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When global EPC contractors, utilities and industrial buyers place an order for medium-voltage (MV) switchgear, the technical datasheet is only half the story. The certificates behind that datasheet decide whether the equipment will pass municipal inspection, satisfy insurer requirements and survive a fault. This guide explains what every buyer should verify—covering IEC 62271, CE marking, third-party type tests such as KEMA, internal arc classification and IP ratings—before releasing a purchase order.
At Chuanli Electric we have manufactured medium and high voltage switchgear cabinets for more than 20 years under an ISO 9001 quality system, with in-house CNC, laser cutting and automated test benches. The points below are the same checks our own export team hands to customers during technical clarification.
IEC 62271 is the international standard series for AC switchgear and controlgear rated above 1 kV. For the medium-voltage band (1–52 kV) the decisive document is IEC 62271-200, which defines how a manufacturer must verify rated insulation, temperature rise, mechanical operation, short-time withstand current and internal arc containment. Buyers should treat IEC 62271-200 as the common technical language of any serious tender: if a supplier cannot map its ratings to this standard, the offer is not comparable to others.
A modular design built to iec 62271 200 also brings practical benefits—interchangeable withdrawn units, predictable spare-part sourcing and smoother approval by local authorities that recognize IEC alongside regional standards such as GB/T in China or IEEE/ANSI in North America.
These two documents are often confused, yet they carry very different weight in switchgear certification.
In short, CE gets the product to the border; the type test certificate gets it approved by the engineer and the insurer. Always ask for the original PDF report, not a cropped screenshot.
Independent laboratories such as KEMA (now part of DEKRA), CQC, ASTA and others perform the physical verification behind a type test report. A “kema type test” specifically refers to testing historically conducted by KEMA in the Netherlands; today the same credibility comes from any ILAC-accredited lab.
The laboratory brand is less important than three facts: (1) the lab is accredited, (2) the tested variant is the one you are buying, and (3) the report references the current revision of IEC 62271-200. A recognized third-party report removes the “trust me” factor from a supplier’s claims and is frequently written directly into utility and EPC specifications.
An internal arc is one of the most dangerous MV switchgear faults. Internal arc classification (IAC) tells you how the enclosure contains that arc and protects people nearby. The code “IAC AFLR” means the enclosure protects an operator standing in the Front, Lateral et Rear positions during a defined arc event.
For substations accessible to personnel, specifying IAC and confirming the tested class in the type-test report is not optional—it affects both safety and insurance premiums. Chuanli’s arc-resistant designs apply the same containment principles described in our article on internal arc fault suppression technology.
Send us your single-line diagram and required IEC 62271 ratings. Our engineering team returns a compliance-matched proposal with CE marking and third-party type-test documentation attached.
Le IP rating switchgear carries states how well the enclosure blocks solids and water. The first digit covers solid objects (a typical indoor MV board is IP4X—protected against tools and wires ≥1 mm), and the second digit covers water (outdoor or coastal sites often require IP54 or IP55).
The IP rating must appear in the type-test report and be confirmed by the laboratory, not merely printed on a brochure. Match the rating to the real installation environment: a dusty cement plant, a salty coastal substation and a climate-controlled indoor room each demand a different enclosure specification.
A type test report is only useful if you read it. Before signing, verify these fields against the exact model on your order:
| Field to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Laboratory accreditation | Confirms the test result is internationally recognized (ILAC/IEC). |
| Standard & revision (IEC 62271-200) | An old revision may no longer satisfy current specs. |
| Rated voltage & current | Must cover your network’s highest operating values. |
| Short-time withstand current & duration | Proves the board survives a downstream fault. |
| Internal arc class (IAC AFLR) | Directly tied to operator safety and insurance. |
| IP rating | Must match the installation environment. |
| Tested variant = offered model | A mismatch invalidates the certificate. |
Tick each item with your supplier before releasing the purchase order:
Our medium and high voltage switchgear cabinets—such as the KYN28-12 armored withdrawable switchgear—follow a modular IEC 62271 platform with vacuum circuit breakers, fast interruption and integrated monitoring. For compact distribution networks our les unités principales en anneau (UPA), including the CLH series gas-insulated RMU, are built to the same compliance discipline and supported by CE marking and third-party type-test documentation on request.
Because the same engineering team that designs the product also prepares the compliance package, buyers receive traceable certificates per project rather than generic promises.
IEC 62271 is the international standard series for AC switchgear rated above 1 kV. For medium voltage (1–52 kV) the key document is IEC 62271-200, which verifies rated insulation, temperature rise, short-circuit withstand and internal arc containment. It is the common technical language of global EPC and utility tenders.
CE marking is a manufacturer’s self-issued Declaration of Conformity to EU directives; it is not a physical test. A type-test certificate is issued by an independent accredited laboratory after testing a representative unit to IEC 62271. Buyers should treat CE as entry-level evidence and the type-test report as the real proof of design performance.
A “KEMA type test” refers to third-party testing historically performed by KEMA (now part of DEKRA) against IEC 62271. It is not legally mandatory everywhere, but many EPC and utility tenders specify a KEMA/DEKRA or equivalent accredited report because it removes doubt about the manufacturer’s self-claims. The lab’s accreditation matters more than its brand.
Internal arc classification (IAC) defines how the enclosure contains a fault arc. “IAC AFLR” protects an operator in the Front, Lateral and Rear positions. Specifying IAC and confirming the tested class in the type-test report directly affects personnel safety and insurance requirements in accessible substations.
IP codes state protection against solids (first digit) and water (second digit). Indoor MV boards are commonly IP4X; outdoor or dusty sites often need IP54/IP55. The rating must appear in the type-test report and be verified by the lab—not just claimed on a datasheet—and must match the installation environment.
Verify the laboratory accreditation, the standard and revision (IEC 62271-200), rated voltage/current, short-time withstand current and duration, internal arc class, IP rating, and—critically—that the tested variant matches the model on your order. A mismatch invalidates the certificate.
Request the original PDF report (not a screenshot), confirm the lab is ILAC/IEC accredited, check the report date against the current standard revision, and ask for the exact tested variant. Reputable manufacturers also publish the certificate and can provide traceable documentation per serial number.
Verifying IEC 62271 compliance, CE marking and third-party type tests is the cheapest insurance a buyer can buy—because it happens before the equipment ships, not after a failure. Build the checklist above into every RFQ, and the certificates will work for you instead of against you.
Share your project ratings and standards, and we will return a compliance-matched MV switchgear proposal with CE and type-test documentation ready for your tender.
This article was prepared by the engineering and export team at Chuanli Electric Co., a manufacturer of low- and high-voltage switchgear, RMUs, compact substations and power transformers with more than 20 years of production experience, an ISO 9001 quality system, and in-house CNC, laser and automated test capabilities. Products are designed to IEC and GB/T standards for global B2B projects.
