IEC TR 60695-2-16:2025

Overview - IEC TR 60695-2-16:2025 (Glow‑wire / pyrometer round robin summary)

IEC TR 60695-2-16:2025 is a Technical Report from the IEC that documents the results of a pre‑round robin and two round robin tests on the use of pyrometers for glow‑wire temperature measurements performed according to IEC 60695-2-10. The report summarizes objectives, test plans, participant data and measurement comparisons (pyrometer vs thermocouple), and supports a proposal for a new Annex in IEC 60695-2-10 that defines minimum technical characteristics and usage conditions for pyrometers as an alternative temperature‑measurement method.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Measurement verification: Comparative evaluation of pyrometer measurements against conventional thermocouple readings under glow‑wire test conditions.
• Instrument characteristics and usage conditions: Proposed minimum technical specifications for pyrometers (field of view, emissivity considerations, response time, positioning) and recommended usage practices as an alternative to thermocouples.
• Calibration and traceability: Requirements and procedures for pyrometer calibration documented in the second round robin.
• Test plans and repeatability: Pre‑round robin and two round robin test plans that address measurement reproducibility across multiple laboratories.
• Physical and geometric factors: Analysis of glow‑wire pocket‑hole dimensions, thermocouple air gap, and their influence on temperature readings (including X‑ray CT scan investigations).
• Material verification tests: Use of melting‑point samples (e.g., silver and potassium bromide) to compare pyrometer and thermocouple performance.
• Data quality and uncertainty: Assessment of inter‑laboratory data consistency, heating‑current verification and criteria for acceptable measurement uncertainty.

Practical applications

• Ensures consistent, repeatable glow‑wire testing in fire hazard evaluations for electrical and electronic components and insulating materials.
• Enables laboratories to adopt non‑contact temperature measurement (pyrometer) where appropriate - reducing probe intrusion and potential perturbation of the test sample.
• Supports manufacturers, test houses and certification bodies seeking harmonized procedures for temperature measurement during fire hazard testing and component safety certification.
• Informs instrument manufacturers and calibration labs about minimum technical and calibration requirements for pyrometers used in standardized glow‑wire tests.

Who should use this Technical Report

• Test laboratories performing IEC 60695 glow‑wire testing
• Product safety and compliance engineers in electronics, appliances and automotive sectors
• Standards committees and accreditation bodies
• Pyrometer and thermocouple manufacturers, and calibration laboratories

Related standards

• IEC 60695-2-10 (glow‑wire test method - temperature measurement fundamentals) - primary normative reference.
• Other parts of the IEC 60695 series on fire hazard testing.

Keywords: IEC TR 60695-2-16:2025, glow‑wire testing, pyrometer, thermocouple, IEC 60695-2-10, fire hazard testing, round robin, temperature measurement, calibration, measurement uncertainty.