calculate pipe sizes for sprinkler systems, or they
could be used to calculate the structural response of a load bearing building element, such as
a beam or a column, from a knowledge of the material properties at elevated temperatures, the
predicted temperatures reached in the fire and the applied loads.
At another level, requiring the use of integrated computer programs, these can be applied to
the evaluation of the life safety consequences of a specified fire, which would involve definition
of the context, the product designs, the structures, the scenarios, and then calculation of the
resulting hazards.
An electrotechnical example would be to assess the risks associated with cable fires in the built
environment using quantified data of fire growth, flame spread, smoke and toxic gas generation
of electric cables as well as the prediction of people movement.
NOTE A study at Lund University [28] simulated the escape phase in an occupied furnished building considering
two different cable installations but with various fire scenarios and means of evacuation. Cables with widely differing
material properties were chosen, not necessarily representing installed cables. The study aimed at illustrating the
power of modelling tools (simulation and FSE approach) rather than a practical selection study.
At a more strategic level, fire safety engineering can be applied by using a package of tests
and measures to a variety of different fire scenarios. Computer fire models have been
developed with four-dimensional animations (time and space) simulating multiple fire dynamics
over a range of fire scenarios, and structure responses (see an example in Bibliography [29]).
4.3 Validity of methods
The fire safety engineering process should be based on sound fire science and engineering
practice incorporating widely accepted methods, empirical data, calculations, correlation, and
computer models as contained in engineering textbooks and technical literature. There are
numerous technical resources that are of use in a particular fire safety design. Therefore, it is
very important that fire safety engineers and other members of the design team determine the
acceptability of the sources and methodologies used for the applications in which they are used.
When determining the validity of a resource, it is helpful to know the process through which the
resource was developed, reviewed, and validated. For example, many fire safety codes and
standards are developed under an open consensus process conducted by recognized
professional societies, code-making organizations, or governmental bodies. Other technical
references are subject to a peer review process, such as many of the technical and engineering
journals available. Also, engineering handbooks and textbooks provide widely recognized and
technically valid information and calculation methods.
Some useful references are listed in the Bibliography – references [30] to [37].
5 Benefits of fire safety engineering
The benefits of fire safety engineering include the following. It can:
a) provide design decisions based on quantitative and scientifically based principles, in order
to make safer products;
b) form an important element of the performance-based design of major projects such as
airport terminals, train stations, transportation vehicles, stadiums, convention centers, tall
buildings, bridges, power generation plants, and large atrium structures, which are of such
magnitude and complexity that they cannot be optimally designed using only present
prescriptive tests and technical guidance;
c) discipline the designer to follow a structured approach to fire safety design;
d) determine how structures, buildings, occupancies and enclosures allow a comparison of
safety levels for a variety of designs;
e) enable drafters of regulations and codes to improve the consistency of information, and
justify the removal of outdated measures;
f) enable rules to be made for construction modifications which will provide an equivalent level
of protection;
g) allow changes to be made in the balance of active fire protection and passive fire protection
while maintaining an equivalent level of safety;
h) provide data to support design decisions that are based on prescriptive regulations/codes;
i) facilitate more cost-effective design of complex structures while maintaining safety levels;
j) enable insurance underwriting to be rationalized;
k) identify topics for further fire research which have a major bearing on life safety, and
property or business loss;
l) remove obstacles to innovation for electrotechnical products, construction products; building
designs; transportation systems, building uses, and building contents;
m) enable professionals to acquire and maintain leading-edge expertise in fire-safe design;
n) assist in the development of new fire tests and fire data;
o) assist the management of change from prescriptive requirements and regulations to
performance requirements and regulations; and
p) assist t
...

