NOJA Power OSM Recloser Achieves Seismic Type Testing

International switchgear engineering firm NOJA Power today celebrate the successful seismic type test of their OSM310 (15 kV and 27kV) and OSM300 (38 kV) OSM Recloser products in an IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, achieving compliance at Grade IX on the MSK-64 scale. This implies compliance with the GOST M6 mechanical design group and confirms applications including nuclear power plants.

The tests stipulated to meet Grade IX on the GOST seismic testing for MSK-64 could be considered more arduous than the IEC 62271-300. According to IEC 60068-3-3:1993, the Grade IX MSK intensity is similar to the highest IEC ground acceleration reference classification, AG5, “Strong to Very Strong Earthquakes”, exceeding 7.0 on the Richter scale.

While NOJA Power’s OSM Recloser products are designed for seismic environments, users in earthquake prone environments previously relied on local testing to verify seismic performance. With this successful type test, users may no longer require local re-verification of seismic compliance.

A copy of the seismic test reports are available from NOJA Power below:

Download OSM 300 Test Report

Download OSM 310 Test Report

“Ensuring our products meet the stringent earthquake requirements defined by the GOST Standards of the Russian Federation provides us and our customers with confidence our products are suitable for use in all earthquake prone environments,” says NOJA Power Group Managing Director Neil O’Sullivan.

The type tests were conducted at the IEC 17025 accredited “Center for Complex Seismic Testing” in Russia.

MSK-64 class IX is classified as “Destructive”, where windows are shattered, monuments and columns are destroyed, and many ordinary buildings collapse.

©2021 NOJA Power, The OSM Recloser installation under test on the seismic shaking table, Center for Complex Seismic Testing, Russian Federation

NOJA Power has previously received field reports of equipment surviving real earthquakes, such as the press report on NOJA's website here following the 2016 7.8 magnitude Kaikora Earthquake in New Zealand.

©NOJA Power 2021, an OSM Recloser after the 2016 Kaikora Earthquake in New Zealand - note the sunken pole!