Overview
IEC/IEEE 62271-37-082:2012 - "High‑voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 37‑082" defines standard practice for the measurement of sound pressure levels on alternating‑current circuit‑breakers. It provides methods to measure noise produced by outdoor AC circuit‑breakers in a free‑field environment and notes that the same methods may be applied indoors or in restricted fields when appropriate precautions are taken. This IEC/IEEE dual‑logo standard (with the January 2014 corrigendum included) was prepared by IEC subcommittee 17A in cooperation with the IEEE Switchgear Committee.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard addresses the full measurement workflow for circuit‑breaker acoustic testing, including:
- Acoustical environment: guidance on assessing ambient noise, wind conditions, air properties and local topography that affect sound measurements.
- Terminology: definitions such as A‑weighted sound level (LA), ambient noise, and ambient sound level (ASL) to ensure consistent reporting.
- Instrumentation: specifications for sound level meters (preferred types, peak and time‑average measurements), calibration capability and any required supplemental instrumentation.
- Test methods:
- Type test methods (laboratory or factory conditions): general test requirements, no‑load conditions, impulse noise measurement, and microphone location/orientation guidance.
- Near‑field and far‑field measurements: procedures for selecting measurement points and converting near‑field data to equivalent far‑field values when required.
- Field test methods: practical guidance for on‑site measurements, wind limits, and operating conditions during testing.
- Data, reporting and documentation: required environmental, instrumentation and acoustical data, plus recommended report completeness and data conversion practices.
Practical applications
This standard is used to:
- Quantify and compare the acoustic emissions of high‑voltage circuit‑breakers for product development and product acceptance.
- Produce consistent, reproducible noise test reports for regulatory compliance, environmental impact assessments and customer specifications.
- Support noise reduction design decisions (e.g., acoustic enclosures, component changes) by providing standardized measurement baselines.
Who should use this standard
- High‑voltage switchgear manufacturers and R&D teams
- Independent acoustic test laboratories and certification bodies
- Utilities, substation designers and asset owners specifying noise limits
- Compliance engineers and environmental consultants involved in substation siting and noise assessments
Related standards and resources
- The standard is part of the broader IEC 62271 series (high‑voltage switchgear and controlgear); consult the IEC webstore for related parts.
- Users should reference the latest editions, corrigenda and any related IEEE guidance when applying measurement procedures.