IEC 60695-1-30:2008

IEC 60695-1-30
Edition 2.0 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
PUBLICATION FONDAMENTALE DE SÉCURITÉ
Fire hazard testing –
Part 1-30: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products –
Preselection testing process – General guidelines

Essais relatifs aux risques du feu –
Partie 1-30: Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation des risques du feu des produits
électrotechniques – Processus d’essai de présélection – Lignes directrices
générales
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.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: inmail@iec.ch
Web: 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.
ƒ Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
ƒ IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
ƒ Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.
ƒ Catalogue des publications de la CEI: www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut-f.htm
Le Catalogue en-ligne de la CEI vous permet d’effectuer des recherches en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence,
texte, comité d’études,…). Il donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les publications retirées ou remplacées.
ƒ Just Published CEI: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI. Just Published détaille deux fois par mois les nouvelles
publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
Vocabulaire Electrotechnique International en ligne.
ƒ Service Clients: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv/custserv_entry-f.htm
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette publication ou si vous avez des questions, visitez le FAQ du
Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tél.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
IEC 60695-1-30
Edition 2.0 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
BASIC SAFETY PUBLICATION
PUBLICATION FONDAMENTALE DE SÉCURITÉ
Fire hazard testing –
Part 1-30: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products –
Preselection testing process – General guidelines

Essais relatifs aux risques du feu –
Partie 1-30: Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation des risques du feu des produits
électrotechniques – Processus d’essai de présélection – Lignes directrices
générales
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
M
CODE PRIX
ICS 13.220.40; 29.020 ISBN 2-8318-9855-2
– 2 – 60695-1-30 © IEC:2008
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
INTRODUCTION.5
1 Scope.6
2 Normative references .6
3 Terms and definitions .6
4 Principles of product design considering preselection.7
5 Advantages and limitations of preselection .8
6 Aspects of preselection relative to hazard assessment .8
Annex A (informative) Examples of test methods .9
Annex B (informative) Use of preselection tests for flammability requirements for fire
enclosure materials used in information technology equipment (ITE) – Illustrative
example.11
Bibliography.13

Figure B.1 – Flammability requirements for fire enclosure materials used in information
technology equipment .12

Table 1 – Some of the factors which can affect fire performance in preselection tests .7

60695-1-30 © IEC:2008 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
FIRE HAZARD TESTING –
Part 1-30: Guidance for assessing the fire
hazard of electrotechnical products –
Preselection testing process –
General guidelines
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 provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
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.
International Standard IEC 60695-1-30 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 89:
Fire hazard testing.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition of IEC 60695-1-30, published in
2002, and constitutes a technical revision.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition are listed below:
– Further explanation given in the introduction and scope.
– Clause 3: changes to the definitions.
– Clause 4: clarifications of the principles of product design considering preselection.
– Clause 5: clarifications of the advantages and limitations of preselection.
– Clause 6: clarifications of the aspects of preselection relative to hazard assessment.

