⚡ Determination of the glow-wire flammability index (GWFI) of materials — the highest temperature at which a solid electrical insulating material or other solid material does not ignite or extinguishes within 30 s after removal of the wire, is not totally consumed and molten drips do not ignite the wrapping tissue; plaques at least 60 × 60 mm in preferred thicknesses 0,1–6,0 mm, conditioning for at least 48 h at 23 °C and 40–60 % RH, initial temperature from the series 550–960 °C, sets of three specimens, lowering usually by 50 °C, apparatus and general procedure according to IEC 60695-2-10, PN-EN IEC 60695-2-12

Electronics and EMC PN-EN IEC 60695-2-12

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN IEC 60695-2-12:2022-06 (English version; scope in Polish on the card), in full (our translation of the Polish card text): “This part of IEC 60695 specifies the details of the glow-wire test applied to test specimens of solid electrical insulating materials or other solid materials for flammability testing, to determine the glow-wire flammability index (GWFI). GWFI is the highest temperature, determined during a standardized procedure, at which the tested material did not ignite or, if it ignited, extinguished within 30 s after removal of the glow-wire and was not totally consumed, and molten drips, if they occurred, did not ignite the wrapping tissue. This test method is a materials test carried out on a series of standard specimens. The data obtained, together with data from the glow-wire ignition temperature (GWIT) test — IEC 60695-2-13 — may be used in a preselection process of materials in accordance with IEC 60695-1-30 [4] to assess the suitability 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 in preselection may allow a reduction of end-product testing. This basic safety publication focusing on safety test methods is primarily 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. Technical committees are responsible, among other things, for using basic safety publications in the preparation of their publications, where justified”. We read the text of the standard in the preview of IEC 60695-2-12:2021 from the cover to clause 8.3 (page 10); we do not have Clauses 9 and 10 (observations and evaluation criteria 10.1) or the test report.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF IEC 60695-2-12:2021 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–8.3). The standard was prepared by IEC TC 89 (fire hazard testing); the third edition replaces the second (2010) with amendment 1:2014 and is a technical revision: new terms and definitions concerning times and durations were added in Clause 3, with an effect on 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: in electrotechnical equipment overheated metal parts can be ignition sources — in glow-wire tests a wire simulates them; IEC 60695-2-10 describes the apparatus and common procedure, 2-11 — testing of end products, 2-13 — the ignition temperature (GWIT) of materials; this part — the flammability index of materials, to measure, describe and rank the properties of materials in contact with an electrically heated wire under controlled conditions; useful in evaluating materials for products exposed to excess thermal stress (fault current in a wire, overloading of components, bad connections); it is not intended to be used on its own to assess fire hazard under actual fire conditions, but can be an element of such an assessment. References: IEC 60695-2-10, IEC 60695-2-13, IEC 60695-4:2021, 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 (sustained flaming or glowing combustion), flammability, glowing, glowing combustion, ignition, molten drip (flaming or not), 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), and where this is not possible — cut from a representative sample of the material; after fabrication dust and particles are removed and cut 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; note: a set of 30 specimens per thickness is usually adequate to establish GWFI and GWIT concurrently. Formulation ranges (4.3, when agreed by the parties): density, melt flow and filler — all combinations of minimum and maximum levels represent the range if they give the same GWFI; if not — evaluation limited to the levels tested and testing of intermediate levels, or the least favourable result is taken for intermediate levels; colours — specimens without colourant, with the highest content of organic pigments or carbon black, with the highest content of inorganic pigments and with pigments known to adversely affect flammability; with different GWFIs the least favourable one is taken 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): specimens for at least 48 h at (23 ± 2) °C and 40–60 % relative humidity (ISO 291:2008, Clause 6, Table 2, Class 2), testing within 4 h after removal; wrapping tissue and wooden board under the specimen according to IEC 60695-2-10, used within 4 h; testing at an ambient temperature of 15–35 °C and a relative humidity not exceeding 75 %. Procedure (Clause 8): specimens are identified; general procedure according to IEC 60695-2-10; the wire is heated to one of the initial test temperatures of Table 1 — 550, 600, 650, 700, 750 °C (tolerance ± 10 °C) or 800, 850, 900, 960 °C (± 15 °C) — considered just high enough to cause ignition; if unknown, not above 650 °C; note: when determining GWIT and GWFI it is useful first to perform the procedure of IEC 60695-2-13 and to set the initial temperature for GWFI from GWIT; at the chosen temperature a set of three specimens is tested; if one of them fails the criteria of 10.1, the test is repeated on three new ones at a temperature preferably 50 °C lower (60 °C from 960 °C); this is where the part we read ends.

