The Need for Surge Protection Devices
Why you should care about Surge Protective Devices
Damages due to electrical surges is one of the leading causes of failure of electrical equipment and it is
estimated that damage due to lightning alone costs the US economy $5‐6 billion dollars per year
according to the National Lightning Safety Institute. Residences in the US suffered damage to the tune
of $825 million according to the Insurance Information Institute in 2016 alone. This number has risen
40% since 2007 due to increase of electronics and electrical equipment susceptible to surge.
The cost of an average downtime for a critical facility due to surge damage is $130,000 per event.
On average a typical building experiences surge up to 150 times a month. America’s dependence on
connected devices and smart electronics establishes a need to protect the safe and reliable operation
of such equipment that is susceptible to electrical surge damage.
NEMA estimates that up to 80% of surges are created within a facility. The remaining 20% are caused
by external events such as lightning. These cause damage to your electrical equipment and appliances
that can damage or shorten the life of expensive electrical and electronic equipment or cause it to
malfunction resulting in permanent damage and fires.
New era of digitization ‐ The use of sensitive, sophisticated electrical and electronic equipment is
growing at an unprecedented rate – and so is the need to protect that equipment.
Electrification ‐ The evolution of building energy management and control as well as Smart Grid
technologies will increasingly contribute to this complex electrical system and may contribute to an
environment that can potentially damage this electronic equipment.
What are Surge Protective Devices (SPDs)?
An SPD is a device designed to protect electrical devices from voltage surges and spikes. The purpose of a
surge protective device is to limit voltage surges that occur in the normal electrical system as power is
supplied to an electric or electronic device. This is accomplished by diverting surge current and limiting any
unwanted voltages to a level that will not damage the protected equipment.
A common source for surges generated inside a building are devices that switch power on and off. This can be
anything from a simple thermostat switch operating a heating element to a switch‐mode power supply found
on many devices. In total, 60%‐80% of surges are created within a facility. These surges contain limited
energy but are often the cause of system upset or cumulative damage to electronics. Surges that originate
from outside the facility include those due to lightning and utility grid switching. These surges from external
surges, although less common, are typically much more severe than those from internal sources. You can
learn more at www.nemasurge.org.
Who are the Manufacturers of SPDs?
The vast majority of the US base manufacturers are Members of the National Electrical Manufacturers
Association (NEMA). The 19 companies include ASCO Power Technologies, CITEL, Eaton, ERICO, GE, Hubbell,
Legrand/Pass & Seymour, Leviton, Littelfuse, Mersen, Maxivolt, Phoenix Contact, Raycap, Schneider Electric,
Space Age Electronics, Surge Suppression, TRC, and Thomas & Betts.
What are the benefits of SPDs?
Helps maintain the reliability and operation of equipment by limiting the amount of surge current
flowing in electrical equipment due to electrical surge events.
Saves money‐SPDs cost a fraction of replacing electrical equipment or electronics that were damaged
by a surge event. The average U.S. home has over $15,000 worth equipment that needs protection.
SPDs cost a fraction of the equipment.
Reduce energy and energy costs‐many new power strip SPDs can help reduce energy by making sure
unused equipment is not using power when it is not in use.
Provide safety‐limiting the chance of a fire starting due to a surge event, or by protecting life safety
equipment and the supply provisions to critical data operations within process facilities, office
buildings and homes.
Where are SPDs found?
Surge protective devices can be found in almost every building type. In commercial buildings, SPDs are used
to protect emergency lighting, emergency circuits ensuring proper elevator and escalator operations,
computer systems, lighting, data centers and electronic equipment. In industrial applications, SPDs are used to
protect machinery with safety interlock circuits, control systems and vital telecommunications links that keep
the plants protected at all times. In the residential space, you will often find plug in SPDs in the form of power
strips protecting home offices and entertainment equipment. A new trend in the residential space, especially
in areas of major storms, is hard‐wired devices that are installed at the electrical panel that protects the
electrical system of the whole house.
https://www.swartzelectric.biz/surge-protection/
Key Takeaways
1. Surge protection is essential to protect our electrical infrastructure.
2. Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) are no longer an “accessory” to the electrical system – they are a
necessity.
3. Surge protection must become an integral protective component of any facility management system
including commercial, industrial or residential applications alike.
