IEC 60695-2-13:2021

Overview

IEC 60695-2-13:2021 defines the Glow-Wire Ignition Temperature (GWIT) test method used in fire hazard testing of solid electrical insulating materials and other solid materials. The standard specifies how to determine the GWIT - the temperature (25 K or 30 K above a measured maximum test temperature) at which a material does not ignite, or does not sustain flaming combustion for longer than 5 s for any single flame event, and is not totally consumed. IEC 60695-2-13 is a materials-level test intended for use in material selection, ranking and preselection within a broader fire-hazard assessment process.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose: Materials ignitability testing to establish GWIT for solid insulating and other materials.
• GWIT definition: Temperature threshold relative to the maximum tested temperature (25 K or 30 K offset) tied to ignition and sustained flaming criteria (no sustained flaming >5 s).
• Test specimens: Preparation, dimensions and formulation ranges (density, fillers, colour) are specified for repeatable results.
• Apparatus and verification: Reference to glow-wire apparatus and common procedure (see IEC 60695-2-10) and requirements for temperature-measuring system verification.
• Conditioning and test conditions: Environmental and specimen conditioning requirements before testing.
• Test procedure and observations: Stepwise testing, initial and subsequent test temperatures, timing/duration definitions (new in the 2021 edition), and required observations/measurements.
• Result evaluation and reporting: Criteria to determine GWIT, reporting format and data to support material preselection.
• Edition note: 3rd edition (2021) supersedes the 2010 edition and Amendment 1:2014; includes revised terms/definitions related to times and durations.

Applications and users

• Who uses it: Test laboratories, manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment, material suppliers, compliance and safety engineers, and technical committees preparing product safety standards.
• Practical uses:
  • Material screening and ranking for ignitability before product-level testing.
  • Supporting preselection procedures (per IEC 60695-1-30) to reduce or target end-product testing (IEC 60695-2-11).
  • Informing design decisions where overheated metal parts or bad connections may act as ignition sources.
  • Supplying objective, repeatable data for safety assessments and regulatory compliance.

Related standards

• IEC 60695-2-10 - Glow-wire apparatus and common test procedure (use in conjunction).
• IEC 60695-2-12 - Glow-wire Flammability Index (GWFI) test method for materials (complementary).
• IEC 60695-2-11 - Glow-wire flammability test for end products.
• IEC 60695-1-30 - Guidance for preselection testing process.

Keywords: IEC 60695-2-13, glow-wire ignition temperature, GWIT test, glow-wire test, fire hazard testing, electrical insulating materials, GWFI, preselection testing.