EN 60674-1:1998

Overview

EN 60674-1:1998 (adopted by CLC) is the European specification for plastic films for electrical purposes - Part 1: Definitions and general requirements. This standard establishes common terminology and baseline requirements that apply to insulating plastic films used in electrical and electronic products. It reproduces key definitions and sets out general quality, dimensional and handling requirements to ensure consistency across manufacturing, procurement and testing.

Key Topics

The standard focuses on fundamental, non‑technical provisions that support downstream testing and product specification:

• Definitions: Standardized vocabulary for plastic films used as electrical insulation, enabling clear communication between manufacturers, test labs and end users.
• Quality requirements: General quality expectations for materials intended for electrical insulation (surface, homogeneity and acceptability for further processing).
• Rolls and cores: Requirements and conventions for film rolls - including core dimensions and characteristics important for automated processing and reproducible handling.
• Joins: Definitions and general rules related to film joins/splices so that continuity and performance in manufacturing are maintained.
• Dimensions: Conventions for nominal widths, lengths and tolerances of films to support design, procurement and inventory control.
• Packaging and labelling: Minimum labelling and packaging requirements to protect electrical insulating films in storage and transit and to provide traceability and specification data to users.

Applications

EN 60674-1 is practical for organizations that manufacture, use or specify insulating plastic films in electrical contexts:

• Manufacturers of insulating films and converted products (tape, wrap, laminated dielectric components).
• Cable and wire producers, electrical component manufacturers and coil-winding operations that use film rolls in automated processes.
• Procurement and quality assurance teams who need consistent acceptance criteria, labelling and packaging rules.
• Testing laboratories and standards writers who require clear definitions as a basis for measurement procedures and conformance assessments.
• Design engineers specifying insulating materials for motors, transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment.

Related Standards

• EN 60674-1 references IEC 60674-1:1980 for alignment with international vocabulary and concepts.
• Users should consult other parts of the EN/IEC 60674 series and relevant material-specific standards for technical performance tests, electrical properties and safety requirements.

Keywords: EN 60674-1, plastic films for electrical purposes, insulating films, specification, definitions and general requirements, packaging and labelling, rolls joins cores, electrical insulation.