Surge Protective Devices Committee (SPDC)

Committee Scope

Treatment of all matters in which the dominant factors are the design, construction, testing, preparation of IEEE standards, recommended practices, guides and conformity assessment procedures, selection, application and integration of protective devices with auxiliary systems and equipment (such as shield wires, lightning masts, etc.) designed to prevent damage and/or outages to electrical power generation, transmission, distribution, utilization and communication systems, and associated equipment due to overvoltages or overcurrents or both created by external or internal electrical surge events (such as lightning, utility switching or internal system or equipment operation). Included is treatment of the following: Overvoltage surge protective devices (such as surge arresters, surge protective devices, protective gaps, and surge protective capacitors). Neutral grounding devices (such as grounding reactors and grounding transformers – jointly with the Transformer Committee – resistors and combinations thereof). Lightning and switching surge investigations jointly with the Transmission and Distribution Committee. Promotion of studies, technical papers, and discussions on the performance of devices, seeking new contributions on improved recommended practices, and updating bibliographies, standards, and guides. Matters relating to surge protective devices specifically designed for application covered by other technical committees of IEEE or societies), may be treated jointly if the emphasis is on the particular requirements of the application. SPDs that are employed in the generation, transmission, distribution, and utilization of electrical energy including the effects of such devices on the system’s operation. SPDs that are employed in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems and circuits including the effects of such devices on the system’s operation. Treatment of the techniques and needs for coordination within, between, and among SPDs and their environment, to the extent that these factors affect protection functions or performance. The environment includes such items as insulation coordination and the application of system-neutral grounding devices. Sponsorship and development (either alone or jointly with other technical committees and/or organizations) of standards, recommended practices, guidelines, and policies as well as preparation of position papers and/or documents, technical conferences, and/or sessions on matters related to items above. Liaison and cooperation with other technical committees, societies, subcommittees, and associations concerned with various aspects of the items above.