Medium Voltage Switchgear.
Metal-clad, metal-enclosed interrupter, and pad-mounted switchgear in the 5kV–35kV class — utility, industrial, data center, refinery, mining, commercial, and construction installations.
- Voltage class
- 5–35kV
- Manufacturers
- 4
- Applicable standards
- 4
Manufacturers.
Standards.
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IEEE C37.20.2
Metal-clad switchgear — each major component in its own grounded metal compartment, air at ambient pressure as the primary insulating medium, rated above 1000 V AC up to 38 kV.
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IEEE C37.20.3
Metal-enclosed interrupter switchgear — interrupter switches, fuses, and devices in shared compartments; the 2023 revision covers above 1 kV AC up to and including 48.3 kV.
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IEEE C37.04
Rating structure for AC high-voltage circuit breakers — the basis for voltage, current, and interrupting ratings on the breakers inside switchgear.
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IEEE C37.06
Preferred ratings — maximum voltage 4.76 kV through 38 kV in the MV band, continuous current 600, 1200, 2000, and 3000 A.
Configurations.
Metal-clad
Each major component — main bus, breaker, incoming and outgoing connections — sits in its own grounded metal compartment with drawout circuit breakers. The standard choice for substations and primary distribution where maintainability and fault containment matter.
Metal-enclosed interrupter
Interrupter switches, power fuses, and devices share common compartments without internal metal-clad barriers — a more compact, lower-cost assembly for load-interrupting and fused-feeder duty in industrial and commercial service.
Pad-mounted & outdoor
Dead-front pad-mounted and weatherproof outdoor switchgear for underground distribution loops, renewable collector systems, and sites without an indoor electrical room — vacuum interruption on new builds, with SF6 designs still in service.
FAQ.
What is medium-voltage switchgear?
Medium-voltage switchgear is the assembly of circuit breakers, switches, bus, and protective controls used to energize, de-energize, and protect electrical circuits rated 2.4kV to 69kV.
It sits at the head of the power system, between the incoming source and downstream transformers and loads — the point where MV power is sectionalized, metered, and protected.
What's the difference between metal-clad and metal-enclosed switchgear?
Metal-clad switchgear (IEEE C37.20.2) isolates each major component — main bus, breaker, and the incoming and outgoing connections — in its own grounded metal compartment, using air at ambient pressure as the primary insulating medium. The breakers are drawout. This construction adds safety and serviceability and is rated above 1000 V AC up to 38 kV.
Metal-enclosed interrupter switchgear (IEEE C37.20.3) allows interrupter switches, fuses, and devices to share common compartments without those internal metal-clad barriers — a more compact, lower-cost assembly. The 2023 revision covers ratings above 1 kV up to and including 48.3 kV.
The choice comes down to maintainability and fault containment (metal-clad) versus footprint and cost (metal-enclosed).
Should I specify vacuum or SF6 switchgear?
Both interrupt fault current reliably. Vacuum interruption is the prevailing choice for new medium-voltage installations below 38 kV because it requires no gas handling and has lower lifecycle maintenance.
SF6 designs remain in service, but regulatory restrictions are tightening. Under the EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573, SF6 is banned in new MV switchgear up to 24 kV from 1 January 2026 and 24 to 52 kV from 1 January 2030. SF6 has a global warming potential of 24,300.
Hawk can quote either technology to match your specification.
What ratings do I need to specify switchgear?
A complete switchgear specification states the following.
Ratings. Rated maximum voltage (commonly 4.76 kV through 38 kV under IEEE C37.06). Main-bus continuous current in amperes (typically 1200A, 2000A, or 3000A). Short-circuit interrupting rating in kA. Basic impulse insulation level (BIL).
Construction. Interrupting technology (vacuum or SF6). Mounting type (indoor, outdoor, pad-mounted, metal-clad, or metal-enclosed). Configuration.
Send what you have through Contact — Hawk MV Supply will fill in the rest against the project documents you provide.
What are current 2026 lead times for medium-voltage switchgear?
Wood Mackenzie's Q2 2025 survey put medium-voltage switchgear lead times at roughly 44 weeks on average — an improvement over recent peaks but still long by historical standards.
Demand for electrical T&D equipment grew between 35% and 274% from 2019 to 2025 depending on the equipment, and with nearly 3,000 new data centers planned or under construction in the U.S., utilities and EPC firms now treat early switchgear procurement as a competitive lever.
The practical play is to lock the switchgear specification early and order well before the in-service date.
Does Hawk publish switchgear pricing or lead times?
No. Switchgear is engineered and priced per project.
Send a specification — rated voltage, continuous current, interrupting rating, BIL, interrupting technology, and mounting — through Contact for a quote and current availability.
Sourcing switchgear?
Send the voltage class, continuous current, interrupting rating, BIL, and mounting — Hawk MV Supply will fill in the rest.
Medium-voltage switchgear across the 2.4kV–69kV class.
Hawk MV Supply sources medium-voltage switchgear for the full 5kV through 35kV equipment class — metal-clad assemblies to IEEE C37.20.2, metal-enclosed interrupter switchgear to IEEE C37.20.3, and pad-mounted and outdoor designs for distribution loops and sites without an indoor electrical room. The circuit breakers inside follow the IEEE C37.04 rating structure and C37.06 preferred ratings: rated maximum voltage 4.76 kV through 38 kV in the MV band, with continuous current ratings of 600, 1200, 2000, and 3000 A. Specifications cover the standard set: rated maximum voltage, main-bus continuous current, short-circuit interrupting rating in kA, BIL, interrupting technology, and mounting. The catalog reaches utility substations and distribution, industrial plants, data-center power rooms, refinery and petrochemical sites, mining operations, large commercial buildings, and federal installations.
Current 2026 procurement reality: Wood Mackenzie's Q2 2025 survey puts medium-voltage switchgear lead times at roughly 44 weeks, with demand for electrical T&D equipment up 35% to 274% between 2019 and 2025 depending on the equipment. Nearly 3,000 new data centers are planned or under construction in the U.S., a primary driver of the supply constraint. On interruption technology, vacuum has become the prevailing choice for new installations below 38 kV; under the EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573, SF6 is banned in new MV switchgear up to 24 kV from 1 January 2026 and 24 to 52 kV from 1 January 2030.