IEC 60974-13:2011

Arc welding equipment - Part 13: Welding clamp

IEC 60974-13:2011 is applicable to clamps for arc welding processes, designed to make an electrical connection to the workpiece without using tools. This part of IEC 60974 is not applicable to clamps for underwater welding and plasma cutting. This part of IEC 60974 specifies safety and performance requirements of welding clamps. This part of IEC 60974 does not specify requirements for welding cables.

Matériel de soudage à l'arc - Partie 13: Pinces de retour de courant

La CEI 60974-13:2011 est applicable aux pinces de retour de courant pour les procédés de soudage à l'arc, conçues pour les relier électriquement à la pièce mise en uvre sans l'aide d'outils. La présente partie de la CEI 60974 n'est pas applicable aux pinces de retour de courant pour le soudage sous-marin et le coupage plasma. La présente partie de la CEI 60974 spécifie les exigences de sécurité et de performance des pinces de retour de courant. La présente partie de la CEI 60974 ne spécifie pas les exigences pour les câbles de soudage.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-May-2011
• ICS: 25.160.30 - Welding equipment
• ICS: 97.170 - Body care equipment
• Technical Committee: TC 26 - Electric welding
• Drafting Committee: WG 1 - TC 26/WG 1
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Start Date: 15-Apr-2021
• Completion Date: 15-Oct-2021

Relations

• Revised: IEC 60974-13:2021 - Arc welding equipment - Part 13: Welding current return clamp
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60974-13 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Arc welding equipment –
Part 13: Welding clamp
Matériel de soudage à l’arc –
Partie 13: Pince de retour de courant

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IEC 60974-13 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Arc welding equipment –
Part 13: Welding clamp
Matériel de soudage à l’arc –
Partie 13: Pince de retour de courant

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX L
ICS 25.160.30 ISBN 978-2-88912-501-2

– 2 – 60974-13  IEC:2011
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Environmental conditions . 5
5 Type tests . 6
5.1 Test conditions . 6
5.2 Measuring instruments . 6
5.3 Test sequence . 6
6 Designation . 6
7 Protection against electric shock . 7
7.1 Voltage drop . 7
7.2 Protection of live parts. 7
8 Thermal rating . 7
8.1 Temperature rise . 7
8.2 Resistance to hot objects . 8
9 Mechanical requirements . 8
9.1 Retaining means . 8
9.2 Welding cable entry . 9
9.3 Welding cable connection . 9
9.4 Drop withstand . 9
10 Marking . 9
11 Instructions for use . 10
Bibliography . 11

Figure 1 – Device for testing the resistance to hot objects . 8

Table 1 – Relation between welding clamp test current and welding cables cross-
sectional area . 7

60974-13  IEC:2011 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT –
Part 13: Welding clamp
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
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agreement between the two organizations.
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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) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60974-13 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 26:
Electric welding
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
26/442/FDIS 26/447/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the IEC 60974 series can be found, under the general title Arc welding
equipment, on the IEC website.

– 4 – 60974-13  IEC:2011
In this standard, the following print types are used:
- conformity statements: in italic type.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60974-13  IEC:2011 – 5 –
ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT –
Part 13: Welding clamp
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60974 is applicable to clamps for arc welding processes, designed to make
an electrical connection to the workpiece without using tools.
This part of IEC 60974 is not applicable to clamps for underwater welding and plasma cutting.
This part of IEC 60974 specifies safety and performance requirements of welding clamps.
This part of IEC 60974 does not specify requirements for welding cables.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 60050-151, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Part 151: Electrical and
magnetic devices
IEC 60974-1, Arc welding equipment – Part 1: Welding power sources
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in the IEC 60050-151, the
IEC 60974-1, as well as the following apply.
3.1
welding clamp
work clamp, US
return current clamp, UK
device connecting welding cable to workpiece
3.2
rated current
current assigned by the manufacturer that the welding clamp can accept at 60 % duty cycle
without exceeding the permitted temperature rise
3.3
retaining means
mechanical arrangement that holds the welding clamp in position and prevents an
unintentional withdrawal, when properly attached to the workpiece
4 Environmental conditions
The welding clamp shall be capable of operation when the following environmental conditions
prevail:
– 6 – 60974-13  IEC:2011
a) range of ambient air temperature :
during operation: –10 °C to +40 °C;
b) relative humidity of the air: up to 50 % at 40 °C;
up to 90 % at 20 °C.
The welding clamp shall withstand storage and transport at an ambient air temperature of
– 20 °C to + 55 °C without any damage to function and performance.
5 Type tests
5.1 Test conditions
All type tests shall be carried out on the same new and completely assembled welding clamp.
All type tests shall be carried out at an ambient air temperature between 10 °C and 40 °C.
5.2 Measuring instruments
The accuracy of measuring instruments shall be:
a) electrical measuring instruments: class 1 (± 1 % of full-scale reading), except for the
measurement of insulation resistance and dielectric strength where the accuracy of the
instruments is not specified, but shall be taken into account for the measurement;
b) thermometer: ± 2 K.
5.3 Test sequence
The type tests given below shall be carried out in the following sequence:
a) general visual inspection;
b) temperature rise, see 8.1;
c) retaining means, see 9.1;
d) drop withstand, see 9.4;
e) voltage drop, see 7.1;
f) general visual inspection;
The other type tests in this part of IEC 60974 not mentioned above may be carried out in any
convenient sequence.
6 Designation
The welding clamp shall be designated by the range of cross-section area of the welding
cable intended to be connected. The test current is given in Table 1 based on maximum
cross-section area. The welding clamp shall accept the minimum cross-sectional area as
given in Table 1. Minimum cross-sectional area may be reduced to extend the welding clamp
fitting range.
60974-13  IEC:2011 – 7 –
Table 1 – Relation between welding clamp test current
and welding cables cross-sectional area
Range of cross- Welding clamp test Welding clamp test
sectional area current at 60 % duty current at 100 % duty
cycle cycle
mm
A A
up to 6 80 70
6 to 10 125 87
10 to 16 150 117
16 to 25 200 157
25 to 35 250 196
35 to 50 300 248
50 to 70 400 309
70 to 95 500 374
NOTE 100 % duty cycle test current values are based on cable current capacity
given in Table 10 of HD 516 S2.

