scope:

This document is applicable to, and specifies requirements for resistive heating cables for low temperature applications such as comfort heating and the prevention of ice formation. These heating cables and heating cable sets can comprise either factory assembled or field (worksite) assembled units, and are heating cables assembled in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

Bare conductors and protected conductors to be supplied at voltages equal to, or less than, 50 V are excluded from the scope of this document.

Typical applications include, but are not limited to:

• surface heating installed in or under surfaces;

• direct and storage heating;

• snow melting and frost protection of roofs, gutters, pipes, etc.

Electrical resistance trace heating systems for industrial and commercial applications are specified in the IEC 62395 series [1]¹ and for explosive atmospheres applications in the IEC/IEEE 60079-30 series [2], as are mineral insulated heating cables.

Applications in which the sheath temperature exceeds 100 °C are outside the scope of this document.

The object of this document is to ensure that electrical resistance heating cables operate safely under their normal defined conditions of use. This is achieved by:

• employing heating cables of the appropriate construction that meet the test criteria detailed in this document;

• including, for heating cables with an electrical protective component, a metallic braid, concentric wires or sheath, or other suitable electrically conductive material for protective purposes in case of fault;

• ensuring that the heating cables operate at safe temperatures with respect to the materials used in the construction of the cables and their installations according to national regulations.

¹ Numbers in square brackets refer to the bibliography.