Denor’s SPDs meet the performance parameters defined in the International & European standards:
- IEC / EN 61643-11 Surge protective devices connected to low-voltage power systems – requirements and tests
- IEC / EN 61643-21 Surge protective devices connected to telecommunications and signaling networks – performance requirements and testing methods
These parts of the EN 61643 standard apply for all SPDs providing protection against lightning (direct and indirect) and transient over-voltages.
IEC / EN 61643-11 covers AC mains protection, for 50/60 Hz AC power circuits and equipment rated up to 1000 VRMS AC and 1500 V DC.
IEC / EN 61643-21 covers telecommunications and signaling networks with nominal system voltages up to 1000 VRMS AC and 1500 V DC.
Within these parts to the standard is defined:
- The electrical requirements for SPDs, including voltage protection and current limiting levels, status indication and minimum test performance
- The mechanical requirements for SPDs, to ensure an appropriate quality of connection, and mechanical stability when mounted
- The safety performance of the SPDs, including its mechanical strength and its ability to withstand heat, overstress and insulation resistance
The standard establishes the importance of testing SPDs to determine their electrical, mechanical and safety performance.
Electrical tests include impulse durability, current limiting, and transmission tests.
Mechanical and safety tests establish levels of protection against direct contact, water, impact, the SPD installed environment etc.
For voltage and current limiting performance, an SPD is tested according to its Type (or Class to IEC), which defines the level of lightning current or transient overvoltage it is expected to limit/divert away from sensitive equipment.
Tests include Class I impulse current, Class I & II nominal discharge current, Class I & II voltage impulse and Class III combination wave tests for SPDs installed on power lines, and Class D (high energy), C (fast rate of rise), and B (slow rate of rise) for those on data, signal and telecoms lines.
Denor’s SPDs are tested with the connections or terminations following manufacturer’s instructions, as per the expected SPD installation.
Measurements are taken at the connectors/terminals. Three samples of an SPD are tested and all must pass before approval is granted.
SPDs which have been tested to EN 61643 should be suitably labelled and marked, to include the relevant performance data for their application.
Technical Specifications
Within IEC / EN 61643 there are two Technical Specifications which provide recommendations on the selection and installation of SPDs.
These are:
- DD CLC/TS 61643-12 Surge protective devices connected to low-voltage power systems – selection and application principles
- DD CLC/TS 61643-22 Surge protective devices connected to telecommunications and signaling networks – selection and application principles
These Technical Specifications should be used with EN 61643-11 and EN 61643-21 respectively.
Each Technical Specification provides information and guidance on:
- Risk assessment and evaluating the need for SPDs in low-voltage systems, with reference to IEC 62305 Lightning protection standard and IEC 60364 Electrical installations for buildings
- Important characteristics of an SPD (e.g. voltage protection level) in conjunction with the protection needs of equipment (i.e. its impulse withstand or impulse immunity)
- Selection of SPDs considering the entire installation environment, including their classification, function & performance
- Coordination of SPDs throughout the installation (for power and data lines) and between SPDs and RCDs or over-current protective devices
Through following the guidance in these documents, appropriate specification of SPDs to meet the installation requirement can be achieved.
Type 1, 2, or 3 SPDs to EN 61643-11 are comparable to Class I, Class II and Class III SPDs to IEC 61643-11 respectively.
Awareness, that transient surges are the main influencing factor of the MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) of systems and equipment, is driving all manufacturers in the area of surge protection to continuously develop new overvoltage protective devices with increasing features and in compliance with the actual International & European standards. The following is a list of the key standards involved:
| Regulations / Standards | Description |
| PD CLC/TS 50539-12:2013 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Surge protective devices for specific application including d.c. Part 12: Selection and application principles – SPDs connected to photovoltaic installations |
| DD CLC-TS 50539-12:2010 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Surge protective devices for specific application including d.c. Part 12: Selection and application principles – SPDs connected to photovoltaic installations |
| European Standards (EN) | |
| BS EN 61643-11:2012+A11:2018 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 11 Surge protective devices connected to low-voltage power systems – Requirements and test methods |
| BS EN 61643-21:2001+A2:2013 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 21 Surge protective devices connected to telecommunications and signaling networks – Performance requirements and testing methods |
| BS EN 62305-1:2011 | Protection against lightning – Part 1: General principles |
| BS EN 62305-2:2011 | Protection against lightning – Part 2: Risk management |
| BS EN 62305-3:2011 | Protection against lightning – Part 3: Physical damage to structures and live hazard |
| BS EN 62305-4:2011 | Protection against lightning – Part 4: Electrical and electronic systems within structures |
| EN 50122-1:2011+A4:2017 | Railway applications – Fixed installations – Part 1: Protective provisions relating to electrical safety and earthing |
| EN 50123-5:2003 | Railway applications – Fixed installations – DC switchgear – Part 5: Surge arresters and low-voltage limiters for specific use in DC systems |
| BS EN 50539-11:2013+A1:2014 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Surge protective devices for specific application including d.c. – Part 11: Requirements and tests for SPDs in photovoltaic applications |
| BS EN 61643-31:2019 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 31 Requirements and test methods for SPDs for photovoltaic installations |
| EN 61173:2001 | Overvoltage protection for photovoltaic (PV) power generating systems – Guide 32. SIST EN 61400-1:2006/A1:2011 Wind turbines – Part 1: Design requirements (IEC 61400-1:2005/A1:2010) |
| EN 62561-1:2017 | Lightning Protection System Components (LPSC) – Part 1: Requirements for connection components |
| EN 62561-2:2012 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 2: Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes |
