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BSI

BRITISH STANDARD

Electrical insulation
Thermal classification

The European Standard EN 60085:2004 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 17.220.99; 29.035.01

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BS EN
60085:2004

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BS EN 60085:2004

National foreword
This British Standard is the official English language version of
EN 60085:2004. It is identical with IEC 60085:2004. It supersedes
BS 2757:1986 which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical Committee
GEL/15, Insulating materials, to Subcommittee GEL/15/5, Methods of test,
which has the responsibility to:

aid enquirers to understand the text;

present to the responsible international/European committee any

enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the
UK interests informed;

monitor related international and European developments and

promulgate them in the UK.

A list of organizations represented on this subcommittee can be obtained on

request to its secretary.
Cross-references
The British Standards which implement international or European
publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Catalogue
under the section entitled International Standards Correspondence Index, or
by using the Search facility of the BSI Electronic Catalogue or of
British Standards Online.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, the EN title page,
pages 2 to 9 and a back cover.
The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the
document was last issued.

Amendments issued since publication

This British Standard was
published under the authority
of the Standards Policy and
Strategy Committee on
12 November 2004
BSI 12 November 2004

ISBN 0 580 44752 9

Amd. No.

Date

Comments

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EN 60085

EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPENNE
EUROPISCHE NORM

October 2004

ICS 17.220.99; 29.035.01

Supersedes HD 566 S1:1990

English version

Electrical insulation Thermal classification

(IEC 60085:2004)
Isolation lectrique Classification thermique
(CEI 60085:2004)

Elektrische Isolierung Thermische Klassifizierung

(IEC 60085:2004)

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2004-09-01. CENELEC members are bound to
comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and
notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comit Europen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europisches Komitee fr Elektrotechnische Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels
2004 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 60085:2004 E

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Page 2

EN 60085:2004

Foreword
The text of document 15E/232/FDIS, future edition 3 of IEC 60085, prepared by SC 15E, Methods of
test, of IEC TC 15, Insulating materials, was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and was
approved by CENELEC as EN 60085 on 2004-09-01.
This European Standard supersedes HD 566 S1:1990. It constitutes a technical revision and
distinguishes between thermal classes for electrical insulation systems and electrical insulating
materials.
The following dates were fixed:
latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement

(dop)

2005-06-01

latest date by which the national standards conflicting

with the EN have to be withdrawn

(dow)

2007-09-01

Annex ZA has been added by CENELEC.

__________

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60085:2004 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards
indicated:
IEC 60093

NOTE

Harmonized as HD 429 S1:1983 (not modified).

IEC 60216-3

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 60216-3:2002 (not modified).

IEC 60243-1

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 60243-1:1998 (not modified).

IEC 60243-2

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 60243-2:2001 (not modified).

IEC 60243-3

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 60243-3:2001 (not modified).

IEC 60345

NOTE

Harmonized as HD 438 S1:1984 (not modified).

IEC 60626-1

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 60626-1:1995 (not modified).

IEC 60626-2

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 60626-2:1995 (not modified).

IEC 60626-3

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 60626-3:1996 (not modified).

IEC 61006

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 61006:2004 (not modified).

IEC 61074

NOTE

Harmonized as EN 61074:1993 (not modified).

ISO 75

NOTE

Harmonized in EN ISO 75 series (not modified)

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Page 3

EN 60085:2004

ISO 178

NOTE

Harmonized as EN ISO 178:2003 (not modified)

ISO 306

NOTE

Harmonized as EN ISO 306:2004 (not modified)

ISO 527

NOTE

Harmonized in EN ISO 527 series (not modified)

ISO 899

NOTE

Harmonized in EN ISO 899 series (not modified)

ISO 3146

NOTE

Harmonized as EN ISO 3146:2000 (not modified)

ISO 6721

NOTE

Harmonized in EN ISO 6721 series (not modified)

ISO 11248

NOTE

Harmonized as EN ISO 11248:1999 (not modified)

ISO 11358

NOTE

Harmonized as EN ISO 11358:1997 (not modified)

__________

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Page 4

EN 60085:2004

ELECTRICAL INSULATION
THERMAL CLASSIFICATION

Scope

This standard gives guidance on the application of international standards in assigning a

thermal class to electrical insulating materials (EIM) or simple combinations of such materials
(IEC 60216-1), to electrical insulation systems (IEC 62114) and to insulation for electrical
devices.

