IEC 60383-1

®
Edition 5.0 2023-07

INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE colour
inside

Insulators for overhead lines with a nominal voltage above 1000 V –

Part 1: Ceramic or glass insulator units for a.c. systems – Definitions, test
methods and acceptance criteria

Isolateurs pour lignes aériennes de tension nominale supérieure à 1 000 V –

Partie 1: Éléments d’isolateurs en matière céramique ou en verre pour systèmes
à courant alternatif – Définitions, méthodes d’essai et critères d’acceptation
IEC 60383-1:2023-07(en-fr)
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 IEC 60383-1
®
Edition 5.0 2023-07

INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE colour
inside

Insulators for overhead lines with a nominal voltage above 1000 V –

Part 1: Ceramic or glass insulator units for a.c. systems – Definitions, test
methods and acceptance criteria

Isolateurs pour lignes aériennes de tension nominale supérieure à 1 000 V –

Partie 1: Éléments d’isolateurs en matière céramique ou en verre pour systèmes
à courant alternatif – Définitions, méthodes d’essai et critères d’acceptation

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION

COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE

ICS 29.080.10, 29.240.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-7128-5

Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.
Attention! Veuillez vous assurer que vous avez obtenu cette publication via un distributeur agréé.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission

Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
 –2– IEC 60383-1:2023 © IEC 2023

CONTENTS
FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................... 6
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 8
1 Scope .............................................................................................................................. 9
2 Normative references ...................................................................................................... 9
3 Terms and definitions .................................................................................................... 10
4 Classification, types of insulators and insulating materials ............................................. 13
4.1 Insulator classes ................................................................................................... 13
4.2 Insulator types ...................................................................................................... 14
4.3 Insulating materials ............................................................................................... 14
5 Identification of insulators .............................................................................................. 14
6 Classification of tests..................................................................................................... 14
6.1 Type tests ............................................................................................................. 14
6.2 Sample tests ......................................................................................................... 15
6.3 Routine tests......................................................................................................... 15
7 Cross-reference tables for tests to be performed ........................................................... 15
7.1 Pin insulators ........................................................................................................ 15
7.2 Line post insulators ............................................................................................... 17
7.3 String insulator units ............................................................................................. 19
7.3.1 General ......................................................................................................... 19
7.3.2 Specified type tests on string insulator units .................................................. 20
7.4 Insulators for overhead electric traction lines ........................................................ 24
8 Procedures for type and sample tests ............................................................................ 24
8.1 Insulator selection for type tests ........................................................................... 24
8.2 Sampling rules and procedures for sample tests ................................................... 24
8.3 Re-test procedure for sample tests ....................................................................... 25
9 General requirements for electrical tests ....................................................................... 25
10 Artificial rain parameters for wet tests ............................................................................ 26
11 Mounting arrangements for electrical tests .................................................................... 26
12 Dry lightning impulse voltage tests ................................................................................ 26
12.1 General ................................................................................................................. 26
12.2 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 26
12.3 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 26
13 Wet power frequency withstand voltage tests ................................................................ 27
13.1 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 27
13.2 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 27
14 RIV test ......................................................................................................................... 27
14.1 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 27
14.2 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 28
15 Puncture withstand test ................................................................................................. 28
15.1 General ................................................................................................................. 28
15.2 Impulse puncture testing in air .............................................................................. 28
15.3 Power frequency puncture withstand test .............................................................. 29
16 Routine electrical test .................................................................................................... 29
17 Verification of the dimensions ........................................................................................ 30
18 Electromechanical failing load test ................................................................................. 30
IEC 60383-1:2023 © IEC 2023 –3–

