MT 26 - TC 10/MT 26

IEC 60480:2019 provides criteria for the re-use of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and its mixtures after recovery and reclaiming from electrical equipment (e.g. for maintenance, at the end-of-life).
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), nitrogen (N2) and carbon tetrafluoride (CF4), are gases commonly used for electrical equipment. Taking into account environmental concerns, particular attention is paid to re-use criteria for SF6 and its mixtures with N2 and CF4 for its use in electrical equipment. Procedures for recovering and reclaiming used SF6 and its mixtures are outside the scope of this document and are described in IEC 62271-4.
This document provides several annexes on the description of the different methods of analysis, on by-products, on the procedure for evaluating the potential health effects from by-products, on cryogenic reclaiming of SF6, and on reclaiming recommendations.
Storage, transportation and disposal of SF6 and its mixtures are outside the scope of this document and are covered by IEC 62271-4. Procedures to determine SF6 leakages are described in IEC 60068-2-17.
For the purposes of this document, the complementary gases used in SF6 mixtures will be limited to N2 or CF4.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 2004. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
• specifications for the re-use of SF6 have been confirmed;
• specifications for the re-use of SF6 mixtures, namely SF6/N2 and SF6/CF4 mixtures are included;
• as a result of a new repartition of annexes in IEC 60376, IEC 60480 and IEC 62271-4, this new edition now contains the following five annexes:
– Annex A: Description of methods of analysis (on-site and laboratory);
– Annex B: By–products of SF6 and its mixtures;
– Annex C: Procedure for evaluating the potential effects on health from by products of SF6 and its mixtures;
– Annex D: Reclaiming recommendations.
– Annex E: Cryogenic reclaiming of SF6;

IEC 60376:2018 defines the quality for technical grade sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and complementary gases such as nitrogen (N2) and carbon tetra-fluoride (CF4), for use in electrical equipment. Detection techniques, covering both laboratory and in-situ portable instrumentation, applicable to the analysis of SF6, N2 and CF4 gases prior to the introduction of these gases into the electrical equipment are also described in this document.
This document provides some information on sulphur hexafluoride in Annex A and on the environmental effects of SF6 in Annex B.
Information about SF6 by-products and the procedure for evaluating the potential effects of SF6 by-products on human health are covered by IEC 60480, their handling and disposal being carried out according to international and local regulations with regard to the impact on the environment. Handling of SF6 and its mixtures is covered by IEC 62271-4.
Procedures to determine SF6 leakages are described in IEC 60068-2-17.
For the purposes of this document, the complementary gases used in SF6 mixtures will be limited to N2 or CF4.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2005. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) the requirements for the use of SF6 in electrical equipment have been confirmed;
b) a specification for complementary gases to be used in SF6 mixtures with N2 and CF4 has been included;
c) the introduction and scope have been merged;
d) a new repartition of the annexes of IEC 60376, IEC 60480 and IEC 62271-4 has been included.