| BS EN IEC 62561-2:2018 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 2: Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes |
| EN 62561-3:2017 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 3: Requirements for isolating spark gaps (ISG) |
| EN 62561-4:2017 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 4: Requirements for conductor fasteners |
| EN 62561-5:2017 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 5: Requirements for earth electrode inspection housings and earth electrode seals |
| EN 50526-1:2012 | Railway applications – Fixed installations – D.C. surge arresters and voltage limiting devices – Part 1: Surge arresters |
| EN 50526-2:2014 | Railway applications – Fixed installations – D.C. surge arresters and voltage limiting devices – Part 2: Voltage limiting devices |
| BS EN 61643-331-2018 | Components for low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 331 Performance requirements and test methods for metal oxide varistors (MOV) |
| Verband Deutscher Elektrotechnikere.v. (VDE) | |
| VDE 0675-6-11:2002-12 | Parafoudres basse-tension – Partie 11 – Parafoudres connectés aux systèmes de distribution basse tension |
| European Commission on European Standard (EC/EN) | |
| IEC/EN 61326-1:2012 2LV | Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – EMC requirements – Part 1: General requirements |
| International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) | |
| IEC 60038:2009 | IEC standard voltages |
| IEC 60099-4:2014 | Surge arresters – Part 4: Metal-oxide surge arresters without gaps for AC systems |
| IEC 60099-5:2013 | Surge arresters – Part 5: Selection and application recommendations |
| IEC PAS 60099-7:2004 | Surge arresters – Part 7: Glossary of terms and definitions from IEC publications 60099-1, 60099-4, 60099-6, 61643-11, 61643-12, 61643-21,61643-311, 61643-321, 61643-331 and 61643-341 |
| IEC 60364-5-53:2015 | Electrical installation of buildings – Part 5-53: Selection and erection of electrical equipment-isolation, switching and control |
| IEC 60364-7-712:2017 | Low voltage electrical installations – Part 7-712 – Requirements for special installations or locations |
| IEC 61000-4-5:2014 | Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 4-5: Testing and measurement techniques – Surge immunity test |
| IEC 61400-24:2010 | Wind turbine generator systems – Part 24: Lightning protection |
| IEC 61643-11:2011 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 11: Surge protective devices connected to low-voltage power systems – Requirements and test methods |
| IEC 61643-12:2008 | Surge protective devices connected to low voltage power distribution systems – Selection and application principles |
| IEC 61643-21:2012 | Low voltage surge protective devices – Part 21: Surge protective devices connected to telecommunications and signaling networks – Performance requirements and testing methods |
| IEC 61643-22:2015 | Low-Voltage Surge Protective Devices – Part 22: Surge protection devices connected to telecommunications and signaling networks – Selection and application principles |
| IEC 61643-331:2017 | Components for low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 331 Performance requirements and test methods for metal oxide varistors (MOV) |
| IEC 61643-311:2013 | Components for low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 311: Performance requirements and test circuits for gas discharge tubes (GDT), Edition 2.0, 2013-04 |
| IEC 62305-1:2010 | Protection against lightning – Part 1: General principles |
| IEC 62305-2:2010 | Protection against lightning – Part 2: Risk management |
| IEC 62305-3:2010 | Protection against lightning – Part 3: Physical damage to structures and life hazard |
| IEC 62305-4:2010 | Protection against lightning – Part 4: Electrical and electronic systems within structures |
| IEC 62497-2:2010 | Railway applications – Insulation coordination – Part 2: Over-voltages and related protection |
| IEC 62561-1:2012 | Lightning Protection System Components (LPSC) – Part 1 Requirements for connection components |
| IEC 62561-2:2018 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 2: Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes |
| IEC 62561-3:2017 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 3: Requirements for isolating spark gaps (ISG) |
| IEC 62561-4:2017 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 4 Requirements for conductor fasteners |
| IEC 62561-5:2017 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 5: Requirements for earth electrode inspection housings and earth electrode seals |
| IEC 62561-6:2018 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 6: Requirements for lightning strike counters (LSC) |
| IEC 62561-7:2018 | Lightning protection system components (LPSC) – Part 7 Requirements for earthing enhancing compounds |
| IEC 61643-31:2018 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 31 Requirements and test methods for SPDs for photovoltaic installations |
| IEC 61643-32:2017 | Low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 32: Surge protective devices connected to the d.c. side of photovoltaic installations – Selection and application principles |
| IEC 61643-331:2017 | Components for low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 331: Performance requirements and test methods for metal oxide varistors (MOV) |
| IEC 61643-311:2013 | Components for low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 311: Performance requirements and test circuits for gas discharge tubes (GDT) |
| International Telecommunication Union Standards (ITU-T) | |
| ITU-T K.20:2011 | Protection against interferences: Resistibility of telecommunication equipment installed in a telecommunications center to over-voltages and over-currents |
| ITU-T K.21:2016 | Protection against interferences: Resistibility of telecommunication equipment installed in customer premises to over-voltages and over-currents |
| ITU-T K.44:2016 | Protection against interferences: Resistibility test for telecommunication equipment exposed to over-voltages and over-currents – Basic Recommendation |
| Harmonization Document (HD) | |
| HD 60364-4-443:2016 | Low voltage electrical installations – Part 4-44: Protection for safety – Protection against voltage disturbances and electromagnetic disturbances – Clause 443: Protection against over-voltages of atmospheric origin or due to switching. |
| HD 60364-7-712:2016 | Low voltage electrical installations – Part 7-712: Requirements for special installations or locations – Photovoltaic (PV) systems |
| Underwriters Laboratory (UL) | |
| UL 1449 4th Edition | Standard for Surge Protective Devices |
| NEMA Standards | |
| ANSI C136.2-2015 | Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment – Dielectric Withstand and Electrical Transient Immunity Requirements |