– 4 – 60695-1-30 © IEC:2008
– Annex A: changes in the references for examples of test methods which may be relevant
to preselection.
– Annex B: changes in the illustrative example of the flowchart of the use of preselection
tests for resistance to fire hazards of a specific product type.
It has the status of a basic safety publication in accordance with IEC Guide 104 and
ISO/IEC Guide 51.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
89/865/FDIS 89/869/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.
This publication is to be used in conjunction with the future IEC 60695-1-10 and IEC 60695-
1-11 .
A list of all parts in the IEC 60695 series, under the general title Fire hazard testing, can be
found on the IEC website.
Part 1 consists of the following sub-parts:
Part 1-10 : Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products –
General guidelines
Part 1-11 : Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products –
Fire hazard assessment
Part 1-20: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products –
Ignitability – General guidance
Part 1-21: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products –
Ignitability – Summary and relevance of test methods
Part 1-30: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products –
Preselection testing process – General guidelines
Part 1-40: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products –
Insulating liquids
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.
___________
Under consideration.
60695-1-30 © IEC:2008 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
In the design of any electrotechnical product, the risk of fire and the potential hazards
associated with fire need to be considered. In this respect the objective of component, circuit
and equipment design as well as the choice of materials is to reduce to acceptable levels the
potential risks of fire even in the event of foreseeable abnormal use, malfunction or failure.
The future IEC 60695-1-10 and IEC 60695-1-11 provide guidance on how this is to be
accomplished using quantitative and qualitative fire tests.
The information gained from properly designed small-scale tests can be used as an aid for the
preselection of proper materials, parts, components or sub-assemblies with regard to the fire
hazard evaluation of the final end-product. The best method for testing electrotechnical
products with regard to fire hazard is to duplicate exactly the conditions occurring in practice
by conducting real-scale fire tests. Where this is not practicable, fire hazard testing should be
conducted by simulating as closely as possible, the actual conditions of use and of the
situation to which a sub-assembly, component, part or material may be exposed in such use.
As an outcome of conducting a fire hazard assessment, an appropriate series of preselection
flammability and ignition tests may enable reduced end-product testing.
Preselection is the procedure for assessing and choosing materials, components or sub-
assemblies for parts of end-products. Preselection has been used for many years to assist the
designer in the selection of candidate materials in the design stage of the end-product.
___________
Under consideration.
– 6 – 60695-1-30 © IEC:2008
FIRE HAZARD TESTING –
Part 1-30: Guidance for assessing the fire
hazard of electrotechnical products –
Preselection testing process –
General guidelines
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60695 provides guidance for assessing and choosing candidate materials,
components or sub-assemblies for making an end-product based upon preselection testing.
It describes how preselection provides comparative fire hazard test methods to evaluate the
performance of a test specimen and how preselection can be used in the selection of
materials, parts, components and sub-assemblies during the design stage of an end-product.
It further describes how standardized test methods may be used as one part in the decision
making processes directed to minimize the fire hazards from electrotechnical equipment. It
states that one should take into account the desired reaction to fire properties of the end-
product, and that one should consider the possible effects of environmental conditions on the
behaviour of the end-product.
This basic safety publication is intended for use by technical committees in the preparation of
standards in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC
Guide 51.
One of the responsibilities of a technical committee is, wherever applicable, to make use of
basic safety publications in the preparation of its publications. The requirements, test
methods or test conditions of this basic safety publication will not apply unless specifically
referred to or included in the relevant publications.
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 edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60695-4:2005, Fire hazard testing – Part 4: Terminology concerning fire tests for
electrotechnical products
IEC Guide 104:1997, The preparation of safety publications and the use of basic safety
publications and group safety publications
ISO/IEC Guide 51:1999, Safety aspects – Guidelines for their inclusion in standards
ISO/IEC 13943:2000, Fire safety – Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
end-product fire test
fire test that is described in a relevant product specification and that is carried out on an
assembled product which is ready for use
NOTE End-product fire tests may be small-scale, intermediate-scale, large-scale or real-scale.

60695-1-30 © IEC:2008 – 7 –
3.2
preselection
process of assessing and choosing candidate materials, components or sub-assemblies for
making an end-product
4 Principles of product design considering preselection
One objective of equipment design is to choose individual materials, parts, components and
sub-assemblies that reduce the likelihood of fire. The preselection procedure, as well as end-
product testing, should take into account all possible ignition sources, even those that may
have an influence in the event of foreseeable abnormal use, malfunction or failure.
The properties required by individual materials, parts, components and sub-assemblies are
determined by their function and related requirements as part of the final end-product. The
selection and magnitude of these properties will be dependent upon the details of reasonable
foreseeable use, abuse and environmental exposure.
An integral element of preselection is the acquisition of relevant information regarding a
material’s characteristics. This knowledge can be acquired from an analysis of data obtained
from standardized test methods conducted on specified test specimens. Examples of tests
which may be relevant to preselection are contained in Annex A.
The preselection process should describe how standardized test methods may be used in
decision-making processes to minimize the fire hazards from electrotechnical equipment. The
preselection process should take into account the relevant features of the end-product, since
the actual performance of the material may be affected by various factors and constructional
characteristics.
The fire performance of materials, parts, components and sub-assemblies is affected by a
number of factors, some of which are listed in Table 1.
Consequently, a preselection procedure to assess the adequate performance of a final end-
product requires test data on materials, parts, components and sub-assemblies and should
take into account all of the relevant features (for example, the environmental conditions,
association with other items, and possible ignition sources).
A decision analysis flow chart (see Figure B.1) is shown in Annex B for an illustrative example
of the use of preselection.
Table 1 – Some of the factors which can affect fire performance in preselection tests
Item Factor
a) Thickness and size of the test specimen
b) Shape, homogeneity and volume of the test specimen
c) Combination and interaction of materials, parts, components and sub-assemblies
d) Position and orientation of the test specimen
e) Composition of materials
f) Presence of fire-retardant covers, barriers and/or coatings
g) Effects of environmental influence and contamination, e.g. effects of temperature, ageing and ventilation
h) Effects of manufacturing processes
i) Type and power of the ignition source
j) Location of application of the ignition source
k) Time of application of the ignition source
l) Presence of any heat sinks, and heat transfer effects

