| 1 | AC Type 1 Surge Protective Device (SPD) | At the service entrance where the installation’s lightning-protection design calls for partial lightning-current protection. | Type 1; tested using an impulse current waveform of 10/350 μs under IEC 61643-11. | Impulse current rating (Iimp), maximum continuous operating voltage (Uc), pole arrangement, and applicable system earthing arrangement. | High-energy impulse testing, robust current paths, thermal protection, and suitability for the specified service-entry installation. |
| 2 | AC Type 2 SPD | Residential distribution boards for protection against induced lightning surges and switching overvoltages. | Type 2; tested using an 8/20 μs impulse current waveform under IEC 61643-11. | Nominal discharge current (In), maximum discharge current (Imax), Uc, voltage protection level (Up), and short-circuit withstand or backup protection requirements. | Compact DIN-rail construction, thermal disconnection, clear status indication, and coordination with upstream and downstream protection. |
| 3 | Combined Type 1+2 AC SPD | Service-entry or main-board installations where both Type 1 and Type 2 protection functions are required in one device. | Combines Type 1 impulse-current and Type 2 discharge-current test classifications; check the ratings for each function separately. | Iimp, In, Imax, Uc, Up, pole configuration, and coordination conditions stated in the product documentation. | Integration of high-energy and 8/20 μs surge-handling stages, with verified thermal behavior and installation instructions. |
| 4 | AC Type 3 SPD | Near sensitive household equipment as a supplementary protection stage, typically downstream of distribution-board protection. | Type 3; tested with a combination-wave generator using 1.2/50 μs voltage and 8/20 μs current waveforms. | Uc, Up, rated load current where applicable, connection method, and coordination with upstream SPDs. | Point-of-use formats, protective coordination, safe enclosure design, and clear limits on use as a stand-alone device. |
| 5 | Single-phase 1P+N SPD | Single-phase residential circuits; the appropriate arrangement depends on the supply and earthing system. | Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3 variants are available; classification is determined by the tested device, not by the pole count. | Protection mode, Uc for each mode, In or Iimp as applicable, Up, and compatibility with the installation’s neutral and earthing arrangement. | Correct phase-to-neutral and neutral-to-earth protection design, reliable disconnection, and installation diagrams suited to the target system. |
| 6 | Three-phase 3P+N SPD | Three-phase, four-wire residential or residential-building distribution boards. | Type 1, Type 2, or Type 1+2 versions; select according to the installation risk assessment and protection design. | System voltage, number of protected modes, Uc, In/Imax or Iimp as applicable, Up, and required backup protection. | Consistent protection across phases, suitable neutral protection, clear wiring identification, and coordination for the specific earthing system. |
| 7 | Photovoltaic (PV) DC SPD | Residential rooftop solar installations, on the DC side of the PV system where required by the system design. | DC SPD requirements differ from AC SPD requirements; select a product specifically rated for PV DC use and the applicable standard. | Maximum PV system voltage, Ucpv, discharge ratings, polarity and configuration, and compatibility with the PV array and inverter. | DC arc and thermal safety, correct PV voltage rating, enclosure suitability, and clearly documented connection arrangements. |
| 8 | Data and communication-line SPD | Telephone, Ethernet, antenna, or other signal lines entering a home or connecting sensitive equipment. | Selected according to the protected circuit and the applicable signal-line protection standard; AC power SPD classifications do not by themselves define signal-line performance. | Operating voltage, signal type and frequency, insertion loss, connection type, and applicable surge test ratings. | Matching the protector to the line’s electrical and transmission characteristics while maintaining signal integrity and suitable grounding. |
| 9 | Replaceable-cartridge SPD | Distribution boards where replacement of a surge module without replacing the complete base is part of the maintenance plan. | The cartridge retains the classification and ratings of its specific SPD design; replace only with a compatible specified module. | Module compatibility, rated Uc and discharge ratings, end-of-life indication, and whether the base remains serviceable after module operation. | Secure cartridge retention, dependable electrical contacts, clear replacement coding, and visible status indication. |
| 10 | SPD with remote status contact | Homes or residential buildings with monitored distribution boards or building-management systems. | The contact is a monitoring feature; the SPD’s Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3 classification must be assessed separately. | SPD protection ratings, contact configuration, contact rating, terminal arrangement, and the defined status signal. | Reliable status transmission, electrical separation of monitoring and power circuits, and unambiguous end-of-life indication. |