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/\RCH VhO May 1944

DO NOT

REPORT
ON
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE
SPECIFICATION OF SERVICE CONDITIONS
IN
ELECTRICAL STANDARDS

Approved May 23, 1944

by
A.I.E.E. Standards Committee

Published by
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
33 West Thirty-ninth Street, New York

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 PREFACE

The formulation and revision of standards by many technical committees has

resulted in non-uniformity in the treatment of service conditions. This report has been
prepared as a guide to technical committees for use when standards are being prepared
or revised, with the object of obtaining consistency, insofar as practicable, among the
standards for various kinds of electrical equipment, which must often operate under the
same service conditions.
Service conditions are specified to give the limiting conditions of operation for
which standard equipment is designed. For example, ambient temperature values should
be selected which, in combination with standard temperature rises, limit insulation
temperatures to suitable values. By specifying a limiting value in "Service Conditions,"
a readily usable simple means of stating conditions for which standard ratings are
suitable is provided.

The application and operation of standard equipment under conditions more

severe than the limiting values specified in Usual Service Conditions may sometimes
be justified economically. The use of standard equipment under more severe conditions
and the acceptance of shorter than usual life or less margin of safety may be preferred
to obtaining equipment specially designed for the conditions. This may apply particularly
to temperatures, if the excessive temperatures are of short duration or infrequent
occurrence, the cumulative effects are not objectionable and low average temperatures
are prevalent. The effect of such use should be properly evaluated for satisfactory results.*
However, the aging of insulation due to temperature is not the only influence
affecting the life of equipment. For example, where expansion and contraction in con-
ductors, due to wride variations in temperature rise, is an important consideration, the
effect may be more detrimental than if high but steady temperatures are maintained.
This report consists of two parts. It is recommended that as far as possible
selections be made from Part I for the statement of Service Conditions for particular
equipment standards. For uniformity it is suggested that the exact wording be used
where it applies. Part I I covers application and testing. Selections from this part are
recommended for inclusion as supplementary information to specific standards where
applicable and desirable.

* Weather Bureau Records of outdoor temperatures for a number of cities of the United States show that
40 C is seldom exceeded more than 0.5 percent of the time and that 30 C is exceeded as much as/12
percent of the time in only a very few localities. Indoor temperatures may be higher but statistical
data are meagre. For more complete information regarding temperature and its effects, see A I E E Standards
No. 1 and No. 1A.