IEC 60695-1-12 ®
Edition 2.0 2026-09
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
PUBLICATION FONDAMENTALE DE SÉCURITÉ

PUBLICATION HORIZONTALE
Essais relatifs aux risques du feu -
Partie 1-12: Recommandations pour l'évaluation des risques du feu des produits
électrotechniques - Ingénierie de la sécurité incendie
ICS 13.220.40; 29.020  ISBN 978-2-8327-1519-2

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SOMMAIRE
AVANT-PROPOS . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Domaine d'application . 7
2 Références normatives . 7
3 Termes et définitions . 8
4 Le processus d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie . 8
4.1 Généralités . 8
4.2 Calculs d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie . 9
4.3 Validité des méthodes . 10
5 Bénéfices de l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie . 10
6 Objectifs de l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie . 11
6.1 Généralités . 11
6.2 Sécurité des personnes . 11
6.3 Protection des biens . 12
6.4 Continuité des opérations . 12
6.5 Protection de l’environnement naturel . 12
6.6 Préservation du patrimoine . 12
7 Exigences fonctionnelles . 12
8 Critères de performance . 12
8.1 Généralités . 12
8.2 Critères de performance explicites . 13
8.3 Critères de performance implicites . 13
9 Scénarios d'incendie de dimensionnement et feux de dimensionnement . 13
9.1 Scénarios d'incendie de dimensionnement . 13
9.2 Feux de dimensionnement . 14
10 Données pour l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie . 14
11 Essais sur les produits électrotechniques . 15
11.1 Généralités . 15
11.2 Conditions d'évaluation lors des essais au feu . 16
11.3 Sélection et/ou développement des essais . 16
12 Évaluation des produits électrotechniques . 16
12.1 En tant que source d'allumage d'un incendie . 16
12.2 En tant que victime d'un incendie . 18
Annexe A (informative) Un exemple d'application de l'ingénierie de la sécurité
incendie (ISI) Méthode de prédiction de l'inflammabilité des matériaux dans les
environnements de microgravité . 19
A.1 Contexte . 19
A.2 Méthode d'application de l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie (ISI) pour
prédire l'inflammabilité des matériaux dans les environnements de
microgravité . 19
A.3 Détails de l'application de l'ISI . 19
Bibliographie . 20

Figure 1 – Processus d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie – Conception, mise en œuvre

et management . 9

Tableau 1 – Exemples de scénarios d'incendie de dimensionnement . 14
Tableau 2 – Phénomènes d'allumage courants dans les produits électrotechniques . 17

COMMISSION ÉLECTROTECHNIQUE INTERNATIONALE
____________
Essais relatifs aux risques du feu -
Partie 1-12: Recommandations pour l'évaluation des risques du feu
des produits électrotechniques - Ingénierie de la sécurité incendie

AVANT-PROPOS
1) La Commission Électrotechnique Internationale (IEC) est une organisation mondiale de normalisation composée
de l'ensemble des comités électrotechniques nationaux (Comités nationaux de l’IEC). L’IEC a pour objet de
favoriser la coopération internationale pour toutes les questions de normalisation dans les domaines de
l'électricité et de l'électronique. À cet effet, l’IEC – entre autres activités – publie des Normes internationales,
des Spécifications techniques, des Rapports techniques, des Spécifications accessibles au public (PAS) et des
Guides (ci-après dénommés "Publication(s) de l’IEC"). Leur élaboration est confiée à des comités d'études, aux
travaux desquels tout Comité national intéressé par le sujet traité peut participer. Les organisations
internationales, gouvernementales et non gouvernementales, en liaison avec l’IEC, participent également aux
travaux. L’IEC collabore étroitement avec l'Organisation Internationale de Normalisation (ISO), selon des
conditions fixées par accord entre les deux organisations.
2) Les décisions ou accords officiels de l’IEC concernant les questions techniques représentent, dans la mesure du
possible, un accord international sur les sujets étudiés, étant donné que les Comités nationaux de l’IEC intéressés
sont représentés dans chaque comité d’études.
3) Les Publications de l’IEC se présentent sous la forme de recommandations internationales et sont agréées
comme telles par les Comités nationaux de l’IEC. Tous les efforts raisonnables sont entrepris afin que l’IEC
s'assure de l'exactitude du contenu technique de ses publications; l’IEC ne peut pas être tenue responsable de
l'éventuelle mauvaise utilisation ou interprétation qui en est faite par un quelconque utilisateur final.
