IEC 60331-3:2009

Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 3: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830 °C for cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0 kV tested in a metal enclosure

IEC 60331-3:2009 specifies the test apparatus and procedure and gives the performance requirements, including recommended flame application times, for low-voltage power cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0 kV, and control cables with a rated voltage which are required to maintain circuit integrity when tested in a metal enclosure and when subject to fire and mechanical shock under specified conditions. This standard describes the means of sample preparation, the continuity checking arrangements, the electrical testing procedure, the method of burning the cables and the method of shock production and gives requirements for evaluating test results. NOTE All cables assessed by this method should first have been assessed against the test of IEC 60331-1 or IEC 60331-2. Such performance may be recognized by the marking according to Clause 11 of IEC 60331-1 or Clause 11 of IEC 60331-2. Annex A provides the method of verification of the burner and control system used for the test. It has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 104.

Essais pour câbles électriques soumis au feu - Intégrité des circuits - Partie 3: Méthode d'essai au feu pour les câbles de tension assignée au plus égale à 0,6/1,0 kV, essayés sous conduit métallique avec chocs, à une température d'au moins 830 °C

La CEI 60331-3:2009 donne des précisions sur l'appareillage d'essai, la procédure d'essai et les exigences de performance, y compris des recommandations pour la durée des temps d'application de la flamme pour les câbles de puissance à basse tension, de tension assignée au plus égale à 0,6/1,0 kV, et les câbles de contrôle ayant une tension assignée, qui sont réputés conserver l'intégrité du circuit quand ils sont soumis, sous conduit métallique, à un incendie et des chocs mécaniques, dans des conditions spécifiées. Cette norme décrit les moyens de préparation de l'éprouvette d'essai, les dispositions de contrôle de la continuité du circuit, la procédure d'essai électrique, la méthode pour brûler les câbles et la méthode de production des chocs, et elle indique les exigences pour évaluer les résultats d'essai. NOTE Il convient que tout type de câble à évaluer par cette méthode ait été auparavant soumis à l'essai de la CEI 60331-1 ou de la CEI 60331-2. Une telle performance peut être évaluée d'après le marquage de l'Article 11 de la CEI 60331-1 ou de l'Article 11 de la CEI 60331-2. L'Annexe A donne la méthode de vérification du brûleur et le système de contrôle utilisé pour l'essai. Elle a le statut de norme horizontale conformément au IEC Guide 104.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-May-2009
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 29.020 - Electrical engineering in general
• ICS: 29.060.20 - Cables
• Technical Committee: TC 20 - Electric cables
• Drafting Committee: WG 18 - TC 20/WG 18
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 28-Mar-2018

Relations

• Revised: IEC 60331-3:2018 - Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 3: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830 °C for cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0 kV tested in a metal enclosure
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60331-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2009-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
GROUP SAFETY PUBLICATION
PUBLICATION GROUPÉE DE SÉCURITÉ
Tests for electric cables under fire conditions – Circuit integrity –
Part 3: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830 °C for
cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0 kV tested in a metal enclosure

Essais pour câbles électriques soumis au feu – Intégrité des circuits –
Partie 3: Méthode d’essai au feu pour les câbles de tension assignée au plus
égale à 0,6/1,0 kV, essayés sous conduit métallique avec chocs, à une
température d’au moins 830 °C
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IEC 60331-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2009-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
GROUP SAFETY PUBLICATION
PUBLICATION GROUPÉE DE SÉCURITÉ
Tests for electric cables under fire conditions – Circuit integrity –
Part 3: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830 °C for
cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0 kV tested in a metal enclosure

Essais pour câbles électriques soumis au feu – Intégrité des circuits –
Partie 3: Méthode d’essai au feu pour les câbles de tension assignée au plus
égale à 0,6/1,0 kV, essayés sous conduit métallique avec chocs, à une
température d’au moins 830 °C
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
T
CODE PRIX
ICS 13.220.40; 29.20; 29.060.20 ISBN 978-2-88910-126-9
– 2 – 60331-3 © IEC:2009
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4

INTRODUCTION.6

1 Scope.7

2 Normative references.7

3 Terms and definitions .7

4 Test conditions – Test environment.8

5 Test apparatus .8

5.1 Test equipment.8
5.2 Metal enclosure .13
5.2.1 Material and dimensions .13
5.2.2 Metal enclosure selection.13
5.3 Test ladder and mounting .13
5.4 Source of heat .14
5.4.1 Burner .14
5.4.2 Flow meters and flow rates .15
5.4.3 Verification .16
5.5 Shock producing device.16
5.6 Positioning of source of heat.17
5.7 Continuity checking arrangements .17
5.8 Fuses .17
6 Test specimen .17
6.1 Test specimen preparation.17
6.2 Test specimen mounting.18
7 Test procedure .18
7.1 Test equipment and arrangement.18
7.2 Electrical connections .18
7.3 Flame and shock application.20
7.4 Electrification.20
8 Performance requirement .21
8.1 Flame application time.21
8.2 Acceptance criteria .21
9 Retest procedure .21

10 Test report.21
Annex A (normative) Verification procedure for the source of heat .22
Annex B (informative) Guidance on the choice of recommended test apparatus .24
Bibliography .25

Figure 1 – Schematic diagram of test configuration.9
Figure 2 – Recommended method of mounting the metal enclosure to the test ladder .10
Figure 3 – Plan view of fire test equipment .11
Figure 4 – End elevation of fire test equipment (not to scale) .12
Figure 5 – Typical rubber bush for supporting the test ladder .14
Figure 6 – Burner face .15

60331-3 © IEC:2009 – 3 –
Figure 7 – Schematic diagram of an example of a burner control system using

rotameters .16

Figure 8 – Basic circuit diagram .20

Figure A.1 – Temperature measuring arrangement .22

Table 1 – Enclosure dimensions.13

Table 2 – Multicore sheathed cable .18

Table 3 – Single core unsheathed or sheathed cable .18

– 4 – 60331-3 © IEC:2009
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
TESTS FOR ELECTRIC CABLES UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS –

CIRCUIT INTEGRITY –
Part 3: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature

of at least 830 °C for cables of rated voltage up to and

including 0,6/1,0 kV tested in a metal enclosure

FOREWORD
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