This Part of IEC 60034‑18 describes procedures for evaluation of insulation systems by endurance testing where thermal and electrical stresses are applied simultaneously. The procedures are intended for insulation systems used, or proposed to be used, in a.c. electrical machines using form-wound windings. The test procedures provide a comparison of performance between reference and candidate systems at combinations of voltage and temperature which have been used separately to assess quality in the past and which are chosen to produce failures within a suitable timescale and at stresses within practical limits. The outcome of the test on the candidate insulation system will indicate whether it is better or worse than the reference system with proven service experience but will not enable a lifetime in service to be calculated. The evaluation described in this technical specification does not include stress grading.

The test procedures in this technical specification are not intended to establish the interaction between thermal and electrical stress in the ageing process nor endurance lines. If additional information is required on this interaction or in order to achieve endurance lines, it is necessary to undertake further tests in which electrical ageing is carried out at constant temperature and different voltages (IEC 60034‑18‑32) and thermal ageing is performed at different temperatures and constant voltage.