A study on the influence of forest fire on polymer insulators

The forest fire simulation tests were performed with polymer and porcelain insulators at Gochang Power Testing Center. These tests consisted of open flame rising up to 600~820degC as being measured at insulator surface. Mechanical and electrical characteristics such as specific mechanical load, low frequency dry flashover voltage and impulse flashover voltage were analyzed for the polymer insulators before, during and after simulation tests compared with porcelain insulators. At the end of fire simulation tests, there was no detrimental deterioration of any insulators. All insulators passed the criteria of KEPCO specification. This study showed that forest fire simulation had no impact on polymer insulators.