--- title: Do You Know These 11 Common Classifications for Switchgear? description: Switchgear is the combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment. There are several different classifications of switchgear that can be made. Learn more about them in our blog post. image: https://blog.iemfg.com/hubfs/Vesta-AR-1.png --- [![Iem Fg](https://blog.iemfg.com/hs-fs/file-2666345597-png/images/logo.png?width=116&name=logo.png)](http://www.iemfg.com/) [![Iem Fg](https://blog.iemfg.com/hs-fs/file-2677371527-png/images/logomob.png)](http://www.iemfg.com/) # IEM Blog # Do You Know These 11 Common Classifications for Switchgear? Thursday, August 30, 2018 **![Vesta-AR-1](https://blog.iemfg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Vesta-AR-1.png?width=800&name=Vesta-AR-1.png) ** ### What is Switchgear? In an electric power system, switchgear is the combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment. Switchgear is used both to de-energize equipment to allow work to be done, and to clear faults downstream. This type of equipment is directly linked to the reliability of the electricity supply.  **How can they be classified?** There are several different classifications of switchgear that can be made.  These include classification by: 1. **Current rating** 2. **Interrupting rating** 3. **Voltage class** - such as low voltage (less than 1 kV AC), medium voltage (1 kV AC through to approximately 75 kV AC), high voltage (75 kV to about 230 kV AC), and extra high voltage (more than 230 kV). 4. **Insulating medium** - such as air, gas, oil, vacuum, and carbon dioxide 5. **Construction type** – such as indoor, outdoor, industrial, utility, marine, metal-enclosed, metal-clad, arc-resistant and more 6. **IEC degree of internal separatio**n –  such as no separation, busbars separated from functional units, terminals for external conductors separated from busbars or functional units, functional units or terminals separated from each other, etc. 7. **Interrupting device** - such as fuses, or air/oil/vacuum/gas/CO2 circuit breakers 8. **Operating method** – such as manual, motor/stored energy, and solenoid operated 9. **Type of current** – such as alternating or direct 10. **Application** – such as transmission system or distribution 11. **Purpose** – such as isolating switches, load-break switches, and grounding switches Ratings, design, specifications and details of switchgear are set by a multitude of standards. In North America mostly IEEE and ANSI standards are used, much of the rest of the world uses IEC standards, sometimes with local national derivatives or variations. Lear More To learn more about IEM's switchgear, including VESTA-AR, our medium voltage metal-clad arc-resistant switchgear that makes efficient use of available floor space and minimizes the time required for inspection, repair and maintenance of equipment, download our white paper or [contact us](http://www.iemfg.com/company/contact-us) today. ---  [![Download VESTA-AR White Paper](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/500086/db8fc60d-ae5d-43a4-9435-491fb5bb8262.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/500086/db8fc60d-ae5d-43a4-9435-491fb5bb8262)   ![](https://blog.iemfg.com/hs-fs/file-2687165783-jpg/images/default-news-events_1.jpg) ### Find A Representative Near You Select Product Type - Any -Power Distribution ProductsIEM Power SystemsIEM Marine   Select Region - Any -WesternMidwestCentralSouthernEasternCanadaBelgium Locations ### CORPORATE OFFICE Industrial Electric Mfg. 48205 Warm Springs Blvd Fremont, CA 94539direct 510.656.1600 [www.iemfg.com](http://www.iemfg.com) ### VANCOUVER OFFICE Industrial Electric Mfg. 201 – 27353 58th Crescent Langley, BC V4W 3W7direct 778.373.9601 [www.iemfg.com](http://www.iemfg.com/) ### JACKSONVILLE OFFICE IEM Power Systems, LLC 11902 Central Parkway Jacksonville, FL 32224direct 904.365.4444 [www.iemps.com](http://www.iemps.com/) ### BELGIUM OFFICE IEM Power Systems SA Cour Lemaire, 16 B-4651, Batticedirect +32 (0)4 247.01.67 [www.iemps.com](http://www.iemps.com/) - [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/iemfg) - [twitter](https://twitter.com/iemfg) - [google plus](https://www.google.com/+Iemfg) - [linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/industrial-electric-mfg) - [youtube](https://www.youtube.com/user/iemfg) [![pdf icon](https://blog.iemfg.com/hs-fs/file-2658369461-png/images/img-pdf.png)](http://www.iemfg.com/support/technical-library) ### Technical Documents For more information on IEM’s products and systems. [read more](http://www.iemfg.com/support/technical-library) © 2024 Industrial Electric Mfg, All Rights Reserved. - [TERMS](http://www.iemfg.com/node/245) - [SITEMAP](http://www.iemfg.com/sitemap)