In order to ensure the safety and reliability of components manufactured using laminated insulating materials, these materials must comply with the relevant international standards.

In this regard, specific certifications have been defined, which must be obtained in order to produce and use laminated insulation materials in industry. To enable companies involved in the production of these components to operate in the best possible way, three main competent bodies have been established: IEC, ASTM, and UL.

IEC, ASTM, and UL compared

The first international body established for laminated insulation materials was the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). This is a global organization that defines minimum safety and material suitability requirements, providing a universal standard that is widely recognized both in Europe and the rest of the world.

The IEC standards were established to break down any barriers between countries regarding the recognition of the qualities of laminated insulating materials, thereby simplifying trade between different countries and defining classification criteria that are recognizable to all.

The most relevant standards include the following:

• IEC 60085: Relates to the evaluation of the thermal properties of the material and the classification of electrical insulation (temperature classes).
• IEC 60216: Relates to the thermal properties of electrical insulating materials.
• IEC 60243: Relates to test methods defined for testing dielectric strength.
• IEC 60664: Relates to the coordination of insulation in low-voltage systems, defining air and surface distances (clearance and creepage distance), which are crucial for solid and composite insulating materials.

The second body is the ASTM, or American Society for Testing and Materials.
This is a regulatory body that acts across the board and focuses mainly on testing methods useful for testing layered insulating materials in an effective and reliable manner. These procedures define the fundamental standards for classifying the physical and technical properties of materials.

ASTM standards are therefore complementary to product standards and provide uniform and reproducible protocols on a global scale.

In particular, the following ASTM standards require special attention:

• ASTM C168: Standard defined to evaluate thermal insulation in general.
• ASTM C1695: Specifications for coated thermal insulation, useful for describing composite elements such as internal and external coatings, as well as fastening materials.
• ASTM C578/C1289 etc.. (in this case, each acronym corresponds to specific materials): Standard that defines in detail the individual properties of insulation materials such as polystyrene and polyisocyanurate, two components widely used in the manufacture of layered insulation materials.

Finally, UL (an American acronym that stands for “Underwriters Laboratories”) defines global certification standards for safety in the conduct of specific tests, especially for the North American market. It is an independent body that issues essential certifications in the electrical and electronic manufacturing sector.

One of the most important reference standards for UL is undoubtedly UL 94, the well-known classification given to flame-resistant laminated insulating materials: this is often an essential factor in the production of this type of component and for their subsequent introduction onto international markets, especially in the field of fire protection products.

This certification, like all UL-recognized standards in general, is often a necessary step, especially for companies that aim to export their electronic products abroad or that seek to certify the reliability of their components according to defined rules, especially in the electronics market.
Among the main UL certifications for laminated insulating materials are:

• UL 94: Issued for plastic materials that pass the flammability test; a crucial test for polymer laminates.
• UL 746A: Issued for all polymeric materials that pass the short-term performance evaluation test, through careful assessment of the electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties of the material under consideration.
• UL 1446: Issued following a careful thermal evaluation of insulating materials, through an in-depth analysis of the entire insulation system of the equipment or final system in which the material in question was used.

Recognizing the importance of certifications

Navigating the various certifications of conformity that are essential for today’s industry can seem complicated, but in order to market quality materials, it is necessary to ensure that production meets all the requirements recognized as essential by today’s standards, obtaining the appropriate certifications required by the IEC, ASTM, and UL bodies.

For this reason, certifying laminated insulation materials is necessary not only to safeguard their production, but also to ensure their trade, especially in the international arena.