– 8 – 60695-1-30 © IEC:2008
5 Advantages and limitations of preselection
A preselection process that can meet the principles described in Clause 4 may present certain
advantages and limitations:
a) Preselection provides a comparative method to evaluate the performance of a test
specimen and can be of assistance in the selection of materials, parts, components and
sub-assemblies during the design stage.
b) The grading and classification obtained from a comprehensive preselection process may
be used to specify a basic minimum performance of materials and parts used in product
specifications.
c) In general, it cannot be assumed that any direct relationship exists between the results of
a preselection test and the results of a test made on the final end-product. However, a
material, part, component or sub-assembly that reacts more favourably than another when
subjected to a standardized preselection test and has a history of safe use in similar
applications, could also react more favourably when used in the design of an end-product.
Priority is given to fire hazard assessment tests made on the final end-product. However,
in certain cases preselection may be agreed upon for practical reasons as a way to reduce
the amount of end-product testing. It should be noted that in this case, it is advisable to
establish an increased margin of safety in an attempt to ensure satisfactory performance,
based on the relevant features of the end-product.
d) Preselection may lead to a reduction in the number of end-product tests with a consequent
reduction, for the purpose of fire hazard assessment, in the total amount of testing
required.
e) Preselection tests may result in an increased margin of safety due to the use of specified
test samples and consistency in test methods and test data. Preselection tests tend to use
relatively small, discrete samples, consequently reducing the costs of testing and also
enabling a variety of ignition sources to be used, which may not be easily applied in a test
on the end-product.
f) Preselection data are readily available from multiple international sources. Preselection
data can be used to examine the variation of a material’s properties with respect to a
range of parameters. Typical examples of such parameters are: source of data (test
laboratory), source of material, test orientation, colour and thickness.
Examples of test methods which contain combustion characteristics tests, specified in the
publications of IEC/TC 89 and ISO/TC 61, are listed in Annex A.
6 Aspects of preselection relative to hazard assessment
Preselection of materials based on the results obtained by tests for reaction to abnormal heat
and reaction to fire, may be used in the decision-making process related to fire hazard
assessment, when the relevant aspects discussed in Clause 4 have been considered, or if
there is a history of safe use of the material in similar applications.
Some of these factors listed in Table 1 may be reasonably covered by the preselection test
itself, others may require careful interpretation of a result with regard to evaluation of fire
hazard.
In some cases, the fire hazard analysis can include either relevant preselection tests or a
combination of relevant preselection tests and end-product tests to reduce the likelihood of
fire from electrotechnical products.

60695-1-30 © IEC:2008 – 9 –
Annex A
(informative)
Examples of test methods
The following TC 89 and ISO/TC 61 publications contain information on fire hazard
assessment tests which may be applicable during the preselection procedure for the
acquisition of pertinent information regarding a material’s characteristics.
A.1 Ignitability
IEC/TR 60695-1-21: Fire hazard testing – Part 1-21: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of
electrotechnical products – Ignitability – Summary and relevance of test methods
IEC 60695-2-13: Fire hazard testing – Part 2-13: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods –
Glow-wire ignitability test method for materials
IEC/TS 60695-11-11: Fire hazard testing – Part 11-11: Test flames – Determination of the

