IEC 60947-3:2008/AMD1:2012

IEC 60947-3 ®
Edition 3.0 2012-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear –
Part 3: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse-combination
units
Appareillage à basse tension –
Partie 3: Interrupteurs, sectionneurs, interrupteurs-sectionneurs et combinés-
fusibles
IEC 60947-3:2008/A1:2012
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form

or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,

please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite ni
utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie et les

microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.

Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette

publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
3, rue de Varembé Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
CH-1211 Geneva 20 info@iec.ch
Switzerland www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

Useful links:
IEC publications search - www.iec.ch/searchpub Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
The advanced search enables you to find IEC publications The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and
by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical electrical terms containing more than 30 000 terms and
committee,…). definitions in English and French, with equivalent terms in
It also gives information on projects, replaced and additional languages. Also known as the International
withdrawn publications. Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) on-line.

IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication
details all new publications released. Available on-line and or need further assistance, please contact the
also once a month by email. Customer Service Centre: csc@iec.ch.

A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
Normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.

Liens utiles:
Recherche de publications CEI - www.iec.ch/searchpub Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
La recherche avancée vous permet de trouver des Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes
publications CEI en utilisant différents critères (numéro de électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 30 000
référence, texte, comité d’études,…). termes et définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que
Elle donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles.
publications remplacées ou retirées. Egalement appelé Vocabulaire Electrotechnique
International (VEI) en ligne.
Just Published CEI - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
Service Clients - webstore.iec.ch/csc
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI.
Just Published détaille les nouvelles publications parues. Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur
Disponible en ligne et aussi une fois par mois par email. cette publication ou si vous avez des questions
contactez-nous: csc@iec.ch.
IEC 60947-3 ®
Edition 3.0 2012-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDEMENT 1
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear –

Part 3: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse-combination

units
Appareillage à basse tension –

Partie 3: Interrupteurs, sectionneurs, interrupteurs-sectionneurs et combinés-

fusibles
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX L
ICS 29.120.40; 29.130.20 ISBN 978-2-88912-921-8

– 2 – 60947-3 Amend. 1 © IEC:2012

FOREWORD
This amendment has been prepared by subcommittee 17B: Low-voltage switchgear and

controlgear, of IEC technical committee 17: Switchgear and controlgear.

The text of this amendment is based on the following documents:

FDIS Report on voting
17B/1758/FDIS 17B/1763/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this amendment can be found in the report
on voting indicated in the above table.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
The contents of the corrigendum of November 2013 have been included in this copy.
_____________
1.2 Normative references
Replace the existing reference to IEC 60947-1 by the following new reference and footnote:
IEC 60947-1:2007, Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 1: General rules
1)
Amendment 1:2010
1) A consolidated edition 3.1 exists, including IEC 60947-1:2007 and its Amendment 1:2010.
2 Terms and definitions
Replace the text of the existing Clause 2 by the following new text:
2.1 General
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60050-441,
IEC 60947-1 and the following apply.

60947-3 Amend. 1 © IEC:2012 – 3 –

2.2 Alphabetical index of terms

Reference
D
Disconnector . 2.3.1

Disconnector-fuse . 2.3.5

F
Fuse-combination unit . 2.3.2
Fuse-disconnector . 2.3.6

Fuse-switch . 2.3.4

Fuse-switch-disconnector . 2.3.8
S
Semi-independent manual operation . 2.3.10
Single pole operated three pole switch . 2.3.9
Switch-disconnector-fuse . 2.3.7
Switch-fuse . 2.3.3
2.3 Terms and definitions
2.3.1
disconnector
mechanical switching device which, in the open position, complies with the requirements
specified for the isolating function
[IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-05, modified]
NOTE 1 This definition differs from IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-05 by referring to isolating function instead of
isolating distance.
NOTE 2 A disconnector is capable of opening and closing a circuit when either a negligible current is broken or
made, or when no significant change in the voltage across the terminals of each of the poles of the disconnector
occurs. It is also capable of carrying currents under normal circuit conditions and carrying, for a specified time,
currents under abnormal conditions such as those of short circuit.
2.3.2
fuse-combination unit
combination of a mechanical switching device and one or more fuses in a composite unit,
assembled by the manufacturer or in accordance with his instructions
[IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-04]

