Flashover of polluted high voltage insulators is a major problem for operation of
power lines in Egypt. In 2010, insulators' pollution was the cause of several interruptions
in the Egyptian electric network. Variations of climatic conditions and large industrial
developments in the last few years call to update the pollution map of Egypt. To achieve
this, six sites in northern Egypt with different types of pollution (industrial, desert, marine
and their mixtures) have been investigated. To asses the pollution behaviour of line
insulators, IEC standard cap-pin suspension insulators were hanged for a time zone of 5
months. The study was conducted through measurements of: Equivalent salt deposition
density (ESDD), Surface Conductivity, Maximum leakage current and Flashover voltage.
The results are useful to assess the insulation performance in different environmental
situations and as well to provide an updated pollution map in Egypt.