What is BS EN 62271-3 - HV switchgear and controlgear standard about?
BS EN 62271-3 is a product family standard for high-voltage switchgear and control gear and assemblies thereof. It provides an application of the horizontal standard series IEC 61850 which details layered power utility communication architecture, in the world of high voltage switchgear and control gear.
BS EN 62271-3 applies to high-voltage switchgear and controlgear for all rated voltage levels above 1 kV and assemblies thereof and specifies equipment for digital communication with other parts of the power utility automation and its impact on testing. This equipment for digital communication, replacing metal parallel wiring, can be integrated into the high-voltage switchgear, controlgear, and assemblies thereof, or can be external equipment in order to provide compliance for existing switchgear and controlgear and assemblies thereof with the standards of the IEC 61850 series.
Who is BS EN 62271-3 - HV switchgear and controlgear standard for?
BS EN 62271-3 on HV switchgear and controlgear standard is useful for:
- Manufacturers of HV switchgear and controlgear
- Operators and electricians working in HV areas
- Concerned maintenance teams
- Product development / innovation / research teams
- Quality control teams
Why should you use BS EN 62271-3 - HV switchgear and controlgear standard?
BS EN 62271-3 is a product standard based on the IEC 61850 series. It deals with all relevant aspects of switchgear and controlgear, and assemblies thereof with a serial communication interface according to the IEC 61850 series. In particular, it defines:
- A selection of the information models from the IEC 61850 series that are supported by such switchgear and controlgear, and assemblies thereof
- Conformance classes for the set of communication services that are supported by the switchgear and controlgear, and assemblies thereof
- Modifications and extensions to type and routine tests of switchgear and controlgear, and assemblies thereof that are required due to the serial communication interface
The sections on timing requirements, data security, and integrity, design, and construction, technological boundaries are some of the many guidelines discussed in thorough detail in BS EN 62271-3. Using BS EN 62271-3 guidelines you can determine the requisites for digital communication equipment used within high-voltage switchgear, controlgear, and assemblies thereof, as well as the relevant testing requirements. BS EN 62271-3 enables you to advance your services and provide your customers with suitable, reliable, and high-quality products.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 62271-3:2015 supersedes BS EN 62271-3:2006. BS EN 62271-3:2015 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 62271-3:2006. The notable ones include:
- An update to the latest edition(s) of IEC 61850 series (e.g., Annex B “LNs for sensors and monitoring” of edition 1 has been deleted since these LNs are now covered by standard IEC 61850-7-4:2010)
- An update of normative references
- The minimum voltage range this standard refers to, was changed from 72,5 kV to above 1 kV
- The description of performance tests and conformance tests became more specific
- The new – informative – Annex C gives an example for performance type testing
- 6.2.3 “transmission systems” as well as appropriate subclauses have been superseded by standard IEC TR 61850-90-4:2013

