⚡ Glow-wire flammability test method for end products (GWEPT) — limited ability to ignite and to propagate flame, choice of test specimen (complete product or part, no small parts), specified layer under the specimen, conditioning, PN-EN IEC 60695-2-11

Electronics and EMC PN-EN 60695-2-11

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We have a preview of IEC 60695-2-11:2021 (third edition, bilingual) — from the cover to 7.1 (page 10); PN-EN IEC 60695-2-11:2022-07 introduces the text unchanged (IDT). Scope (Clause 1): a test method on an end product, simulating the effects of thermal stresses produced by an electrically heated source representing a fire hazard; it checks whether, under defined conditions, the product has a limited ability to ignite or — if it ignites — a limited ability to propagate flame. The fire hazard analysis, flammability aspects and flame spread to other products are not covered. It is a basic safety publication (IEC Guide 104, ISO/IEC Guide 51) — intended primarily for technical committees preparing product standards — and is used in conjunction with IEC 60695-2-10. Introduction: overheated metal parts can act as ignition sources, and the glowing wire simulates them; IEC 60695-2-10 describes the apparatus and common test procedure, IEC 60695-2-12 the glow-wire flammability index (GWFI) for materials, IEC 60695-2-13 the glow-wire ignition temperature (GWIT) for materials, and this part assesses the reaction of end products, e.g. exposed to fault currents, overloading of components or bad connections; the result should not be used solely to describe the fire hazard or fire risk, but can be an element of a fire hazard assessment. The third edition replaced the 2014 edition as a technical revision — numerous terms were added to Clause 3.

TEST SPECIMEN, APPARATUS AND CONDITIONING (Clauses 3–7.1 of the preview). "Insignificant mass" — by default 2 g, product committees may assign another value; parts of insignificant mass need not be tested, and the method is not suitable for small parts. The test specimen should whenever possible be a complete end product, chosen so that the test conditions do not differ significantly from normal use (shape, ventilation, thermal stresses, falling burning or glowing particles); if that is not possible — a piece containing the part under examination is cut out, an aperture for the wire is cut, or the part is removed and tested separately. Too small an aperture may ignite the surroundings or lower the temperature of the wire tip; if heat from the wire ignites another part of the product and changes the thermal conditions at the specimen, the test is invalid. A small part is one whose every surface lies within a circle of 15 mm diameter, or one on which an 8 mm circle cannot be fitted on any surface although at least one dimension exceeds 15 mm (projections are disregarded, as are holes and recesses up to 2 mm). Apparatus — according to IEC 60695-2-10; under the specimen a specified layer as in IEC 60695-2-10 or the materials surrounding the specimen in use is placed, at the distance occurring in use, and when that is unknown — 200 mm ± 5 mm below the point of contact of the wire; free-standing equipment is placed on a layer extending at least 100 mm beyond its base, and wall-mounted equipment is fixed 200 mm ± 5 mm above it. The temperature measuring system is verified according to IEC 60695-2-10. Conditioning of test specimens (7.1): unless the product standard specifies otherwise, 24 h at a temperature between 15 °C and 35 °C and a relative humidity between 45 % and 75 %.

STATUS (state of the cards on 29 September 2026). The card of PN-EN IEC 60695-2-11:2022-07 (English version) has no "Withdrawn" header — the standard is CURRENT: published 12-07-2022, 26 pages, price group M, Electrical Engineering Sector, KT 65 for Environmental Testing of Electrical Products, ICS 29.020 and 13.220.40, "Introduces: EN IEC 60695-2-11:2021 [IDT], IEC 60695-2-11:2021 [IDT]", "Replaces: PN-EN 60695-2-11:2015-02 - English version". The card of PN-EN 60695-2-11:2015-02 (English version): "Withdrawn and replaced by PN-EN IEC 60695-2-11:2022-07", published 24-02-2015, "Withdrawal date: 12-07-2022", 24 pages, introduced EN 60695-2-11:2014 and IEC 60695-2-11:2014, "Directive: 2014/35/EU", replaced PN-EN 60695-2-11:2005 (Polish version; withdrawn 24-02-2015, introduced EN 60695-2-11:2001 and IEC 60695-2-11:2000 with corrigendum COR1:2001). The PKN search for "PN-EN 60695-2-11" (29 September 2026) also shows the 2002 edition (English version) — "Withdrawn and replaced by PN-EN 60695-2-11:2005".

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation-scope database, data loaded up to 17 September 2026, read on 29 September 2026). All notations of number 60695-2-11: 13 entries at 11 laboratories (the third record of AB 044 in the copy — the ball pressure test — received the documents of the neighbouring entry; in the PDF the number stands in two entries of AB 044). The 2022-07 edition is written by 7 laboratories: "PN-EN IEC 60695-2-11:2022-07" — AB 022, AB 024, AB 044, AB 1340, AB 1552, AB 1690, and AB 067 — without "IEC", "PN-EN 60695-2-11:2022-07"; AB 910 — "PN-EN IEC 60695-2-11" without a year. The withdrawn 2015-02 edition alongside the current one — AB 024, AB 044, AB 067, AB 1552 and AB 1690; the 2005 edition — AB 024 (entry for electrical insulating materials). Without a year, "PN-EN 60695-2-11" — AB 369, AB 1280 and AB 1501 (flexible scopes). AB 044 gives the EN and IEC equivalents of each edition, AB 1552 and AB 1690 also IEC 60695-2-11:2021. The "Laboratories" tab searches for notations BEGINNING WITH "PN-EN 60695-2-11" and will show 7 laboratories (AB 024, AB 044, AB 067, AB 369, AB 1280, AB 1552, AB 1690) — checked with the tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 30 September 2026: 7; under the current designation "PN-EN IEC 60695-2-11" there are 5 (AB 022, AB 044, AB 910, AB 1552, AB 1690), and AB 1340 and AB 1501 write the standard in one string after PN-EN 60695-2-10, so the tab does not show them. Current scopes on the PCA website (read on 29 September 2026, issues from 21.08.2025 to 08.09.2026): all entries stand in the valid issues and none is suspended; the entries have no numerical ranges.