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN IEC 60695-2-12:2022-06 (English version, published 17-06-2022, 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 60695-2-12:2021 [IDT], IEC 60695-2-12:2021 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 60695-2-12:2011 – English version, PN-EN 60695-2-12:2011/A1:2014-10 – English version”. PN-EN 60695-2-12:2011 (English version, published 21-02-2011; introduced EN 60695-2-12:2010 and IEC 60695-2-12:2010) — “Withdrawal date: 17-06-2022”, replaced by PN-EN IEC 60695-2-12:2022-06. The PKN search for “PN-EN 60695-2-12” (02.10.2026) also shows PN-EN 60695-2-12:2002 (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 60695-2-12 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 60695-2-12:2022-06” — AB 022; current next to the withdrawn 2011 with A1:2014-10 — AB 044 (with EN IEC 60695-2-12:2021, IEC 60695-2-12:2021, EN 60695-2-12:2010+A1:2014 and IEC 60695-2-12:2010+AMD1:2014, in two places of the scope), AB 1552 (also IEC 60695-2-12:2021) and AB 067 (the 2022-06 edition written as “PN-EN 60695-2-12:2022-06”, without “IEC”); only the withdrawn “PN-EN 60695-2-12:2011+A1:2014-10” — AB 024 (two places of the scope); 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 60695-2-12” — 3 laboratories (AB 022, AB 044, AB 1552), “PN-EN 60695-2-12” — 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), “glowing/hot-wire based test methods” (AB 024), “resistance to fire hazard, 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, burning time, spread of flame and glowing” (AB 1501); always in one item with IEC/PN-EN 60695-2-10, 2-11 and 2-13.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Material and product: GWFI is the result of a test of the MATERIAL on standard plaques; testing of an end product is IEC 60695-2-11 — the result of one cannot be given as the other. Thickness: the result applies to the thickness tested; plaques are needed in all thicknesses under consideration. Conditioning: 48 h at (23 ± 2) °C and 40–60 % RH, and testing within 4 h; tissue and board also at most 4 h after removal from conditioning. Initial temperature: without knowledge of the material — not above 650 °C; when one of three specimens fails, the temperature is lowered usually by 50 °C (by 60 °C from 960 °C). Colours and formulations: a different colour or filler can change GWFI — a result for a range requires testing extreme specimens or taking the least favourable one. Edition: the 2021 edition changed the terms concerning times, affecting the application of the method; AB 024 lists only the withdrawn 2011 edition with A1:2014.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have Clauses 9 and 10 (observations, criteria 10.1, establishment of GWFI) or the test report — so we do not give detailed evaluation criteria beyond the definition of GWFI 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; GWFI is the highest temperature at which the material does not ignite or extinguishes within 30 s after removal of the wire, is not totally consumed and drips do not ignite the tissue — 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 GWIT) before testing the end product according to IEC 60695-2-11
• Assessment of the effect of colour, filler and thickness on the flammability of a material

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN IEC 60695-2-12:2022-06 (wersja angielska; EN IEC 60695-2-12:2021 IDT, IEC 60695-2-12:2021 IDT)

Title (PL)

Badanie zagrożenia ogniowego — Część 2-12: Metody badań oparte na stosowaniu rozżarzonego/gorącego drutu — Metoda badania współczynnika palności materiałów rozżarzonym drutem (GWFI)

Title (EN)

Fire hazard testing — Part 2-12: Glowing/hot-wire based test methods — Glow-wire flammability index (GWFI) 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 60695-2-12:2022-06 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 %; tissue and board according to IEC 60695-2-10.

3. Initial temperature

   From Table 1 (550–960 °C); unknown — not above 650 °C; preferably after determining GWIT according to IEC 60695-2-13.

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

   GWFI — the highest temperature at which the specimens meet the criteria (extinction ≤ 30 s, no total consumption, tissue not ignited), 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 550–960 °C, flame, smoke; fume extraction and protection against burns
• TECHNICAL NOTE: GWFI applies to the material in the tested thickness, not to the end product (that is IEC 60695-2-11); the result depends on colour and formulation

Frequently asked questions