IEC 61111 Classes Explained: Class 0–4 and Typical Applications Around Switchgear

If you work around switchboards, motor control centres, or medium- and high-voltage switchgear, the most practical question is not “What is IEC 61111?” It is this: what do Class 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 actually mean, and how should you interpret those classes around switchgear areas? In IEC 61111, insulating matting is classified by electrical class, marked on the product, and used as a protective floor covering for workers on electrical installations. The current IEC webstore lists IEC 61111:2026 as the third edition replacing the 2009 second edition, while many public product datasheets and market references still use IEC 61111:2009 / EN 61111 as the working reference for class selection and product marking.

Direct Answer

IEC 61111 Class 0–4 identifies the electrical class of insulating matting. In widely used market-facing IEC 61111 references, the classes are commonly associated with maximum AC service or use voltages of 1 kV, 7.5 kV, 17 kV, 26.5 kV, and 36 kV respectively. Around switchgear, these classes are typically discussed as a way to align insulating matting with the installation voltage and exposure conditions, not as a shortcut based only on room name or colour.

What IEC 61111 Covers

IEC 61111 applies to electrical insulating matting used as a floor covering for the electrical protection of workers on electrical installations. The standard classifies matting as Class 0, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4, and it requires clear product marking, including the manufacturer identification, the live-working double-triangle symbol, the IEC 61111 reference, the month and year of manufacture, category if applicable, and the class designation. The standard also states that both sides must be slip resistant, with surfaces such as corrugated or diamond designs specifically mentioned.

When a colour code is used for the double-triangle symbol, IEC 61111:2009 assigns red to Class 0, white to Class 1, yellow to Class 2, green to Class 3, and orange to Class 4. That colour coding helps identification, but it is not the selection logic by itself. The core issue is still the electrical class and the installation voltage.

IEC 61111 Class 0–4 Quick Comparison

The comparison below summarizes the class structure commonly used in public IEC 61111 references and CATU technical sheets. It combines the standard’s class and colour-code framework with market-facing maximum service or use voltages.

Class 0 Explained

Class 0 is the entry point of the IEC 61111 class ladder. Public IEC 61111 datasheets commonly associate it with 1,000 V AC maximum service or use voltage, and switchgear-focused market references commonly discuss it for 600 V and 1,000 V low-voltage installations. That makes Class 0 the class most often linked with low-voltage switchboards, distribution boards, motor control centres, and control-panel front-of-panel working areas.

In practical terms, Class 0 is the class most buyers start with when the site is clearly low voltage. But even here, the safe interpretation is not “all LV rooms use Class 0 automatically.” The safer reading is: Class 0 is commonly suitable where the installation voltage and site procedure align with the 1 kV AC class level.

Class 1 Explained

Class 1 is commonly shown in public IEC 61111 references at 7.5 kV AC maximum use voltage. It sits between Class 0 and the more obviously medium-voltage classes, which is why it is important in the standard structure even though public switchgear marketing pages mention it less often than Class 0, Class 3, or Class 4.

Around switchgear, the most sensible way to explain Class 1 is as a higher-rated option above low-voltage matting when the installation is moving beyond LV but does not require the higher class ranges often associated with Class 3 or Class 4. That is an interpretation from the class ladder and the published voltage ratings, not a one-size-fits-all room rule. The actual class still has to match the installation voltage and the local working method.

Class 2 Explained

Class 2 is commonly listed at 17.0 kV AC maximum use voltage in public IEC 61111 datasheets. It is the intermediate class that begins to matter when switchgear discussions move beyond basic low-voltage panels and into more serious medium-voltage territory.

In switchgear terms, Class 2 is best explained as a mid-range class for installations that need more than Class 1 but do not automatically point to the higher Class 3 or Class 4 ranges. Again, that is a planning interpretation, not a mandatory selection rule. Buyers should treat Class 2 as part of the voltage-based selection process, not as a generic “medium-voltage mat” label.

Class 3 Explained

Class 3 is where the switchgear relevance becomes much more visible in market-facing material. CATU technical sheets list 26.5 kV AC maximum service voltage for Class 3, and switchgear-focused references commonly connect Class 3 to 3.3 kV, 6.6 kV, 11 kV, 15 kV, and 26.5 kV discussions.

That is why Class 3 is so often discussed around medium-voltage switchgear rooms, traction power substations, MCC-related higher-voltage areas, and similar installations. If your site conversation includes 11 kV or 15 kV switchgear, Class 3 is often part of the selection discussion. But the article should still stay precise: often discussed does not mean automatically correct without checking the installation conditions.

Class 4 Explained

Class 4 is the top end of the commonly listed IEC 61111 class range in public product literature, with 36.0 kV AC maximum service or use voltage. Switchgear-focused references commonly connect it with 3.3 kV, 6.6 kV, 11 kV, 15 kV, and 33/36 kV applications.