ignition characteristic heat flux from a non-contacting flame source
A.2 Flammability
IEC 60695-2-12: Fire hazard testing – Part 2-12: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods –
Glow-wire flammability test method for materials
IEC/TS 60695-9-2: Fire hazard testing – Part 9-2: Surface spread of flames – Summary and
relevance of test methods
IEC 60695-11-5: Fire hazard testing – Part 11-5: Test flames – Needle-flame test method –
Apparatus, confirmatory test arrangement and guidance
IEC 60695-11-10: Fire hazard testing – Part 11-10: Test flames – 50 W horizontal and vertical
flame test methods
IEC 60695-11-20: Fire hazard testing – Part 11-20: Test flames – 500 W flame test methods
IEC/TS 60695-11-21: Fire hazard testing – Part 11-21: Test flames – 500 W vertical flame test
method for tubular polymeric materials
ISO 9772: Cellular plastics – Determination of horizontal burning characteristics of small
specimens subjected to a small flame
ISO 9773: Plastics – Determination of burning behaviour of thin flexible vertical specimens in
contact with a small-flame ignition source
A.3 Heat
IEC/TS 60695-8-2: Fire hazard testing – Part 8-2: Heat release – Summary and relevance of
test methods
A.4 Smoke
IEC/TS 60695-6-2: Fire hazard testing – Part 6-2: Smoke obscuration – Summary and
relevance of test methods
IEC/TS 60695-6-30: Fire hazard testing – Part 6-30: Guidance and test methods on the
assessment of obscuration hazard of vision caused by smoke opacity from electrotechnical
products involved in fires – Small scale static method – Determination of smoke opacity –
Description of the apparatus
___________
Under consideration.
– 10 – 60695-1-30 © IEC:2008
IEC/TS 60695-6-31: Fire hazard testing – Part 6-31: Smoke obscuration – Small-scale static
test – Materials
ISO 5659-2: Plastics – Smoke generation – Part 2: Determination of optical density by a
single-chamber test
A.5 Toxicity
IEC/TR 60695-7-2, Fire hazard testing – Part 7-2: Toxicity of fire effluent – Summary and
relevance of test methods
IEC/TS 60695-7-50: Fire hazard testing – Part 7-50: Toxicity of fire effluent – Estimation of
toxic potency – Apparatus and test method
A.6 Corrosion
IEC/TS 60695-5-2: Fire hazard testing – Part 5-2: Corrosion damage effects of fire effluent –
Summary and relevance of test methods
IEC/TS 60695-5-3: Fire hazard testing – Part 5-3: Corrosion damage effects of fire effluent –
Leakage-current and metal-loss test method
A.7 Abnormal heat
IEC 60695-10-2: Fire hazard testing – Part 10-2: Abnormal heat - Ball pressure test

60695-1-30 © IEC:2008 – 11 –
Annex B
(informative)
Use of preselection tests for flammability requirements for
fire enclosure materials used in information technology equipment (ITE) –
Illustrative example
B.1 General
This illustrative example (Figure B.1) describes a part of the preselection procedure described
in 4.7 and Table 4E of IEC 60950-1[1] for fire enclosure materials used in information
technology equipment. The test data resulting from conducting relevant preselection tests can
be evaluated and used as the basis for determining compliance with the applicable resistance
to fire requirements indicated in the end-product standard. As indicated in Table 4E of
IEC 60950-1 and this illustrative example, the number of end-product tests may be reduced if
the fire enclosure materials’ characteristics fulfil the minimum preselection requirements for
the application.
For the purpose of this illustrative example, the fire enclosure material is used in an end-
product that is covered under the scope of IEC 60950-1 for information technology equipment.

___________
Figures in square brackets refer to the Bibliography.

– 12 –               60695-1-30 © IEC:2008

Start
Is the material Is the
No
a fire Is the material used to Requirements
Equipment is No
No
enclosure? equipment fill an opening in a fire not applicable: END
movable
stationary? enclosure?
Yes
Analysis*
Yes Yes
Yes
Is the total mass
> 18 Kg?
No Is the material Yes
classed at least V-1?
Preselection
Is the material Yes Is the material
Yes
No
testing**
classed at least 5VB? classed at least V-1?
Does the
material comply with
Yes
No the relevant IEC component
No
standard flammability
requirements?
No
Conduct Clause A.1 Conduct Clause A.2
Consequential
flammability test flammability test
testing
Do the results Yes Yes Do the results
comply with the A.1.6 comply with the A.2.6
criteria? criteria?
No No
Material not
acceptable: END
NOTES:
Analysis* - additional resistance to ignition criteria may also be
applicable in accordance with 4.7 and Annex A of IEC 60950-1.
Preselection** - In accordance with 1.2.12.1 of IEC 60950-1 for ITE
applications a material of 5VA CLASS is regarded as better than
Material
5VB CLASS, 5VB CLASS better than V-0 CLASS and V-0 CLASS
acceptable: END
better than V-1 CLASS.
IEC 900/08
Figure B.1 – Flammability requirements for fire enclosure materials used in information technology equipment
...