18.1 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 30

18.2 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 31
19 Mechanical failing load test............................................................................................ 31
19.1 Test procedure for pin and line post insulators ...................................................... 31
19.2 Test procedure for string insulator units ................................................................ 31
19.3 Acceptance criteria for pin insulators .................................................................... 31
19.4 Acceptance criteria for string insulator units and line post insulators ..................... 31
20 Thermal-mechanical performance test ........................................................................... 32
20.1 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 32
20.2 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 33
21 Residual strength test .................................................................................................... 33
21.1 General ................................................................................................................. 33
21.2 Previous tests ....................................................................................................... 33
21.3 Preparation of the test pieces ............................................................................... 33
21.4 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 34
21.5 Test results ........................................................................................................... 34
21.6 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 34
22 Verification of the axial, radial and angular displacements ............................................. 34
22.1 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 34
22.2 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 35
23 Verification of the locking system ................................................................................... 36
23.1 General ................................................................................................................. 36
23.2 Conformity of the locking device ........................................................................... 36
23.3 Verification of locking ............................................................................................ 36
23.4 Position of the locking device ................................................................................ 36
23.5 Procedure for the operation test ............................................................................ 36
23.6 Acceptance criteria for the operation test .............................................................. 37
24 Temperature cycle test .................................................................................................. 37
24.1Test procedure for ceramic or toughened glass material ....................................... 37
24.2Test procedure for of annealed glass .................................................................... 38
24.3Special test procedure for insulators with thick sections or very large
insulators .............................................................................................................. 38
24.4 Complementary specifications ............................................................................... 38
24.5 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 38
25 Thermal shock test ........................................................................................................ 39
25.1 Sample test ........................................................................................................... 39
25.1.1 Test procedure .............................................................................................. 39
25.1.2 Acceptance criteria ........................................................................................ 39
25.2 Routine thermal shock test .................................................................................... 39
25.2.1 Test procedure .............................................................................................. 39
25.2.2 Acceptance criteria ........................................................................................ 39
26 Porosity test .................................................................................................................. 39
26.1 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 39
26.2 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 39
27 Galvanizing test ............................................................................................................. 40
27.1 General ................................................................................................................. 40
27.2 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 40
27.2.1 General ......................................................................................................... 40
 –4– IEC 60383-1:2023 © IEC 2023

27.2.2 Appearance ................................................................................................... 40

27.2.3 Determination of the coating mass by the magnetic test method .................... 40
27.3 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 40
27.3.1 Acceptance criteria for the appearance test ................................................... 40
27.3.2 Acceptance criteria for the value of coating mass .......................................... 41
28 Zinc sleeve test (if applicable) ....................................................................................... 41
28.1 General requirements concerning the zinc sleeve ................................................. 41
28.2 Type test procedure .............................................................................................. 41
28.3 Sample test procedure .......................................................................................... 42
29 Routine visual inspection ............................................................................................... 42
29.1 General ................................................................................................................. 42
29.2 Insulators with ceramic insulating parts ................................................................. 42
29.3 Insulators with glass insulating parts ..................................................................... 43
30 Impact test .................................................................................................................... 44
30.1 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 44
30.2 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 44
31 Routine mechanical test ................................................................................................ 44
31.1 Routine mechanical test on line post insulators ..................................................... 44
31.2 Routine mechanical test on string insulator units ................................................. 45
32 Mounting arrangements for tests on pin insulators ......................................................... 45
32.1 Standard mounting arrangement for electrical tests .............................................. 45
32.2 Mounting arrangements for electrical tests reproducing service conditions ............ 46
32.3 Mounting arrangement for the mechanical failing load test .................................... 46
33 Coefficients for statistical analysis of the test results on line post Insulators .................. 46
33.1 Coefficient for type tests ....................................................................................... 46
33.2 Coefficients for sample tests ................................................................................. 46
34 Mounting arrangements for tests on line post insulators ................................................ 46
34.1 Standard mounting arrangement for electrical tests .............................................. 46
34.2 Mounting arrangements for electrical tests reproducing service conditions ............ 47
34.3 Mounting arrangement for the mechanical failing load test .................................... 47
35 Coefficients for statistical analysis of the test results on string insulator units ................ 47
35.1 Coefficient for type tests ....................................................................................... 47
35.2 Coefficients for sample tests ................................................................................. 48
36 Mounting arrangements for electrical tests on string insulator units ............................... 48
37 Mounting arrangements for electrical tests on Insulators for overhead electric
traction lines .................................................................................................................. 48
37.1 Standard mounting arrangement ........................................................................... 48
37.2 Mounting arrangement representing service conditions ......................................... 49
Annex A (informative) Method of comparison of the results of electromechanical or
mechanical type and sample tests ........................................................................................ 52
Annex B (informative) Illustration of the mechanical and electromechanical test
acceptance procedure for string insulator units and line post insulators ................................ 54
B.1 Flow charts ........................................................................................................... 54
B.2 Calculated examples of acceptance and rejection ................................................. 56
Annex C (informative) Coatings on ceramic or glass insulators ............................................ 59
C.1 General ................................................................................................................. 59
C.2 Material fingerprinting and ageing performance ..................................................... 59
C.3 Type testing .......................................................................................................... 59
IEC 60383-1:2023 © IEC 2023 –5–

C.4 Sample testing ...................................................................................................... 60

C.5 Routine testing ...................................................................................................... 60
C.6 Pollution performance ........................................................................................... 60
C.7 Acceptance criteria ............................................................................................... 60
Annex D (informative) Impact test ........................................................................................ 62

Figure 1 – Schematic representation of the thermal-mechanical performance test ................ 49

