IEC TR 62757:2015 PDF

Overview

IEC TR 62757:2015 (Consolidated Edition 1.1, 2019-07) is a technical report from the International Electrotechnical Commission that provides fire prevention guidance for converters and valve halls used in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, static VAR compensators (SVC) and flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS). The report draws on incidents from both line-commutated converter (LCC) and voltage-sourced converter (VSC) projects and is intended primarily for utilities and consultants who prepare technical specifications for new converter valves and valve halls. It offers general recommendations; project-specific requirements must be mutually agreed between purchaser and supplier.

Key topics and requirements

The report covers practical, technical topics relevant to fire safety in converter installations:

• Fire hazards and root causes: valve insulation failures, loose/high-resistance connections, valve component and semiconductor failures, coolant system faults, bushing and surge arrester failures, and human/worksite risks.
• Valve hall layout and construction: physical arrangements, means of egress, and construction practices to reduce fire spread and support safe access.
• Supervision and monitoring: on-line monitoring and off-line inspection strategies for valve components and associated equipment.
• Fire detection systems: recommended detection principles and technologies (air sampling, infrared/UV flame detectors, arc detectors, imaging/video) tailored to valve hall environments.
• Fire suppression systems: design considerations and extinguishing agents (e.g., carbon dioxide, inert gases, HFCs and alternatives), plus installation and agent-selection guidelines.
• Vent management and ventilation: natural and forced ventilation design to control smoke and heat movement.
• Control and integration: integration of fire detection/protection systems with converter control to enable coordinated shutdown, alarms, and safe responses.
• Operations, maintenance and firefighting: station and fire-fighting roles, incident response, and maintenance practices.
• Purchaser specification guidance: checklist-style guidance for specifying semiconductors, valve hall construction, detection & suppression systems, vent management and integrated fire control.

Practical applications and users

Who benefits from IEC TR 62757:

• Utilities and transmission owners preparing procurement specifications for HVDC, SVC or FACTS converters and valve halls.
• Consultants and engineering firms designing converter stations and valve halls with integrated fire safety.
• Suppliers and manufacturers of converter valves, semiconductor valve assemblies and valve hall fire protection equipment.
• Fire protection engineers and safety assessors evaluating hazards, detection, suppression and venting strategies for high-voltage installations.

Practical uses include drafting purchaser specifications, selecting fire detection/suppression systems, designing valve hall layout and ventilation, and defining monitoring and maintenance regimes.

Related standards

IEC TR 62757 includes normative references and a bibliography; users should consult the report’s normative references and relevant IEC/ISO standards for detailed product, performance and installation requirements when developing project-specific fire safety specifications.