This Part of IEC 60544 specifies the controls maintained over the exposure conditions during and after the irradiation of insulating materials with ionizing radiation prior to the determination of radiation-induced changes in physical or chemical properties.

This standard specifies a number of potentially significant irradiation conditions as well as various parameters which can influence the radiation-induced reactions under these conditions.

The objective of this standard is to emphasize the importance of selecting suitable specimens, exposure conditions and test methods for determining the effect of radiation on appropriately chosen properties. Since many materials are used either in air or in inert environments, standard exposure conditions are recommended for both of these situations.

It should be noted that this standard does not consider measurements which are performed during the irradiation.