Figure 2 – Measurement of axial and radial displacements ................................................... 50
Figure 3 – Measurement of angular displacement ................................................................. 50
Figure 4 – Greatest thickness of the insulator ....................................................................... 51
Figure B.1 – Acceptance flow chart for mechanical or electromechanical type tests .............. 54
Figure B.2 – Acceptance flow chart for mechanical or electromechanical sample tests ......... 55
Figure B.3 – Flow chart of the comparison of type and sample tests ..................................... 56
Figure C.1 – Example of thickness criteria based on current experience ............................... 60
Figure C.2 – Example of adherence test criteria .................................................................... 61
Figure D.1 – Example of equipment for impact testing .......................................................... 62

Table 1 – Cross-reference table for pin insulators ................................................................. 17

Table 2 – Cross-reference table for line post insulators ........................................................ 19
Table 3 – Cross-reference table for string insulator units – cap and pin ................................ 21
Table 4 – Cross-reference table for string insulator units – long rod ...................................... 23
Table 5 – Sample sizes for sample tests ............................................................................... 25
Table 6 – Acceptance criteria for impact test......................................................................... 44
Table 7 – Coefficients for sample tests (line post insulators) ................................................. 46
Table 8 – Coefficients for sample tests (string insulator units) ............................................... 48
Table A.1 – Values for constants a, b and c .......................................................................... 52
Table A.2 – Values for constants a, b and c (re-test) ............................................................. 53
Table B.1 – Examples for mechanical and electromechanical sample tests ........................... 57
Table B.2 – Blank form for calculation for mechanical and electromechanical
sample tests ......................................................................................................................... 58
 –6– IEC 60383-1:2023 © IEC 2023

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________

INSULATORS FOR OVERHEAD LINES

WITH A NOMINAL VOLTAGE ABOVE 1 000 V –

Part 1: Ceramic or glass insulator units for AC systems –

Definitions, test methods and acceptance criteria

FOREWORD
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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.

IEC 60383 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 36: Insulators. It is an International
Standard.

This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 1993. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:

a) The complete document has been revised and updated. The layout of the document has
been changed in order to increase readability;
b) RIV test has been added (Clause 14);
c) Impulse puncture test in air has been added (15.2);
d) Residual strength test has been added (Clause 21);
IEC 60383-1:2023 © IEC 2023 –7–

e) Zinc sleeve test has been added (Clause 28);

f) Impact test has been added (Clause 30);
g) Annex C, coatings on ceramic and glass insulators has been added;
h) Annex D, impact test has been added.

The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:

Draft Report on voting

36/564/FDIS 36/571/RVD

Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.

The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.

This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.

A list of all parts in the IEC 60383 series, published under the general title Insulators for
overhead lines with a nominal voltage above 1 000 V, can be found on the IEC website.

The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be

• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.
 –8– IEC 60383-1:2023 © IEC 2023

INTRODUCTION

This part of IEC 60383 deals with four different types of insulators:

• Pin insulators
• Line post insulators
• String insulator units
• Insulators for overhead electric traction lines

Certain clauses of this document contain general requirements and other clauses contain
specific tests relevant to each of the above-mentioned insulators.
IEC 60383-1:2023 © IEC 2023 –9–

INSULATORS FOR OVERHEAD LINES

WITH A NOMINAL VOLTAGE ABOVE 1 000 V –

Part 1: Ceramic or glass insulator units for AC systems –

Definitions, test methods and acceptance criteria

1 Scope

This part of IEC 60383 applies to insulators of ceramic material or glass for use on AC overhead
power lines and overhead traction lines with a nominal voltage greater than 1 000 V and a
frequency not greater than 100 Hz. It also applies to insulators for use on DC overhead electric
traction lines.

This document applies to string insulator units, rigid overhead line insulators and to insulators
of similar design when used in substations.

lt does not apply to insulators forming parts of electrical apparatus or to parts used in their
construction or to post insulators which are covered by IEC 60168, Tests on indoor and outdoor
post insulators of ceramic material or glass for systems with nominal voltages greater than
1 000 V.

Tests on insulator strings and insulator sets (for example, wet switching impulse voltage) are
dealt with in IEC 60383-2.

The object of this document is:

– to define the terms used

– to define insulator characteristics and to prescribe the conditions under which the specified
values of these characteristics shall be verified
– to prescribe test methods
– to prescribe acceptance criteria.

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

Specific requirements on the use of coatings on ceramic or glass insulators are described in
the informative Annex C.

Numerical values for insulator characteristics are specified in IEC 60305, IEC 60433 and
IEC 60720.

NOTE A guide for the choice of insulators under polluted conditions has been published, see IEC 60815-1 and -2.

2 Normative references

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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 60060-1, High-voltage test techniques – Part 1: General definitions and test requirements