IEC TR 61857-2:2015
(Main)Electrical insulation systems - Procedures for thermal evaluation - Part 2: Selection of the appropriate test method for evaluation and classification of electrical insulation systems
Electrical insulation systems - Procedures for thermal evaluation - Part 2: Selection of the appropriate test method for evaluation and classification of electrical insulation systems
IEC TR 61857-2:2015(E) gives guidelines to identify the appropriate test method to be used for the evaluation of a proposed Electrical Insulation System (EIS). Some of the standards are for evaluation and classification of the EIS, while other standards identify the appropriate method to evaluate single or multi-factor stresses of a proposed or of an established EIS. This Technical Report is applicable to existing or proposed EIS used in electrotechnical products across a wide range of operating voltages of IEC Standards. The report takes care to select the appropriate standard based on construction and intended operating conditions.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 12-Apr-2015
- Technical Committee
- TC 112 - Evaluation and qualification of electrical insulating materials and systems
- Drafting Committee
- WG 6 - TC 112/WG 6
- Current Stage
- PPUB - Publication issued
- Start Date
- 13-Apr-2015
- Completion Date
- 30-Jun-2015
Relations
- Effective Date
- 08-Mar-2024
Overview
IEC TR 61857-2:2015, titled Electrical Insulation Systems – Procedures for Thermal Evaluation – Part 2: Selection of the Appropriate Test Method for Evaluation and Classification of Electrical Insulation Systems, is a technical report published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This standard provides vital guidelines for selecting suitable test methods to evaluate and classify electrical insulation systems (EIS) used in electrotechnical products across a wide spectrum of operating voltages.
The purpose of the report is to assist manufacturers, designers, and engineers in choosing the correct testing procedures based on the specific construction, operating conditions, and thermal stresses the insulation system will encounter. It covers evaluation techniques ranging from thermal decomposition tests to multi-factor stress assessments, ensuring that insulation systems meet stringent quality and safety standards.
Key Topics
Test Method Selection: The standard aids in identifying appropriate test methods tailored for evaluating new or existing electrical insulation systems. It differentiates between tests aimed solely at thermal classification and those designed to assess combined mechanical, electrical, thermal, or environmental stresses.
Types of Test Objects: Evaluation can be conducted on either completed products such as motors, generators, solenoids, or transformers - or on laboratory models reflecting pre-production or prototype stages.
Thermal Evaluation Focus: The primary focus is on thermal evaluation procedures that assess the thermal decomposition characteristics and endurance of the insulation systems under operational conditions.
Test Parameters & Applications: The document categorizes test methods according to operating voltage ranges (low, medium, high voltage) and includes examples of common applications for each method, ensuring practical guidance for real-world use cases.
Multi-Factor Testing: Beyond thermal stress, the report guides selecting multi-factor evaluation approaches that consider processing, design, and construction stresses affecting the insulation system’s performance.
Relevant IEC Standards: Detailed references to complementary IEC standards (e.g., IEC 61857-1 for general requirements, IEC 60034-18 series for wire-wound and form-wound windings) provide a comprehensive framework for performing evaluations tailored to different types of insulation systems and applications.
Applications
IEC TR 61857-2:2015 serves a critical role in several practical scenarios:
Manufacturing Quality Assurance: Ensures that electrical insulation systems incorporated into commercial products such as motors, transformers, and generators comply with thermal endurance requirements applicable to their voltage rating and environmental conditions.
Product Design & Development: Assists engineers in determining test parameters during product development phases, enabling proactive identification of insulation weaknesses before full-scale production.
Material & Process Evaluation: Guides the selection of test methods to evaluate new insulating materials, modifications to existing systems, or alternative manufacturing processes prior to long-term thermal aging.
Safety and Reliability Enhancement: Supports manufacturers in improving insulation reliability by enabling precise classification and evaluation under relevant operating and environmental stresses, minimizing the risk of electrical failures.
Regulatory Compliance: Helps companies align with international standards for electrical insulation testing, facilitating global market acceptance and adherence to regulatory frameworks.
Related Standards
IEC TR 61857-2:2015 references and complements several other key IEC documents, including but not limited to:
IEC 61857-1: Procedures for thermal evaluation of electrical insulation systems - General requirements for low-voltage applications.
IEC 60034-18-21 & 60034-18-31: Test procedures for thermal evaluation and classification of wire-wound and form-wound insulation systems used in rotating electrical machines.
IEC 60505: Guidelines for evaluation and qualification of electrical insulation systems.
IEC 61858-1 & 61858-2: Standards dealing with thermal evaluation of modifications to existing electrical insulation systems for wire-wound and form-wound designs.
IEC TS 62101 & IEC TS 62332: Technical specifications for combined thermal and electrical stress evaluation and for thermal evaluation of combined liquid and solid insulation components.
IEC TS 61934: Electrical measurement of partial discharges in insulation systems.
By integrating the guidance of IEC TR 61857-2 with these complementary standards, stakeholders can comprehensively assess the thermal behavior of electrical insulation systems, ensuring reliability and safety across diverse electrotechnical products.
Keywords: IEC TR 61857-2, electrical insulation systems, thermal evaluation, test method selection, insulation classification, electrical insulation testing, thermal stress, multi-factor testing, rotating electrical machines, insulation system standards, electrotechnical products.
