Iec 60815-2 Pdf May 2026

IEC 60815-2: Selection and use of surge arresters - Part 2: Selection and use of surge arresters for HV power systems

IEC 60815-2 is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that provides guidelines for the selection and use of surge arresters for high-voltage (HV) power systems. The standard is part of the IEC 60815 series, which deals with the selection and use of surge arresters.

Scope

The scope of IEC 60815-2 is to provide recommendations for the selection and use of surge arresters for HV power systems, including:

• Surge arresters for protection of HV power transmission and distribution systems
• Surge arresters for protection of HV power substations and switchgear

Key aspects of the standard

The standard covers the following key aspects:

1. Classification of surge arresters: The standard defines the types of surge arresters, including:
   • Gapless surge arresters (e.g., metal-oxide surge arresters)
   • Gapped surge arresters (e.g., silicon carbide surge arresters)
2. Selection criteria: The standard provides guidelines for selecting the right surge arrester for a specific application, including:
   • System voltage
   • Maximum continuous operating voltage (MCOV)
   • Short-circuit current
   • Protection level required
3. Performance requirements: The standard specifies the performance requirements for surge arresters, including:
   • Energy handling capability
   • Response to steep-fronted waves
   • Response to slow-fronted waves
4. Testing and validation: The standard outlines the testing and validation procedures for surge arresters, including:
   • Type tests
   • Routine tests
   • Special tests

Benefits of using IEC 60815-2

The use of IEC 60815-2 provides several benefits, including:

1. Improved protection of HV power systems: By selecting and using surge arresters that meet the requirements of the standard, HV power systems can be better protected against overvoltages and surge events.
2. Increased reliability: The standard helps ensure that surge arresters are designed and tested to perform reliably in various operating conditions.
3. Enhanced safety: The standard promotes the safe selection and use of surge arresters, reducing the risk of injury or damage to people and equipment.

Who should use IEC 60815-2?

IEC 60815-2 is relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, including:

1. Power utilities: Transmission and distribution system operators, as well as power generation companies.
2. Electrical engineers: Design engineers, application engineers, and system planners involved in the design and operation of HV power systems.
3. Surge arrester manufacturers: Manufacturers of surge arresters for HV power systems.

By following the guidelines and recommendations outlined in IEC 60815-2, users can ensure that surge arresters are selected and used effectively to protect HV power systems against overvoltages and surge events.

Do you want:

1. a brief summary of IEC 60815-2 (contents and scope), or
2. guidance on where to obtain the official PDF and how to interpret it, or
3. a practical how-to applying the standard (selection/calculation steps for transmission line insulators)?

Reply with 1, 2, or 3 (or combine choices).

The IEC 60815-2 standard is a critical technical guide for electrical engineers, focusing on the selection and dimensioning of high-voltage insulators for use in polluted conditions. Specifically, Part 2 provides detailed guidelines for glass and porcelain insulators used in AC systems. Overview of IEC 60815-2 iec 60815-2 pdf

This standard replaces the older IEC 60815 (1986) and moves away from simple look-up tables toward a more rigorous, site-specific design approach. It establishes how to determine the Unified Specific Creepage Distance (USCD) required to prevent insulator flashover based on environmental pollution levels. Key Content & Technical Focus

If you are drafting technical documentation, an article, or a summary regarding this standard, ensure you cover these primary pillars:

Site Severity Assessment: Before selecting an insulator, the Site Pollution Severity (SPS) must be determined (often categorized from "Very Light" to "Very Heavy").

Insulator Profiles: The standard analyzes how different shapes (e.g., standard, anti-fog, or open profiles) perform under various types of pollution like salt spray or industrial dust.

Creepage Distance Calculation: It provides the methodology to calculate the required USCD, ensuring the insulator has enough surface length to limit leakage currents.

Correction Factors: It includes specific factors for altitude, insulator diameter ( Kdcap K sub d ), and installation position (horizontal vs. vertical). Recommended Structure for Your Content

Introduction: Define the scope—AC systems and ceramic/glass materials.

