ANSI/NEMA C29.

3-1986 (R2002, R2012)

American National Standard

Wet Process Porcelain Insulators—

Spool Type
C29.11-2012
Page i

ANSI/NEMA C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)

American National Standard

Wet Process Porcelain Insulators—

Spool Type

Secretariat:

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

Approved: August 27, 2012

Published: March 18, 2013

American National Standards Institute, Inc.

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

The information in this publication was considered technically sound by the consensus of persons
engaged in the development and approval of the document at the time it was developed. Consensus does
not necessarily mean that there is unanimous agreement among every person participating in the
development of this document.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards and guideline publications, of which the document
contained herein is one, are developed through a voluntary consensus standards development process.
This process brings together volunteers and/or seeks out the views of persons who have an interest in the
topic covered by this publication. While NEMA administers the process and establishes rules to promote
fairness in the development of consensus, it does not write the document and it does not independently
test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy or completeness of any information or the soundness of any
judgments contained in its standards and guideline publications.

NEMA disclaims liability for any personal injury, property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever,
whether special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the
publication, use of, application, or reliance on this document. NEMA disclaims and makes no guaranty or
warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and
disclaims and makes no warranty that the information in this document will fulfill any of your particular
purposes or needs. NEMA does not undertake to guarantee the performance of any individual
manufacturer or seller’s products or services by virtue of this standard or guide.

In publishing and making this document available, NEMA is not undertaking to render professional or other
services for or on behalf of any person or entity, nor is NEMA undertaking to perform any duty owed by
any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using this document should rely on his or her own
independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the
exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. Information and other standards on the topic
covered by this publication may be available from other sources, which the user may wish to consult for
additional views or information not covered by this publication.

NEMA has no power, nor does it undertake to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this
document. NEMA does not certify, test, or inspect products, designs, or installations for safety or health
purposes. Any certification or other statement of compliance with any health or safety–related information
in this document shall not be attributable to NEMA and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker
of the statement.

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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Approval of an American National Standard requires verification by

AMERICAN ANSI that the requirements for due process, consensus, and other
NATIONAL criteria for approval have been met by the standards developer.

STANDARD Consensus is established when, in the judgment of the ANSI Board of

Standards Review, substantial agreement has been reached by directly
and materially affected interests. Substantial agreement means much
more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity. Consensus
requires that all views and objections be considered, and that a
concerted effort be made toward their resolution.

The use of American National Standards is completely voluntary; their

existence does not in any respect preclude anyone, whether he has
approved the standards or not, from manufacturing, marketing,
purchasing, or using products, processes, or procedures not conforming
to the standards.

The American National Standards Institute does not develop standards

and will in no circumstances give an interpretation of any American
National Standard. Moreover, no person shall have the right or authority
to issue an interpretation of an American National Standard in the name
of the American National Standards Institute. Requests for
interpretations should be addressed to the secretariat or sponsor whose
name appears on the title page of this standard.

Caution Notice: This American National Standard may be revised or

withdrawn at any time. The procedures of the American National
Standards Institute require that action be taken periodically to reaffirm,
revise, or withdraw this standard. Purchasers of American National
Standards may receive current information on all standards by calling or
writing the American National Standards Institute.

Published by

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

1300 North 17th Street, Rosslyn, VA 22209

 Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

All rights reserved including translation into other languages, reserved under the Universal Copyright
Convention, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and the
International and Pan American Copyright Conventions.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America.

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 C29.3-1986 (R2002,R2012)
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FOREWORD
(This foreword is not part of American National Standard C29.3-1986 (R2012))

The first edition of this standard was issued in 1961 and was based essentially on the EEI-NEMA (Edison
Electric Institute-National Electrical Manufacturers Association) Standards for Wet-Process Porcelain
Insulators (Spool Type), EEI TDJ-53, NEMA 141-1952. Subsequent revisions were developed by the
American National Standards Committee on Insulators for Electric Power Lines, ASC C-29.

The principal differences between the 1977 and 1961 editions were: a change of color requirements;
addition of neck designations, dimensions, and tolerances; deletion of requirements for manufacturer’s
production sampling and tests; and deletion of the statement regarding certified test data with regard to
design tests. In the 1980 edition, all values were converted from U.S. customary units to SI units. The
1986 edition moves Section 7, Packaging, to the Appendix.

Suggestions for improvement of this standard will be welcome. They should be sent to National Electrical
Manufacturers Association, 1300 North 17th Street, Rosslyn, VA 22209.

