A 100kA SPD is one of the highest-capacity surge protective devices used in industrial, commercial, and utility power systems. Before it ships to your project, a disciplined 100kA surge protective device must pass a structured quality inspection. A single undetected defect can disable an entire distribution board after the first lightning season, so the pre-delivery check is where project risk is either controlled or quietly imported.
Britec Electric has manufactured surge protective devices since 2003, with products tested to IEC/EN 61643-11 and certified by TÜV, CE, and Intertek SEMKO. The checklist below reflects the same factory routine we apply to every 100kA-class unit before it leaves our workshop.
Two numbers sit behind the “100kA” label, and both matter for inspection. The nominal discharge current В (8/20 µs) is the current the SPD can withstand repeatedly, while the maximum discharge current Imax is the peak it can absorb once without failure. A 100kA-class SPD typically shows In around 50kA and Imax around 100–110kA, or In 100kA on high-current designs such as the BR-200 series.
The protection class also drives the test method. Type 1 and Type 1+2 units are verified with the 10/350 µs lightning impulse current Iimp, while Type 2 units are verified with 8/20 µs current. Understanding these differences is essential before you judge a test report. Read our guide on surge protective device types and functions for the full breakdown.
For B2B buyers, panel builders, and EPC contractors, inspection is not paperwork, it is risk control. A 100kA SPD usually sits at the most exposed point of the power system, so a field failure is expensive and hard to schedule. The main reasons to inspect before delivery are below.
● Confirm the delivered unit matches the approved specification and order code.
● Catch manufacturing or transport damage before it reaches the site.
● Validate that test data supports the claimed In, Imax, and Up values.
● Ensure certificates and documentation satisfy local compliance and tender requirements.
● Reduce warranty disputes by agreeing on acceptance criteria up front.
Before signing the delivery note, verify each of the points below. This is the core routine we recommend for every 100kA-class shipment.
● Visual inspection: housing intact, DIN-rail clip seated, terminals torqued, no cracks or moisture.
● Rating label: Uc, In, Imax, Up, Type, pole count, and order code match the purchase order.
● Nominal and max discharge current verified against the IEC/EN 61643-11 type-test report.
● Voltage protection level Up measured and within the datasheet limit for the rated Uc.
● TOV withstand UT confirmed for the installed voltage system (e.g., 385V or 440V class).
● Thermal disconnector and fault-indication window (green to red) function checked.
● Response time tA within specification, typically ≤25 ns for varistor-based designs.
● Enclosure material and IP degree confirmed (UL94-V0 thermoplastic, IP20 typical).
● Remote signaling contact tested open and closed where specified.
● Grounding terminal and conductor cross-section within the 4–35 mm² range.
● Packing list, Certificate of Conformity, and batch test record included per shipment.
BR-25GR 4P Type 1 surge arrester, Imax 100kA (white-background product photo).
A factory acceptance test (FAT) goes beyond visual checks and proves the unit behaves under surge stress. For high-current SPDs we apply the following sequence.
● Sample selection by production batch and serial-number traceability.
● 8/20 µs impulse current test at In and at Imax to confirm clamping and survival.
● Insulation resistance and power-frequency withstand voltage test on terminals.
● Thermal runaway simulation to verify the disconnector opens safely.
● End-of-life disconnect verification so the SPD fails safe, not short.
● Remote signaling and indicator check matched to the customer wiring diagram.
For site-level guidance on how these units are then wired and verified, see our AC power SPD installation and commissioning guide.
BR-110 4P Type 2 surge protective device, Imax 110kA (white-background product photo).
A 100kA SPD delivered without proper documents is hard to commission and harder to defend in an audit. Ask for the following with every shipment.
● IEC/EN 61643-11 type-test report covering In, Imax, Up, and TOV.
● TÜV, CE, and Intertek SEMKO certificates for the exact model.
● Factory Certificate of Conformity and batch production record.
● Dimension drawing, wiring diagram, and remote-signal contact rating.
Browse the full AC power surge protection product range for datasheets and certificates per model.
With more than two decades of SPD manufacturing, our process targets the failure modes that matter. Metal-oxide varistor blocks are selected and matched for consistent clamping, a built-in thermal disconnector forces a safe failure, and every high-current series passes impulse and thermal-runaway testing before packing. Production lines support both standard and OEM/ODM volumes, so inspection criteria stay consistent from prototype to bulk order.
Britec supplies type-test reports, TÜV/CE certificates, and FAT documentation with every 100kA-class shipment. Share your specification and our engineering team will confirm acceptance criteria before delivery.
| Checkpoint | Pass Criteria |
|---|---|
| In / Imax | Matches order and IEC/EN 61643-11 type-test report |
| Up (protection level) | Within datasheet limit for rated Uc |
| TOV withstand | Confirmed for installed voltage class |
| Thermal disconnector | Opens safely, window turns red |
| Сертификаты | TÜV / CE / SEMKO + CoC included |
A: It usually refers to the maximum discharge current Imax (8/20 µs) the SPD can absorb once without damage, or the nominal In on high-current designs. Always read both In and Imax on the label.
A: Low-voltage SPDs are inspected against IEC 61643-11 and the European version EN 61643-11, which define In, Imax, Up, TOV, and disconnector requirements.
A: Uc, In, Imax, Up, Type/class, TOV withstand, thermal disconnector function, response time, IP degree, and the matching order code.
A: A FAT is a batch-based set of impulse, insulation, thermal-runaway, and end-of-life tests that prove the unit behaves correctly under surge stress before shipping.
A: By simulating thermal runaway and confirming the internal disconnector opens the faulty module from the network while the indicator window changes from green to red.
A: Temporary overvoltage from faults can destroy an SPD even without lightning. The TOV withstand UT must match the system voltage class used on site.
A: An IEC/EN 61643-11 type-test report plus TÜV, CE, and Intertek SEMKO certificates for the exact model, supported by a factory Certificate of Conformity.
A: Through the 8/20 µs impulse test repeated at In in the type-test report, cross-checked against the production batch sample during FAT.
A: Label and order-code mismatch, cracked housings from transport, loose terminals, failed indicator windows, and missing or inconsistent test documentation.
A: Matched varistor selection, built-in thermal disconnectors, full impulse and thermal-runaway testing, and traceable batch records support every shipment since 2003.
Send us your voltage system, pole count, and required In/Imax. We will return a matched model with full test reports and certificates, inspected before project delivery.
● What Happens When 100kA Surge Protector Absorbs a Surge Beyond Its Rating?
● How Lightning Surge Protectors Protect Electrical Equipment
● What Is a Surge Protective Device? Function, Types
● AC Power Surge Protection Device Installation & Commissioning