4) Dans le but d'encourager l'uniformité internationale, les Comités nationaux de l’IEC s'engagent, dans toute la
mesure possible, à appliquer de façon transparente les Publications de l’IEC dans leurs publications nationales
et régionales. Toutes divergences entre toutes Publications de l’IEC et toutes publications nationales ou
régionales correspondantes doivent être indiquées en termes clairs dans ces dernières.
5) L’IEC elle-même ne fournit aucune attestation de conformité. Des organismes de certification indépendants
fournissent des services d'évaluation de conformité et, dans certains secteurs, accèdent aux marques de
conformité de l’IEC. L’IEC n'est responsable d'aucun des services effectués par les organismes de certification
indépendants.
6) Tous les utilisateurs doivent s'assurer qu'ils sont en possession de la dernière édition de cette publication.
7) Aucune responsabilité ne doit être imputée à l’IEC, à ses administrateurs, employés, auxiliaires ou mandataires,
y compris ses experts particuliers et les membres de ses comités d'études et des Comités nationaux de l’IEC,
pour tout préjudice causé en cas de dommages corporels et matériels, ou de tout autre dommage de quelque
nature que ce soit, directe ou indirecte, ou pour supporter les coûts (y compris les frais de justice) et les dépenses
découlant de la publication ou de l'utilisation de cette Publication de l’IEC ou de toute autre Publication de l’IEC,
ou au crédit qui lui est accordé.
8) L'attention est attirée sur les références normatives citées dans cette publication. L'utilisation de publications
référencées est obligatoire pour une application correcte de la présente publication.
9) L'IEC attire l'attention sur le fait que la mise en application du présent document peut entraîner l'utilisation d'un
ou de plusieurs brevets. L'IEC ne prend pas position quant à la preuve, à la validité et à l'applicabilité de tout
droit de brevet revendiqué à cet égard. À la date de publication du présent document, l'IEC n'a pas reçu
notification qu'un ou plusieurs brevets pouvaient être nécessaires à sa mise en application. Toutefois, il y a lieu
d'avertir les responsables de la mise en application du présent document que des informations plus récentes
sont susceptibles de figurer dans la base de données de brevets, disponible à l'adresse https://patents.iec.ch.
L'IEC ne saurait être tenue pour responsable de ne pas avoir identifié de tels droits de brevets.
L'IEC 60695-1-12 a été établie par le comité d'études 89 de l’IEC: Essais relatifs aux risques
du feu. Il s'agit d'une Norme internationale.
Cette publication a le statut de publication horizontale conformément au Guide IEC 108. Elle a
le statut d'une publication fondamentale de sécurité conformément au Guide 104 de l'IEC et au
Guide 51 de l'ISO/IEC.
Cette deuxième édition annule et remplace la première édition parue en 2015. Cette édition
constitue une révision technique.
Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques significatives suivantes par rapport à l'édition
précédente:
a) l'ensemble du texte est actualisé pour contenir les technologies les plus récentes en matière
d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie principalement développées par l'ISO/TC 92 Sécurité au
feu SC4 Ingénierie de la sécurité incendie.
b) L'Annexe A est modifiée pour illustrer un exemple d'application de l'ISI dans une norme
internationale.
Le texte de cette Norme internationale est issu des documents suivants:
Projet Rapport de vote
89/1631/CDV 89/1670/RVC
Le rapport de vote indiqué dans le tableau ci-dessus donne toute information sur le vote ayant
abouti à son approbation.
La langue employée pour l'élaboration de cette Norme internationale est l'anglais.
Ce document a été rédigé selon les Directives ISO/IEC, Partie 2, il a été développé selon les
Directives ISO/IEC, Partie 1 et les Directives ISO/IEC, Supplément IEC, disponibles sous
www.iec.ch/members_experts/reference. Les principaux types de documents développés par
l'IEC sont décrits plus en détail sous www.iec.ch/publications.
Une liste de toutes les parties de la série IEC 60695, publiées sous le titre général Essais
relatifs aux risques du feu, se trouve sur le site web de l'IEC.