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 60216-1, Electrical insulating materials Properties of thermal endurance Part 1: Ageing

procedures and evaluation of test results

IEC 60216-5, Electrical insulating materials Thermal endurance properties Part 5:
Determination of relative thermal endurance index (RTE) of an insulating material
IEC 60216-6, Electrical insulating materials Thermal endurance properties Part 6:
Determination of thermal endurance indices (TI and RTE) of an insulating material using the fixed time
frame method
IEC 61857-1, Electrical insulation systems Procedures for thermal evaluation Part 1:
General requirements Low-voltage
IEC 62114, Electrical insulation systems Thermal classification

Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply:
3.1
electrical insulating material
EIM
solid with negligibly low electric conductivity, or a simple combination of such materials, used
to separate conducting parts at different electrical potential in electrical devices
NOTE 1 In English, the term insulating material is sometimes used in a broader sense to designate also
insulating liquids and gases.
NOTE 2 For testing purposes, electrodes may be applied on material specimens without this combination formally
constituting an EIS to be tested as such.

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Page 5

EN 60085:2004

3.2
simple combination of electrical insulating materials
combination of EIM delivered in joint state for production of devices
NOTE For example a flexible material consisting of paper laminated on polyethylene terephthalate film
(IEC 60626) constitutes a simple combination in this sense. EIMs combined during the manufacturing process of
a device do not constitute simple combinations in this sense.

3.3
electrical insulation system
EIS
insulating structure containing one or more electrical insulating materials (EIMs) together with
associated conducting parts employed in an electrotechnical device
3.4
thermal class
designation of an EIM/EIS equal to the numerical value of the maximum used temperature in
degrees Celsius for which the EIM/EIS is appropriate
NOTE It may be necessary to assign different thermal classes to the same EIM/EIS for different service
conditions. The description of an electrotechnical product as being of a particular thermal class does not mean,
and must not be taken to imply that each insulating material used in its construction is of the same thermal
capability.

3.5
relative thermal endurance index
RTE
numerical value of the temperature in degrees Celsius at which the estimated time to endpoint
of the candidate material is the same as the estimated time to endpoint of the control material
at a temperature equal to its assessed thermal endurance (ATE)
3.6
assessed thermal endurance index
ATE
numerical value of the temperature in degrees Celsius, up to which the control material
possesses known, satisfactory service performance in the specified application
NOTE 1

The value of the ATE may vary between applications for the same material.

NOTE 2

Sometimes referred to as absolute thermal endurance index.

3.7
candidate material
material for which an estimate of the thermal endurance is required to be determined
NOTE

The determination is made by simultaneous thermal ageing of the material and a control material.

3.8
control material
material with known thermal endurance, preferably derived from service experience, used for
comparative tests with the candidate material

Thermal endurance evaluation and classification

The thermal classification for insulation materials cannot be applied to an insulation system of
which they are components, unless the validity thereof is proved. Vice versa, the thermal
classification of a material cannot be deduced from the thermal class of an insulating system
of which it is a component.

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Page 6

EN 60085:2004

4.1

Electrical insulating materials (EIM)

Electrical insulating materials and simple combinations of insulating materials shall be

evaluated in accordance with IEC 60216-5 or IEC 60216-6 and refer to expected service
conditions.
4.2

Electrical insulation systems (EIS)

Electrical insulation systems shall be evaluated in accordance with IEC 61857-1 and
classified in accordance with IEC 62114.

Thermal class

Since the temperature in electrotechnical devices is very often the dominant ageing factor
affecting electrical insulating materials, certain basic thermal classes are useful and are
recognized as such internationally. Where a thermal class is specified for an electrical insulating
material, this means the maximum used temperature in degrees Celsius for which the EIM is
appropriate.
Table 1 Thermal classification of electrical insulating materials
RTE

Thermal class

Previous designation

< 90

70

>90-105

90

>105-120

105

>120-130

120

>130-155

130

>155-180

155

>180-200

180

>200-220

200

>220-250

220

>250

250

NOTE This table gives the thermal class designations corresponding to different
temperature intervals of the RTE for an EIM . The capital letters in the 3 rd row refer to
the class designations in the earlier edition of IEC 60085 (1984). The designation Y
applies also to RTE values below 90.

