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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 62231
First edition
2006-02

Composite station post insulators

for substations with a.c. voltages
greater than 1 000 V up to 245 kV –
Definitions, test methods and
acceptance criteria

 IEC 2006  Copyright - all rights reserved

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–2– 62231  IEC:2006(E)

CONTENTS
FOREWORD...........................................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................6

1 Scope and object..............................................................................................................7

2 Normative references .......................................................................................................7
3 Terms and definitions .......................................................................................................8
4 Identification................................................................................................................... 11
5 Environmental conditions................................................................................................ 11
6 Information on transport, storage and installation ........................................................... 12
7 Classification of tests ..................................................................................................... 12
7.1 Design tests .......................................................................................................... 12
7.2 Type tests ............................................................................................................. 13
7.3 Sample tests ......................................................................................................... 13
7.4 Routine tests ......................................................................................................... 13
8 Design tests ................................................................................................................... 14
8.1 General ................................................................................................................. 14
8.2 Tests on interfaces and connections of end fittings................................................ 14
8.3 Assembled core load tests..................................................................................... 15
8.4 Tests on shed and housing material ...................................................................... 16
8.5 Tests on the core material ..................................................................................... 17
9 Type tests ...................................................................................................................... 17
9.1 Verification of dimensions ..................................................................................... 17
9.2 Electrical tests....................................................................................................... 17
9.3 Mechanical tests ................................................................................................... 19
10 Sample tests .................................................................................................................. 20
10.1 General rules ........................................................................................................ 20
10.2 Verification of dimensions (E1 + E2) ...................................................................... 21
10.3 Galvanizing test (E1 + E2) ..................................................................................... 21
10.4 Verification of the specified mechanical loads (E1) ................................................ 21
10.5 Re-testing procedure ............................................................................................. 22
11 Routine tests .................................................................................................................. 22
11.1 Identification of the station post insulator .............................................................. 22
11.2 Visual examination ................................................................................................ 22
11.3 Tensile load test .................................................................................................... 22

Annex A (informative) Notes on the mechanical loads and tests .......................................... 24

Annex B (informative) Determination of the equivalent bending moment caused by
combined cantilever and compression (tension) loads........................................................... 26
Annex C (informative) Example of torsion load test arrangement ......................................... 28
Annex D (normative) Tolerances of form and position .......................................................... 29
Annex E (informative) Notes on the compression and buckling test...................................... 32

Bibliography.......................................................................................................................... 33
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62231  IEC:2006(E) –3–

Figure 1 – Thermal-mechanical pre-stressing test – Typical cycles ....................................... 23

Figure B.1 – Combined loads applied to station post insulators............................................. 27
Figure D.1 – Parallelism, coaxiality and concentricity ............................................................ 29
Figure D.2 – Angular deviation of fixing holes: Example 1 ..................................................... 30
Figure D.3 – Angular deviation of fixing holes: Example 2 ..................................................... 30
Figure D.4 – Tolerances according to standard drawing practice........................................... 31

Table 1 – Tests to be carried out after design changes ......................................................... 12

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–4– 62231  IEC:2006(E)

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

___________

COMPOSITE STATION POST INSULATORS FOR SUBSTATIONS

WITH AC VOLTAGES GREATER THAN 1000 V UP TO 245 kV –
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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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 62231 has been prepared by subcommittee 36C: Insulators for
substations, of IEC technical committee 36: Insulators.

The text of this standard is based on the following documents:

FDIS Report on voting

36C/159/FDIS 36C/160/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 standard is to be read in conjunction with IEC 62217.

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62231  IEC:2006(E) –5–

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.

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–6– 62231  IEC:2006(E)

INTRODUCTION

Composite station post insulators consist of a cylindrical solid insulating core made of resin
impregnated fibres, bearing the mechanical load, protected by an elastomer housing, the
loads being transmitted to the core by metal fittings. Despite these common features, the
materials used and the construction details employed by different manufacturers may be
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 performed in order to eliminate insulator
designs, materials and manufacturing technologies not suitable for high-voltage applications.
The influence of time on the electrical and mechanical properties of the complete composite
station post insulator and its components (core material, housing material, interfaces, etc.)
has been considered in specifying the design tests in order to ensure a satisfactory lifetime
under normal service conditions.

