SIST EN 61039:2008
(Main)Classification of insulating liquids (IEC 61039:2008)
Classification of insulating liquids (IEC 61039:2008)
IEC 61039:2008 establishes the detailed classification of the N family (insulating liquids) that belongs to class L (lubricants, industrial oils and related products) in accordance with ISO 8681 and ISO 6743-99, affecting product categories that include products derived from petroleum processing, synthetic chemical products and synthetic and natural esters. The main change with regard to the previous edition concerns the updating of the classification of insulating liquids, taking into account the largest number possible of substances that have, or may have, possible application in electrical components.
Allgemeine Klassifikation der Isolierflüssigkeiten (IEC 61039:2008)
Classification des liquides isolants (CEI 61039:2008)
La CEI 61039:2008 établit la classification détaillée de la famille N (isolants liquides) qui appartient à la classe L (lubrifiants, huiles industrielles et produits connexes) conformément aux normes ISO 8681 et ISO 6743-99, affectant les catégories de produit qui incluent les produits dérivés du traitement du pétrole, les produits chimiques synthétiques et les esters naturels et synthétiques. La modification majeure par rapport à l'édition précédente concerne la mise à jour de la classification des liquides isolants, en tenant compte d'un nombre maximal de substances qui ont, ou peuvent avoir, des applications possibles dans les composants électriques.
Splošna klasifikacija izolacijskih tekočin (IEC 61039:2008)
General Information
Relations
Overview - EN 61039:2008 (Classification of insulating liquids)
EN 61039:2008 (adopted by CLC/CENELEC from IEC 61039:2008) defines a harmonized classification system for insulating liquids used in electrotechnical equipment. It places insulating liquids in class L (lubricants, industrial oils and related products) in accordance with ISO 8681 and ISO 6743‑99, and updates previous guidance (superseding HD 618 S1:1992) to cover a wider range of substances including mineral insulating oils, synthetic chemical products, and synthetic and natural esters. The standard was approved by CENELEC on 2008‑10‑01.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Establishes the detailed classification scheme for the N family (electrical insulating liquids) within class L.
- ISO-based coding system: Uses the ISO convention (ISO – CLASS – CATEGORY – optional numbers). In EN 61039 the class is L; the insulating-liquid family is N and category codes are expressed as four letters plus a numeric identification code.
- Identification code: A structured code (including a seven‑figure number) is used to identify product category and characteristics - see the standard’s tables and Figure 1 for digit meanings.
- Category rules: Four-letter category codes indicate family and main application (examples include capacitors, transformers, switching equipment) with further subdivision by numbers.
- Normative references and test relevance: Cross-references to product and test specifications (e.g., IEC 60296, IEC 60836, IEC 61099) which specify physical, chemical and performance test methods relevant to classification.
- Health, safety and environment: Notes on safe handling, disposal and environmental precautions; testing may involve hazardous procedures and must follow relevant safety guidance.
Practical applications and users
EN 61039:2008 is used by:
- Transformer, switchgear and capacitor manufacturers to classify and specify insulating fluids for design and procurement.
- Oil and chemical producers to label product categories and support conformity claims.
- Test laboratories and standards committees** for consistent reporting and comparison of insulating liquids.
- Utilities, OEMs and maintenance engineers to select appropriate dielectric fluids for equipment life‑cycle, compatibility and safety assessments.
- Regulatory and procurement teams referencing a harmonized classification for tenders, compliance and environmental management.
Related standards (selection)
- IEC 60296 - Unused mineral insulating oils for transformers and switchgear
- IEC 60836 - Specifications for silicone insulating liquids
- IEC 61099 - Synthetic organic esters for electrical purposes
- IEC/TS 60076‑14 - Liquid‑immersed transformers with high‑temperature insulation materials
- ISO 8681, ISO 6743‑99 - Classification methods for petroleum products and lubricants
- ISO 2592, OECD 301 - Test methods referenced for safety and environmental properties
Using EN 61039:2008 ensures consistent, ISO‑aligned classification of insulating oils and esters, helping manufacturers and users manage compatibility, safety and regulatory requirements across electrotechnical applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN 61039:2008 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Classification of insulating liquids (IEC 61039:2008)". This standard covers: IEC 61039:2008 establishes the detailed classification of the N family (insulating liquids) that belongs to class L (lubricants, industrial oils and related products) in accordance with ISO 8681 and ISO 6743-99, affecting product categories that include products derived from petroleum processing, synthetic chemical products and synthetic and natural esters. The main change with regard to the previous edition concerns the updating of the classification of insulating liquids, taking into account the largest number possible of substances that have, or may have, possible application in electrical components.