Conformity shall be checked by measurement.
7 Protection against electric shock
7.1 Voltage drop
The clamps in the new condition shall be capable of satisfactorily passing the voltage test.
Conformity shall be checked by the following test:
Two clamps are required for this test. Connect each clamp to a cable of maximum cross-
sectional area as indicated in Table 1, by using the method of attachment for which the
clamps are designed. Attach one clamp to each end of a clean mild steel plate
300 mm × 75 mm × 12 mm. Connect the other end of the cables to a power source to form a
circuit. Pass the test current through both clamps and the plate. The voltage is measured on
the two cables, 10 mm away from the clamps. The voltage drop shall not exceed 0,08 V per
100 A of the test current.
7.2 Protection of live parts
The welding clamp can be either protected against unintentional contact with the workpiece or
not protected.
Conformity shall be checked by visual inspection.
8 Thermal rating
8.1 Temperature rise
The temperature rise caused by the current passing through a welding clamp normally
coupled and fitted with an untinned copper welding cable of maximum cross-sectional area as
indicated in Table 1 shall not exceed:
a) at the hottest spot of the external surface normally gripped by the operator: 30 K;
b) at the connection of the welding cable to the welding clamp: 45 K.

– 8 – 60974-13  IEC:2011
NOTE These values are temperature rises in relation to the ambient air temperature (maximum 40 °C).
Conformity shall be checked by the following test:
Voltage drop set-up given in 7.1 is used for this test. A d.c. current equal to the 100 % duty
cycle test current given in Table 1 is passed through the welding clamp until the rate of the
temperature rise does not exceed 2 K/h. During the total test time, the d.c. current shall be
kept constant with a tolerance of ± 2 %.
8.2 Resistance to hot objects
In the case of insulated welding clamp, the insulation shall be capable of withstanding hot
objects and the effects of a normal amount of weld spatter without being ignited.
Conformity shall be checked with a device in accordance with Figure 1.

θ
∅2,5 ± 0,05
F
1 2
+0,2
F = 1    N
100 ± 0,5
IEC  784/05
Key Dimensions in millimetres
1 18/8 chrome-nickel steel
θ test temperature
2 welding clamp
Figure 1 – Device for testing the resistance to hot objects
An electric current (of approximately 25 A) is passed through the rod until a steady-state
+5
temperature θ of 300 °C is reached. During the test, the temperature of the heated rod shall
be maintained. This temperature will be measured by a contact thermometer or thermocouple.
The heated rod in a horizontal position is then applied for 2 min to the insulation. The heated
rod shall not penetrate through the insulation and contact live parts.
An attempt is made to ignite any gases which may be emitted in the region of the contact
point by means of an electric spark or small flame. If the gases are flammable, the burning
shall stop as soon as the heated rod is removed.
9 Mechanical requirements
9.1 Retaining means
A welding clamp shall be designed to maintain efficient electrical contact in normal service
and to prevent the unintentional separation of the welding clamp as a result of a longitudinal
pull.
60974-13  IEC:2011 – 9 –
Where springs are incorporated in the clamp they shall not constitute part of the current path
unless they are permanently by-passed by a fixed conductor capable of carrying the test
current given in Table 1.
Conformity shall be checked by visual inspection and the following test:
A welding clamp is fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, with a welding
cable of maximum cross-sectional area, 5 m length and its coupling device. The welding cable
is folded to form a bundle not exceeding 0,4 m in length. The welding clamp is attached to a
clean mild steel plate 3 mm thick. The steel plate is hanged in order that cable bundle applies
a vertical longitudinal strength on the welding clamp during 1 min.
Test is passed if the welding clamp remains attached to the steel plate.
9.2 Welding cable entry
The cable entries of the welding clamp shall be designed so as to prevent damage to the
cable due to flexing.
Conformity shall be checked by visual inspection.
9.3 Welding cable connection
The design of the welding clamp shall be such that welding cables with a cross-sectional area
within the range as specified by the manufacturer can be replaced. The connection shall
withstand the mechanical stress of the tensile test without separation. A welding clamp may
be provided with adaptor to enlarge the fitting range.
Conformity shall be checked by visual inspection and by the following test:
A welding clamp is fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, with a welding
cable of maximum cross-sectional area. The connection is subjected to 10 pulls with a force
of 40 N per mm² of the cross-sectional area with a maximum of 2 000 N applied to the welding
cable. The force of each pull is gradually increased from zero to the specified value in 1 s and
maintained for 1 s.
After the test, the conductor shall not have been noticeably displaced.
This test shall be repeated with a welding cable having the minimum permissible cross-
sectional area as specified by the manufacturer.
If more than one method of cable fixing is provided, all methods shall be tested.
9.4 Drop withstand
The welding clamp shall be capable of withstanding a drop test without impairing the
mechanical functioning.
Conformity shall
...