About the Laboratory
Setting the Standard for Surge Protection Testing in Southeast Asia
Tokai Engineering’s SPD testing laboratory is the first facility in Southeast Asia to achieve compliance with IEC 63461 — the international standard governing the test systems used to validate Surge Protective Devices. This is not simply a testing room with an impulse generator. It is a purpose-designed, internationally calibrated facility capable of simulating the most extreme surge events that SPDs are required to withstand.
The laboratory houses two primary impulse current generators: a High Energy Impulse Current Generator capable of producing up to 150kA at the 8/20µs waveform, and a Lightning Impulse Current Generator capable of up to 50kA at the 10/350µs waveform. These capacities exceed the rated specifications of even the highest-performance SPDs available in the market — ensuring that test conditions genuinely challenge the device under test.
Every Tokai SPD product is validated in this facility before it leaves our supply chain. When you specify a Tokai SPD, the test results behind the datasheet figures were produced here — by engineers operating calibrated, IEC 63461 compliant equipment, in a controlled laboratory environment.
For M&E consultants and project engineers in Malaysia, this matters. Learn more about why SPD test waveforms — particularly Iimp (10/350µs) — are critical to correct device selection.
Testing Systems
IEC 63461 SPD Testing Equipment
Two high-capacity impulse current generators — each designed for a different waveform, together covering the full Type 1 and Type 2 SPD testing spectrum.
- 150 kA (8/20 µs)
8/20 µs High Energy Impulse System
- Generates the 8/20µs waveform used for Type 2 SPD testing (Imax rating)
- Impulse capacity up to 150kA — exceeding the maximum rated Imax of commercially available SPDs
- Precise waveform shaping ensures accurate simulation of switching and induced surge conditions
- IEC 63461 compliant generator design with calibrated measurement system
- Used to verify Imax, In, and Up (voltage protection level) parameters for Type 2 SPDs
- 50 kA (10/350 µs)
10/350 µs Lightning Impulse System
- Generates the 10/350µs waveform that simulates real lightning current — used for Type 1 SPD testing (Iimp rating)
- Capacity up to 50kA — sufficient to test Type 1 SPDs at rated Iimp values with headroom to spare
- The 10/350µs waveform carries approximately 18× the energy of an equivalent 8/20µs impulse — only a generator of this specification can accurately validate Type 1 devices
- Critical for verifying that Tokai TMP 100KA series SPDs meet their published 25kA Iimp per pole rating
- IEC 63461 compliant system with traceable calibration documentation
Laboratory Standards
Compliant, Capable and Trusted
Six pillars of laboratory excellence — from international standard compliance through to the engineering team that operates every test.
150kA (8/20µs) and 50kA (10/350µs) — the highest impulse testing capacity available at any SPD laboratory in Southeast Asia.
150kA (8/20µs) and 50kA (10/350µs) — the highest impulse testing capacity available at any SPD laboratory in Southeast Asia.
Precise testing for reliable performance validation. All equipment is calibrated to traceable standards — results you can trust and submit to consultants and insurers.
State-of-the-art impulse current generators and measurement systems — purpose-designed for extreme surge simulation at the limits of SPD performance.
Highly skilled engineers with deep SPD testing expertise — ensuring quality, accuracy and safety in every test procedure, from setup to result interpretation.
The first IEC 63461 compliant SPD testing laboratory in Southeast Asia — a regional capability milestone that supports the entire region's surge protection industry.
IEC 63461
IEC 61643-11
Low Voltage SPD requirements & test methods
IEC 62305-4
UL 1449
IEC 61643-11 Test Protocol
Five Mandatory Tests —
All Performed In-House
Every Tokai SPD undergoes the complete IEC 61643-11 test sequence in our IEC 63461 compliant laboratory before commercial release.
Operating Duty Test
Verifies SPD performance and longevity under sustained normal operating conditions — simulating years of service exposure
Temporary Overvoltage (TOV) Test
Confirms the SPD safely withstands temporary system overvoltages — a common event during grid faults and transformer switching
Short Circuit Test
Validates that the SPD handles short circuit conditions without fire, explosion, or uncontrolled failure — critical for safety assurance
Voltage Protection Level (Up) Test
Measures residual clamping voltage across the SPD under impulse — verifying Up remains within the ≤1.2kV specification for Tokai TMP devices
Thermal Stability Test
Ensures the SPD remains thermally stable and self-extinguishing under repeated surge conditions — validating long-term reliability in service
Frequently Asked Questions
About Tokai's SPD Testing Laboratory
Common questions about lightning protection systems, standards compliance, and Tokai’s services.
What is IEC 63461 and why does it matter for SPD testing?
Is Tokai's laboratory the first of its kind in Southeast Asia?
Which SPD tests can the laboratory perform?
Why does a 50kA (10/350µs) capacity matter when SPDs are only rated to 25kA Iimp?
Can consultants or clients request SPD testing services from this laboratory?
Why Lab Compliance Matters
Tested Claims, Not Printed Claims
In the SPD industry, not all test results are equal. An impulse current figure printed on a datasheet is only as trustworthy as the test system that generated it. IEC 63461 addresses this by defining the requirements for the test equipment itself — ensuring that the impulse generator, measurement system and test procedure meet internationally defined accuracy standards.
A laboratory without IEC 63461 compliant equipment may still perform tests — but the waveform accuracy, peak current measurement, and energy content validation may not meet the rigour demanded by IEC 61643-11. This means that an SPD tested in a non-compliant facility may be sold with ratings it cannot reliably deliver in the field.
For consultants specifying SPDs for data centres in Johor Bahru, hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, or industrial facilities in Selangor, the difference between a tested specification and an asserted specification is the difference between a building that is protected and one that is assumed to be protected.
When you specify Tokai Engineering SPDs, the test results are produced in an IEC 63461 compliant facility, operated by a qualified engineering team, using equipment calibrated to international standards. Read our technical article on surge capacity and waveform selection →
What IEC 63461 Lab Compliance Means for Your Project
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.
- Impulse waveforms are accurately shaped and measured to IEC 63461 tolerances — not approximated
- Peak current ratings are verified by calibrated measurement instrumentation — not calculated from generator settings
- 10/350µs (Iimp) tests genuinely subject the device to lightning-energy impulses — not lower-energy substitutes
- Test results can be submitted to JKR, DOSH, insurance assessors and data centre operators as credible evidence of compliance
- Products that pass testing in our lab meet the same standard as devices tested in leading European and North American facilities
- Full traceability of test conditions and results — available on request for project documentation and audit purposes
Specification Assurance
Complete Protection
Related Services
Lightning protection is one layer of a complete protection strategy. These services work together under the IEC 62305 framework.
Ready to Protect Your Facility?
Whether you are designing a new build or reviewing an existing system for compliance, Tokai’s engineering team can conduct a full IEC 62305-2 risk assessment and recommend the appropriate protection measures.