In the design of any electrotechnical product the risk of fire and the potential hazards
associated with fire need to be considered. In this respect the objective of component, circuit
and product design as well as the choice of materials is to reduce to acceptable levels the
potential risks of fire even in the event of foreseeable abnormal use, malfunction or failure.
This standard, together with its companion, IEC 60695-1-11, provides guidance on how this is
to be accomplished.
Fires involving electrotechnical products can also be initiated from external non-electrical
sources. Considerations of this nature are dealt with in the overall risk assessment.
Assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products is accomplished by performing fire
hazard tests. These tests are divided into two fundamental groups: qualitative fire tests and
quantitative fire tests.
Although quantitative tests are preferred, the characteristics of qualitative fire tests are that
they provide pass/fail and classification results. Under certain circumstances it will be
appropriate to maintain such qualitative test methods or to develop new ones. This part of
IEC 60695-1 establishes the circumstances under which such maintenance or development is
appropriate.
Scope
This part of IEC 60695-1 provides general guidance on how to reduce to acceptable levels the
risk of fire and the potential effects of fires involving electrotechnical products. It also serves
as a signpost standard to the other guidance publications in the IEC 60695 series.
It describes the relationship between fire risk and the potential effects of fire, and provides
guidance to IEC product committees on the applicability of qualitative and quantitative fire
tests to the fire hazard assessment of electrotechnical products.
It discusses the different types of fire tests, in particular, the nature of qualitative and
quantitative fire tests and describes the circumstances under which it is appropriate for
IEC product committees to maintain or develop qualitative fire tests.
This standard is intended as guidance to IEC committees, and should be used with respect to
their individual applications.