SUBJECT. Electrotechnical and electronic products (AB 022, AB 024, AB 044, AB 067, AB 369, AB 1501), lighting and electrical installation equipment (AB 044), terminal blocks (AB 1690), electric toys and child care articles in a flexible scope (AB 910), cables and wires (AB 369, AB 1552), solid electrical insulating products (AB 1280), and also materials as such: solid electrical insulating materials (AB 024), plastics and other non-metallic materials (AB 1340). Quantities in the scopes: occurrence of ignition or glowing (AB 369, AB 1280, AB 1501), ignition and extinction time, flame height and ignition of the pad (AB 067).

ALONGSIDE THIS STANDARD. In the same entries stands part 2-10 (apparatus and common test procedure) — at 9 of 11 laboratories (without it only AB 369 and AB 1690), and parts 2-12 (GWFI) and 2-13 (GWIT) for materials — at 7; at AB 024 and AB 044 the neighbouring rows also contain the ball pressure test (PN-EN 60695-10-2) and the needle-flame test (PN-EN 60695-11-5). Glow-wire tests without this part: AB 024 (separate rows PN-EN 60695-2-10:2013-12, 2-12 and 2-13 for electrotechnical and electronic products — the last two described in the scope as methods for materials), AB 1690 (PN-EN 60695-2-10:2013 and PN-EN IEC 60695-2-10:2022-07) and AB 044 (surge protective devices according to PN-EN 61643-11). The rows stand in the current PCA scopes without suspension (read on 29 September 2026).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — the subject: the introduction assigns parts 2-12 and 2-13 to materials, and this part to end products; a result "did not ignite" obtained on a plaque of material is not a result for the product, because in the product shape, ventilation and surroundings matter. Second — the specimen: according to the standard a cut-out piece or an aperture for the wire can change the result, and ignition of another part of the product by the wire's heat invalidates the test; small parts are not tested by this method at all. Third — the layer under the specimen and its distance (200 mm ± 5 mm when unknown) decide the assessment of falling burning particles. Fourth — the edition: five laboratories keep the withdrawn 2015-02 edition alongside 2022-07, so the report must state which one was applied.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. The preview ends at 7.1, so we do not give the conditioning of the specified layer (7.2), the testing conditions (7.3), the test procedure, the test temperatures of Table 1 and the number of specimens (Clause 8), observations and measurements (Clause 9), evaluation of results (Clause 10), the test report (Clause 11), the information for product standards (Clause 12) or the suggested temperatures of Annex A.

Method principle

A glowing wire (apparatus according to PN-EN IEC 60695-2-10) is applied to an end product — complete or a part of it — arranged as in use, above a layer simulating the surroundings; it is observed whether the product ignites and, if so, whether the flame and falling particles spread the fire. We DO NOT GIVE the test temperatures (Table 1), the number of specimens or the evaluation criteria (Clauses 8–10) — the preview ends before Clause 8; the table of contents also announces Clause 12 with the information to be given in the product standard.

Applications

• Electrotechnical and electronic products, lighting and installation equipment, terminal blocks, cables — in the scopes of 11 laboratories
• Electric toys and child care articles — AB 910 (flexible scope)
• An element of the fire hazard assessment of a product (introduction of the standard) — not a stand-alone risk assessment

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN IEC 60695-2-11:2022-07 (wersja angielska; EN IEC 60695-2-11:2021, IEC 60695-2-11:2021 IDT)

Title (PL)

Badanie zagrożenia ogniowego — Część 2-11: Metody badań oparte na stosowaniu rozżarzonego/gorącego drutu — Metoda badania rozżarzonym drutem palności wyrobów gotowych (GWEPT)

Title (EN)

Fire hazard testing — Part 2-11: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods — Glow-wire flammability test method for end products (GWEPT)

Step-by-step procedure

1. Choice of test specimen

   A complete end product or — if that is not possible — a cut-out piece, an aperture for the wire or a removed part; no parts of insignificant mass and no small parts.

2. Conditioning

   24 h at 15–35 °C and relative humidity 45–75 %, unless the product standard specifies otherwise.

3. Arrangement

   As in use, above the layer at the distance occurring in use or 200 mm ± 5 mm below the point of contact; free-standing equipment on the layer, wall-mounted equipment 200 mm ± 5 mm above it.

4. Test

   Application of the glowing wire according to IEC 60695-2-10; we DO NOT GIVE the test temperatures (Table 1) or the procedure (Clause 8).

5. Assessment

   Ignition, flame, falling particles and the layer under the specimen; we DO NOT GIVE the evaluation criteria (Clause 10); the test is invalid if the wire's heat ignited another part of the product (4.4).

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• A test with flames and a glowing wire — work in a fume hood, protection against burns and smoke; the standard reminds that the user establishes the safety and health practices
• SUBSTANTIVE NOTE: this is a method for end products — for materials there are parts 2-12 (GWFI) and 2-13 (GWIT); a result from a plaque of material does not replace testing the product

Frequently asked questions