【Safety Certification】The Insulations in Clearance and Creepage Distance

The clearance and creepage distance for basic insulation and functional insulation are different, do you know the definitions of them?
 

• Basic Insulation

insulation applied to live parts to provide basic protection against electric shock.
Ex: the distance for basic insulation -
like the distance between live part and accessible earthed metal part.
 

• Functional Insulation

insulation between conductive parts of different potential which is necessary only for the proper functioning of the appliance.
Ex: the distance for functional insulation -
like the distance between two live parts.
 
[Note] Ref: IEC/EN 60335-1

• Clearance

shortest distance in air between two conductive parts or between a conductive part and the accessible surface.
 

• Creepage distance

shortest distance along the surface of insulation between two conductive parts or between a conductive part and the accessible surface.
 
GCS Safety Team