A type-test report describes one tested assembly, built to one defined configuration, under one named standard. The information a buyer needs is spread across several pages, and reading those pages in a fixed order makes the scope of the report much easier to judge.
A practical reading order is: cover reference, test basis, sample information, summary of test items, and conclusion. The notes below explain what each page contributes.
1. Cover reference — identify the document
The cover carries the report reference, the issuing laboratory and the date. Record the reference in full; it is the identifier used when the document is requested again, compared with a quotation, or attached to a project submittal. The cover also shows the model name as printed by the laboratory. Keep that name exactly as written when cross-checking it against a drawing or a product schedule.
2. Test basis — which standard and which edition
This page names the standard the tests were carried out against. For low-voltage assemblies in China the basis is commonly a part of GB/T 7251 — for example GB/T 7251.3-2017, which corresponds to IEC 61439-3. The edition year matters: the verification items and the way results are stated follow the edition named on this page. When a project specification asks for IEC wording, this is the line to compare it with.
For medium-voltage assemblies, some reports cover insulation tests only. The phrase insulation type tested describes that scope, and the report should be read together with the list of what was actually performed.
3. Sample information — the configuration the findings belong to
This section describes the physical assembly that was tested: model, construction (fixed or withdrawable), indoor or outdoor use, rated operational voltage Ue, rated insulation voltage Ui, rated current of the main busbar, rated short-time withstand current Icw, degree of protection (IP), and the arrangement of incoming and outgoing units.
Everything that follows in the report applies to this configuration. A change in busbar rating, in the short-circuit withstand level, or in the enclosure arrangement leads back to a question about design verification, so these values are worth copying into your own enquiry sheet before comparing offers.
4. Summary of test items — where the scope is defined
The summary table lists the items actually performed and the clause each one belongs to. Typical items for a low-voltage assembly include temperature rise, dielectric properties, short-circuit withstand strength, effectiveness of the protective circuit, clearances and creepage distances, mechanical operation, and degree of protection.
This table tells you how much verification stands behind a given configuration. Reading it alongside the sample page gives a clear picture of which ratings were exercised together. When a project needs a particular item to have been verified, this is the page to check.
5. Conclusion — read it with the summary in front of you
The conclusion states the result for the items listed in the summary. Its wording normally refers to the tests performed and the standard named in the test basis. Keeping the summary and the conclusion side by side makes the extent of the statement clear, and gives a short, accurate way to describe the document in a submittal.
A one-page checklist
| Field | Where it appears | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Report reference | Cover | Full reference and date |
| Test basis | Test basis page | Standard number and edition year |
| Model and construction | Sample information | Model, fixed or withdrawable, indoor or outdoor |
| Ratings | Sample information | Ue, Ui, main busbar current, Icw, IP rating |
| Items actually performed | Summary of test items | Clause list and results |
| Result statement | Conclusion | Wording and any stated conditions |
What to ask for
When a report is offered as supporting documentation, the five pages above are the useful set: cover, test basis, sample information, summary of test items, and conclusion. Together with the drawing or single-line diagram and a note of which model each rating belongs to, they give an equipment buyer enough to compare the document with the specification in front of them.
Equipment specifications and project enquiries are handled at tonxel.com.
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