IEC 61039:2008 establishes the detailed classification of the N family (insulating liquids) that belongs to class L (lubricants, industrial oils and related products) in accordance with ISO 8681 and ISO 6743-99, affecting product categories that include products derived from petroleum processing, synthetic chemical products and synthetic and natural esters. The main change with regard to the previous edition concerns the updating of the classification of insulating liquids, taking into account the largest number possible of substances that have, or may have, possible application in electrical components.
SIST EN 61039:2008 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 29.040.10 - Insulating oils. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN 61039:2008 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST HD 618 S1:1997, SIST EN IEC 61039:2025, SIST EN IEC 61039:2025, SIST HD 618 S1:1997. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
You can purchase SIST EN 61039:2008 directly from iTeh Standards. The document is available in PDF format and is delivered instantly after payment. Add the standard to your cart and complete the secure checkout process. iTeh Standards is an authorized distributor of SIST standards.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2008
1DGRPHãþD
SIST HD 618 S1:1997
6SORãQDNODVLILNDFLMDL]RODFLMVNLKWHNRþLQ ,(&
Classification of insulating liquids (IEC 61039:2008)
Allgemeine Klassifikation der Isolierflüssigkeiten (IEC 61039:2008)
Classification des liquides isolants (CEI 61039:2008)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 61039:2008
ICS:
29.040.10 Izolacijska olja Insulating oils
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 61039
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2008
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 29.040.10 Supersedes HD 618 S1:1992
English version
Classification of insulating liquids
(IEC 61039:2008)
Classification des liquides isolants Klassifizierung der Isolierflüssigkeiten
(CEI 61039:2008) (IEC 61039:2008)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2008-10-01. CENELEC members are bound to comply
with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified
to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels
© 2008 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 61039:2008 E
Foreword
The text of document 10/741/FDIS, future edition 2 of IEC 61039, prepared by IEC TC 10, Fluids for
electrotechnical applications, was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and was approved by
CENELEC as EN 61039 on 2008-10-01.
This European Standard supersedes HD 618 S1:1992.
The main change with regard to HD 618 S1:1992 concerns the updating of the classification of insulating
liquids, taking into account the largest number possible of substances that have, or may have, possible
application in electrical components.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2009-07-01
– latest date by which the national standards conflicting
with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2011-10-01
Annex ZA has been added by CENELEC.
__________
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 61039:2008 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards indicated:
IEC 61100 NOTE Harmonized as EN 61100:1992 (not modified).
ISO 2719 NOTE Harmonized as EN ISO 2719:2002 (not modified).
__________
- 3 - EN 61039:2008
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
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.
NOTE When an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD
applies.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC/TS 60076-14 2004 Power transformers - - -
Part 14: Design and application of liquid-
immersed power transformers using high-
temperature insulation materials
IEC 60296 2003 Fluids for electrotechnical applications - EN 60296 2004
Unused mineral insulating oils for + corr. September 2004
transformers and switchgear
IEC 60465 1988 Specification for unused insulating mineral EN 60465 1990
oils for cables with oil ducts
IEC 60836 2005 Specifications for unused silicone insulating EN 60836 2005
liquids for electrotechnical purposes
IEC 60867 1993 Insulating liquids - Specifications for unused EN 60867 1994
liquids based on synthetic aromatic
hydrocarbons
IEC 60963 1988 Specification for unused polybutenes HD 582 S1 1991
IEC 61099 1992 Specification for unused synthetic organic EN 61099 1992
esters for electrical purposes
ISO 1928 1995 Solid mineral fuels - Determination of gross - -
calorific value by the bomb calorimetric
method, and calculation of net calorific value
ISO 2592 2000 Determination of flash and fire points - EN ISO 2592 2001
Cleveland open cup method
ISO 6743-99 2002 Lubricants, industrial oils and related - -
products (class L) - Classification -
Part 99: General
ISO 8681 1986 Petroleum products and lubricants - Method - -
of classification - Definition of classes
OECD 301 1992 OECD guidelines for the testing of - -
chemicals - Ready Biodegradability
1)
ASTM D240-02 - Standard test method for heat of combustion - -
of liquid hydrocarbon fuels by bomb
calorimeter
1)
Undated reference.
