This part of IEC 60099 is not a mandatory standard but provides information, guidance, and recommendations for the selection and application of surge arresters to be used in three-phase systems with nominal voltages above 1 kV. It applies to gapless metal-oxide surge arresters as defined inIEC 60099‑4, to surge arresters containing both series and parallel gapped structure – rated 52 kV and less as defined inIEC 60099‑6 and metal-oxide surge arresters with external series gapfor overhead transmission and distribution lines (EGLA) as defined inIEC 60099‑8. InAnnex H, some aspects regarding the old type of SiC gapped arresters are discussed.

The principle of insulation coordinationfor an electricity system is given inIEC 60071 and IEC 60071‑2 standards. Basically the insulation coordination process is a risk management aiming to ensure the safe, reliable and economic design and operation of high voltage electricity networks and substations. The use of surge arrester helps to achieve a system and equipment insulation level and still maintaining an acceptable risk and the best economic of scale.

The introduction of analytical modelling and simulation of power system transients further optimise the equipment insulation level. The selection of surge arresters has become more and more important in the power system design and operation. It is worthwhile to note that the reliability of the power system and equipment is dependent on the safety margin adopted by the user in the design and selection of the equipments and surge arresters.

Surge arrester residual voltage is a major parameter of which most users have paid a lot of attention to when selecting the type and rating. The typical maximum surge arresters residual voltage are given inAnnex F. It is likely, however, that for some systems, or in some countries, the system reliability requirements and design are sufficiently uniform that the recommendations of the present standard may lead to the definition of narrow ranges of arresters. The user of surge arresters will, in that case, not be required to apply the whole process introduced here to any new installation and the selection of characteristics resulting from prior practice may be continued.