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 REPORT
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE SPECIFICATION
of
SERVICE CONDITIONS IN ELECTRICAL STANDARDS
PART
In the various standards there will be found a
number of different situations regarding Usual Service
Conditions. The following three are typical.
1. The group where the maximum ambient temper-
ature is specified. The Standards for Bushings, Fuses,
Lightning Arresters, Protector Tubes and Potential
Devices where 40 C ambient is used and Marine
Equipment where 50 C ambient is used are typical of
this group.
2. The group where both the maximum and daily
average temperatures of the cooling medium are speci-
fied. Standards for Transformers, Regulators and
Neutral Grounding Devices are typical of this group.
3. The group where a higher ambient temperature
is specified for silver contacts than for copper con-
tacts. Standards for Circuit Breakers, Air Switches and
Switchgear Assemblies are typical of this group.
It is suggested that a selection of one of the fol-
lowing groups can be made for the statement of Usual
Service Conditions in most of the standards for
specific equipment.
A. USUAL TEMPERATURE AND ALTITUDE
SERVICE CONDITIONS
It is recommended that the statement of Usual
Service Conditions included in a standard, conform to
the pattern covered by either group 1, 2 or 3 below,
together with the material on Unusual Service Condi-
tions.
Group 1
Usual Service Conditions. Equipment conforming
to these standards shall be suitable for operation at
its standard rating provided that:
(a) The temperature of the cooling air (ambient
temperature) does not exceed 40 C.
(b) The altitude does not exceed 3300 feet (1000
meters).
Group 2
Usual Service Conditions. Equipment conforming
to these standards shall be suitable for operation at
its standard rating, provided that:
(a) The temperature of the cooling air (ambient
temperature) does not exceed 40 C and the
average temperature of the cooling air for any
24 hour period does not exceed 30 C*
(b) If water cooled, the temperature of the cool-
ing water (ambient temperature) does not
exceed 30 C and the average temperature of
the cooling water for any 24 hour period does
not exceed 25 C.
(c) The altitude does not exceed 3300 feet (1000
meters).
* For average temperature mean daily temperature as denned
by the Weather Bureau.
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I
Group 3
Usual Service Conditions. Equipment conforming
to these standards shall be suitable for operation at its
standard rating, provided that:
(a) The temperature of the cooling air (ambient
temperature) does not exceed 40 C if the
equipment has copper to copper contacts or
equivalent.
(b) The temperature of the cooling air (ambient
temperature) does not exceed 55 C if the
equipment has all contacts silver surfaced or
equivalent, and in addition has all conducting
joints, including terminal connections, either
(1) Soldered or silver surfaced and separately
held mechanically, or
(2) Brazed, welded or silver-soldered
and provided that such operation does not
result in temperatures in excess of 90 C for
class O, 105 C for class A or 130 C for
class B insulations.
(c) The altitude does not exceed 3300 feet (1000
meters).
B. UNUSUAL TEMPERATURE AND
ALTITUDE SERVICE CONDITIONS
The application of equipment at higher ambient
temperatures or at higher altitudes than specified in
Usual Service Conditions shall be considered as
special.
Standard equipment may be applied at higher am-
bient temperatures or at higher altitudes than speci-
fied, but its performance may be affected and special
consideration should be given to these applications.
C. OTHER CONDITIONS WHICH MAY
AFFECT DESIGN AND APPLICATIION
Where other unusual conditions exist they should
be brought to the attention of those responsible for
the design and application of the equipment. Examples
of such conditions are:
(a) Damaging fumes or vapors, excessive or
abrasive dust, explosive mixtures of dust or
gases, steam, salt spray, excessive moisture
or dripping water, etc.
(b) Abnormal vibration, shocks, or tilting.
(c) Excessively high or low temperatures.
(d) Unusual transportation or storage conditions.
(e) Unusual space limitations.
(f) Unusual operating duty, frequency of opera-
tion, difficulty of maintenance, poor wave
form, unbalanced voltage, special insulation
requirements, etc.
 PART II
The following is recommended for inclusion as 5000 feet (1500 meters) 0.95
6000 feet (1800 meters) 0.92
supplementary information in specific standards where 7000 feet (2100 meters) 0.89
applicable. 8000 feet (2400 meters) 0.86
9000 feet (2700 meters) 0.83
A. APPLICATIONS AT ALTITUDES GREATER 10000 feet (3000 meters) 0.80
THAN 3300 FEET (1000 METERS) 12000 feet (3600 meters) 0.75
14000 feet (4200 meters) 0.70
(a) Temperature 160O0 feet (4800 meters) 0.65
Equipment which depends upon air for its cooling 18000 feet (5400 meters) 0.61
20000 feet (6000 meters) 0.56
medium and is designed for standard temperature
rise, may be used at altitudes greater than 3300 feet B. TESTING OF EQUIPMENT FOR
(1000 meters) without exceeding standard tempera- ALTITUDES NOT EXCEEDING 3300 FEET
ture limits, provided that either or a combination of Equipment for use at altitudes not exceeding 3300
the following conditions prevail: feet (1000 meters) may be tested at any altitude not
*(1) The temperature of the cooling air is less exceeding 3300 feet (1000 meters) and no altitude
correction shall be applied to the observed tempera-
than the limiting ambient temperature by
ture rise.
an amount corresponding to the change
in temperature rise due to altitude. C. TESTING OF EQUIPMENT DESIGNED FOR
**(2) The load to be carried is less than the ALTITUDES EXCEEDING 3300 FEET
rating of the equipment by an amount When equipment is designed for application at
corresponding to the appropriate altitude high altitudes acceptance tests may be made at any
correction. altitude less than 3300 feet (1000 meters) and altitude
* EXAMPLE FOR ROTATING MACHINE STANDARDS. correction factors applied.
It is recognized as good practice to use machines (a) Correction of Observed Temperature Rise
of standard temperature rise at altitudes greater than for Altitude
3300 feet (1000 meters) provided the temperature of When equipment is designed for standard tem-
the cooling air is not likely to exceed the following perature rise at some specified altitude in excess of
values for the respective altitudes: 3300 feet (1000 meters) the temperature rise, as de-
Maximum Temperature of the termined by test at any altitude of 3300 feet (1000
Altitude Cooling Air in Degrees C
40 meters) or less, shall be less than the standard tem-
3300 feet (1000 meters)
6600 feet (2000 meters) 35 perature rise, by the following corrections for each
9900 feet (3000 meters) 30 330 feet (100 meters) that the specified altitude
25 exceeds 3300 feet (1000 meters).
13200 feet (4000 meters)
** EXAMPLE FOR CIRCUIT BREAKER STANDARDS. (Correction factors selected for each type of
It is recognized as good practice to use circuit equipment to be given here.)
breakers of standard temperature rise at altitudes (b) Test Voltages at Altitudes Less than 3300
greater than 3300 feet (1000 meters) provided the Feet (1000 Meters)
maximum current at which the equipment is used does When equipment which depends upon air for its
not exceed the standard rating multiplied by the altitude insulation is designed for service at some specified
current correction factor given in the following table: altitude in excess of 3300 feet (1000 meters), the
Altitude Altitude Current Correction Fatcor insulation test may be made at any altitude of 3300
3300 feet (1000 meters) 1.00 feet (1000 meters) or less with a test voltage given
5000 feet (1500 meters) 0.99 by the following formula:
10000 feet (3000 meters) 0.96
20000 feet (6000 meters) 0.90
The factors given in these two examples vary
with different types of apparatus and should be consid- where V = test voltage at location of test.
Vs = standard test voltage.
ered by the committee preparing a particular standard.
A == altitude correction factor for dielec-
(b) Insulation tric strength.
The dielectric strength of equipment which de- Where the test code specifies correcting dielectric
pends upon air for its insulation, varies with altitude. test voltages for air conditions at the test location,
The following tabulation shows the relative dielectric the correction for air conditions also should be applied
strength for altitudes above 3300 feet (1000 meters) at to this test voltage formula. Standard air conditions
any given temperature.
Altitude Correction Factor
Altitude for Dielectric Strength Barometric pressure 29.92 inches (760 mm)
3300 feet (1000 meters) 1.00 Temperature 25 C (77 F)
4000 feet (1200 meters) 0.98 Humidity 0.6085 inches (15.45 mm)

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