NEMA Standards Publication
ANSI/NEMA C29.5-2015
American National
Standard for Wet-Process
Porcelain Insulators -
Low- and
Medium-Voltage Types
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
ANSI/NEMA C29.5-2015
American National Standard for
Wet-Process Porcelain Insulators
Low- and Medium-Voltage Types
Secretariat:
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Approved: July 30, 2015
Published: September 22, 2015
American National Standards Institute, Inc.
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2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association
ANSI/NEMA C29.5-2015
Page i
Approval of an American National Standard requires verification by
AMERICAN ANSI that the requirements for due process, consensus, and other
criteria for approval have been met by the standards developer.
NATIONAL
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
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of the American National Standards Institute. Requests for
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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or withdrawn at any time.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
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Published by
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, Virginia 22209
2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association
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Printed in the United States of America
ANSI/NEMA C29.5-2015
Page ii
FOREWORD
(This Foreword is not part of American National Standard C29.5-2015)
The first edition of this standard was based essentially on the EEINEMA (Edison Electric Institute-
National Electrical Manufacturers Association) standards for Wet-Process Porcelain Insulators (Low- and
Medium-Voltage Pin Type), EEI TDJ-55, NEMA 143-1952. Subsequent revisions have been developed by
the Standards Committee on Insulators for Electric Power Lines, C29.
The principal differences between this edition and the previous (1984) edition are revisions to the color
and marking requirements, addition of more specific requirements for conductor groove dimensions, and
a change in the acceptance criteria for the cantilever strength test.
Suggestions for improvement of this standard are welcomed. They should be sent by the date of its next
scheduled revision (December 31, 2020) to:
Senior Technical Director, Operations
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900
Rosslyn, VA 22209
This standard was processed and approved for submittal to ANSI by Accredited Standards Committee
(ASC) 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 C29 Committee had the following members:
A. Jagtiani, Chairman
G. Winstanley, Secretary
Organization Represented: Name of Representative:
Edison Electric Institute E. Cleckley
B. Freimark
M. Garrels
R. Kluge
K. Reese
M. Gray (alt)
D. Mar (alt)
T. Rao (alt)
A. Shkuratkov (alt)
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers T. Grisham
N. DeSantis
A. Jagtiani
J. Kuffel
T. Shaw
J. George (alt)
J. Varner (alt)
2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association
ANSI/NEMA C29.5-2015
Page iii
Organization Represented: Name of Representative:
National Electrical Manufacturers Association A. Baker
R. Bernstorf
A. Schwalm
T. Van Remmen
G. Stewart
E. Niedospial (alt)
P. Maloney (alt)
Bonneville Power Administration D. Liebhaber
J. Havel (alt)
Tennessee Valley Authority J. Nelson
R. Stargel (alt)
Western Area Power Administration R. Clark
2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association
ANSI/NEMA C29.5-2015
Page iv
Contents
Foreword ....................................................................................................................................................... ii
1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Referenced Standards ........................................................................................................................ 1
3 Definitions ............................................................................................................................................ 1
4 General ................................................................................................................................................. 1
5 Material ................................................................................................................................................. 1
6 Dimensions and Characteristics........................................................................................................ 1
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
8.2.3 Critical Impulse Flashover TestsPositive and Negative ......................................................... 3
8.2.4 Radio-Influence Voltage Test .................................................................................................... 3
8.2.5 Cantilever-Strength Test ........................................................................................................... 3
8.2.6 Thermal Shock Test .................................................................................................................. 3
8.3 Quality Conformance Tests .............................................................................................................. 3
8.3.1 Dimensional Test....................................................................................................................... 3
8.3.2 Visual Test ................................................................................................................................. 3
8.3.3 Porosity Test.............................................................................................................................. 3
8.3.4 Pinhole-Gauging Test ................................................................................................................ 3
8.3.5 Puncture Test ............................................................................................................................ 4
8.4 Routine Test (Flashover Test).......................................................................................................... 4
Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
Figures
Figure 1 Pin Insulator, Class 55-1 ................................................................................................................ 5
Figure 2 Pin Insulator, Class 55-2 ................................................................................................................ 6
Figure 3 Pin Insulator, Class 55-3 ................................................................................................................ 7
Figure 4 Pin Insulator, Class 55-4 ................................................................................................................ 8
Figure 5 Pin Insulator, Class 55-5 ................................................................................................................ 9
Figure 6 Pin Insulator, Class 55-6 .............................................................................................................. 10
Figure 7 Pin Insulator, Class 55-7 .............................................................................................................. 11
Figure 8 Insulator Thread Gauge ............................................................................................................... 12
Table
Table 1 Neck Designations and Dimensions .............................................................................................. 2
2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association
ANSI/NEMA C29.5-2015
Page 1
1 Scope
This standard covers low- and medium-voltagetype insulators made of wet-process porcelain and used in
the transmission and distribution of electric energy.
2 Referenced Standards
This standard is intended for use in conjunction with the latest approved revisions of the following American
National Standards:
ANSI C29.1 Test Methods for Electrical Power Insulators
ANSI C29.6 Wet-Process Porcelain InsulatorsHigh-Voltage Pin Types
ASTM D 1535 Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
3 Definitions
See Section 2 of ANSI C29.1 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 Manufacturers 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.
4.3 When specified in the clauses below, the following re-test procedure applies:
If only one insulator fails to comply with the applicable test, a new sample equal to twice the quantity
originally submitted to that test shall be subjected to retesting. If two or more insulators fail to comply, or if
any failure occurs during the retesting, the complete lot is considered as not complying with the
requirements of this standard.
5 Material
5.1 The insulators shall be made of commercial-grade wet-process porcelain that meets the mechanical
and electrical requirements of this standard.
5.2 The surface of the shells exposed after the assembly shall be glazed for porcelain insulators.
Note: The most commonly requested color for porcelain is gray. If gray is required, it shall be in accordance with
ASTM D 1535, Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System, and shall conform to Munsell notation
5BG 7.0/0.4 with the following tolerances:
a) Hue: 12(3G to 7B)
b) Value: 0.5
c) Chroma: -0.2 to +0.6
Other colors are available and can be negotiated between purchaser and supplier.
6 Dimensions and Characteristics
6.1 Figures 1-7 are drawings of insulator types. Dimensions and characteristics of the insulators shall be
in accordance with these figures.
2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association
