Solutions

Surge Protection

Tokai Engineering supplies and installs IEC 61643-11 and UL 1449 4th Edition certified Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) — protecting data centres, industrial facilities and commercial buildings from lightning-induced surges and transient overvoltages.
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High Energy Impulse Current Generator

Up to 150 kA (8/20 μs)

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Advanced Testing

Up to 30 kA (10/350 μs)

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Tested to IEC 61643-11

State-of-the-art SPD Testing Lab in Southeast Asia

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Precision & Accuracy

Built for Reliable Performance

What is an SPD?

Protecting Low-Voltage Systems from Lightning and Switching Surges

A Surge Protective Device (SPD) is a critical component in any compliant low-voltage electrical installation. Its role is to divert transient overvoltages — caused by direct lightning strikes, induced lightning, or switching operations within the grid — safely to earth before they can damage connected equipment.

In Malaysia’s high-keraunic environment, where lightning density exceeds 180 thunderstorm days per year in many regions, unprotected systems are at serious risk. IEC 62305-4 defines a zone-based protection scheme — LPZ 0A through LPZ 3 — requiring coordinated SPD placement at each zone boundary.

Without a properly designed SPD system, a single lightning event can cause catastrophic equipment failure, data loss, fire risk, and costly downtime. This is particularly critical for data centres, hospitals, telecommunications infrastructure and industrial control systems across Malaysia.

IEC 62305-4 Zone-Based Design

Coordinated Type 1, 2 & 3 SPDs placed at LPZ boundaries — not a one-size-fits-all solution

Fully Tested to IEC 61643-11

Five mandatory tests: Operating Duty, Temporary Overvoltage, Short Circuit, Voltage Protection Level, and Thermal Stability

BMS & SCADA Integration

Remote alarm contact (Form C) for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance

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IEC 62305-4 — Zones of Protection

Outside — Direct Strike Zone

Full lightning threat · requires Type 1 SPD at service entrance

Outside — Shielded Zone

Partial lightning current · Type 1 SPD at main LV DB

Inside the Building

Reduced surge threat · Type 1+2 or Type 2 SPD at sub-DB

Sub-distribution Level

Type 2 or Type 3 SPD near sensitive equipment

Sensitive Equipment Zone

Type 3 / Signal & Data Line SPD at point of use

Note: Use coordinated Type 1, Type 2 & Type 3 SPDs to achieve effective surge protection across all zones. Consult Tokai for a full IEC 62305-4 zone assessment.
Complete Surge Protection — Matched to Every Zone & Application

From direct lightning current at the service entrance to coaxial and signal line protection — Tokai supplies a fully coordinated SPD system across all IEC 62305-4 zones.

From direct lightning current at the service entrance to coaxial and signal line protection — Tokai supplies a fully coordinated SPD system across all IEC 62305-4 zones.

Class I

Lightning Current Arrester

For direct lightning current protection at the main distribution board (LPZ 0B → LPZ 1). Handles the full energy of a partial lightning strike.

Class I+II · Recommended

Combined Lightning & Surge Arrester

TMP 100KA series. Combined protection against direct lightning and switching surges in a single unit — ideal for main DB installation.

Class II

Surge Arrester

Protection against switching surges and transient overvoltages at sub-distribution boards (LPZ 1 → LPZ 2). Most commonly specified type.

Fine Protection Device

Fine Protection Device

8/20µs · Up to 40kA+ Imax

Protection against switching surges and transient overvoltages at sub-distribution boards (LPZ 1 → LPZ 2). Most commonly specified type.

Class II — Pluggable

Pluggable Type 2 SPD

Hot-swappable pluggable module design — allows replacement of the SPD cartridge without disconnecting the base, minimising downtime during maintenance.

Instrumentation & Control

Signal & Data Line SPD

Protects communication and control lines — RS485, Ethernet, CCTV, Fire Alarm, BACnet, 4–20mA process signals — from surge damage at the connector level.

Real-time Indication

SPD Monitoring Devices

Standalone monitoring units that provide real-time SPD health status, aging indication and remote fault alerts — including Earthing Grid Monitoring capability for BMS integration.

RF & Special Applications

Coaxial & Special SPDs

Surge protection for RF, coaxial and special application lines — antennas, broadcast, CCTV coax, and telecom RF feeds requiring in-line surge diversion.

Featured Products

TMP 100KA Series — High Performance Surge Arresters

Tokai’s flagship Class I+II SPDs, combining lightning current and surge protection in a single modular unit. Designed for data centres, industrial facilities and critical infrastructure in Malaysia.

High Surge Capability SPD — Maximum Protection. Ultimate Reliability.

High Surge Capability SPD — Maximum Protection. Ultimate Reliability.

7P
POLE

Advanced Type 1+2 combined SPD for critical power systems and data centres. 7-pole full mode configuration with the highest surge current capability in the Tokai range — up to 200kA (8/20µs) on the N-E path. High energy MOV + GDT technology with encapsulated, non-exhausting spark gap. Suitable for TN-S, TT & IT systems.

