Electrical resistance trace heating systems for industrial and commercial applications - Part 1: General and testing requirements

Note: This NOI (originally published on July 10, 2018) was reissued by the responsible SDO on September 10, 2024. 

Note: As requested by the responsible SDO, this NOI being reissued as the standard was in the initial stages of development for more than 12 months. An additional comment period of October 31 to November 22, 2023 (originally published on July 10, 2018).

This part of IEC 62395 specifies requirements for electrical resistance trace heating systems and includes general test requirements.

This standard pertains to trace heating systems that may comprise either factory-fabricated or field-assembled (work-site) units, and which may be series heater cables, parallel heater cables, heater pads or heater panels that have been assembled and/or terminated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for connection to voltage supplies up to and including 450-750 V.

This standard also includes requirements for termination assemblies and control methods used with trace heating systems.

This standard does not include or provide for any applications in potentially explosive atmospheres.

This standard does not cover induction, impedance or skin effect heating.

Trace heating systems can be grouped into different types of applications and the different conditions found during and after installation necessitate different requirements for testing.

Trace heating systems are usually certified for a specific type of installation or application.

Typical applications for the different types of installation include, but are not limited to:

a) installations of trace heating for surface heating on pipes, vessels and associated equipment – applications include:

– freeze protection and temperature maintenance; – hot water lines; – oil and chemical lines; – sprinkler system mains and supply piping;

b) outdoor exposed area installations of trace heating – applications include:

– roof de-icing;

– gutter and down-spout de-icing;

– catch basins and drains;

– rail heating2;

c) installation with embedded trace heating – applications include:

– snow melting;

– frost heave protection;

– floor warming;

– energy storage systems;

– door frames;

d) installations with trace heating inside conduit or piping – applications include:

– snow melting – in conduit;

– frost heave protection – in conduit;

– floor warming – in conduit;

– energy storage systems – in conduit;

– internal trace heating for freeze protection of potable water lines; – enclosed drains and culverts.