What is BS EN 60664-3- Pollution protection for insulation coordination?
BS EN 60664-3 is a European standard on insulation coordination for low voltage equipment that specifies the insulating properties of the protecting material and refers only to permanent protection. The main objective of the BS EN 60664-3 is to ensure insulation systems offer the required levels of quality and performance.
BS EN 60664-3 is the third part of the series that applies to assemblies protected against pollution by the use of a coating, potting, or moulding, thus allowing a reduction of clearance and creepage distances as described in IEC 60664‑1.
BS EN 60664-3 also applies to all kinds of protected printed boards, including the surface of inner layers of multi-layer boards, substrates, and similarly protected assemblies. In the case of multi-layer printed boards, the distances through an inner layer are covered by the requirements for solid insulation in IEC 60664‑1.
NOTE: Examples of substrates are hybrid integrated circuits and thick-film technology.
BS EN 60664-3 does not cover assemblies that are subjected to mechanical adjustment or repair.
Who is BS EN 60664-3 - Pollution protection for insulation coordination for?
BS EN 60664-3 on coating, potting or moulding for protection against pollution is relevant to:
- Printed circuit board manufacturers
- Insulation coating manufacturers
- Low-voltage equipment manufacturers
- Electrical engineers
- Product design engineers
Why should you use BS EN 60664-3- Pollution protection for insulation coordination?
BS EN 60664-3 details the conditions in which the reduction of clearance and creepage distances can apply to rigid assemblies such as printed boards or terminals of components. Protection against pollution can be achieved by any kind of encapsulation such as coating, potting or moulding. The protection may be applied to one or both sides of the assembly. In this regard, BS EN 60664-3 specifies the insulating properties of the protecting material.
BS EN 60664-3 describes the requirements and test procedures for two methods of protection:
- Type 1 protection improves the microenvironment of the parts under the protection
- Type 2 protection is considered to be similar to solid insulation
As a result, compliance with best industry requirements in BS EN 60664-3 can minimize risk of product failures and the service-life and integrity of your low-voltage systems can be enhanced.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 60664-3:2017 replaces the second edition published in 2003 and amendment 1:2010. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- Information added concerning interpolation
- Provided scratch test is only for type 2 protection
- Renumbered the scratch test to follow the visual examination test, since it makes more sense there
- Separated the tables under what is now called Annex A, to make them clearer
