⚡ Determination of the glow-wire ignition temperature (GWIT) of materials — the temperature 25 K (or 30 K) higher than the maximum test temperature at which a solid electrical insulating material or other solid material does not ignite or no single flame event lasts longer than 5 s and the specimen is not totally consumed; plaques at least 60 × 60 mm in preferred thicknesses 0,1–6,0 mm, conditioning for at least 48 h, initial temperature from the series 500–960 °C, sets of three specimens, lowering usually by 50 °C, apparatus and general procedure according to IEC 60695-2-10, PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13

Electronics and EMC PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13:2022-05 (English version; scope in Polish on the card), in full (our translation of the Polish card text): “This part of IEC 60695 presents the details of the glow-wire test applied to flame ignitability testing of specimens of solid electrical insulating materials or other solid materials, to determine the glow-wire ignition temperature (GWIT) of the material. GWIT is the temperature which is 25 K (or 30 K) higher than the maximum temperature during the test, determined by a standardized procedure, at which the tested material does not ignite or burning does not occur for a time longer than 5 s for any single ignition and the specimen is not totally consumed. This test is a materials test carried out on a series of standard test specimens. The data obtained, together with data from the glow-wire flammability index (GWFI) test of materials in accordance with IEC 60695-2-12, can then be used in a preselection process in accordance with IEC 60695-1-30 [4] to assess the ability of materials to meet the requirements of IEC 60695-2-11. NOTE As a result of a fire hazard assessment, an appropriate series of flammability and ignition tests before selection of materials may allow a reduction of end-product testing. This basic safety publication focusing on safety test methods 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, where applicable, to use basic safety publications in the preparation of publications.” We read the text of the standard in the preview of IEC 60695-2-13:2021 in the version with marked changes (redline against the 2010 edition with amendment 1:2014) from the cover to clause 8.3 (page 10); we do not have Clauses 9 and 10 (observations, criteria 10.1, determination of GWIT) or the test report.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF IEC 60695-2-13:2021 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–8.3; we give the content after the changes). The standard was prepared by IEC TC 89; the third edition replaces the second (2010) with amendment 1:2014 and is a technical revision: in Clause 3 new terms concerning times and durations were added, affecting the application of the test method. It has the status of a basic safety publication (IEC Guide 104) and is used together with IEC 60695-2-10. Introduction: overheated metal parts can be ignition sources — the glow-wire test simulates them; IEC 60695-2-10 — apparatus and common procedure, 2-11 — end products, 2-12 — flammability index of materials (GWFI); this part — the ignition temperature of materials, to measure, describe and rank their properties in contact with an electrically heated wire; useful in evaluating materials for products exposed to excess thermal stress (fault current, overloading, bad connections); not intended to be used on its own to assess fire hazard under actual fire conditions. Scope (Clause 1, as on the card): GWIT is 25 K (or 30 K) higher than the maximum test temperature at which the material does not ignite or sustained flaming combustion does not last longer than 5 s for any single flame event and the specimen is not totally consumed. References: IEC 60695-1-30:2008, IEC 60695-2-10:2000, IEC 60695-2-12, IEC 60695-4:2021, IEC Guide 104, ISO/IEC Guide 51, ISO 291:2008, ISO 293, ISO 294, ISO 295, ISO 13943:2017. Definitions (Clause 3, also the terms for times according to IEC 60695-2-10): combustion, flame, flame event, flammability, glowing, glowing combustion, ignitability (ease of ignition of a specimen under specified conditions), ignition, preselection. Specimens (Clause 4): fabricated by the appropriate ISO method (injection moulding according to ISO 294, compression moulding according to ISO 293 or ISO 295, transfer moulding) or cut from a representative sample of the material; after fabrication dust and particles are removed and edges are fine sanded; planar section at least 60 mm × 60 mm (inside the clamping areas), in all thicknesses under consideration; preferred thicknesses 0,1 ± 0,02; 0,2 ± 0,03; 0,4 ± 0,04; 0,75 ± 0,15; 1,5 ± 0,15; 3,0 ± 0,25; 6,0 ± 0,4 mm (the 2021 edition changed some of the tolerances); note: 30 specimens per thickness are usually adequate to determine GWIT and GWFI concurrently. Formulation ranges (4.3, when agreed by the parties): combinations of extreme levels of density, melt flow and filler represent the range if they give the same GWIT; if not — evaluation limited to the levels tested and testing of intermediate levels, or adoption of the least favourable result; colours — without colourant, with the highest content of organic pigments or carbon black, with the highest content of inorganic pigments and with pigments adversely affecting flammability; with different GWITs the least favourable one for the whole range. Apparatus (Clause 5): according to IEC 60695-2-10. Verification of the temperature measuring system (Clause 6): according to IEC 60695-2-10, performed before the test. Conditioning (Clause 7): at least 48 h at (23 ± 2) °C and 40–60 % relative humidity (ISO 291:2008, Class 2), testing within 4 h; laboratory at 15–35 °C, relative humidity not exceeding 75 %. Procedure (Clause 8): specimens are identified and examined visually; general procedure according to IEC 60695-2-10; the wire is heated to one of the initial test temperatures of Table 1 — 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750 °C (± 10 °C) or 800, 850, 900, 960 °C (± 15 °C) — considered just high enough to cause ignition; if unknown, not above 650 °C; at the chosen temperature a set of three specimens is tested; if one fails the criteria of 10.1, the test is repeated on three new ones at a temperature usually 50 °C lower (60 °C from 960 °C); this is where the part we read ends. Unlike IEC 60695-2-12, the temperature series starts at 500 °C (in 2-12 at 550 °C).

