Standards Development

Scope

This part of IEC TS 62818 establishes a system of fiber reinforced composite core used as supporting member material in conductors for overhead lines which may be used as the basis for specifications. This document is applicable to fiber reinforced composite core, with polymeric matrix, used as supporting member material in conductors for overhead lines.

This document gives guidance on:

– defining the common terms used for fiber reinforced composite core with polymeric matrix,

– prescribing common methods and recommendations to characterize the properties of fiber reinforced composite core based on single or multi-wires with PMC (Polymeric Matrix Composite) used as supporting member material in conductors,

– prescribing or recommending acceptance or failure criteria when applicable.

These tests, criteria and recommendations are intended to ensure a satisfactory use and quality under normal operating and environmental conditions.

This document does not apply to compliance criteria which may be required but indicative values could be given in Annexes for guidance.

Purpose

The first conductors using a composite core were installed in the early 2000’s. Since then, they have been increasingly used by utilities worldwide. As a result, there is a need for an IEC publication to agree on tests methods to qualify these cores. Because of the variety of products used for this purpose, this document does not set minima or maxima (usually provided by the manufacturer), but rather standardizes testing methods to ascertain the numerical values of the basic properties needed by the purchaser to choose the right supporting member material according to the properties of the overhead lines conductors. Future discussion items for review may include: performance level and acceptance criteria, other ageing tests and criteria or other relevant tests.