⚡ Ball pressure test — softening and flow under load of plastics and parts of electrotechnical products at elevated temperature: a 5 mm steel ball pressed with a force of 20 N in a heating cabinet, measurement of the impression diameter with an optical instrument (magnification ≥ ×10, resolution 0,1 mm); method A — test of the end product at one temperature (≥ 125 °C for parts supporting live parts, ≥ 75 °C for other parts), method B — search for the highest temperature at which the requirement is met, PN-EN 60695-10-2

Electronics and EMC PN-EN 60695-10-2

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN 60695-10-2:2014-10 (English version; the field on the card breaks off in mid-sentence; our translation of the Polish card text): “This part of IEC 60695 describes the ball pressure test as a method for determining the softening temperature of plastics and parts of end products, determining their resistance to abnormal heat. It is used for testing materials used in electrotechnical equipment, components and solid electrical insulating materials except ceramics. This basic safety publication is intended for use by technical committees in the preparation of standards in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC Guide 51. One of the responsibilities of a technical committee is, wherever applicable, to make use of basic safety publications in the preparation of its publications. The requirements, test methods or test conditions of this basic safety publication will not ap…”. We read the text of the standard in the sample extract of IEC 60695-10-2:2014 from the cover to subclause 8.1.2 with Table 1 (page 10); we do not have subclauses 8.2–8.5 (test procedure), Clause 9 (requirement — acceptance criterion), Clauses 10–11 (observations, test report).

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF IEC 60695-10-2:2014 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–8.1.2). The standard was prepared by IEC TC 89; the third edition replaced the second of 2003 as a technical revision; it has the status of a basic safety publication (IEC Guide 104, ISO/IEC Guide 51) — it applies only when a product standard refers to it. Changes according to the foreword: an introduction with reference to TC 89 documents; reference to Guide 104 and Guide 51 in the scope; a new Clause 3 with terms; additional requirements for the specimen support (5.2) and clarification of the requirements for the heating cabinet (5.3) — at the request of IECEE-CTL to improve reproducibility; minimum resolution of the optical instrument (5.4); a new procedure in Clauses 6 and 8 with separate methods: verification test of the end product (method A) and testing of material properties (method B); a new Clause 11 (test report). Introduction: the method assesses softening and accelerated flow under load of a polymeric material with a loaded bearing ball in a heating cabinet; it is used to measure, describe and compare material properties at elevated temperature under laboratory conditions, not to assess the hazard under actual conditions. Scope (Clause 1): a method for assessing the softening temperature and accelerated flow under load of polymeric materials and parts of end products; it applies to materials in electrotechnical equipment, sub-assemblies and components and solid electrical insulating materials except ceramics; note: the method is not suitable for some elastomers, foamed materials and other materials soft at room temperature — other methods are recommended for them, e.g. IEC 60695-10-3. Definitions (Clause 3): abnormal heat — heat additional to that resulting from use under normal conditions, up to and including that which causes a fire; end product — ready for use without modification (it can be part of another product); verification test — a test of the end product required to confirm suitability. General description (Clause 4): measuring and checking the dimension of the impression of a steel ball applied to the specimen with a specified force at a specified temperature. Loading device (5.1): ball 5 mm ± 0,05 mm (bearing ball according to ISO 3290-1) with a weight giving a force of 20 N ± 0,2 N including the mass of the ball (example in Figure 1). Specimen support (5.2): rigidly supports the specimen horizontally, withstands the loading device, has a smooth flat surface and a mass large enough that the temperature does not drop significantly when the specimen is inserted and removed; note: a separate thermocouple approx. 3 mm below the surface in the centre of the support is useful. Heating cabinet (5.3): single-chamber according to IEC 60216-4-1 as regards temperature differences, fluctuations and variations; it must return to the set temperature according to the requirements of 8.3 after the door is closed. Optical instrument (5.4): magnification of at least ×10, a calibrated scale or cross table with a resolution not worse than 0,1 mm; illumination of the impression area is permitted. Temperature measurement (5.5): accuracy ±2 K below 100 °C and ±3 % from 100 °C; preferably a type K or J thermocouple in the specimen support. Specimens — method A (6.1): cut from the end product, at least 2,5 mm thick with approximately parallel surfaces (several layers may be stacked without mutual displacement); with non-parallel surfaces — support of the area under the ball; a square with a side of at least 10 mm or a circle with a diameter of at least 10 mm; when a specimen cannot be taken from the product — a plate of identical material as in 6.2; note: three specimens may be needed. Specimens — method B (6.2): made by the appropriate ISO method (injection moulding according to the ISO 294 series, compression moulding according to ISO 293 or ISO 295, transfer moulding), at least 10 mm × 10 mm or a circle with a diameter of at least 10 mm, thickness 3,0 mm ± 0,5 mm; note: 15 specimens may be needed. Conditioning (Clause 7): at least 24 h at 15–35 °C and 45–75 % relative humidity; more precise conditions may be specified for materials sensitive to humidity or temperature. Temperature — method A (8.1.1): usually one temperature to verify the requirement of Clause 9; unless the product specification states otherwise: a) for parts supporting live parts — 40 °C plus the maximum permitted temperature rise of the part according to the specification, b) for other parts — the ambient temperature plus the maximum permitted rise; not less than 125 °C for parts supporting live parts and 75 °C for other parts. Temperature — method B (8.1.2): multiple tests to find the highest temperature at which the requirement of Clause 9 is met; temperatures in multiples of 5 °C; note: for many engineering plastics a good starting point is a temperature 10 °C lower than the Vicat softening temperature VST A50 (ISO 306: force 10 N, heating 50 °C/h). Table 1 — recommended starting temperatures: PA6 200 °C, PA66 240 °C, PA46 280 °C, PBT 200 °C, PET 240 °C, PC 140 °C, PC+ABS 90 °C, PP 120 °C; if the result at the starting temperature meets the requirement, the test is repeated with a new specimen at a higher temperature — this is where the extract we read ends.

