IEC 62271 Series

Standards for MV-Switchgear

IEC 62271-1 High-voltage switchgear and controlgear
Part 1: Common specifications
Olaf Bischur
Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Siemens AG
IC LMV MS R&D GIS TD 1PG

Topics
1. Standards Group IEC 62271
2. Common Specifications IEC 62271-1
3. Outlook of IEC 62271-1
4. Extension of validity of type tests IEC 62271-307

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 2

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

Structure of the group IEC 62271

IEC 62271

HV Switchgear and Controlgear

Responsible
IEC committee

Part

1 99 Generic standards

SC 17A / 17C

Part 100 199 Switching Devices

SC 17A

Part 200 299 Switchgear installations

SC 17C

Part 300 399 Guidelines, reports etc.

SC 17A / 17C

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 3

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

Topics
1. Standards Group IEC 62271
2. Common Specifications IEC 62271-1
3. Outlook of IEC 62271-1
4. Extension of validity of type tests IEC 62271-307

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 4

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, Overview (1)

This part of IEC 62271 applies to a.c. switchgear and
controlgear designed for indoor and outdoor installation
and for operation at service frequencies up to and
including 60 Hz on systems having voltages above 1 000 V.
This standard defines common requirements about general conditions
(e. g. indoor, outdoor, temperature and humidity, etc.)
Terms and definition (e. g. wording incl. cross reference to
IEV
international electrotechnical vocabulary)
Ratings (e. g. scientific notation, values, etc.)
Design and construction
(e. g. requirements for liquids, gas, earthing, enclosure, etc.)
Type and routine tests (general kinds, valid for all switchgear and controlgear)
Information to be given with enquiries, tenders and orders

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 5

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, Overview (2)

This standard gives information about common terms.
Out of scope of this standard are requirements
of certain design solutions e. g.
- Internal arcing test
e. g. IEC 62271-200
- Mechanical operation tests of switching devices
e. g. IEC 62271-100, -200
- Pressure withstand test for gas-filled compartments
e. g. IEC 62271-200
- Making and breaking capability of switching devices
e. g. IEC 62271-100
- Mechanical endurance tests of switching devices
e. g. IEC 62271-100, -102

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 6

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, Overview clauses

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

General
Normal and special service conditions
Terms and definitions
Ratings
Design and construction
Type tests
Routine tests
Guide to the selection of switchgear
and controlgear
9. Information to be given with enquiries,
tenders and orders
10. Transport, storage, installation,
operation and maintenance
11. Safety
12. Influence of the product on the environment

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 7

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, Overview type tests

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

General
Dielectric tests
Radio interference voltage (r.i.v.) test
Measurement of the resistance of circuits
Temperature-rise tests
Short-time withstand current and peak withstand
current tests
7. Verification of the protection
8. Tightness tests
9. Electromagnetic compatibility tests (EMC)
10. Additional tests on auxiliary and control circuits
11. X-radiation test procedure for vacuum interrupters

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 8

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

General (1)
Clause 6.1: General
The type tests shall be made on representative functional units.
Because of the variety of types, ratings and possible combinations of
components, it is not practicable to make type tests with all the arrangements
of metal-enclosed switchgear and controlgear.
(see also IEC 62271-200, clause 6.1)

This clause gives information about

Grouping of tests
Information for identification of
specimens (drawings, part-lists, )
Information to be included in
type-test reports

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 9

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

General (2)
Clause 6.1: Information to be included in type-test reports
Manufacturer
Type designation and serial number
Rated characteristics
General description of the test object
Manufacturer, type, serial numbers and ratings of essential parts
General details of the supporting structure
Details of the operating-mechanism
Photographs to illustrate the condition before and after test
Sufficient outline drawings and data schedules
Reference numbers of all drawings to identify the essential parts
Details of the testing arrangements
Records of the test quantities
Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.
Slide 10

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

dielectric tests
Clause 6.2: Dielectric tests
This clause gives information about
Ambient air conditions during tests (humidity, )
Condition of the test specimen
Criteria to pass the test
Application of the test voltage and test conditions
Kind of tests (Power-frequency, Lightning impulse,
Switching impulse, Partial discharge,
tests on auxiliary and control circuits)
with criteria to past the tests

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 11

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

r.i.v. test
Clause 6.3: Radio interference voltage (r.i.v.) test
This test applies only to switchgear and controlgear having rated voltages
of 123 kV and above.
For medium voltage switchgear and controlgear the r.i.v. effects are of a low
level and are negligible.

