Low Voltage

Requirement classes of arresters

(SPD = surge protective devices: Rated surge voltage and overvoltage categories
lightning current/overvoltage
protective devices) 6 kV 4 kV 2.5 kV 1.5 kV
IV III II I
Lightning current and overvoltage pro-
tection is only effective if the stipu-
HA Z
lated insulation strength of installation
230/400 V
sections is also taken into account
here. To do this, the withstand surge
voltage of the different overvoltage cat-
egories is matched with the protective
level Up of the different SPDs.
B C D none
The international standard IEC 60664-1 Protection <4 kV <1.5 kV <1.3 kV
level Requirement classes acc. to E DIN part 6/A1
(EN 60664-1) distinguishes four with-
stand surge voltage categories for low-
voltage equipment. The categories Fig. 6/28 Requirement classes
listed in Table 6/25 apply to low-voltage
installations with nominal voltages of
230/400 V in particular. Category Withstand Description
surge voltage
The circuit diagram shown in Fig. 6/28,
Table 6/25 respectively, demonstrates IV 6 kV For devices connected upstream of the distribution board
that the lightning current arresters and
III 4 kV For devices which are an integral part of the installation
surge arresters are divided into re-
(e.g. distribution cabinets)
quirement classes dependent on their
location within the power system. II 2.5 kV For equipment withstanding normal impulse voltages
(e.g. household appliances)
Siemens SPDs comply with the
following product standards: I 1.5 kV For very sensitive equipment (e.g. electronic equipment)
C Germany (VDE 0675-6, 1996)
Table 6/25 Stoßspannungskategorien
C International (IEC 61643-1, 1998)
C Italy (CEI EN 61643-11)
C Austria (ÖVE/ÖNORM E 8001) German Draft International European Designation
Co-ordinated use of lightning Standard Standard Standard
current and overvoltage arresters VDE 0675-6 IEC 61643-1 EN 61643-11

In practice, arresters of the different Class B Class I Type 1 Lightning current arrester
requirement classes are virtually con- Class C Class II Type 2 Surge arrester for power
nected in parallel. Owing to the differ- distribution
ent response characteristics, dis-
charge capacity and protective tasks, Class D Class III Type 3 Surge arrester for consumer

Table 6/26 Product standards: Categorization of surge protective devices (SPD)

6/75 6