Around switchgear, Class 4 is therefore the class most often discussed when the installation includes higher-rated switchgear, 33 kV or 36 kV systems, and higher-voltage substations or switch rooms. It is the class buyers usually consider when they need the broadest voltage headroom within the standard’s typical AC range.

How to Read “Typical Applications Around Switchgear” the Right Way

This is the most important section of the topic. Many pages oversimplify class selection by turning it into a room label. That is not the best way to read IEC 61111 in practice. CATU’s technical material states that the insulating mat must be adapted to the maximum service voltage of the installation. It also states that on multiphase circuits, the nominal voltage is the phase-to-phase voltage, while on single-phase circuits, it is the phase-to-ground voltage.

That means “around switchgear” should be read as an application context, not as the selection rule itself. A low-voltage switchboard room may commonly point toward Class 0, and an 11 kV switchgear discussion may commonly point toward Class 3, but the final decision still depends on the installation voltage, the exposure conditions, and the site’s electrical safety procedure. Follow local regulations and your site safety procedure.

Why Class 0 Is Common in LV Rooms and Class 3/4 Are Common in MV/HV Switchgear Discussions

Public switchgear-oriented references help explain the market shorthand that many buyers already use. One widely cited switchgear page links Class 0 with 600 V / 1000 V LV insulating matting, and links Class 3 and Class 4 with common medium- and higher-voltage switchgear values such as 3.3 kV, 6.6 kV, 11 kV, 15 kV, 26.5 kV, and 33/36 kV. The same source also places insulating matting in front of medium/high-voltage switchgear rooms, motor control centres, traction power substations, and UPS rooms.

That is useful because it reflects how the market actually talks. It also explains why Class 1 and Class 2 often receive less attention in public switchgear articles: they exist as part of the standard class ladder, but many public switchgear examples jump from LV Class 0 to the more obviously MV/HV-oriented Class 3 and Class 4 discussions.

Marking, Surface, and Product Checks Before You Buy

Before you use colour or thickness as a buying shortcut, check the product marking. IEC 61111:2009 requires compliant matting to show the manufacturer identification, the double-triangle live-working symbol, the IEC 61111 reference, the month and year of manufacture, category if applicable, and the class designation. In roll form, those markings must appear at least every metre. The marking must remain clearly visible and durable.

Surface design matters as well, especially around switchgear where footing, stance, and operator stability matter. The standard requires both sides to be slip resistant, and it specifically mentions surfaces such as corrugated or diamond design. That is why anti-slip surface pattern is not just a cosmetic feature on switchgear matting. It is part of the functional safety profile.

What to Verify Before Buying IEC 61111 Mats for Switchgear Areas

The table below focuses on the buying and verification questions that are most relevant to this topic. It follows the standard’s marking requirements and the voltage-selection logic shown in CATU technical references.

Common Buyer Mistakes

One common mistake is treating the class colour as the decision. The colour code is useful for identification, but colour does not replace class verification, marking, or voltage matching. IEC 61111 makes class designation and marking mandatory; colour is only tied to the symbol when a colour code is used.

Another mistake is matching the mat to the room name instead of the electrical installation. “Switchgear room” is not a voltage class. The relevant question is the maximum service voltage of the installation, and on multiphase systems that usually means phase-to-phase nominal voltage.

A third mistake is assuming Class 3 and Class 4 are interchangeable because both appear in MV/HV discussions. They are not the same. Public technical sheets distinguish them at 26.5 kV AC and 36.0 kV AC respectively, and that difference matters whenever the site evaluation is close to the upper band of the class.

FAQ

What is the difference between IEC 61111 Class 0 and Class 4?

Class 0 is commonly listed at 1.0 kV AC maximum use or service voltage, while Class 4 is commonly listed at 36.0 kV AC. In market practice, Class 0 is usually discussed around low-voltage switchboards, while Class 4 is usually discussed around higher-rated MV/HV switchgear and 33/36 kV environments.

Which IEC 61111 class is typically discussed for low-voltage switchgear?

Public switchgear references commonly link Class 0 with 600 V and 1000 V low-voltage switchgear applications.

Is Class 3 commonly discussed for 11 kV switchgear?

Yes. Public switchgear-oriented references commonly include 11 kV in the list of switchgear values discussed with Class 3 matting.

How do I verify the right class around switchgear?

Start with the installation maximum service voltage, then confirm whether the site evaluation should be based on phase-to-phase or phase-to-ground exposure, and then verify the product marking and class designation.

Does colour alone prove IEC 61111 compliance?

No. Colour coding helps identification, but compliance also depends on the correct class designation, required marking, and product conformity to the standard framework.

Closing

The most useful way to understand IEC 61111 around switchgear is to keep three ideas together. First, Class 0–4 is an electrical class system, not just a colour system. Second, switchgear applications are usually discussed by voltage context, not by room name alone. Third, the final class decision should always be checked against the installation voltage, exposure condition, and site procedure. Once you read the classes that way, the selection logic becomes much clearer.