Pollution Mapping: Explain the transition from "creepage distance" to "USCD" based on the Emcap E sub m (mean surface electric field).

Selection Criteria: Detail the geometric parameters (shed overhang, spacing, and angle) that influence self-cleaning properties.

Practical Application: How to use the "simplified method" versus the "statistical method" for critical infrastructure. Accessing the PDF

The official IEC 60815-2:2008 (Selection and dimensioning of high-voltage insulators intended for use in polluted conditions - Part 2: Glass and porcelain insulators for AC systems) is a copyrighted document. You can officially preview or purchase it through the following sources: IEC Webstore ANSI Webstore National standards bodies (like BSI, DIN, or AFNOR).

Key concepts (digestible)

• Pollution severity: how contaminated an insulator surface becomes (salt, dust, industrial contaminants). It’s not just concentration but conductivity after wetting.
• Equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD) — a measured value representing ionic contamination on the insulator surface (mg of salt per cm²).
• Non-soluble deposit density (NSDD) — mass of non-soluble contaminants (mg/cm²).
• Wetting conditions: dry, wet, and humid states change surface conductivity dramatically; tests simulate wetting to measure performance.
• Hydrophobicity: whether the insulator surface repels water (important for leakage and dry-band arcing).
• Site vs. laboratory tests: lab tests reproduce conditions in controlled ways; site tests measure real-world contamination and performance.

How to Obtain the Official IEC 60815-2 PDF

Searching for a free iec 60815-2 pdf is tempting, but beware. The IEC strictly enforces copyright. You will find many third-party websites offering "free PDF downloads," but these are often:

• Outdated drafts (not the final 2008 version)
• Scanned, low-quality, and illegible
• Infected with malware
• Violations of copyright law, unusable for professional certification

2. Key Concepts and Definitions

6. Practical Examples and Application Rules

The standard includes informative annexes showing: IEC 60815-2: Selection and use of surge arresters

• How to calculate the required creepage distance for a 220 kV system in a coastal zone.
• How to select a specific insulator type (e.g., 146 mm/kV standard disc vs. 210 mm/kV anti-fog disc).
• Recommendations for washing, greasing, or using booster sheds if creepage cannot be physically achieved.

Example 1: 220 kV line in coastal area (Medium pollution)

• SPS = Medium (b)
• Base USCD = 22 mm/kV
• Required creepage = 22 × (220 / √3) ≈ 22 × 127 = 2,794 mm
• Use anti-fog profile: K₁ = 0.9 → effective USCD = 24.4 mm/kV → creepage = 3,099 mm

Summary

Don't treat IEC 60815-2 as just another PDF to collect dust in your server folder. It is a diagnostic tool and a risk management device.

Whether you are designing a new solar farm in the desert or maintaining a coastal substation, this standard gives you the mathematical proof to justify a more expensive (but longer lasting) insulator.

Go ahead, download the official copy. Your outage statistics will thank you.

Have you had a pollution flashover that could have been prevented by a higher creepage distance? Share your war stories in the comments below.

Informative Report: IEC 60815-2 PDF

Introduction

IEC 60815-2 is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that provides guidelines for the selection and testing of surge arresters for use in power systems. The standard is part of the IEC 60815 series, which deals with surge arresters for use in high-voltage power systems. This report provides an informative overview of the IEC 60815-2 PDF.

Scope and Purpose

The scope of IEC 60815-2 is to provide recommendations for the selection and testing of surge arresters for use in power systems with nominal voltages above 1 kV. The standard covers the requirements for surge arresters used to protect power system equipment from overvoltages caused by lightning, switching operations, or other disturbances. The purpose of the standard is to ensure that surge arresters are properly selected and tested to provide reliable protection for power system equipment.

