IEC 60512-20-3:2010

Connectors for electronic equipment - Tests and measurements - Part 20-3: Fire hazard tests - Test 20c: Flammability, glow-wire

IEC 60512-20-3:2010 when required by the detail specification, is used for testing connectors within the scope of technical committee 48. It may also be used for similar devices when specified in a detail specification. The object of this standard is to detail a standard test method to determine the flammability of a connector when exposed to a glow-wire test under specified conditions. The glow-wire test simulates thermal stresses which may be produced by such sources of heat or ignition as, for example, glowing elements or overloaded components, for short periods, in order to assess by a simulation technique the fire hazard or burning of a single electronic component.

Connecteurs pour équipements électroniques - Essais et mesures - Partie 20-3: Essais relatifs aux risques du feu - Essai 20c: Inflammabilité, fil incandescent

La CEI 60512-20-3:2010 est utilisée pour les essais des connecteurs du domaine d'activité du comité d'études 48, lorsque la spécification particulière l'exige. Elle peut également être utilisée pour des dispositifs similaires lorsqu'une spécification particulière le stipule. L'objet de cette norme est de définir une méthode d'essai normalisée pour déterminer l'inflammabilité d'un connecteur exposé à un essai au fil incandescent dans des conditions déterminées. L'essai au fil incandescent simule les contraintes thermiques qui pourraient être produites par des sources de chaleur ou d'allumage, par exemple par des éléments incandescents ou des composants en surcharge, pendant de courtes durées, de manière à évaluer par une simulation technique les risques au feu ou la combustion d'un composant électronique individuel.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-2010
• ICS: 31.220.01 - Electromechanical components in general
• Technical Committee: SC 48B - Electrical connectors
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 10-Jun-2010
• Completion Date: 30-Jun-2010

Overview

IEC 60512-20-3:2010 is an international standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that specifies a test method for determining the flammability of connectors used in electronic equipment. Part of the IEC 60512 series on connectors for electronic equipment, this standard focuses on fire hazard tests, specifically Test 20c: Flammability, glow-wire. The test simulates thermal stress conditions caused by heat sources such as glowing elements or overloaded components to assess the fire hazards related to connectors.

This standard is essential for manufacturers, test laboratories, and stakeholders involved in the design, production, and certification of connectors and similar electronic devices to ensure safety and compliance with fire hazard requirements.

Key Topics

• Scope: Applies primarily to connectors under IEC technical committee 48 and can also be used for similar devices when specified.
• Glow-wire test method: Involves applying a nickel/chromium glow-wire at standardized temperatures and mechanical pressure to the specimen to simulate ignition caused by thermal stress.
• Test conditions: The glow-wire temperature, force applied (0.8 N to 1.2 N), duration (typically 30 seconds), and contact position are specified in the detail test specification.
• Specimen preparation: Includes mounting an unwired connector fitted with contacts as defined by the detail specification.
• Acceptance criteria: After the glow-wire is removed, the specimen should ideally not continue burning; if it does, burning time must be within prescribed limits. No flaming drops should ignite underlying tissue paper.
• Normative references:
  • IEC 60695-2-10: Glow-wire apparatus and testing procedure.
  • IEC 60695-2-11: Glow-wire flammability test methods for end-products.

Applications

• Connector safety evaluation: Provides a standardized approach to assess the fire hazard of connectors used in electronic products and assemblies.
• Component compliance testing: Used by manufacturers and regulatory bodies to certify connectors against fire safety requirements.
• Design validation: Helps engineers verify the flammability characteristics of connector designs during product development.
• Quality assurance: Assists quality control labs to ensure consistent fire safety performance across production batches.
• Risk assessment: Supports the identification and mitigation of fire risks from thermal stress in electronic equipment.

By implementing IEC 60512-20-3 testing, organizations can enhance product safety, reduce fire risk, and comply with international safety standards required for electronic connectors.