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 12

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

measurement of the resistance
Clause 6.4: Measurement of the resistance of circuits
Not a stand alone type test.
A measurement of the resistance of the main circuit shall be made for
comparison between the switchgear and controlgear type tested for temperature
rise and all other switchgear and controlgear of the same type subjected to
routine tests (see routine test clause 7.3).
Also to perform before and after short-time withstand current and peak withstand
current tests and making and breaking capability tests as a condition check.

100 A current source

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Slide 13

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

temperature-rise tests
Clause 6.5: Temperature-rise tests

This clause gives information about

Condition of the test specimen
Condition of the testing area (e. g. max. wind speed, )
External connection to the test specimen
(incoming, short-circuit link)
Kind of measurement of the temperature and temperature-rise
Interpretation of the temperature-rise tests
Definition end of test (normal after five times the thermal time constant)
More details about number of phases to be tested, value of test current, transfer
of results to other frequencies as tested, preheating the circuit with a higher
value of current to save testing time,
Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.
Slide 14

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

short-time withstand current and
peak withstand current test
Clause 6.6: Short-time withstand current and peak withstand current
Similar to the test before with
Condition of the test specimen and test current
(e. g. three-phase or single-phase test)
Test current and test duration
Behavior of the test specimen during test
Condition of the test specimen after test

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 15

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

verification of the protection
Clause 6.7: Verification of the protection
Tests only necessary in case of doubt
Verification of the IP coding in accordance with IEC 60529
(test with an access / object probe or water)
Verification of the IK coding in accordance with IEC 62262
(test with a hammer / ball)

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 16

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

Tightness tests
Clause 6.8: Tightness tests
Will be performed typically before and after the mechanical operation test
or during the operation tests at extreme temperatures.
Three kinds of systems:
Controlled pressure systems for gas (not longer state of the art)
Closed pressure systems for gas
Sealed pressure systems

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 17

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

Electromagnetic compatibility tests (EMC)
Clause 6.9: Electromagnetic compatibility tests (EMC)
Emission tests from the main circuits (radio interference voltage test, r.i.v.)
not necessary because the r.i.v. effects are of a low level and are negligible;
see clause 6.3.
Two topics in this clause:
Emission tests from the auxiliary and
control circuits
Immunity tests on auxiliary and
control circuits (electrical fast transient /
burst, oscillatory wave immunity)

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 18

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

Additional tests on auxiliary and control circuits
Clause 6.10: Additional tests on auxiliary and control circuits
Tests to qualify the whole assembly without repeating individual tests on
components.
Functional tests to verify the proper functioning of auxiliary and control circuits
Electrical continuity of earthed metallic parts test
Verification of the operational characteristics of auxiliary contacts
(unless the equipment has passed the whole type tests as a functional unit)
Environmental tests
Dielectric test (2 kV / 1 min.)

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 19

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, details type tests,

X-radiation test procedure for vacuum interrupters
Clause 6.11: X-radiation test procedure for vacuum interrupters
The purpose of this type test is to verify that the X-radiation emitted from vacuum
interrupters does not exceed specified limits.
Clauses imply:
Mounting of specimen for testing
Radiation instrument to verify the X-radiation
Location of radiation instrument
Test voltage and measurement procedure

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 20

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

Topics
1. Standards Group IEC 62271
2. Common Specifications IEC 62271-1
3. Outlook of IEC 62271-1
4. Extension of validity of type tests IEC 62271-307

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 21

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1, outlook

Future trend; no major technical changes
Including of UHV (ultra high voltage)
EMC: in relation with Guide 107 and Cenelec request
Harmonization of content with IEEE C37.100.1
Check of definitions and references
Modification of chapter 4.4, new headline: "Rated continuous current
instead of rated normal current
Including new annex Extension of validity of type tests

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 22

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

Topics
1. Standards Group IEC 62271
2. Common Specifications IEC 62271-1
3. Outlook of IEC 62271-1
4. Extension of validity of type tests IEC 62271-307

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 23

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-307: Extension of validity of type tests

- Because of the variety of types, it is not practicable to make type tests with
all the arrangements of metal-enclosed switchgear and controlgear (see also
IEC 62271-200, clause 6.1).
- IEC 62271-307: Guidance for the
extension of validity of type tests
- Responsible for the transfer
of test results is the manufacturer

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 24

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage

IEC 62271-1

Thank you for your attention

Siemens AG 2014 All rights reserved.

Slide 25

Olaf Bischur

Sector Infrastructure & Cities, Medium Voltage