What Is Needle Flame — IEC 60335?
The needle flame test is a flammability test in which a small gas flame of the geometry defined in the standard is applied to the specimen for a specified duration, evaluating ignition, flame duration and the formation of flaming drips.
Purpose of Needle Flame — IEC 60335
The purpose is to verify that the material does not propagate fire if a small flame source arises inside the device.
Which Products Is Needle Flame — IEC 60335 Applied To?
- Electrical-appliance internal components
- Insulation parts and terminal blocks
- Cable ducts
- Printed-circuit-board materials
In Which Sectors Is Needle Flame — IEC 60335 Used?
Standards Related to Needle Flame — IEC 60335
- IEC 60335Safety in home and similar electrical devices test
- IEC 62368Security in audio, video and information technology devices test
- IEC 61010Safety in measuring, control and laboratory devices test
Needle Flame — IEC 60335 Conditions
- Flame height
- Defined in the standard (typically 12 mm)
- Application time
- Defined in the specification; typically 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 or 120 s
- Application angle
- Angle and position defined in the standard
- Beneath the specimen
- A defined layer for the flaming-drip assessment
Equipment for Needle Flame — IEC 60335
- Needle flame test apparatus
- Gas supply and flame-height adjustment
- Timer
- Ventilated test cabinet
Sample Requirements for Needle Flame — IEC 60335
- The specimen may be a real part or a sheet conforming to the standard
- The worst-case use thickness must be represented
- Generally three specimens
- Conditioning must be applied
Duration of Needle Flame — IEC 60335
The test is short per specimen; a set is generally completed within one working day.
Needle Flame — IEC 60335 Procedure
- 1Flame height is set and verified.
- 2The specimen is placed in the defined position.
- 3Flame is applied for the defined duration.
- 4Ignition, flame duration and drip formation are observed.
- 5The extinction time is recorded after the flame is withdrawn.
Needle Flame — IEC 60335 Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criterion is defined in the product standard; the typical criterion is extinction within a specified time after the flame is withdrawn, and the underlying layer not igniting.
Evaluation of Results
Flame duration, ignition and drip behaviour are evaluated together. It tests an ignition mechanism different from the glow-wire test.
Needle Flame — IEC 60335 Report
- Standard applied
- Flame height and application time
- Specimen description and thickness
- Observed flame duration and drip behaviour
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- LVD 2014/35/EU
Electrical Safety — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Needle Flame test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Electrical safety testing shows that a device poses no risk of electric shock, fire or injury to the user in normal use and under foreseeable fault conditions. This family is the test group most often requested when a product enters the market; almost every electrically operated product passes through this gate.
The logic of the field rests on a single assumption: FAULTS WILL HAPPEN. Insulation will age, a component will short, a cable will break, the user will misuse the device. Standards therefore test not only normal operation but also single fault conditions. The sentence "the device works correctly" is not evidence in this field; the evidence is that the device stays safe when it fails.
Assessment addresses three layers together. In the constructional layer, insulation distances (creepage and clearance), protective barriers, earthing continuity, enclosure strength and component selection are examined — this layer is largely a matter of inspection and measurement rather than testing. In the electrical layer, dielectric strength, leakage current, insulation resistance and behaviour under fault conditions are measured. In the thermal layer, temperature rise in normal and abnormal operation is monitored; an overheating component is both a fire risk and a risk of insulation breakdown.
Which standard applies is determined by WHAT THE PRODUCT IS, and that decision affects the entire outcome. Household appliances fall under the IEC 60335 series, information technology and audio/video products under IEC 62368-1, measurement and laboratory equipment under IEC 61010-1, and medical devices under IEC 60601-1. A report obtained under the wrong standard is not accepted in the file even if the measurements it contains are correct.
Component conformity is often overlooked in this field. The safety of the device rests on the conformity of the transformer, optocoupler, fuse, switch and power supply it uses. The list of critical components and the certification status of each is part of the technical file; a change of component reopens the safety assessment.
Method groups in this field
Constructional examination
Insulation distances, barriers, earthing arrangement, accessibility and selection of critical components are examined. It comes before testing and many non-conformities are caught here.
Dielectric strength
It is verified that the insulation withstands the defined voltage. It must not be confused with the routine test on the production line; the type test is more severe.
Leakage current and earthing
The current that could reach the user is measured; the continuity and resistance of the protective earthing path are verified.
Heating tests
Temperatures of components, windings and accessible surfaces are measured in normal and abnormal operation.
Fault condition tests
Components are deliberately short-circuited or open-circuited; the appliance is expected not to cause a fire and not to make a hazardous part accessible.
Mechanical and enclosure tests
Impact, drop, strain relief, IP protection and the safety of moving parts are assessed.
Commonly confused in this field
- A CB certificate is not a CE declaration. CB is the output of a mutual recognition arrangement that eases national certification; the CE declaration is made by the manufacturer under its own responsibility.
- A part of IEC 60335 is not sufficient on its own; it is applied together with Part 1.
- IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065 have been withdrawn. Old certificates based on these codes cannot be used in a current file.
- Separate certification of the adapter does not cover the conformity of the device; the device is assessed as the system it forms together with its power supply.
- A change of critical component (transformer, fuse, optocoupler supplier) is not a silent change; it requires the safety file to be reviewed.
Which decisions these results support
- CE declaration under the Low Voltage Directive
- IECEE CB certificate and entry into national certification schemes
- Assessing the safety impact of design changes
- Establishing and maintaining the critical component list
- Responding to market surveillance requests
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Needle Flame — IEC 60335
According to which standard is Needle Flame made?
Needle Flame is executed in scope IEC 60695-11-5, IEC 60335-1, IEC 62368-1, IEC 60335, IEC 62368 and IEC 61010. The limit values and acceptance criteria to be applied are defined in the product standard; The version valid for your product is confirmed in writing at the offer stage.
Which products does Needle Flame apply to?
Mainly applied to Electrical-appliance internal components, Insulation parts and terminal blocks, Cable ducts and Printed-circuit-board materials. Whether your product is included in the scope is determined by examining its technical specifications and intended use.
Under what conditions is Needle Flame done?
The determining parameters are: Flame height — Defined in the standard (typically 12 mm), Application time — Defined in the specification; typically 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 or 120 s and Application angle — Angle and position defined in the standard. The full terms are in the "Test Conditions" section on the page and vary depending on the product standard.
What kind of sample is needed for Needle Flame?
The specimen may be a real part or a sheet conforming to the standard, The worst-case use thickness must be represented and Generally three specimens. The number of samples is determined according to the product standard and the scope to be reported.
How long does Needle Flame take?
The test is short per specimen; a set is generally completed within one working day. This duration belongs to the experiment itself; sample preparation, queuing and reporting are also evaluated. A realistic schedule for your product is given in the offer.
What is the Needle Flame result called "appropriate"?
The acceptance criterion is defined in the product standard; the typical criterion is extinction within a specified time after the flame is withdrawn, and the underlying layer not igniting.