Kaitseklasse

Kaitseklasse is a designation used in safety and technical contexts to indicate the level of protection provided by a device, installation, or system against hazards such as electric shock, mechanical injury, or environmental exposure. The term appears in technical documentation, standards, and product labeling to convey the required protective measures and installation or usage requirements.

In electrical safety, kaitseklasse commonly refers to three main categories: kaitseklass I, kaitseklass II, and kaitseklass III. Kaitseklass I devices have a protective earth connection and rely on earthing to keep exposed conductive parts at a safe potential during fault conditions. Kaitseklass II devices employ double or reinforced insulation and do not depend on protective earth for safety. Kaitseklass III devices are designed for extra-low voltage and limit energy exposure by design, typically using SELV or similar safe supply sources.

The kaitseklasse classification influences how equipment is installed, operated, and certified. It determines whether protective measures such as grounding, insulation, or voltage limits are required and how the product is labeled in manuals and marking plates. Standards and regulations at national and European levels prescribe how kaitseklasse should be determined and demonstrated for different product groups.

Beyond electrical equipment, the concept of kaitseklasse may also appear in other safety-related contexts to describe levels of protection in materials, protective equipment, or safety-critical systems. In all cases, the term serves to communicate the expected level of safety and the corresponding design or usage requirements.