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13:2022-05 (English version, published 06-05-2022, 22 pages, price group L) has no “Withdrawn” header: Electrical Engineering Sector, KT 65 Environmental Testing of Electrical Products, ICS 29.020, 13.220.40, “Introduces: EN IEC 60695-2-13:2021 [IDT], IEC 60695-2-13:2021 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 60695-2-13:2011/A1:2014-10 – English version, PN-EN 60695-2-13:2011 – English version”. PN-EN 60695-2-13:2011 (English version, published 21-02-2011; introduced EN 60695-2-13:2010, IEC 60695-2-13:2010 and IEC 60695-2-13:2010/COR1:2012) — “Withdrawal date: 06-05-2022”, replaced by PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13:2022-05. The PKN search for “PN-EN 60695-2-13” (02.10.2026) also shows PN-EN 60695-2-13:2002 (English) and 2005 (Polish).

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read on 02.10.2026). The number 60695-2-13 appears in 10 records at 7 laboratories: AB 022, AB 024, AB 044, AB 067, AB 1280, AB 1501, AB 1552. In the current scopes on the PCA website (read on 02.10.2026, issues from 21.08.2025 to 08.09.2026) the number appears at all 7. Only the current edition “PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13:2022-05” — AB 022; current next to the withdrawn 2011 with A1:2014-10 — AB 044 (with EN IEC 60695-2-13:2021, IEC 60695-2-13:2021 and the 2010 editions with amendment 1:2014, in two places of the scope), AB 1552 (also IEC 60695-2-13:2021), AB 067 (the 2022-05 edition written as “PN-EN 60695-2-13:2022-05”, without “IEC”) and AB 024 in the first place of the scope (in the second — only “PN-EN 60695-2-13:2011+A1:2014-10”); without the year — AB 1280 and AB 1501 (both with the mark “E”). No row is set in bold italics. The “Laboratories” tab searches for entries BEGINNING WITH the number entered: “PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13” — 3 laboratories (AB 022, AB 044, AB 1552), “PN-EN 60695-2-13” — 5 (AB 024, AB 044, AB 067, AB 1280, AB 1552); AB 1501 has a database entry beginning with “PN-EN 60695-2-10”, so neither of these tabs shows it — checked with a query of the tab on the production server labcoda.pl on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in the PCA scopes). Electrotechnical products, electrotechnical and electronic materials and products, solid electrical insulating products — “glow-wire test” (AB 022), “test of heat resistance — method based on glowing/hot wire — of materials” (AB 024), “glow-wire method: ignition and extinction time, flame height, ignition of the cotton pad” (AB 067), “resistance to glowing wire: occurrence of ignition or glowing, ignition temperature, ignitability” (AB 1501); always in one item with IEC/PN-EN 60695-2-10, 2-11 and 2-12.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Definition: GWIT is NOT the highest temperature “without ignition” — it is 25 K (or 30 K) HIGHER; giving the test temperature itself understates the result by 25 K. Criterion: ignition counts when a single flame event lasts longer than 5 s (in GWFI the limit is extinction within 30 s) — this is a different criterion from 2-12. Temperature series: in 2-13 it starts at 500 °C, in 2-12 at 550 °C; without knowledge of the material — start not above 650 °C. Material and product: GWIT is the result for the material in the tested thickness; testing of an end product is IEC 60695-2-11. Conditioning: 48 h and testing within 4 h. Edition: the 2021 edition changed the terms concerning times and some thickness tolerances.