L'IEC 60695-1 comprend les parties suivantes:
Partie 1-10: Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation des risques du feu des produits
électrotechniques - Lignes directrices générales
Partie 1-11: Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation du danger du feu des produits
électrotechniques - Évaluation du danger du feu
Partie 1-12: Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation des risques du feu des produits
électrotechniques - Ingénierie de la sécurité incendie
Partie 1-30: Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation des risques du feu des produits
électrotechniques - Processus d’essai de présélection - Lignes directrices générales
Partie 1-40: Guide pour l'évaluation des risques du feu des produits électrotechniques -
Liquides isolants.
Le présent document doit être utilisé conjointement avec l'IEC 60695-1-10 et l'IEC 60695-1-11.
Le comité a décidé que le contenu de ce document ne sera pas modifié avant la date de stabilité
indiquée sur le site web de l'IEC sous webstore.iec.ch dans les données relatives au document
recherché. À cette date, le document sera
– reconduit,
– supprimé, ou
– révisé.
INTRODUCTION
Ingénierie de la sécurité incendie
L'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie (ISI) concerne l'application de méthodes d'ingénierie
fondées sur des principes scientifiques au développement ou à l'évaluation de conceptions
dans un environnement bâti par l'analyse de scénarios d'incendie spécifiques ou bien par la
quantification du risque pour un groupe de scénarios d'incendie.
Les objectifs types de l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie sont les suivants:
a) la sécurité des personnes,
b) la protection des biens,
c) le maintien de la continuité des opérations,
d) la protection de l'environnement naturel, et
e) la préservation du patrimoine.
Cette analyse de l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie repose généralement sur des calculs qui
utilisent des données d'entrée obtenues principalement à partir d'essais au feu quantitatifs,
comme cela est décrit dans l'IEC 60695-1-11.
L'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie (ISI) est une discipline de plus en plus utilisée pour soutenir
les réglementations de sécurité incendie nationales axées sur les performances dans de
nombreux pays et juridictions régionales dans le monde. L'ISO 23932-1 [1] , élaborée par
l'ISO TC 92/SC 4, décrit les méthodes et les usages fondamentaux de l'ISI. L'ISO 16730-1 [2],
l'ISO 16732-1 [3], l'ISO 16733-1 [4], l'ISO 24678-2 [5], l'ISO 24678-3 [6], l'ISO 24678-4 [7] et
l'ISO/TR 16738 [8] couvrent des aspects plus détaillés de l'ISI.
En plus des réglementations axées sur les performances, de nombreux pays utilisent également
l'ISI pour compléter les réglementations prescriptives en appliquant les principes de l'ISI à des
aspects spécifiques de la conception, lorsque les objectifs concernent la réduction des coûts,
les pratiques alternatives, l'amélioration des performances et de la sécurité.
L'Organisation Maritime Internationale (OMI) utilise l'ISI et les normes ISO mentionnées
ci-dessus pour développer des conceptions de sécurité incendie destinées aux navires, comme
[27]
cela est décrit dans la circulaire MSC/Circ.1002 de l'OMI. Ces facteurs sont considérés
comme apportant une amélioration dans la conception de produits électrotechniques.
Il existe des manuels, des guides et des ouvrages de référence qui donnent des informations
sur l'ISI. Voir les références [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34]], [35], [36], [37], [38] de la
Bibliographie.
Essais au feu qualitatifs et quantitatifs
De nombreuses méthodes d'essai au feu qualitatif normalisées fournissent des informations sur
les performances d'un matériau ou d'un produit fini, qui correspondent aux mesures relevées
au cours de l'essai. Toutefois, ces informations ne sont pas corrélées à un scénario d'incendie
réel ou à des pratiques d'installation réelles. Ces méthodes d'essai au feu qualitatif fournissent
des résultats d'"acceptation" ou de "refus" et/ou un classement du produit ou du matériau. Elles
jouent un rôle important dans les réglementations prescriptives, et les résultats d'un essai
qualitatif peuvent être utilisés indirectement pour l'évaluation des risques du feu des produits
électrotechniques, mais ils ne sont pas adaptés pour appuyer directement une conception axée
sur les performances.
___________
Les chiffres entre crochets renvoient à la Bibliographie.