High Surge Current Capability

Impulse Current (8/20µs)

L-N · L-E · L-L

N-E

150 kA

200 kA

Impulse Current (10/350µs)

L-N

N-E

50 kA

100 kA

MCOV L-N

275 VAC

MCOV N-E

255 VAC

Protection Level (Up)

≤1.5 kV

ISCCR (Short Circuit)

25 kA

TMP 100KA/4

High Performance Surge Arrester

4P
POLE

Class I+II surge arrester for three-phase main distribution boards. 4-pole (3+1) configuration covers L1, L2, L3 and PE — ideal for commercial buildings and industrial facilities.

Uc (Max. Operating Voltage)

255 VAC

In (8/20µs) per pole

100 kA

Imax (8/20µs) per pole

100 kA

Iimp (10/350µs) per pole

25 kA

Protection Level (Up)

≤1.2 kV

Response Time

≤25 ns

TMP 100KA/7

Full Mode Protection Surge Arrester

7P
POLE

7-pole full mode variant — comprehensive all-mode protection across L-N, L-E and N-E paths. The (3+1+3) configuration is the recommended choice for data centres requiring maximum zone coverage.

Uc (Max. Operating Voltage)

255 VAC

In (8/20µs) per pole

100 kA

Imax (8/20µs) per pole

100 kA

Iimp (10/350µs) per pole

25 kA

Protection Level (Up)

≤1.2 kV

Response Time

≤25 ns

TMP 320/4

High Surge Capability SPD — Maximum Protection. Ultimate Reliability.

4P
POLE

Advanced Type 1+2 combined SPD for critical power systems and data centres. 7-pole full mode configuration with the highest surge current capability in the Tokai range — up to 200kA (8/20µs) on the N-E path. High energy MOV + GDT technology with encapsulated, non-exhausting spark gap. Suitable for TN-S, TT & IT systems.

High Surge Current Capability

L-N (8/20µs)

40 kA

40 kA

40 kA

N-E (8/20µs)

40 kA

L-N (10/350µs)

20 kA

Uc (MCOV)

320 VAC

In (8/20µs)

Protection Level (Up)

≤1.5 kV

ISCCR (Short Circuit)

ISCCR (Short Circuit)

25 kA

IEC 62305-4 Principle

SPD Coordination — Why One Device Is Never Enough

 Effective surge protection is not a single device — it is a coordinated system. IEC 62305-4 requires SPDs to be placed at every Lightning Protection Zone (LPZ) boundary: Type 1 at the service entrance, Type 2 at sub-distribution boards, and Type 3 at sensitive equipment. Each stage progressively clamps the residual surge voltage to a safe level for the next zone.

A Type 2 SPD installed without a Type 1 upstream is exposed to the full energy of a lightning impulse — which it is not rated to handle. Conversely, a Type 1 alone does not reduce residual voltage sufficiently to protect sensitive electronics downstream. Coordination between stages — including correct energy decoupling spacing or impedance — is critical.

Coordinated Protection Cascade

Service Entrance

Full lightning impulse energy present

Main Distribution Board

Residual surge — reduced but still damaging

Sub-Distribution Board

TYPE 2 SPD — clamps switching surges · Imax (8/20µs)

Sensitive Equipment Zone

Protected — surge voltage within equipment tolerance
Per IEC 62305-4: each SPD stage must be energy-coordinated with the next. Consult Tokai for a full zone-by-zone SPD schedule.
From Our Resources

Many engineers and consultants mistakenly compare SPDs based solely on Imax (8/20µs) ratings. But for facilities in high-keraunic environments like Malaysia’s growing data centre corridor — understanding the distinction between Imax and Iimp (10/350µs) is critical to selecting a Type 1 SPD that provides genuine lightning current protection.

IEC 61643-11 Compliance

SPD Must Be Fully Tested — Not Just Rated

IEC 61643-11 is the international standard for Low Voltage Surge Protective Devices. It ensures SPDs are safe, reliable and effective under real-world conditions — not just peak-rated on a specification sheet.

Consultants and M&E engineers in Malaysia should specify only fully tested and certified SPD systems. Tokai SPDs undergo all five mandatory tests.

Operating Duty Test

Verifies SPD performance under normal operating conditions over simulated lifecycle

Temporary Overvoltage (TOV) Test

Ensures the SPD can safely withstand temporary system overvoltages without failure

Short Circuit Test

Confirms the SPD can safely handle short circuit conditions without fire or explosion risk

Voltage Protection Level (Up) Test

Verifies the residual voltage across the SPD remains within safe limits (≤1.2kV for Tokai TMP series)

Thermal Stability Test

Ensures the SPD remains stable and self-extinguishing under repeated surge conditions

First IEC 63461 SPD Testing Lab in Southeast Asia

Our state-of-the-art testing laboratory is the first in Southeast Asia to achieve IEC 63461 compliance with high impulse current testing capability — delivering precise, internationally recognised test results for product validation and compliance.

