IEC 60598-2-20:2010

IEC 60598-2-20 ®
Edition 3.0 2010-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Luminaires –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements – Lighting chains

Luminaires –
Partie 2-20: Règles particulières – Guirlandes lumineuses

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IEC 60598-2-20 ®
Edition 3.0 2010-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Luminaires –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements – Lighting chains

Luminaires –
Partie 2-20: Règles particulières – Guirlandes lumineuses

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
R
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.140.40 ISBN 978-2-88910-210-5
– 2 – 60598-2-20 © IEC:2010
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
20.1 Scope.5
20.2 Normative references .5
20.3 General test requirements .6
20.4 Definitions .6
20.5 Classification of luminaires .6
20.6 Marking .6
20.7 Construction .7
20.8 Creepage distances and clearances.10
20.9 Provisions for earthing .10
20.10 Terminals .10
20.11 External and internal wiring.10
20.12 Protection against electric shock.12
20.13 Endurance tests and thermal tests .16
20.14 Resistance to dust and moisture .17
20.15 Insulation resistance and electric strength.17
20.16 Resistance to heat, fire and tracking .17
Annex A (informative) Tumbling barrel test .18
Bibliography .19

Figure 1 – Example of a suitable connection for lighting chains.14
Figure 2 – Example of test device suitable for checking security of lampholder contacts .15
Figure 3 – Example of test device suitable for winding a flexible pipe.16

Table 1 – Characteristics of the lighting chains .11

60598-2-20 © IEC:2010 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
LUMINAIRES –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements –
Lighting chains
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
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6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
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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 60598-2-20 has been prepared by subcommittee 34D: Luminaires,
of IEC technical committee 34: Lamps and related equipment
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 1996, its Amendment 1
(1998), its Amendment 2 (2002) and the interpretation sheets of March 2001 (1) and July 2003
(2 and 3). This third edition is based on the second edition, its Amendments 1 and 2 and the
interpretation sheets of March 2001 (1) and July 2003 (2 and 3) and incorporates some
changes relating to 20.7.15. This third edition constitutes a minor revision.
This publication is intended to be read in conjunction with IEC 60598-1: Luminaires – Part 1:
General requirements and tests. It was established on the basis of the seventh edition (2008)
of that standard.
– 4 – 60598-2-20 © IEC:2010
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
34D/946/FDIS 34D/955/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.
NOTE In this standard, the following print types are used:
– requirements: in roman type;
– test specifications: in italic type;
– notes: in small roman type.
The following differences exist in the countries indicated below:
20.11.1: In the USA, the requirements for the cables are different.
A list of all parts of the IEC 60598 series, under the general title: Luminaires, can be found on
the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until the
stability 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.
60598-2-20 © IEC:2010 – 5 –
LUMINAIRES –
Part 2-20: Particular requirements –
Lighting chains
20.1 Scope
This part of IEC 60598 specifies requirements for lighting chains fitted with series- or parallel-
or a combination of series/parallel-connected incandescent lamps for use either indoors or
outdoors on supply voltages not exceeding 250 V.
NOTE 1 A Christmas tree chain is an example of a lighting chain fitted with series or series/parallel connected lamps.
A chain for illuminating ski-tracks or promenades is an example of a lighting chain fitted with parallel connected
lamps.
NOTE 2 For lighting chains fitted with lampholders of the push-in type, the appropriate requirements of this part of
IEC 60598 apply.
NOTE 3 In some countries, the term "strings" is used instead of "chains".
NOTE 4 For lighting chains with non-standardised lamps (e.g. lamps of the push-in type) the lamps are regarded
as a part of the lighting chain and consequently included in the testing (and thereby in the certificate, if any).
20.2 Normative references
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 editi
...