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have Clauses 9 and 10 (observations, criteria 10.1, determination of GWIT from the results) or the test report — so we do not give detailed evaluation criteria beyond the definition of GWIT from the scope, nor the content of the report.

Method principle

A glowing wire at a set temperature is applied according to IEC 60695-2-10 to plaques of the material tested; GWIT is 25 K (or 30 K) higher than the highest temperature at which the material does not ignite or no flame event lasts longer than 5 s and the specimen is not totally consumed — determined on sets of three specimens.

Applications

• Solid electrical insulating materials and plastics for electrotechnical products — 7 laboratories in the PCA scopes
• Preselection of materials according to IEC 60695-1-30 (together with GWFI) before testing the end product according to IEC 60695-2-11
• Comparison of the ignitability of materials, colours and formulations in a given thickness

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13:2022-05 (wersja angielska; EN IEC 60695-2-13:2021 IDT, IEC 60695-2-13:2021 IDT)

Title (PL)

Badanie zagrożenia ogniowego — Część 2-13: Metody badań oparte na stosowaniu rozżarzonego/gorącego drutu — Metoda badania temperatury zapalenia materiałów rozżarzonym drutem (GWIT)

Title (EN)

Fire hazard testing — Part 2-13: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods — Glow-wire ignition temperature (GWIT) test method for materials

Step-by-step procedure

1. Specimens

   Plaques ≥ 60 × 60 mm in each thickness under consideration, dust removed, edges smoothed; for a range of colours and formulations — extreme specimens. PN-EN IEC 60695-2-13:2022-05 current (cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Conditioning

   ≥ 48 h at (23 ± 2) °C and 40–60 % RH; testing within 4 h, in a laboratory at 15–35 °C and RH ≤ 75 %.

3. Initial temperature

   From Table 1 (500–960 °C), considered sufficient for ignition; unknown — not above 650 °C; specimens identified and examined.

4. Testing of sets

   General procedure of IEC 60695-2-10 on three specimens; if one fails the criteria of 10.1 — three new ones at a temperature usually 50 °C lower.

5. Result

   GWIT = highest temperature without ignition (flame event ≤ 5 s, no total consumption) + 25 K (or 30 K), for the given thickness.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard (introduction) states that it may involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment, and that establishing safety and health practices is the responsibility of the user — wire at 500–960 °C, flame, smoke; fume extraction and protection against burns
• TECHNICAL NOTE: GWIT is 25 K (30 K) higher than the highest temperature without ignition; the 5 s criterion differs from the 30 s criterion of GWFI

Frequently asked questions