EN 60437:1997
(Main)Radio interference test on high-voltage insulators
Radio interference test on high-voltage insulators
Specifies the procedure for a radio interference (RI) test carried out in a laboratory on clean and dry insulators at a frequency of 0,5 MHz or 1 MHz or, alternatively, at other frequencies between 0,5 MHz and 2 MHz.
Funkstörprüfungen an Hochspannungsisolatoren
Essais de perturbation radioélectrique des isolateurs pour haute tension
Spécifie la procédure pour un essai de perturbations radioélectriques effectué en laboratoire sur des isolateurs propres et secs à une fréquence de 0,5 MHz ou 1 MHz ou, en variante, à d'autres fréquences comprises entre 0,5 MHz et 2 MHz.
Radio interference test on high-voltage insulators (IEC 60437:1997)
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 13-Oct-1997
- Withdrawal Date
- 30-Jun-1998
- Technical Committee
- CLC/SR 36 - Insulators for substations
- Drafting Committee
- IEC/TC 36 - IEC_TC_36
- Parallel Committee
- IEC/TC 36 - IEC_TC_36
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
- Start Date
- 14-Oct-1997
- Completion Date
- 14-Oct-1997
Relations
- Effective Date
- 23-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 20-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 20-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 10-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Refers
HD 588.1 S1:1991 - High-voltage test techniques - Part 1: General definitions and test requirements - Effective Date
- 03-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 03-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 03-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 03-Feb-2026
Overview
EN 60437:1997 – Radio Interference Test on High-Voltage Insulators is a European Standard developed by the CENELEC (CLC), harmonized with IEC 60437:1997. This standard specifies laboratory procedures for assessing the radio interference (RI) characteristics of high-voltage insulators when they are clean and dry. The test is conducted at frequencies of 0.5 MHz or 1 MHz, with an option for other frequencies between 0.5 MHz and 2 MHz by mutual agreement.
The radio interference test is critical for power transmission and distribution equipment to minimize radio noise emissions, ensuring compliance with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements and uninterrupted radio communications.
Key Topics
Scope and Purpose:
EN 60437:1997 prescribes the standardized testing method for determining the RI performance of high-voltage insulators, essential for the reliability of electrical networks and protection against electromagnetic disturbances.Test Frequencies:
Measurements are carried out at preferred frequencies (0.5 MHz or 1 MHz) or as agreed by user and manufacturer, within the 0.5 MHz–2 MHz range.Test Conditions:
The procedure is specified on clean and dry insulators, acknowledging that real-world pollution or moisture is not reproducible in a test environment.Test Setup:
- Insulators are mounted simulating either standard configurations or actual service conditions.
- RI measurements are taken using standard CISPR measuring apparatus as outlined in CISPR 16-1.
- Ambient temperature, pressure, and relative humidity are carefully controlled and recorded.
Test Procedures:
- Type tests and sample tests for various insulator types, including bushings, composite insulators, post and pin insulators, and insulator sets.
- Step-wise voltage application to evaluate RI characteristics and plot interference curves.
- Acceptance criteria, based on agreed RI levels at specified test voltages.
Reporting:
Comprehensive test reports documenting setup, atmospheric conditions, and RI characteristics.
Applications
EN 60437:1997 is vital for:
Manufacturers of high-voltage insulators:
Ensuring product compliance with international requirements, enhancing product reliability, and supporting market access.Electric utilities and grid operators:
Evaluating new equipment for radio interference to protect power system integrity and avoid interference with radio communication services.Testing and certification bodies:
Providing a uniform test method that supports certification, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance for high-voltage equipment.Procurement and specification:
Utility operators and engineers utilize RI test data when specifying insulator performance criteria in tenders and contracts to avoid electromagnetic disturbances.Research and development:
Enabling technical improvements in insulator materials and design based on standardized RI test data.
Related Standards
When applying EN 60437:1997, the following standards are frequently referenced for terminology, equipment, and measurement methods:
- IEC 60050-471: International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Insulators
- IEC 60060-1: High-voltage test techniques – General definitions and requirements
- IEC 60137: Insulated bushings for alternating voltages above 1,000 V
- IEC 60168: Tests on indoor and outdoor post insulators of ceramic or glass
- IEC 60383-1 and -2: Insulators for overhead lines – Definitions, test methods, acceptance criteria
- CISPR 16-1: Specification for radio disturbance measuring apparatus
- CISPR 18-2: Radio interference characteristics of overhead power lines – Measurement and limits
EN 60437:1997 helps ensure high-voltage insulators are evaluated using internationally recognized radio interference testing procedures, supporting robust, low-emission power networks worldwide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 60437:1997 is a standard published by CLC. Its full title is "Radio interference test on high-voltage insulators". This standard covers: Specifies the procedure for a radio interference (RI) test carried out in a laboratory on clean and dry insulators at a frequency of 0,5 MHz or 1 MHz or, alternatively, at other frequencies between 0,5 MHz and 2 MHz.
Specifies the procedure for a radio interference (RI) test carried out in a laboratory on clean and dry insulators at a frequency of 0,5 MHz or 1 MHz or, alternatively, at other frequencies between 0,5 MHz and 2 MHz.