IEC 61039
Edition 2.0 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Classification of insulating liquids
Classification des liquides isolants
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
M
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.040.10 ISBN 2-8318-9939-7
– 2 – 61039 © IEC:2008
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
INTRODUCTION.5
1 Scope.6
2 Normative references .6
3 ISO classification system.7
4 Classification of insulating liquids .7
4.1 Class classification.7
4.2 Category classification .8
4.3 Identifying code.8
5 Summarizing outline .11
Bibliography.12
Figure 1 – Meaning of all the digits present in the classification of insulating liquids .11
Table 1 – Class classification of petroleum products or related products.8
Table 2 – Examples of classification for different insulating liquids .10
61039 © IEC:2008 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
_____________
CLASSIFICATION OF INSULATING LIQUIDS
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
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 61039 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 10: Fluids
for electrotechnical applications.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1990, and constitutes
a technical revision.
The main change with regard to the previous edition concerns the updating of the
classification of insulating liquids, taking into account the largest number possible of
substances that have, or may have, possible application in electrical components.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
...
기사 제목: SIST EN 61039:2008 - 절연유의 분류 (IEC 61039:2008) 기사 내용: 이 국제 표준은 ISO 8681과 ISO 6743-99에 따라 N 패밀리(절연유)를 L 등급(윤활유, 산업용 오일 및 관련 제품)에 속하는 상세한 분류를 제정하였다. 이에는 석유 가공을 통해 유도된 제품, 합성 화학 물질, 합성 및 천연 에스테르로부터 유래한 제품 범주도 포함된다.
The article discusses SIST EN 61039:2008, which is an international standard that classifies insulating liquids. Specifically, it focuses on the classification of the N family of insulating liquids within the L class, which includes lubricants, industrial oils, and related products. This classification is based on ISO 8681 and ISO 6743-99 standards. The N family includes products derived from petroleum processing, synthetic chemical products, and synthetic and natural esters.
記事のタイトル：SIST EN 61039:2008 - 絶縁液の分類（IEC 61039:2008） 記事の内容：この国際規格は、ISO 8681とISO 6743-99に従って、Lクラス（潤滑剤、産業用オイルおよび関連製品）に属するNファミリー（絶縁液）の詳細な分類を確立する。この規格は、石油処理から派生した製品、合成化学物質、および合成および天然エステルを含む製品カテゴリに影響を与える。
The article discusses the classification of insulating liquids according to the International Standard EN 61039:2008. The standard establishes the detailed classification of insulating liquids belonging to the N family within the class L, which includes lubricants, industrial oils, and related products. This classification is based on the ISO standards 8681 and 6743-99 and covers different product categories derived from petroleum processing, synthetic chemicals, and synthetic and natural esters.
記事タイトル：SIST EN 61039:2008-絶縁液体の分類（IEC 61039:2008） 記事内容：この国際標準は、ISO 8681およびISO 6743-99に基づき、Lグレード（潤滑剤、産業用オイル、関連製品）に属するNファミリー（絶縁液体）の詳細な分類を確立しています。これには、石油処理から派生した製品、合成化学物質、合成および天然エステルから派生した製品カテゴリーも含まれます。
기사 제목: SIST EN 61039:2008 - 절연액의 분류 (IEC 61039:2008) 기사 내용: 이 국제 표준은 ISO 8681과 ISO 6743-99의 규정에 따라 L류 (윤활유, 산업용 오일 및 관련 제품)에 속하는 N 패밀리 (절연액)의 상세한 분류를 확립한다. 이 규정은 석유 가공에서 유래한 제품, 합성 화학 물질 및 합성 및 천연 에스터를 포함한 제품 범주에 영향을 미친다.
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.
Loading comments...