Les méthodes d'essai normalisées développées par l'IEC/CE 89 pour les produits
électrotechniques sont pour la plupart du type qualitatif. Il est admis au sein de l'ISO/TC 92 et
de l'IEC/CE 89 que ce type d'essai au feu continuera à être maintenu et, si nécessaire,
développé. Il est reconnu que, même si l'utilisation de ces normes s'inscrit dans le cadre de
codes prescriptifs, les données relatives aux produits issues de plusieurs de ces normes
peuvent être potentiellement adaptables à des fins d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie.
En revanche, les essais au feu quantitatifs sont de plus en plus développés et utilisés, ce qui
fournit des données pouvant être exploitées pour les calculs d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie.
Différentes normes ISO [14]-[23] relatives aux essais au feu quantitatifs ont été élaborées par
l'ISO/TC 92/SC 1, Sécurité incendie - Amorçage et développement du feu, dont certaines
peuvent être utilisées pour évaluer les performances des produits électrotechniques, et sont
mentionnées dans les normes de la série IEC 60695, par exemple l'IEC TS 60695-5-2 [9],
l'IEC 60695-6-2 [10], l'IEC 60695-7-2 [11], l'IEC 60695-8-2 [12] et l'IEC 60695-9-2 [13].

1 Domaine d'application
La présente partie de l'IEC 60695 spécifie les méthodes d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie
pour les produits électrotechniques, en fournissant notamment:
– une explication des principes et des usages de l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie;
– des recommandations relatives à l'usage de l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie dans la
conception des produits électrotechniques;
– la terminologie et les concepts relatifs à l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie;
– une indication des propriétés, données et essais nécessaires pour alimenter les évaluations
d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie; et
– des références informatives.
Le présent document vise à fournir des recommandations aux comités de produits concernant
les méthodes d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie et les essais axés sur les performances
utilisables pour les conceptions axées sur les performances et les évaluations des risques du
feu des matériaux, ensembles, produits et systèmes électrotechniques. L'ISO 23932-1 [1]
fournit des informations plus détaillées sur l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie.
NOTE L'ISO 16730-1 [2], l'ISO 16732-1 [3], l'ISO 16733-1 [4], l'ISO 24678-2 [5], l'ISO 24678-3 [6], l'ISO 24678-4
[7] et l'ISO/TR 16738 [8] couvrent des aspects plus détaillés de l'ISI.
La présente publication fondamentale de sécurité qui porte sur des recommandations de
sécurité est principalement destinée à être utilisée par les comités dans le cadre de l'élaboration
de publications de sécurité conformément aux principes établis dans le Guide 104 de l'IEC [39]
et le Guide 51 de l'ISO/IEC [40].
L'une des responsabilités d'un comité consiste, le cas échéant, à utiliser les publications
fondamentales de sécurité dans le cadre de l'élaboration de ses publications.
Ce document a le statut d'une publication horizontale conformément au Guide 108 de l'IEC [43].
2 Références normatives
Les documents suivants sont cités dans le texte de sorte qu'ils constituent, pour tout ou partie
de leur contenu, des exigences du présent document. Pour les références datées, seule
l'édition citée s'applique. Pour les références non datées, la dernière édition du document de
référence s'applique (y compris les éventuels amendements).
IEC 60695-1-10:2016, Essais relatifs aux risques du feu - Partie 1-10: Lignes directrices pour
l'évaluation des risques du feu des produits électrotechniques - Lignes directrices générales
IEC 60695-1-11, Essais relatifs aux risques du feu - Partie 1-11: Lignes directrices pour
l'évaluation du danger du feu des produits électrotechniques - Évaluation du danger du feu
IEC 60695-4:2021, Essais relatifs aux risques du feu - Partie 4: Terminologie relative aux essais
au feu pour les produits électrotechniques
ISO 13943:2017, Sécurité au feu - Vocabulaire
3 Termes et définitions
Pour les besoins du présent document, les termes et définitions de l'IEC 60695-4:2021 et de
l'ISO 13943:2017 s'appliquent.