EN 60437:1997 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 29.080.10 - Insulators; 33.100 - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 60437:1997 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN IEC 60437:2024, CISPR 18-2:1986/AMD1:1993, CISPR 18-2:1986, IEC 60050-471:1984, EN ISO 13624-1:2009, EN ISO 13500:1998, HD 588.1 S1:1991, EN 60137:1996, EN 60383-2:1995, EN 60383-1:1996. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 60437:1997 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-1998
Radio interference test on high-voltage insulators (IEC 60437:1997)
Radio interference test on high-voltage insulators
Funkstörprüfungen an Hochspannungsisolatoren
Essais de perturbation radioélectrique des isolateurs pour haute tension
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60437:1997
ICS:
29.080.10 Izolatorji Insulators
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
NORME
CEI
INTERNATIONALE
IEC
INTERNATIONAL
Deuxième édition
STANDARD
Second edition
1997-09
Essai de perturbations radioélectriques
des isolateurs pour haute tension
Radio interference test
on high-voltage insulators
IEC 1997 Droits de reproduction réservés Copyright - all rights reserved
Aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite ni No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in
utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photo- including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in
copie et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de l'éditeur. writing from the publisher.
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CODE PRIX
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
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PRICE CODE
International Electrotechnical Commission
Pour prix, voir catalogue en vigueur
For price, see current catalogue
60437 © IEC:1997 – 3 –
CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 7
Clause
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Definitions . 11
4 Measurement frequency . 11
5 Radio noise limits and test voltage. 11
6 Measuring instruments . 11
6.1 Standard CISPR measuring apparatus . 11
6.2 Other measuring apparatus . 11
7 Measuring circuit . 11
8 Requirements for the test voltage . 13
9 Atmospheric conditions . 13
10 Test area . 13
11 Arrangement of insulators for test . 13
11.1 Mounting of insulators . 13
11.2 Condition of insulators before test . 15
12 Insulators for type test . 15
12.1 Number of insulators . 15
12.2 String insulator units . 17
13 Procedure for type tests. 17
13.1 Checking and calibration of test circuit . 17
13.2 Voltage application and RI characteristics . 17
13.3 Acceptance criterion . 19
14 Procedure for sample tests . 19
14.1 Insulators subject to sample tests . 19
14.2 Number of samples . 19
14.3 Mounting arrangement . 19
14.4 Test procedure . 19
14.5 Acceptance criterion . 19
15 Test report. 19
60437 © IEC:1997 – 5 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
___________
RADIO INTERFERENCE TEST
ON HIGH-VOLTAGE INSULATORS
FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their preparation is
entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may
participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two
organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an
international consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation
from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the form
of standards, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National Committees in that sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International
Standards transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any
divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or regional standard shall be clearly
indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with one of its standards.
6) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject
of patent rights. The IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60437 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 36:
Insulators.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition which was issued as a technical
report in 1973. It constitutes a technical revision and now has the status of International
Standard.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
36/150/FDIS 36/154/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this Standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
60437 © IEC:1997 – 7 –
INTRODUCTION
The first issue of IEC 60437 presented the then available information on a radio interference
test on high-voltage insulators as a technical report. This allowed further experience in
conducting the test and the interpretation of results to be gained.
This second edition incorporates that experience. It presents, in the form of an International
Standard, the recommended procedures for a radio interference test on high-voltage insulators.
60437 © IEC:1997 – 9 –
RADIO INTERFERENCE TEST
ON HIGH-VOLTAGE INSULATORS
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the procedure for a radio interference (RI) test carried out
in a laboratory on clean and dry insulators at a frequency of 0,5 MHz or 1 MHz or, alternatively,
at other frequencies between 0,5 MHz and 2 MHz.
In service the RI characteristics of an insulator may be modified by the ambient conditions,
particularly rainfall and other moisture, and by pollution. It is not considered feasible to specify
reproducible test conditions to simulate a range of ambient conditions. Hence only tests on
clean and dry insulators are specified in this standard.
NOTE – The effects of insulator surface conditions, including pollution, are presented in Amendment 1 of
CISPR 18-2.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this International Standard. At the time of publication, the editions
indicated were valid. All normative documents are subject to revision, and parties to
agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility
of applying the most recent edition of the normative documents indicated below. Members of
IEC and ISO maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
IEC 60050(471):1984, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Chapter 471: Insulators
IEC 60060-1:1989, High-voltage test techniques – Part 1: General definitions and test require-
ments
IEC 60137:1995, Insulated bushings for alternating voltages above 1 000 V
IEC 60168:1994,Tests on indoor and outdoor post insulators of ceramic material or glass for
systems with nominal voltages greater than 1 000 V
IEC 60383-1:1993, Insulators for overhead lines with a nominal voltage above 1 000 V – Part 1:
Glass or ceramic insulator units for a.c. systems – Definitions, test methods and acceptance
criteria
IEC 60383-2:1993, Insulators for overhead lines with a nominal voltage above 1 000 V – Part 2:
Insulator strings and insulator sets for a.c. systems – Definitions, test methods and acceptance
criteria
CISPR 16-1:1993, Specification for radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus and
methods – Part 1: Radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus
CISPR 18-2:1986, Radio interference characteristics of overhead power lines and high-voltage
equipment – Part 2: Methods of measurement and procedure for determining limits
Amendment 1 (1993)
60437 © IEC:1997 – 11 –
3 Definitions
For the purpose of this International Standard, the definitions given in IEC 60050(471) and
IEC 60383-1 are applicable.
4 Measurement frequency
Measurements of RI characteristics shall be made at a frequency of (0,5 ± 0,05) MHz or
(1,0 ± 0,1) MHz or alternatively by agreement between purchaser and manufacturer at other
frequencies between 0,5 MHz and 2 MHz.
NOTE –
...




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