IEC 60667-1:2020

Overview

IEC 60667-1:2020 is an important international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that specifies definitions and general requirements for vulcanized fibre sheets used in electrical applications. This standard serves as the foundational document in a series addressing vulcanized fibre for electrical purposes, with this Part 1 focusing on terminology, material classification, quality, physical characteristics, and supply conditions.

Vulcanized fibre is a type of electrical insulating material produced by chemically treating layers of paper to form a dense, homogeneous cellulose mass. This standard excludes products made by laminating multiple vulcanized fibre thicknesses with adhesives and aims to assure consistent material performance at established quality levels. The current 2020 edition updates the 1980 edition with technical revisions including revised classification types, material colours, and supply information mandates.

Key Topics

• Scope and Definitions: Establishes the boundaries of use for vulcanized fibre sheets and provides precise definitions for terms such as “vulcanized fibre,” ensuring clear communication throughout industry and testing procedures.

• Material Classification:

  • General type (symbol VFS): Suitable for most electrical applications, offering good physical and electrical properties with ease of processing.
  • Fishpaper type (symbol FP): Designed for applications requiring flexible bending or forming; available in thicknesses from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm.

• Forms and Colours:

  • Vulcanized fibre sheets are supplied in several colours including natural grey, red, black, white, blue, and brown.
  • Each colour is assigned a corresponding symbol to assist in product identification and classification.

• Quality and Finish Requirements:

  • Materials must be free of blisters, cracks, and significantly free of wrinkles or dents.
  • Surfaces must be smooth and matt with no edge splitting or internal fractures, ensuring consistent physical integrity.

• Thickness Specifications:

  • General type thickness ranges from 0.10 mm up to 15.0 mm, with many preferred increments within this range.
  • Fishpaper thicknesses are specifically between 0.09 mm and 0.80 mm to cater to their specialized use cases.

• Conditions of Supply:

  • Packaging must protect the material during transport and storage.
  • Packages must include clear information: manufacturer’s name/trademark, type, colour, nominal thickness, sheet or roll dimensions, weight, manufacture date, and lot number.

• Safety Notice: The standard emphasizes user responsibility to ensure safe use of methods described or referenced within, underscoring safety in electrical material handling.

Applications

Vulcanized fibre sheets compliant with IEC 60667-1 are critical in a variety of electrical insulation applications, including:

• Insulation in electrical transformers, motors, and generators.
• Components in electrical switchgear and control equipment.
• Flexible insulation in electrical apparatus where bending or forming is required, particularly with fishpaper type sheets.
• General electrical insulation tasks requiring uniform, reliable performance and standardized properties.

Materials that conform to this standard help engineers and manufacturers ensure consistent performance and quality in their electrical insulating components, thereby enhancing safety, durability, and compliance with international best practices.

Related Standards

This document is part of a broader IEC 60667 series, which includes:

• IEC 60667-2: Methods of test for vulcanized fibre sheets, providing detailed test procedures to verify material compliance.
• IEC 60667-3: Specifications for individual vulcanized fibre materials, outlining performance criteria for various grades within the product family.

These related parts complement IEC 60667-1 by specifying how to evaluate and qualify vulcanized fibre materials for electrical purposes, supporting quality assurance and technical innovation in electrotechnical industries.

Keywords: IEC 60667-1, vulcanized fibre, electrical insulation, fishpaper, electrical insulating materials, IEC standard, electrical fibre sheets, material classification, electrical applications, vulcanized fibre thickness, electrical insulating sheets, IEC standards for electrical materials.