IEC 62217:2005

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 62217
First edition
2005-10
Polymeric insulators for indoor and outdoor use
with a nominal voltage >1 000 V –
General definitions, test methods
and acceptance criteria
Reference number
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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 62217
First edition
2005-10
Polymeric insulators for indoor and outdoor use
with a nominal voltage >1 000 V –
General definitions, test methods
and acceptance criteria
 IEC 2005  Copyright - all rights reserved
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– 2 – 62217  IEC:2005(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
INTRODUCTION.5
1 Scope and object.6
2 Normative references .6
3 Terms and definitions .7
4 Identification.9
5 Environmental conditions.9
6 Information on transport, storage and installation .10
7 Classification of tests .10
7.1 Design tests .10
7.2 Type tests .10
7.3 Sample tests .10
7.4 Routine tests .11
8 General requirements for insulator test specimens .11
9 Design tests .11
9.1 General .11
9.2 Tests on interfaces and connections of end fittings.11
9.3 Tests on shed and housing material .14
9.4 Tests on the core material .17

Annex A (normative) Wheel test.22
Annex B (normative) Test at multiple stresses .24
Annex C (informative) Difference between the tracking and erosion and accelerated
ageing tests on polymeric insulators .30
Annex D (informative) Recommended application of tests.31
Annex E (informative) Explanation of the concept of classes for the design tests .32

Bibliography.33

Figure 1 – Example of boiling container for the water diffusion test.19
Figure 2 – Examples of test specimen for core material .20
Figure 3 – Electrodes for the voltage test.21
Figure 4 – Voltage test circuit .21
Figure A.1 – Test arrangement of the tracking wheel test.23
Figure B.1 — Typical layout of the test specimens in the chamber and main
dimensions of the chamber .24
Figure B.2 – Multiple stress cycle .27
Figure B.3 – Typical layout of the rain and salt fog spray systems and the xenon lamp .28
Figure B.4 – Spectrum of xenon arc lamp and solar spectrum.28
Figure B.5 – Reference porcelain insulator .29

Table 1 – Normal environmental conditions.9
Table 2 – Initial NaCl content of the water as a function of the specimen dimensions.16

62217  IEC:2005(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
POLYMERIC INSULATORS FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR USE
WITH A NOMINAL VOLTAGE >1 000 V –
GENERAL DEFINITIONS, TEST METHODS
AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
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
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International Standard IEC 62217 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 36:
Insulators.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
36/244/FDIS 36/245/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.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 4 – 62217  IEC:2005(E)
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result 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.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

62217  IEC:2005(E) – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
Polymeric insulators consist either of one insulating material (resin insulators) or two or
several insulating materials (composite insulators). The insulating materials are generally
cross-linked organic materials synthesized from carbon or silicon chemistry and form the
insulating body. Insulating materials can be composed from organic materials containing
various inorganic and organic ingredients, such as fillers and extenders. End fittings are often
used at the ends of the insulating body to transmit mechanical loads. Despite these common
features, the materials used and the construction details employed by different manufacturers
may be widely different.
Some tests have been grouped together as "design tests", to be performed only once for
insulators of the same design. The design tests are intended to eliminate insulator designs,
materials or manufacturing technologies which are not suitable for high-voltage applications.
The influence of time on the electrical properties of the complete polymeric insulator and its
components (core material, housing, interfaces, etc.) has been considered in specifying the
design tests in order to ensure a satisfactory life-time under normal operating and
environmental conditions.
Pollution tests, according to IEC 60507 or IEC 61245, are not included in this International
Standard, their applicability to composite insulators not having been proven. The results of
such pollution tests performed on insulators made of polymeric materials do not correlate with
experience obtained from service. Specific pollution tests for polymeric insulators are still
under consideration.
The tracking and erosion tests given in this standard are considered as screening tests
intended to reject materials or designs which are inadequate. These tests are not intended to
predict long-term performance for insulator designs under cumulative service stresses. For
more information, see Annex C.
Composite insulators are used in both a.c. and d.c. applications. In spite of this fact a specific
tracking and erosion test procedure for d.c. applications as a design test has not yet been
defined and accepted. The 1 000 h a.c. tracking and erosion test described in this standard is
used to establish a minimum requirement for the tracking resistance of the housing material.
IEC Guide 111 has been followed during preparation of this standard wherever possible.

– 6 – 62217  IEC:2005(E)
POLYMERIC INSULATORS FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR USE
WITH A NOMINAL VOLTAGE >1 000 V –
GENERAL DEFINITIONS, TEST METHODS
AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
1 Scope and object
...