Before selecting an insulator, engineers must qualify the environment. The standard classifies pollution into five Site Pollution Severity classes:
: Identify the maximum continuous operating AC voltage.
Once the SPS class is established, IEC 60815-2 helps determine the . The USCD is the total creepage distance of the insulator divided by the highest operating voltage of the system (expressed in mm/kV).
The PDF provides exact mathematical equations to correct creepage distances based on altitude, insulator diameter (larger diameters collect more pollution), and mounting angles (horizontal vs. vertical strings).
To understand Part 2, it helps to see how the complete standard is organized:
Select glass and ceramic profiles that leverage natural washing from rainfall effectively. The 4-Step Selection Methodology
Have you had a pollution flashover that could have been prevented by a higher creepage distance? Share your war stories in the comments below.