Related Standards

• IEC 60512 series: Comprehensive set of standards covering tests and measurements for connectors for electronic equipment.
• IEC 60695 series: Fire hazard testing methods including glow-wire test apparatus and procedures critical to execution of Test 20c.
• IEC 60335 series: Safety of household and similar electrical appliances, which may reference connector flammability assessments.
• ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2: Guidelines for drafting international standards, under which this IEC publication was prepared.

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Ensuring compliance with IEC 60512-20-3:2010 supports the manufacturing and certification of safe, reliable connectors designed to withstand potential fire hazards caused by thermal stress, safeguarding electronic equipment and end-users against fire risks. For more information or to acquire the full standard, visit the IEC Webstore.

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60512-20-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2010-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Connectors for electronic equipment – Tests and measurements –
Part 20-3: Fire hazard tests – Test 20c: Flammability, glow-wire

Connecteurs pour équipements électroniques – Essais et mesures –
Partie 20-3: Essais relatifs aux risques du feu – Essai 20c: Inflammabilité, fil
incandescent
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IEC 60512-20-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2010-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Connectors for electronic equipment – Tests and measurements –
Part 20-3: Fire hazard tests – Test 20c: Flammability, glow-wire

Connecteurs pour équipements électroniques – Essais et mesures –
Partie 20-3: Essais relatifs aux risques du feu – Essai 20c: Inflammabilité, fil
incandescent
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
F
CODE PRIX
ICS 31.220.01 ISBN 978-2-88910-972-2
– 2 – 60512-20-3 © IEC:2010
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
CONNECTORS FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT –
TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS –
Part 20-3: Fire hazard tests –
Test 20c: Flammability, glow-wire

FOREWORD
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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 60512-20-3 has been prepared by subcommittee 48B: Connectors,
of IEC technical committee 48: Electromechanical components and mechanical structures for
electronic equipment.
This standard cancels and replaces Test 20c of IEC 60512-9, issued in 1992. The structure of
IEC 60512 series is explained in IEC 60512-1-100.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
48B/2161/FDIS 48B/2196/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.

60512-20-3 © IEC:2010 – 3 –
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the IEC 60512 series, under the general title Connectors for electronic
equipment – Tests and measurements, can be found on the IEC website.
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.
– 4 – 60512-20-3 © IEC:2010
CONNECTORS FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT –
TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS –
Part 20-3: Fire hazard tests –
Test 20c: Flammability, glow-wire

1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 60512, when required by the detail specification, is used for testing
connectors within the scope of technical committee 48. It may also be used for similar devices
when specified in a detail specification.
The object of this standard is to detail a standard test method to determine the flammability of
a connector when exposed to a glow-wire test under specified conditions.
The glow-wire test simulates thermal stresses which may be produced by such sources of
heat or ignition as, for example, glowing elements or overloaded components, for short
periods, in order to assess by a simulation technique the fire hazard or burning of a single
electronic component.
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 60695-2-10, Fire hazard testing – Part 2-10: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods –
Glow-wire apparatus and common test procedure
IEC 60695-2-11, Fire hazard testing – Part 2-11: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods –
Glow-wire flammability test method for end-products
3 Preparation of the specimen
The specimen shall consist of an unwired connector, mounted and provided with contacts as
specified in the detail specification.
4 Test method
The test shall be carried out in accordance with IEC 60695-2-10 and IEC 60695-2-11.
A wooden board covered with a single layer of tissue paper shall be placed underneath the
specimen to be tested as described in IEC 60695-2-10.
The position of the specimen and the place of application of glow-wire shall be as specified in
the detail specification.
The glow-wire consists of a specified loop of nickel/chromium (80/20) wire 4 mm diameter.
A sheathed fine-wire thermocouple, having an overall diameter of 0,5 mm and wires of NiCr
and NiAl with the welded point located inside the sheath, is used for measuring the
temperature of the glow-wire. The glow-wire with the thermocouple is shown in Figure 1.
...