The thermal class attributed to a material used in an insulation system does not automatically
imply that the thermal class of the system is the same as for that material, or for the material
with the lowest class designation in case more than one material with different class
designations are used in the system.

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Page 7

EN 60085:2004

Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
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.
NOTE
Where an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant
EN/HD applies.

Publication

Year

Title

EN/HD

Year

Electrical insulating materials - Properties

of thermal endurance
Part 1: Ageing procedures and evaluation
of test results

EN 60216-1

2001

2)

IEC 60216-1

1)

IEC 60216-5

1)

Part 5: Determination of relative thermal

endurance index (RTE) of an insulating
material

EN 60216-5

2003

2)

IEC 60216-6

1)

Part 6: Determination of thermal

endurance indices (TI and RTE) of an
insulating material using the fixed time
frame method

EN 60216-6

2004

2)

IEC 61857-1

1)

Electrical insulation systems - Procedures

for thermal evaluation
Part 1: General requirements - Lowvoltage

EN 61857-1

1999

2)

IEC 62114

1)

Electrical insulation systems (EIS) Thermal classification

EN 62114

2001

2)

1)
2)

Undated reference.
Valid edition at date of issue.

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Page 8

EN 60085:2004

Bibliography
IEC 60093, Methods of test for volume resistivity and surface resistivity of solid electrical
insulating materials
IEC 60216-2, Electrical insulating materials Thermal endurance properties Part 2: Guide for
the determination of thermal endurance properties of electrical insulating materials Choice
of test criteria 1

IEC 60216-3, Electrical insulating materials Thermal endurance properties Part 3:

Instructions for calculating thermal endurance characteristics
IEC 60243-1, Electrical strength of insulating materials Test methods Part 1: Tests at power
frequencies
IEC 60243-2, Electrical strength of insulating materials Test methods Part 2: Additional
requirements for tests using direct voltage
IEC 60243-3, Electrical strength of insulating materials Test methods Part 3: Additional
requirements for 1,2/50 s impulse tests
IEC 60250, Recommended methods for the determination of the permittivity and dielectric
dissipation factor of electrical insulating materials at power, audio and radio frequencies
including metre wavelengths
IEC 60345, Method of test for electrical resistance and resistivity of insulating materials at
elevated temperatures
IEC 60377-1, Methods for the determination of the dielectric properties of insulating materials at
frequencies above 300 MHz Part 1: General
IEC 60377-2, Methods for the determination of the dielectric properties of insulating materials at
frequencies above 300 MHz Part 2: Resonance methods
IEC 60626-1, Combined flexible materials for electrical insulation Part 1: Definitions and
general requirements
IEC 60626-2, Combined flexible materials for electrical insulation Part 2: Methods of test
IEC 60626-3, Combined flexible materials for electrical insulation Part 3: Specifications for
individual materials
IEC 61006, Electrical insulating materials Methods of test for the determination of the glass
transition temperature
IEC 61074, Determination of heats and temperatures of melting and crystallization of
electrically insulating materials by differential scanning calorimetry
ISO 75 (all parts), Plastics Determination of temperature of deflection under load
ISO 178, Plastics Determination of flexural properties

1 Under consideration.

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Page 9

EN 60085:2004

ISO 306, Plastics Thermoplastic materials Determination of Vicat softening temperature

(VST)
ISO 527 (all parts), Plastics Determination of tensile properties
ISO 899 (all parts), Plastics Determination of creep behaviour
ISO 3146, Plastics Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting
range) of semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizingmicroscope methods
ISO 6721 (all parts), Plastics Determination of dynamic mechanical properties
ISO 11248, Plastics Thermosetting moulding materials Evaluation of short-term performance at elevated temperatures
ISO 11357 (all parts), Plastics Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
ISO 11358, Plastics Thermogravimetry (TG) of polymers General principles
ISO 11359 (all parts), Plastics Thermomechanical analysis (TMA)
ISO 14679, Adhesives Measurement of adhesion characteristics by a three-point bending
method

___________

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BS EN
60085:2004

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