Ambiguities in Technical Standards—Case Study IEC 60112—Measuring the Resistance of Solid Isolating Materials to Tracking

Abstract

Abstract The paper deals with unclear and incomplete specifications in technical standards and discusses, as a consequence, the ambiguities in specifying testing requirements or even the absence of important facts in the standard. It deals in particular with the technical standard related to the EU Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC) for ensuring the safety of electric equipment. These facts are becoming more and more important since the required measurement uncertainty, according to EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard for calibration and testing laboratories is widely implemented and accepted especially with the emerging European and global markets. Placing of products on the market depends on the results of conformity testing against specific characteristics. Therefore, given the importance of standardized test procedures, common understanding of specifications and harmonized interpretation of measuring/testing results is of utmost importance. Regarding measurement/test results, the agreement on influential parameters, contribution to the overall uncertainty is of paramount importance. The Case study consists of the analyses of IEC 60112 standard: Method for determination of the proof and the comparative tracking indices of solid insulating materials. In the process of uncertainty evaluations, the ambiguity of the standard was identified. This standard describes very complex requirements for tests and is a fine example to highlight the problem. This article describes problems in connection with indistinctness of the standard IEC 60112.