IEC TS 63414 ED1

Artificial pollution tests on high-voltage polymeric insulators to be used on a.c. and d.c. systems

Scope

IEC TS 63414:2025 is applicable for the determination of the AC and DC pollution flashover and withstand voltage characteristics of insulators with polymeric housing, to be used outdoors in HV applications and exposed to polluted environments. This is also applicable for insulators with hydrophobic coatings. This document refers to AC systems with a rated voltage greater than 1 000 V and DC systems with a rated voltage greater than 1 500 V.
The object of this technical specification is to prescribe standardized test methods, requirements and procedures for artificial pollution tests applicable to polymeric insulators for overhead lines including traction lines, station post and hollow insulators of equipment. Available test experience with polymeric station post and hollow insulators, especially for DC applications, is limited.
The proposed tests are not applicable to ceramic and glass insulators without polymeric housing, to greased insulators or to special types of insulators (e.g., insulators with semiconducting glaze).
Differently to ceramic and glass insulators without polymeric housing:
- The pollution performance of insulators with polymeric housing varies with the hydrophobicity condition of the surface. The specific conditions simulated by standardized tests might not represent the actual dynamic field conditions.
- The determination of the flashover and/or withstand voltage under pollution conditions is not enough for dimensioning. Additional constraints related to possible ageing are also to be considered.
- If the Hydrophobicity Transfer Material (HTM) test according to IEC TR 62039 confirms that an insulator is non-HTM, it can be tested according to IEC 60507 or IEC TS 61245.