This standard was processed and approved for submittal to ANSI by Accredited Standards Committee on
Insulators for Electric Power Lines, C29. Committee approval of the standard does not necessarily imply
that all committee members voted for approval. At the time it approved this standard, the ASC C-29
Committee had the following members:

Rob Christman, Chairman

Steve Griffith, Secretary

Organization Represented: Name of Representative:

Edison Electric Institute B. Freimark

R. Christman
E. Cleckley
M. Garrels
W. Avery
J. Varner (alt)
R. Kluge (alt)
G. Obenchain (alt)

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers T. Grisham

J. Hildreth
A. Jagtiani
J. Kuffel
A. Phillips
E. Gnandt (alt)

National Electrical Manufacturers Association P. Maloney

A. Baker
R. A. Bernstorf
G. Powell
G. A. Stewart
E. Kress (alt)
Z. Lodi (alt)
E. Niedospial (alt)
A. Schwalm (alt)

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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Tennessee Valley Authority J. Nelson

Western Area Power Administration R. Clark

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

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© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

FOREWORD ................................................................................ ………………..iv

1 SCOPE ................................................................................................................. 1

2 REFERENCED AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS ...................................... 1

3 DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................................... 1

4 GENERAL ............................................................................................................ 1

5 MATERIALS......................................................................................................... 1

6 DIMENSIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS ........................................................... 2

7 MARKING ............................................................................................................ 2

8 SAMPLING, INSPECTION, AND TESTS............................................................. 2

8.1 General ............................................................................................................................... 2
8.2 Design Tests ...................................................................................................................... 2
8.2.1 Low-Frequency Dry Flashover Test .................................................................................... 2
8.2.2 Low-Frequency Wet Flashover Test ................................................................................... 2
8.3 Quality Conformance Tests ................................................................................................. 2
8.3.1 Dimensional Test................................................................................................................. 2
8.3.2 Visual Test........................................................................................................................... 3
8.3.3 Porosity Test ....................................................................................................................... 3
8.3.4 Transverse-Strength Test................................................................................................................. 3

TABLE
1 Neck Designations and Dimensions ............................................................................................ 2

FIGURES
1 Spool Insulator, Class 53-1 ........................................................................................................... 4
2 Spool Insulator, Class 53-2 ........................................................................................................... 5
3 Spool Insulator, Class 53-3 ........................................................................................................... 6
4 Spool Insulator, Class 53-4 ........................................................................................................... 7
5 Spool Insulator, Class 53-5 ........................................................................................................... 8

APPENDIX…………….. .............................................................................................. A-1

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© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD ANSI/NEMA C29.3-1986 (R2012)

Wet Process Porcelain Insulators—Spool Type

1 SCOPE

This standard covers spool-type insulators made of wet-process porcelain and used in the transmission and
distribution of electric energy.

2 REFERENCED AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS

This standard is intended to be used in conjunction with the following American National Standards. When
the referenced standards are superseded by a revision approved by the American National Standards
Institute, Inc., the revision shall apply.

ANSI C29.1-1988 (R2012) Test Methods for Electrical Power Insulators

ANSI Z55.1-1967 (R1973) Gray Finishes for Industrial Apparatus and Equipment

3 DEFINITIONS
See section 2 of ANSI C29.1-1988 (R2012) for definitions of terms.

4 GENERAL
4.1 Insulators shall conform in all respects to the requirements of this standard. The text and figures
supplement each other and shall be considered part of this standard.

4.2 Manufacturer’s drawings, if furnished, shall show the outline of the insulators, together with all
pertinent dimensions. Any variations in these dimensions due to manufacturing tolerances shall be indicated.

5 MATERIAL

5.1 The insulators shall be made of good commercial-grade wet-process porcelain.

5.2 The entire surface of the insulator, with the exception of a firing surface, shall be glazed. The entire
surface shall be relatively free from imperfections. Color is not a part of this standard. If gray is required, it
shall be in accordance with ANSI Z55.1-1967 (R1973), and conform to Munsell notation 5BG 7.0/0.4 with the
following tolerances:

1) Hue: ± 12 (3G to 7B)

2) Value: ± 0.5
3) Chroma: -0.2 to +0.6

6 DIMENSIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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6.1 Figures 1 through 5 (see pages 4-8) are drawings of insulator types. Dimensions and characteristics
of the insulators shall be in accordance with these figures.

6.2 When specified, neck designations and dimensions shall be as shown in table 1.

Table 1
Neck Designations and Dimensions
Groove-Height Relationship
Designation Diameter as Applicable (millimeters)
Letter (millimeters) Minimum Maximum
A 45 ± 3 - -
C 57 ± 3 14 22
F 73 ± 3 14 22
J 89 ± 3 6 16
K 102 ± 3 6 16
N 152 ± 3 - -

7 MARKING
Each insulator shall bear a symbol identifying the manufacturer. The marking shall be both legible and
durable.

8 SAMPLING, INSPECTION, AND TESTS

8.1 General
Tests described in 8.2 shall be required only on Insulators of new designs. Tests described in 8.3 shall be
required on each lot of insulators.

