MT 19 - TC 36/MT 19

IEC 62217:2025 is applicable to polymeric insulators for AC systems with a nominal voltage greater than 1 000 V (frequency less than 100 Hz) and DC systems with a nominal voltage greater than 1 500 V whose insulating body consists of one or various organic materials. Polymeric insulators covered by this document are intended for use both on HV overhead lines and in substations, in both indoor and outdoor applications. They include composite insulators with solid and hollow core and resin insulators. Hybrid insulators with ceramic core and polymeric housing are also included, while coated insulators (e.g. with RTV silicone rubber coatings) are not included in this standard. Electrical tests described in this document are done under AC voltage and are in general applicable to insulators to be used in DC systems too. Tests under DC voltage are intended to reflect up-to-date knowledge and experience. Only polymeric housing materials of hybrid insulators are specified in this document. Tests for core materials and the interfaces between housing and core of hybrid insulators are not included.
The object of this document is
- to define the common terms used for polymeric insulators;
- to prescribe common test methods for design tests on polymeric insulators;
- to prescribe acceptance or failure criteria, if applicable;
These tests, criteria and recommendations are intended to ensure a satisfactory lifetime under normal operating and environmental conditions. This document includes design tests intended to reject materials or designs which are inadequate under normal operating and environmental conditions. This document defines test methods and acceptance criteria. The applicable tests are given in the relevant product standard. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2012. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) The scope of the document is specified to comprise composite insulators with solid and hollow core and resin insulators used for both AC and DC systems in indoor and outdoor applications of HV overhead lines and substations; hybrid insulators (defined in IEC TS 62896) with ceramic core and polymeric housing are also included, while coated insulators (e.g. with Room Temperature Vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber coatings) are not considered in this document;
b) Steep-front impulse voltage test is modified to avoid unwanted flashovers between the leads of the electrodes;
c) Differences between hydrophobicity transfer material (HTM) and non-HTM housing materials are specified and relevant test methods and acceptance criteria for polymeric insulators with HTM housing are introduced;
d) The previous water diffusion test on core materials with or without housing is split into two tests. One is on core materials without housing, the other is on core materials with housing. The acceptance criteria are modified;
e) Stress corrosion test for core materials is introduced;
f) Annex B summarizes the test application for evaluating the quality of interfaces and connections of end fittings, housing materials and core materials;
g) Annex E is introduced to emphasize the need for control of electric fields of polymeric insulators for AC. The control of electric fields of polymeric insulators for DC is still under consideration.

IEC/TR 62730:2012(E) is applicable to polymeric insulators whose insulating body consists of one or various organic materials. Polymeric insulators covered by this technical report include both solid core and hollow insulators. They are intended for use on overhead lines and in indoor and outdoor equipment with a rated voltage greater than 1 000 V. The object of this technical report is:
- to define the common terms used;
- to give the background behind the development and use of the 5 000 h multiple stress test and the tracking wheel test;
- to describe the test methods for the 5 000 h multiple stress test and the tracking wheel tests on polymeric insulators;
- to describe possible acceptance or failure criteria, if applicable. Key words: polymeric insulators, multiple stress test, 5000 h

IEC 62217:2012 is applicable to polymeric insulators whose insulating body consists of one or various organic materials. Polymeric insulators covered by this standard include both solid core and hollow insulators. They are intended for use on HV overhead lines and in indoor and outdoor equipment. The object of this standard is:
- to define the common terms used for polymeric insulators;
- to prescribe common test methods for design tests on polymeric insulators;
- to prescribe acceptance or failure criteria, if applicable.
These tests, criteria and recommendations are intended to ensure a satisfactory life-time under normal operating and environmental conditions. This standard shall only be applied in conjunction with the relevant product standard. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2005. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes a significant technical change with respect to the previous edition. The first edition of IEC 62217 (2005) included two other alternative tracking and erosion tests (a 5 000 hour multi-stress test and a tracking wheel test) which were based on tests developed by CIGRE and utilities. These tests are no longer given as normative alternatives following the results of a study/questionnaire by TC 36 on the relative merits of all three tracking and erosion tests. The 5 000 hour multi-stress test and a tracking wheel test are described in IEC/TR 62730 (2012).

IEC/TR 62662:2010(E) presents an analysis of the risk of influencing factors for brittle fracture of composite insulators that are mostly loaded in the tensile mode (suspension and tension insulators). Guidance is given to reduce the risk of in-service brittle fractures.

This International Standard is applicable to polymeric insulators whose insulating body consists of one or various organic materials. Polymeric insulators covered by this standard include both solid core and hollow insulators. They are intended for use on overhead lines and in indoor and outdoor equipment with a rated voltage greater than 1 000 V.

IEC TS 62896:2015(E) applies to hybrid insulators for a.c. and d.c. applications consisting of a load-bearing insulating solid or hollow core consisting of ceramic or glass, a housing (defined geometry, outside the insulating core) made of polymeric material and end fittings permanently attached to the insulating core. Hybrid insulators covered by this technical specification are intended for use as suspension/tension line insulators, line post insulators, station post insulators and hollow core insulators for apparatus. The object of this technical specification is to:
- define the terms used;
- prescribe test methods;
- prescribe acceptance criteria.
Silicone or other functional coatings (CIGRE Technical Brochure No. 478, Appendix B), booster sheds, shed extenders and rain deflectors are not within the scope of this technical specification. This technical specification does not include requirements dealing with the choice of insulators for specific operating conditions.