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN 60695-10-2:2014-10 (English version) has no “Withdrawn” header — the standard is CURRENT: published 20-10-2014, 26 pages, price group M, Electrical Engineering Sector, KT 65, ICS 29.020 and 13.220.40, “Introduces: EN 60695-10-2:2014 [IDT], IEC 60695-10-2:2014 [IDT]”, directive 2014/35/EU, “Replaces: PN-EN 60695-10-2:2005 – Polish version”. PN-EN 60695-10-2:2005 (Polish version, introduced IEC 60695-10-2:2003) — withdrawn 20-10-2014 and replaced by the 2014-10 edition. The PKN search (02.10.2026) also shows PN-EN 60695-10-2:2004 (English). There is no Polish version of the 2014 edition.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read 02.10.2026). The number 60695-10-2 appears in 11 records at 8 laboratories: AB 044 (3), AB 024 (2), AB 022, AB 261, AB 910, AB 1340, AB 1552, AB 1741 (1 each). In the current scopes on the PCA website (read 02.10.2026, issues from 14.01.2025 to 08.09.2026) the number appears at all 8: with the year “2014-10” at AB 022, AB 024, AB 1340, AB 1552 and AB 1741; at AB 261 the withdrawn PN-EN 60695-10-2:2005 still stands next to the 2014-10 edition, and at AB 044 for solid insulating materials — PN-EN 60695-10-2:2005 with EN and IEC of the 2003 edition next to the 2014 edition; without a year at AB 910. No row is set in bold italics. The “Laboratories” tab searches entries BEGINNING WITH “PN-EN 60695-10-2” and shows all 8 laboratories and 10 positions — checked with the tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 02.10.2026; one record of AB 024 is not visible, in which several standards of the 60695 series are written in one field without a separator and the number 60695-10-2 stands at the end; under “IEC 60695-10-2” — 3 laboratories (AB 044, AB 1552 and Czech 1018.3).