2.3.3
switch-fuse
switch in which one or more poles have a fuse in series in a composite unit
[IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-14]
2.3.3.1
switch-fuse single break
switch-fuse which opens the circuit on one side of the fuse-link only
2.3.3.2
switch-fuse double break
switch-fuse which opens the circuit on both sides of the fuse-link
2.3.4
fuse-switch
switch in which a fuse-link or fuse-carrier with fuse-link forms the moving contact

– 4 – 60947-3 Amend. 1 © IEC:2012

[IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-17]

2.3.4.1
fuse-switch single break
fuse-switch which opens the circuit on one side of the fuse link only

2.3.4.2
fuse-switch double break
fuse-switch which opens the circuit on both sides of the fuse link

2.3.5
disconnector-fuse
disconnector in which one or more poles have a fuse in series in a composite unit
[IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-15]
2.3.5.1
disconnector-fuse single break
disconnector-fuse which opens the circuit on one side of the fuse-link only
2.3.5.2
disconnector-fuse double break
disconnector-fuse which opens the circuit on both sides of the fuse-link
2.3.6
fuse-disconnector
disconnector in which a fuse-link or fuse-carrier with fuse-link forms the moving contact
[IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-18]
2.3.6.1
fuse-disconnector single break
fuse-disconnector which opens the circuit on one side of the fuse link only
2.3.6.2
fuse-disconnector double break
fuse-disconnector which opens the circuit on both sides of the fuse link
2.3.7
switch-disconnector-fuse
switch-disconnector in which one or more poles have a fuse in series in a composite unit

[IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-16]
2.3.7.1
switch-disconnector-fuse single break
switch-disconnector-fuse which opens the circuit on one side of the fuse-link only
2.3.7.2
switch-disconnector-fuse double break
switch-disconnector-fuse which opens the circuit on both sides of the fuse-link
2.3.8
fuse-switch-disconnector
switch-disconnector in which a fuse-link or fuse-carrier with fuse-link forms the moving
contact
[IEC 60050-441:1984, 441-14-19]

60947-3 Amend. 1 © IEC:2012 – 5 –

2.3.8.1
fuse-switch-disconnector single break

fuse-switch-disconnector which opens the circuit on one side of the fuse link only

2.3.8.2
fuse-switch-disconnector double break

fuse-switch-disconnector which opens the circuit on both sides of the fuse link

2.3.9
single pole operated three pole switch

device consisting of three individually operable single pole switch disconnecting devices

according to this part, rated as a complete unit for use in a three-phase system
NOTE These devices are intended for power distribution systems where switching and/or isolation of an individual
phase may be necessary and they should not be used for the switching of the primary circuit of three-phase
equipment.
2.3.10
semi-independent manual operation
operation solely by means of directly applied manual energy such that the manual force is
increased up to a threshold value beyond which the independent switching operation is
achieved unless deliberately delayed by the operator
2.4 Summary of the equipment types
A summary of equipment definitions and relevant diagrams is given in Table 1.

– 6 – 60947-3 Amend. 1 © IEC:2012

Table 1 – Summary of equipment definitions

Functions
Making and breaking current Isolating Making, breaking and isolating

Switch Disconnector Switch-disconnector

Fuse-combination units
Switch-fuse Disconnector-fuse Switch-disconnector-fuse

b b
single break single break single break

a  a a
Switch-fuse Disconnector-fuse
Switch-disconnector-fuse
b
b double break
double break double break
Fuse-switch Fuse-disconnector Fuse-switch-disconnector
b b
single break single break single break

Fuse-switch Fuse-disconnector Fuse-switch-disconnector
b b
double break double break double break

NOTE 1 Equipment shown as single break may be double break.
NOTE 2 Symbols are based on IEC 60617-7.
a
The fuse may be on either side of the contacts of the equipment or in a stationary position between these
contacts.
b
Disconnection between line and load terminals only is verified by test.

3.2 According to the method of operation of manually operated equipment
Replace the existing reference "(see 2.13)" by the following new reference "(see 2.4.12 of
IEC 60947-1)".
Replace the existing reference "(see 2.14)" by the following new reference "(see 2.4.15 of
IEC 60947-1)".
Replace the existing reference "(see 2.15)" by the following new reference "(see 2.3.10)".

4.2 Type of equipment
Replace the existing text of this subclause by the following new text:

60947-3 Amend. 1 © IEC:2012 – 7 –

The following information shall be stated:

• number of poles;
• kind of current (a.c. or d.c.);

• in the case of a.c., number of phases and rated frequency;

• nu
...