Frequently Asked Questions
IEC TR 61857-2:2015 is a technical report published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its full title is "Electrical insulation systems - Procedures for thermal evaluation - Part 2: Selection of the appropriate test method for evaluation and classification of electrical insulation systems". This standard covers: IEC TR 61857-2:2015(E) gives guidelines to identify the appropriate test method to be used for the evaluation of a proposed Electrical Insulation System (EIS). Some of the standards are for evaluation and classification of the EIS, while other standards identify the appropriate method to evaluate single or multi-factor stresses of a proposed or of an established EIS. This Technical Report is applicable to existing or proposed EIS used in electrotechnical products across a wide range of operating voltages of IEC Standards. The report takes care to select the appropriate standard based on construction and intended operating conditions.
IEC TR 61857-2:2015(E) gives guidelines to identify the appropriate test method to be used for the evaluation of a proposed Electrical Insulation System (EIS). Some of the standards are for evaluation and classification of the EIS, while other standards identify the appropriate method to evaluate single or multi-factor stresses of a proposed or of an established EIS. This Technical Report is applicable to existing or proposed EIS used in electrotechnical products across a wide range of operating voltages of IEC Standards. The report takes care to select the appropriate standard based on construction and intended operating conditions.
IEC TR 61857-2:2015 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION; 29.080.30 - Insulation systems. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
IEC TR 61857-2:2015 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to IEC TR 61857-2:2025. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
You can purchase IEC TR 61857-2:2015 directly from iTeh Standards. The document is available in PDF format and is delivered instantly after payment. Add the standard to your cart and complete the secure checkout process. iTeh Standards is an authorized distributor of IEC standards.
Standards Content (Sample)
IEC TR 61857-2 ®
Edition 1.0 2015-04
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Electrical insulation systems – Procedures for thermal evaluation –
Part 2: Selection of the appropriate test method for evaluation and classification
of electrical insulation systems
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.
IEC Central Office Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
3, rue de Varembé Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
CH-1211 Geneva 20 info@iec.ch
Switzerland www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
IEC Catalogue - webstore.iec.ch/catalogue Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
The stand-alone application for consulting the entire The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and
bibliographical information on IEC International Standards, electrical terms containing more than 30 000 terms and
Technical Specifications, Technical Reports and other definitions in English and French, with equivalent terms in 15
documents. Available for PC, Mac OS, Android Tablets and additional languages. Also known as the International
iPad. Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) online.
IEC publications search - www.iec.ch/searchpub IEC Glossary - std.iec.ch/glossary
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a More than 60 000 electrotechnical terminology entries in
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical English and French extracted from the Terms and Definitions
committee,…). It also gives information on projects, replaced clause of IEC publications issued since 2002. Some entries
and withdrawn publications. have been collected from earlier publications of IEC TC 37,
77, 86 and CISPR.
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published IEC Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
details all new publications released. Available online and If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or
also once a month by email. need further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
Centre: csc@iec.ch.
IEC TR 61857-2 ®
Edition 1.0 2015-04
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Electrical insulation systems – Procedures for thermal evaluation –
Part 2: Selection of the appropriate test method for evaluation and classification
of electrical insulation systems
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 29.080.30 ISBN 978-2-8322-2594-3
– 2 – IEC TR 61857-2:2015 © IEC 2015
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 General information . 6
4.1 Purpose of the evaluation . 6
4.2 Test objects . 7
4.3 Test stresses . 7
5 Design and development of the scope of work for the EIS evaluation. 7
6 Test methods for the evaluation and classification of EIS . 7
Table 1 – Evaluation for thermal stresses in air . 9
Table 2 – Standards for the modification of an established EIS . 10
Table 3 – Standards for special environmental applications . 10
Table 4 – For evaluation prior to the start of long-term thermal ageing . 10
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTRICAL INSULATION SYSTEMS –
PROCEDURES FOR THERMAL EVALUATION –
Part 2: Selection of the appropriate test method for evaluation
and classification of electrical insulation systems
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
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
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.
The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. However, a
technical committee may propose the publication of a technical report when it has collected
data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, for
example "state of the art".
IEC TR 61857-2, which is a technical report, has been prepared by IEC technical committee
112: Evaluation and qualification of electrical insulating materials and systems.
– 4 – IEC TR 61857-2:2015 © IEC 2015
The text of this technical report is based on the following documents:
Enquiry draft Report on voting
112/312/DTR 112/318/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this technical report 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.
A list of all parts in the IEC 61857 series, published under the general title Electrical insulation
systems – Procedures for thermal evaluation, 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 website 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.
ELECTRICAL INSULATION SYSTEMS –
PROCEDURES FOR THERMAL EVALUATION –
Part 2: Selection of the appropriate test method for evaluation
and classification of electrical insulation systems
1 Scope
This part of IEC 61857 gives guidelines to identify the appropriate test method to be used for
the evaluation of a proposed Electrical Insulation System (EIS). Some of the standards are for
evaluation and classification of the EIS, while other standards identify the appropriate method
to evaluate single or multi-factor stresses of a proposed or of an established EIS.
This Technical Report is applicable to existing or proposed EIS used in electrotechnical
products across a wide range of operating voltages of IEC Standards. The report takes care
to select the appropriate standard based on construction and intended operating conditions.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60034-18-21, Rotating electrical machines – Part 18-21: Functional evaluation of
insulation systems – Test procedures for wire-wound windings – Thermal evaluation and
classification
IEC 60034-18-31, Rotating electrical machines – Part 18-31: Functional evaluation of
insulation systems – Test procedures for form-wound windings – Thermal evaluation and
classification of insulation systems used in rotating machines
IEC 60505, Evaluation and qualification of electrical insulation systems
IEC 61857-1, Electrical insulation systems – Procedures for thermal evaluation – Part 1:
...










Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.
Loading comments...