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (positions in PCA). Electrotechnical and electronic products (AB 022, AB 024, AB 261 — also telecommunication products), lighting and electrical installation equipment and solid insulating materials (AB 044, “ball indentation test”, “resistance to abnormal heat”), electrical products and equipment — at AB 1741 next to PN-EN IEC 60598-1:2021-07 point 13.2 (luminaires), non-metallic materials and cables (AB 1552), electric toys and children’s articles (AB 910), AB 1340 (“ball pressure test” next to flammability and glow-wire). At several laboratories the same position includes the needle flame (PN-EN 60695-11-5) and glow-wire (PN-EN 60695-2-1x).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. In the choice of method: method A (product) gives a “pass / fail” result at one temperature, method B (material) — the highest temperature at which the requirement is met; numbers from one method do not replace the other. In the temperature of method A: for parts supporting live parts it is 40 °C plus the permitted rise (not the ambient temperature) and not less than 125 °C. In the specimen: at least 2,5 mm (method A) or 3,0 mm ± 0,5 mm (method B); a thinner specimen or an unsupported area under the ball changes the impression. In the apparatus: a support of too small mass or a cabinet slowly returning to temperature after opening the door lowers the actual test temperature — the result looks better than it should; temperature preferably measured in the support. In the citation: a scope with the withdrawn 2005 edition (AB 261, AB 044) does not know the division into methods A and B. In the material: elastomers and foams — method not suitable.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have subclauses 8.2–8.5 (loading time, method of cooling the specimen, recovery time of the cabinet temperature), Clause 9 (permitted impression diameter), Clauses 10–11 or Figure 1 in detail — we therefore give neither the loading procedure, the acceptance criterion nor the content of the test report.

Method principle

A 5 mm steel ball loaded with a total force of 20 N is placed on a horizontally supported plastic specimen in a single-chamber heating cabinet; after the test the impression diameter is measured with an optical instrument (≥ ×10, 0,1 mm). Method A verifies the product at one temperature resulting from the permitted temperature rise of the part (at least 125 °C or 75 °C), method B determines the highest temperature (in steps of 5 °C) at which the material meets the requirement of the standard.

Applications

• Plastic parts supporting live parts and other parts of electrotechnical and electronic products — method A (verification test of the product)
• Engineering plastics (PA, PBT, PET, PC, PC+ABS, PP) and solid electrical insulating materials — method B (highest temperature at which the requirement is met)
• Luminaires (next to PN-EN IEC 60598-1 point 13.2), electrical installation equipment, electric toys — 8 laboratories

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 60695-10-2:2014-10 (wersja angielska; EN 60695-10-2:2014 IDT, IEC 60695-10-2:2014 IDT)

Title (PL)

Badanie zagrożenia ogniowego — Część 10-2: Nadmierne gorąco — Próba wciskania kulki

Title (EN)

Fire hazard testing — Part 10-2: Abnormal heat — Ball pressure test method

Step-by-step procedure

1. Choice of method and specimen

   Method A — specimen cut from the product (≥ 2,5 mm, ≥ 10 mm); method B — ISO moulded specimens 3,0 mm ± 0,5 mm. PN-EN 60695-10-2:2014-10 current (cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Conditioning

   At least 24 h at 15–35 °C and 45–75 % RH; for moisture-sensitive materials — more precise conditions according to the specification.

3. Test temperature

   Method A: 40 °C + permitted rise (≥ 125 °C) for parts supporting live parts, ambient + rise (≥ 75 °C) for others; method B: starting temperature from Table 1 or VST A50 − 10 °C, then in steps of 5 °C.

4. Loading in the cabinet

   Specimen on the support in the heating cabinet, 5 mm ball with a force of 20 N; loading time, cooling and temperature recovery (8.2–8.5) NOT GIVEN.

5. Measurement and assessment

   Impression diameter with an optical instrument ≥ ×10; assessment against the requirement of Clause 9 (NOT GIVEN); method B — highest temperature at which the requirement is met.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Heating cabinet and specimens at temperatures up to several hundred °C (e.g. 280 °C for PA46) — gloves, removal with tools; decomposition of plastics at high temperature — ventilation; the standard refers generally to the user’s safety rules
• TECHNICAL NOTE: this is a basic safety publication — the temperature and requirement for a product are set by the product standard; the method is not suitable for elastomers, foams and materials soft at room temperature

Frequently asked questions