United States Prevention, Pesticides EPA712-C-95-029
Environmental Protection and Toxic Substances August 1995
Agency (7101)
&EPA Product Properties
Test Guidelines
OPPTS 830.6321
Dielectric Breakdown
Voltage
'Public Draft"
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INTRODUCTION
This guideline is one of a series of test guidelines that have been
developed by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances,
United States Environmental Protection Agency for use in the testing of
pesticides and toxic substances, and the development of test data that must
be submitted to the Agency for review under Federal regulations.
The Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS)
has developed this guideline through a process of harmonization that
blended the testing guidance and requirements that existed in the Office
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and appeared in Title 40,
Chapter I, Subchapter R of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the
Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) which appeared in publications of the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and the guidelines pub-
lished by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD).
The purpose of harmonizing these guidelines into a single set of
OPPTS guidelines is to minimize variations among the testing procedures
that must be performed to meet the data requirements of the U. S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act (15
U.S.C. 2601) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
(7U.S.C. I36,etseq.).
Public Draft Access Information: This draft guideline is part of a
series of related harmonized guidelines that need to be considered as a
unit. For copies: These guidelines are available electronically from the
EPA Public Access Gopher (gopher.epa.gov) under the heading "Environ-
mental Test Methods and Guidelines" or in paper by contacting the OPP
Public Docket at (703) 305-5805 or by e-mail:
guidelines@epamail.epa.gov.
To Submit Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit com-
ments. By mail: Public Docket and Freedom of Information Section, Office
of Pesticide Programs, Field Operations Division (7506C), Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person:
bring to: Rm. 1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Ar-
lington, VA. Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: guidelines@epamail.epa.gov.
Final Guideline Release: This document is available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 on The Federal Bul-
letin Board. By modem dial 202-512-1387, telnet: federal.bbs.gpo.gov
3001, or call 202-512-1530 for disks or paper copies. This guideline is
available in ASCII and PDF (portable document format).
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OPPTS 830.6321 Dielectric breakdown voltage.
(a) Scope—(1) Applicability. This guideline is intended to meet test-
ing requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.}.
(2) Background. The source material used in developing this har-
monized OPPTS test guideline is OPP guideline 63-21 and 40 CFR
158.190.
(b) Test method—(1) Objective. The objective of this test is to deter-
mine the potential for hazard when the pesticide product is used on or
in the vicinity of electrical equipment and electrical conduits. The dielec-
tric breakdown voltage of an insulating liquid is of importance as a meas-
ure of the liquid's ability to withstand electric stress without failure.
(2) Test details, (i) The Agency recommends the method described
in ASTM D-877, "Standard Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Volt-
age for Insulating Liquids Using Disk Electrodes" (see paragraph (e) of
this guideline). Other methods may be substituted as appropriate for the
particular properties of the pesticide to be tested. If an alternative method
is used, it is recommended that the registrant consult with the Agency
prior to adopting the test method.
(ii) The test method covers a referee and a routine procedure for de-
termining the dielectric breakdown voltage of insulating liquids.
(iii) Test procedure. (A) The test liquid is poured into a cup with
rigidly mounted brass electrodes connected to an appropriate power source
with automatic circuit-interrupting equipment. Voltage is incrementally in-
creased until the circuit-interrupting equipment is activated and the break-
down voltage is recorded.
(B) For referee testing, one breakdown shall be made on each of five
successive fillings of the cup. If the five values meet the defined criterion
for statistical consistency, their average value will be reported as the break-
down voltage. If the five values do not meet the criterion, one breakdown
on each of five additional cup fillings will be made and the average of
the ten trials will be reported as the breakdown voltage of the sample.
(C) For routine testing, five breakdowns may be made on one cup
filling with 1 min intervals between breakdowns. The average of these
values will be considered the breakdown voltage of the sample if the cri-
terion for statistical consistency is met. If the criterion is not met, the
cup will be refilled with a new sample and five breakdowns will be made
on the new sample. The average of the ten breakdowns will be considered
as the breakdown voltage.
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(D) The applications, apparatus, sampling procedures, and criterion
for statistical consistency are described in the ASTM method (see para-
graph (e) of this guideline).
(c) Reporting. (1) Report the data on dielectric breakdown voltage
by following the instructions in paragraph (e) of this guideline or other
Agency-approved test.
(2) Any methods used to characterize the physical properties of a
pesticide shall be referenced or described in the application for registration.
If the methods used are listed in paragraph (e) of this guideline, reference
to the method will suffice. If other methods are used, copies of such meth-
ods must be submitted with the application.
(3) References that denote "ASTM" refer to standardized methods
published by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Philadelphia,
PA.
(4) The applicant shall submit his own statistical evaluation of the
precision and accuracy of these measurements (e.g., standard deviations
or confidence intervals) when appropriate.
(d) Data reporting format. (1) The manufacturer's/registrant's/peti-
tioner's reports should include all information necessary to provide com-
plete and accurate topical discussions of the pesticide product.
(i) Title/cover page Title page and additional documentation require-
ments (i.e., requirements for data submission and statements of data con-
fidentiality claims A), if relevant to the study report, should precede the
content of the study formatted below. These requirements are described
in PR Notice 86-5 published by the Office of Pesticide Programs on July
29, 1986.
(ii) Table of contents.
(A) Introduction and summary.
(7) Scope: Procedure/tests used (including sources).
(2) Principles of the procedure/test used including any references
which may be applicable.
(B) Materials and methods.
(7) Equipment (list and describe).
(2) Reagents and Standards (if applicable): List and describe source
and preparation.
(3) Procedures: Detailed stepwise description of procedure employed
in test.
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(4) Instrumentation: Detailed description of equipment employed in
test.
(5) Methods of calculation (if applicable).
(6) Other: Any and all additional information that the registrant con-
siders appropriate and relevant.
(C) Conclusions. Discussion of adequacy of procedures or tests as
well as whether the results provide acceptable accuracy and precision. Dis-
cuss any other points which may have a bearing on the information/data
provided.
(D) Tables and figures (where appropriate).
(E) References.
(F) Appendices. Representative chromatograms, etc., or any other rel-
evant material not fitting in any of the other sections of the report.
(2) [Reserved]
(e) References. The following references should be consulted for ad-
ditional background material on this test guideline.
(1) American Society for Testing and Materials, "Standard Test
Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage of Insulating Liquids Using
Disk Electrodes, D-877," ASTM, Philadelphia, PA (latest annual index).
(2) [Reserved]
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