8.2 Design Tests

8.2.1 Low-Frequency Dry Flashover Test

Three insulators shall be selected at random and tested in accordance with 4.2 of ANSI C29.1-1988 (R2012).
Failure of the average dry flashover value of the three insulators to equal or exceed 95% of the rated dry
flashover value, as given in the applicable figure, shall constitute failure to meet the requirements of this
standard.

8.2.2 Low-Frequency Wet Flashover Test

Three insulators shall be selected at random and tested in accordance with 4.3 of ANSI C29.1-1988 (R2012).
Failure of the average wet flashover value of the three insulators to equal or exceed 90% of the rated wet
flashover value, as given in the applicable figure, shall constitute failure to meet the requirements of this
standard.

8.3 Quality Conformance Tests

8.3.1 Dimensional Test

Three insulators shall be selected at random from the lot and their dimensions checked against the
dimensions on the manufacturer’s drawing. Failure of more than one of these insulators to conform, within
manufacturing tolerances, to the dimensions on this drawing shall constitute failure of the lot to meet the
requirements of this standard.

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 C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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8.3.2 Visual Test

If visual inspection is required on lots of 500 or more insulators, 50 insulators shall be selected at random
from the lot. If more than 4 but fewer than 10 of the insulators fail to meet the requirements of 5.2, 100
additional insulators shall be selected at random from the same lot. Failure of more than a total of 10
insulators from both the first and second samples shall constitute failure of the lot to meet the requirements of
this standard.

8.3.3 Porosity Test

Specimens shall be selected from insulators destroyed in other tests and tested in accordance with 5.4 of
ANSI C29.1-1988 (R2012). Penetration of the dye into the body of the dielectric shall constitute failure of the
lot to meet the requirements of this standard.

8.3.4 Transverse-Strength Test

Five insulators shall be selected at random and tested in accordance with 5.1.6 of ANSI C29.1-1988 (R2012).
Failure of the average strength of the five insulators to meet the strength requirements given in the
applicable figure, or failure of any one insulator to equal 85% of that strength requirement, shall constitute
failure of the lot to meet the requirements of this standard.

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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See American National Standard

C29.1-1988 (R2012)
Rating Section
Mechanical Values
Transverse strength, newtons 8900 5.1.6
Electrical Values
Low-frequency dry flashover, kilovolts 20 4.2
Low-frequency wet flashover, kilovolts
Vertical 8 4.3
Horizontal 10 4.3

FIGURE 1
SPOOL INSULATOR, CLASS 53-1

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 C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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See American National Standard

C29.1-1988 (R2012)
Rating Section
Mechanical Values
Transverse strength, newtons 13300 5.1.6
Electrical Values
Low-frequency dry flashover, kilovolts 25 4.2
Low-frequency wet flashover, kilovolts
Vertical 12 4.3
Horizontal 15 4.3

FIGURE 2
SPOOL INSULATOR, CLASS 53-2

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C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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See American National Standard

C29.1-1988 (R2012)
Rating Section
Mechanical Values
Transverse strength, newtons 17800 5.1.6
Electrical Values
Low-frequency dry flashover, kilovolts 25 4.2
Low-frequency wet flashover, kilovolts
Vertical 12 4.3
Horizontal 15 4.3

FIGURE 3
SPOOL INSULATOR, CLASS 53-3

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 C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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GROOVE MUST SEAT

NOT LESS THAN 30
DIA MANDREL

See American National Standard

C29.1-1988 (R2012)
Rating Section
Mechanical Values
Transverse strength, newtons 20000 5.1.6
Electrical Values
Low-frequency dry flashover, kilovolts 25 4.2
Low-frequency wet flashover, kilovolts
Vertical 12 4.3
Horizontal 15 4.3

FIGURE 4
SPOOL INSULATOR, CLASS 53-4

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association

C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
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GROOVE MUST SEAT

NOT LESS THAN 30
DIA MANDREL

See American National Standard

C29.1-1988 (R2012)
Rating Section
Mechanical Values
Transverse strength, newtons 26700 5.1.6
Electrical Values
Low-frequency dry flashover, kilovolts 35 4.2
Low-frequency wet flashover, kilovolts
Vertical 18 4.3
Horizontal 25 4.3

FIGURE 5
SPOOL INSULATOR, CLASS 53-5

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 C29.3-1986 (R2002, R2012)
Page A-1

APPENDIX
(This Appendix is not part of American National Standard C29.3-1986 (R2012), but is included for
information only.)

Packaging

Packaging of insulators should be such as to afford reasonable and proper protection to the insulators in
shipping and handling.

Each box or container should be marked with the number of pieces contained therein; the catalog number,
or class number, or description of the contents; and the manufacturer’s name.

© Copyright 2013 by National Electrical Manufacturers Association