L'ISO et l'IEC tiennent à jour des bases de données terminologiques destinées à être utilisées
en normalisation, consultables aux adresses suivantes:
– IEC Electropedia: disponible à l'adresse http://www.electropedia.org/
– ISO Online browsing platform: disponible à l'adresse http://www.iso.org/obp
4 Le processus d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie
4.1 Généralités
L'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie a été et continue d'être développée pour permettre la
conception, la mise en œuvre et la maintenance des objets et structures dans l'environnement
bâti, en s'appuyant sur des principes scientifiques, afin de pouvoir répondre aux objectifs définis
pour l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie. Pour ce faire, des essais au feu quantitatifs fournissant
des données d'entrée pour les calculs nécessaires sont utilisés.
Le processus d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie, lorsqu'il est appliqué à un projet important
dans l'environnement bâti, est à la fois complexe et global. L'organigramme de la Figure 1
fournit un exemple de processus d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie.
Ce processus englobe de nombreux aspects différents, par exemple conception architecturale,
conception structurelle, ventilation, plomberie et infrastructure électrique. La sécurité incendie
des produits électrotechniques constitue donc seulement un aspect d'un processus beaucoup
plus vaste.
Il convient d'utiliser l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie lorsque les objectifs de sécurité ne
peuvent pas être remplis de façon adéquate par les exigences prescriptives, et elle peut
également être utilisée parallèlement à celles-ci, par exemple pour appuyer, d'un point de vue
scientifique, la validité de ces exigences, ou pour améliorer davantage la sécurité incendie du
produit.
Figure 1 – Processus d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie –
Conception, mise en œuvre et management
(Figure 1 de l'ISO 23932-1:2018 [1])
4.2 Calculs d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie
Ces calculs peuvent aller de la résolution de simples équations à des modèles informatiques
très complexes. Par exemple, ils peuvent être utilisés pour calculer la taille des tuyaux des
systèmes de pulvérisation ou pour calculer la réponse structurelle d'un élément porteur d'un
bâtiment, tel qu'une poutre ou une colonne, en s'appuyant sur les propriétés connues des
matériaux exposés à des températures élevées, aux températures prévues atteintes dans le
feu, ainsi que des charges appliquées.
À un autre niveau, en imposant l'utilisation de programmes informatiques intégrés, ces calculs
peuvent être appliqués à l'évaluation des conséquences d'un feu spécifié pour la sécurité des
personnes, ce qui impliquerait la définition du contexte, des conceptions des produits, des
structures, des scénarios, puis le calcul des dangers résultants.
À titre d'exemple électrotechnique, on peut citer l'évaluation des risques associés aux feux de
câbles dans l'environnement bâti en s'appuyant sur les données quantifiées relatives à la
croissance du feu, la propagation des flammes, l'émission de fumées et de gaz toxiques par
les câbles électriques ainsi que la prévision du mouvement des personnes.
NOTE Une étude de l'Université de Lund [28] a réalisé une simulation de la phase d'évacuation dans un bâtiment
occupé et meublé en évaluant deux installations de câbles différentes avec divers scénarios d'incendie et moyens
d'évacuation. Des câbles possédant des propriétés de matériaux très différentes ont été choisis, ne représentant
pas nécessairement les câbles installés. L'étude avait pour objectif de montrer la puissance des outils de
modélisation (simulation et approche ISI) plutôt que de proposer une étude de sélection pratique.
Sur un plan plus stratégique, l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie peut être appliquée en utilisant
un ensemble d'essais et de mesures dans divers scénarios d'incendie. Des modèles de feu
informatiques ont été développés avec des animations quadridimensionnelles (temps et espace)
simulant plusieurs dynamiques d'incendie sur une gamme de scénarios d'incendie et de
réponses structurelles (voir un exemple à la référence [29] de la Bibliographie).
4.3 Validité des méthodes
Il convient que le processus d'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie soit fondé sur une science du
feu et une pratique d'ingénierie des incendies fiables intégrant des méthodes largement
reconnues, des données empiriques, des calculs, une corrélation ainsi que des modèles
informatiques figurant dans les manuels d'ingénierie et les ouvrages techniques. De
nombreuses ressources techniques sont utilisées dans une conception de sécurité incendie
particulière. Par conséquent, il est très important que les ingénieurs en charge de la sécurité
incendie et les autres membres de l'équipe de conception déterminent l'acceptabilité des
sources et méthodologies employées pour les applications dans lesquelles elles sont utilisées.
