Deterioration of plastic insulation is a highly complex process influenced by many factors including time, temperature, plasticizer content, and changes both in molecular weight and in basic chemical character. Past methods of evaluation have, accordingly, been empirical ones using accelerated aging tests, but no method has been available for predicting the life of insulation under service conditions. A critical evaluation is undertaken of the electrical properties of formvar resin, an insulant of proven superiority, and the values determined serve as a key to predicting the life of insulation in general. Data thus obtained are presented graphically for evaluating insulation found in practice.