150kA

High Energy Impulse
(8/20µs)

50kA

Lightning Impulse
(10/350µs)

Compliant with International Standards

Low-voltage surge protective devices

Protection against lightning

Low-voltage electrical installations

Protection against lightning

Surge protection guidance and practices

Applicable local authority and project specification requirements

Core Protection Zones

Main LV intake and switchboards
Sub-main distribution boards
Final distribution boards
Server rooms and data halls
UPS, generator and ATS panels

BMS, ELV, security and automation panels
CCTV, access control and network equipment
Telecommunication and fibre-related equipment interfaces
Instrumentation, PLC, SCADA and process control systems
Sectors Served

Typical Applications

Hyperscale data centres and enterprise server rooms
Telecommunication sites and network operation centres
Electrical substations and utility infrastructure
BESS, solar PV and renewable energy systems
Hospitals, laboratories and critical public facilities
Airports, rail systems and transport infrastructure
Commercial towers, campuses and mixed developments
Water treatment plants
Industrial plants and manufacturing facilities
Oil and gas facilities

Why Choose Tokai Surge Protection System?

Tokai brings more than 30 years of field experience in lightning protection, earthing, surge protection, testing, and engineering consultancy. We understand that an SPD is only as effective as the system it is connected to – including the earthing network, cable routing, bonding, upstream protection and maintenance regime.

From risk review and technical selection to installation, testing and long-term support, Tokai delivers surge protection solutions that are practical, compliant and built around real-world infrastructure conditions.

Coordinated Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 surge protection architecture

Protection against lightning-induced surges and switching transients

Engineered for power, data, signal, telecom, CCTV, BMS, SCADA, and control circuits

Selection based on exposure level, equipment criticality, earthing condition, and system voltage

Reduced risk of downtime, equipment failure, data loss, and premature component degradation

Integration with lightning protection and earthing systems for complete surge risk control

Suitable for retrofitting, new-build projects, and mission-critical infrastructure

Inspection, testing, replacement planning, and lifecycle support available

FAQ
Common Questions About Surge Protection

Understanding Surge Protection for mission-critical power, data, and control networks.

Type 1 SPD (Class I) is tested with the 10/350µs lightning impulse waveform and is designed to handle direct partial lightning current at the service entrance (LPZ 0B to LPZ 1). A Type 2 SPD (Class II) is tested with the 8/20µs switching surge waveform and provides protection within the building (LPZ 1 to LPZ 2). For maximum protection, a coordinated Type 1+2 combination such as the Tokai TMP 100KA/4 or TMP 100KA/7 is recommended at the main distribution board. See our Imax vs Iimp article for more on waveform differences.
Yes. Tokai TMP 100KA/4 and TMP 100KA/7 SPDs include an isolated dry contact remote alarm (Form C) for direct integration with Building Management Systems (BMS) and SCADA platforms. This enables real-time SPD status monitoring and predictive maintenance alerts — critical for minimising unplanned downtime in data centres and critical infrastructure facilities.
In Malaysia, SPDs must comply with IEC 61643-11 (Low Voltage Surge Protective Devices) and should be selected in accordance with IEC 62305-4 (Protection Against Lightning – Electrical and Electronic Systems Inside Structures). TNB grid connection requirements and DOSH/OSHA guidelines also recognise UL 1449 4th Edition for imported SPD products. Tokai SPDs carry both IEC 61643-11 and UL 1449 certification.
Imax (8/20µs) is the maximum discharge current for Type 2 SPDs, representing switching and induced surges. Iimp (10/350µs) is the impulse current used to test Type 1 SPDs and represents the actual energy content of a lightning strike. These are fundamentally different waveforms — a high Imax rating does not imply adequate lightning protection. Tokai TMP SPDs are rated at 100kA Imax and 25kA Iimp per pole.
No. SPDs and lightning protection systems (LPS) serve complementary roles. An external Lightning Protection System — comprising air terminals, down conductors and earthing — intercepts and safely dissipates direct lightning strikes to earth. SPDs then protect the internal electrical and data systems from the residual surge energy that propagates through cables into the building. IEC 62305 requires both systems for comprehensive protection.
Related Solutions & Resources

Complete Your Protection System

Surge protection is one element of a complete lightning protection strategy. Explore related Tokai solutions and technical resources.

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Earth mat and earth rod network
Earthing System
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SPD Testing Laboratory

Take appropriate measures to protect your facilities today

The Tokai Surge Protection System protects the invisible nervous system of modern infrastructure – power, data, controls and communications. Designed as a coordinated defence architecture, it safeguards continuity, reduces asset failure, and gives critical facilities the resilience to operate through electrical disturbances with confidence.