Overview
IEC 60721-2-2:2024 is the latest third edition of the international standard focusing on the classification of environmental conditions related to precipitation and wind, essential for electrotechnical products. Published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this standard presents in-depth information on the fundamental properties and quantifiable parameters to characterize environmental conditions caused by natural phenomena such as rain, snow, hail, ice, and wind. This technical revision updates and reorganizes the content established in the 2012 edition with enhanced data and includes new details on wind severities.
Key Topics
-
Rainfall Characteristics and Classification
The standard details the formation, types, distribution of raindrop sizes, terminal velocities, and rates of rainfall, including instantaneous and hourly measurements. It provides global rainfall distribution patterns and frequency data, addressing heavy rainfall events like thunderstorms and prolonged rain, supported by worldwide extremes and spatial variation analyses.
-
Snow and Ice Formation
Comprehensive data covers the incidence and depth of lying snow, snow crystal mass and size, fall speed, and regional snowfall probabilities. Different types of ice accretion are classified and characterized, including hoar frost, rime ice, glazed frost (freezing rain and drizzle), and wet snow accretion, with detailed meteorological parameters for atmospheric ice formation.
-
Hail Phenomena
The global distribution and seasonal patterns of hailstorms are analyzed alongside hailstone size ranges, terminal velocities, and duration of hailstorms (hail cells). The standard quantifies maximum hailstone dimensions relevant for product impact assessments.
-
Wind Properties and Effects
Wind is assessed through mean wind speeds, height variation, gustiness, and topographic influences. The classification encompasses types of winds, extreme wind events, gust factors, and the interaction of wind with other damaging environmental agents. Detailed statistical data and modeling guidance are included for engineering applications.
Applications
IEC 60721-2-2:2024 is critical for manufacturers, engineers, and designers of electrical and electronic products requiring robust performance under natural environmental conditions. Typical applications include:
-
Electrotechnical Product Design
Designing equipment to withstand specific precipitation types and wind severities ensures compliance, reliability, and safety in outdoor and harsh environments.
-
Environmental Testing and Certification
Establishing test conditions based on standardized classifications helps product certification bodies simulate real-world environmental stress conditions for durability testing.
-
Infrastructure and Construction Engineering
Assessing environmental risks related to precipitation and wind informs structural integrity planning and maintenance scheduling in power systems and installations.
-
Meteorological and Climatological Analysis
Provides reference data for modeling the impact of environmental factors on electrical equipment across various global climates.
Related Standards
- IEC 60721-2-1: Classification of environmental conditions - Part 2-1: Environmental conditions appearing in nature - Temperature and humidity
- IEC 60068 Series: Environmental testing for electrotechnical products
- ISO 14000 Series: Environmental management standards with relevance to environmental impact assessments
- IEC 60034 Series: Rotating electrical machines environmental classifications
By integrating IEC 60721-2-2:2024 into environmental qualification protocols, stakeholders in the electrotechnical industry ensure products meet rigorous international standards against natural precipitation and wind challenges. This contributes to enhanced product longevity, safety, and global market acceptance.
Open preview (PDF)Classification of environmental conditions - Part 2-2: Environmental conditions appearing in nature - Precipitation and wind