Pour déterminer la validité d'une ressource, il est utile de connaître le processus suivant lequel
la ressource a été développée, évaluée et validée. Par exemple, de nombreux codes et normes
de sécurité incendie sont développés dans le cadre d'un processus de consensus ouvert
conduit par des associations professionnelles reconnues, des organisations en charge du
développement de codes, ou des organismes gouvernementaux. D'autres références
techniques sont soumises à un processus d'évaluation par les pairs, comme c'est le cas pour
de nombreuses publications techniques et d'ingénierie existantes. En outre, les manuels et
ouvrages d'ingénierie fournissent des informations et des méthodes de calcul largement
reconnues et valables sur le plan technique.
Certaines références utiles sont répertoriées dans la Bibliographie – références [30] à [37].
5 Bénéfices de l'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie
L'ingénierie de la sécurité incendie présente de nombreux bénéfices. Elle peut notamment:
a) permettre la prise de décisions de conception fondées sur des principes quantitatifs et
scientifiques, afin d'améliorer la sécurité des produits;
b) constituer un élément important dans le cadre de la conception axée sur les performances
de grands projets tels que des aérogares, gares ferroviaires, véhicules de transport, stades,
centres de congrès, bâtiments élevés, ponts, centrales électriques ainsi que de grandes
structures d'atrium, dont l'ampleur et la complexité sont telles que leur conception ne peut
pas être optimisée en appliquant seulement les essais prescriptifs et les recommandations
techniques actuels;
c) guider le concepteur afin qu'il adopte une approche structurée de la conception de la
sécurité incendie;
d) déterminer la manière dont les structures, bâtiments, locaux et enceintes permettent une
comparaison des niveaux de sécurité pour une gamme de conceptions;
e) permettre aux rédacteurs de réglementations et de codes d'améliorer la cohérence des
informations, et justifier le retrait des mesures obsolètes;
f) permettre d'établir des règles concernant les modifications de construction, assurant un
niveau de protection équivalent;
g) permettre d'effectuer des changements en assurant l'équilibre entre la protection active et
passive contre les incendies tout en maintenant un niveau de sécurité équivalent;
h) fournir des données pour appuyer les décisions de conception fondées sur des
réglementations/codes prescriptifs;
i) faciliter une conception plus rentable des structures complexes tout en maintenant les
niveaux de sécurité;
j) permettre de rationaliser la souscription d'assurances;
k) identifier les thèmes de futures recherches sur les incendies, qui ont une incidence majeure
sur la sécurité des personnes, la perte des biens ou la perte commerciale;
l) supprimer les obstacles à l'innovation pour les produits électrotechniques, les produits de
construction, les conceptions de bâtiments, les systèmes de transport, les utilisations et le
contenu des bâtiments;
m) permettre aux professionnels d'acquérir et de développer une expertise de pointe dans le
domaine de la conception de la sécurité incendie;
n) contribuer au développement de nouveaux essais au feu et de nouvelles données relatives
aux incendies;
o) faciliter la gestion du passage des exigences et réglementations prescriptives à des
exigences et réglementations axées sur les performances; et
p) faciliter le management de la sécurité incendie des structures, bâtiments, locaux et
enceintes durant l'ensemble de leur cycle de vie, y compris leur phase de construction, en
tenant compte de futures modifications de leur fonction et utilisation prévues.
Sur un plan plus détaillé, il existe de nombreux bénéfices associés à l'ingénierie de la sécurité
incendie. Elle peut, par exemple, réduire le nombre d'incendies et améliorer l'efficacité de
l'évacuation si un management de la sécurité incendie et une formation à la sécurité incendie
appropriés sont mis en œuvre. Là encore, des mesures de protection actives et passives
peuvent être identifiées, qui ont des conséquences très importantes sur la sécurité des
personnes, la réduction des pertes dues aux incendies et la continuité de la fonction; ces
bénéfices peuvent être obtenus en même temps que les évaluations coûts/bénéfice
...