The approach for mechanical testing under bending loads used in this Standard is based on
IEC 61952. This approach uses the concept of a damage limit that is the maximum stress that
can be developed in the insulator before damage begins to occur. Work is underway to
validate the acoustic emission technique to determine the inception of damage.

In some cases, station post insulators can be subjected to a combination of loads. In order to
give some guidance, Annex B explains how to calculate the equivalent bending moment in the
insulators resulting from the combination of bending, tensile and compression loads.

Pollution tests, as specified in IEC 60507 and IEC 61245, are not included in this document,
their applicability to composite station post insulators having not been proven. Such pollution
tests performed on composite insulators do not correlate with experience obtained from
service. Specific pollution tests for composite insulators are under consideration.

It has not been considered useful to specify a power arc test as a mandatory test. The test
parameters are manifold and can have very different values depending on the configurations
of the network and the supports and on the design of arc-protection devices. The heating
effect of power arcs should be considered in the design of metal fittings. Critical damage to
the metal fittings, resulting from the magnitude and duration of the short-circuit current can be
avoided by properly designed arc-protection devices. This standard, however, does not
exclude the possibility of a power arc test by agreement between the user and the manu-
facturer. IEC 61467 gives details of a.c. power arc testing of insulator sets.

Impulse (mechanical) loads in substation are typically caused by short-circuits. Post

insulators are affected by forces due to the interaction of the currents circulating in
conductors/busbars supported by insulators.

The impulse load or peak load may be evaluated using guidance found in the IEC 60865
series.

Work is in progress in CIGRE ESCC (Effects of Short-Circuit Currents) task force to review
impulse loads caused by short-circuit currents in substations. The aim of this work is to
introduce a new concept: the ESL factor (Equivalent Static Load factor) which is frequency
dependent. The actual peak load may be replaced, in a first approximation, by the peak load
times the ESL factor. This new value may be used as the MDCL in this document for the
determination of the cantilever strength.

Radio interference and corona tests are not specified in this standard since the radio
interference and corona performances are not characteristics of the insulator alone.

Composite hollow core station post insulators are currently not dealt with in this standard.
IEC 61462 gives details of tests on hollow core composite insulators, many of which can be
applied to such station post insulators.
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62231  IEC:2006(E) –7–

COMPOSITE STATION POST INSULATORS FOR SUBSTATIONS

WITH AC VOLTAGES GREATER THAN 1 000 V UP TO 245 kV –
DEFINITIONS, TEST METHODS AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

1 Scope and object

This International Standard applies to composite station post insulators consisting of a load
bearing cylindrical insulating solid core made of resin impregnated fibres, a housing (outside
the insulating solid core) made of elastomer material (e.g. silicone or ethylene-propylene) and
end fittings attached to the insulating core. Composite station post insulators covered by this
standard are subjected to cantilever, torsion, tension and compression loads. They are
intended for substations with a.c. voltages greater than 1 000 V up to 245 kV.

The object of this standard is

– to define the terms used,

– to prescribe test methods,
– to prescribe acceptance or failure criteria.

This standard does not include requirements dealing with the choice of insulators for specific
operating conditions.

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 60050-471, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Chapter 471: Insulators

IEC 60060-1, High-voltage test techniques – Part 1: General definitions and test requirements

IEC 60168:1994, Tests on indoor and outdoor post insulators of ceramic material or glass for
systems with nominal voltages greater than 1 000 V

IEC 62217: , Polymeric insulators for indoor and outdoor use with a nominal voltage greater
than 1000 V – General definitions, test methods and acceptance criteria

ISO 1101, Technical drawings – Geometrical tolerancing – Tolerancing of form, orientation,

location and run-out – Generalities, definitions, symbols, indications on drawings

ISO 3452, Non-destructive testing – Penetrant inspection – General principles