Key Contents

The IEC 60815-2 PDF contains the following key sections:

1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the standard and its purpose.
2. Normative references: Lists the references to other standards and documents that are necessary for the application of this standard.
3. Terms and definitions: Defines the terms and definitions used in the standard.
4. Selection of surge arresters: Provides guidelines for the selection of surge arresters based on factors such as system voltage, fault current, and environmental conditions.
5. Testing of surge arresters: Describes the testing procedures and requirements for surge arresters, including type tests, routine tests, and acceptance tests.
6. Surge arrester application: Provides guidance on the application of surge arresters in power systems, including installation, maintenance, and monitoring.

Key Requirements

Some of the key requirements specified in IEC 60815-2 include: Surge arresters for protection of HV power transmission

• Surge arresters must be able to withstand the maximum prospective fault current at the installation point.
• Surge arresters must be able to operate within the specified temperature range.
• Surge arresters must meet specific requirements for energy handling and absorption.
• Surge arresters must undergo type testing, routine testing, and acceptance testing to ensure compliance with the standard.

Benefits and Importance

The IEC 60815-2 standard provides several benefits to power system operators and manufacturers of surge arresters, including:

• Improved reliability and performance of power systems
• Enhanced safety for personnel and equipment
• Increased efficiency and reduced downtime
• Harmonization of surge arrester selection and testing procedures across different countries and regions

Conclusion

IEC 60815-2 is an important standard for the selection and testing of surge arresters in power systems. The standard provides guidelines and requirements for ensuring the reliable operation of surge arresters and protecting power system equipment from overvoltages. By following the guidelines and requirements specified in IEC 60815-2, power system operators and manufacturers can ensure the safe and efficient operation of their equipment.

The IEC 60815-2 standard is a technical guide titled "Selection and dimensioning of high-voltage insulators intended for use in polluted conditions – Part 2: Glass and porcelain insulators." It provides specific rules for choosing and sizing ceramic and glass insulators based on the environmental pollution levels they will face. Key Content of IEC 60815-2

The standard builds on the general principles established in IEC 60815-1 and focuses on the following areas for glass and porcelain:

Pollution Level Assessment: It uses Site Pollution Severity (SPS) classes (Very Light to Very Heavy) to determine the required creepage distance.

Unified Specific Creepage Distance (USCD): It defines the minimum creepage distance per unit of voltage (mm/kV) required to prevent flashovers.

Profile Parameters: It provides guidance on insulator shapes, such as shed spacing, shed overhang, and "creepage factor," which are critical for performance in rain or coastal salt spray.

Correction Factors: Adjustments are made based on the insulator's diameter, as larger diameters typically perform worse in polluted conditions. Relationship within the 60815 Series

IEC 60815 is split into several parts to address different materials: Part 1: General principles and definitions. Part 2: Glass and porcelain insulators (this document). Part 3: Polymer (composite) insulators. How to Access the PDF

Standard documents like IEC 60815-2 are copyrighted and generally require purchase. You can find the official version through these sources:

IEC Webstore: The primary source for the most recent version (Edition 1.0).

National Standards Bodies: Organizations like ANSI (US), BSI (UK), or DIN (Germany) often sell localized versions of the IEC text.

University/Corporate Libraries: If you are a student or employee at an engineering firm, you may have access via subscriptions like IEEE Xplore or IHS Markit.

The Definitive Guide to IEC 60815-2 PDF: Selection and Dimensioning of High-Voltage Insulators for Polluted Conditions

How the tests are done — simple walkthrough

1. Field sampling: wipe a known area of an insulator with distilled water or wash solution to collect soluble contaminants; dry swabs/brushes for insolubles.
2. Analytical measurement: measure conductivity or perform chemical titration to determine equivalent salt content (ESDD); weigh for NSDD.
3. Laboratory contamination: apply known amounts of salts/soot to test insulators and let dry.
4. Wetting and electrical testing: apply standardized wetting while raising voltage to find flashover or leakage thresholds.
5. Data use: map measured ESDD/NSDD to pollution severity categories, then use tables/criteria (from Part 1/3) to pick insulators and creepage distances.