Safeguarding the American Grid With Technically Superior HEMP & TEMPTEST/SCIF Filters
EMP events—whether caused by natural phenomena or hostile human action—can instantly disable vast portions of the electrical infrastructure. In particular, the E1 component of an unexpected EMP event can induce high-voltage transients in transmission lines and unprotected control systems, leading to widespread equipment failure. Similarly, EMI—whether conducted or radiated—can degrade performance in SCADA systems, digital relays, and microprocessor-based protection schemes, resulting in operational instability or cascading outages.
TSS USA is proud to offer the first-of-its-kind medium voltage high altitude EMP (HEMP) filter for electric power / power line applications.
Protecting Critical Infrastructure with TSS USA’s Medium Voltage HEMP Filters
Critical infrastructure includes all the electrical systems that support the economy and security of the country. A high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) event would cause widespread electric grid disruption, which in turn would result in major failures in transportation, energy, healthcare, food, communications, finance, and industrial operations. This means no airports, hospitals, banking services, data centers, and water treatment centers, causing dangerous communications outages and food and water insecurity. Heat or air conditioning would likely fail, which can send vulnerable individuals to already struggling hospitals.
The interconnected nature of power systems amplifies these vulnerabilities, so deploying proven filter solutions is essential for enhancing grid resilience.
TSS USA’s medium voltage HEMP filters are compliant with DEF STAN 59-188—this is the highest level of protection for electric power infrastructure, where there is no flexibility for downtime or system failure. The medium voltage filters are the first filter rated at up to 5,000 volts with amperage ratings at 250, 400, and 800. The MV5K series passed a five-year life test, although the lifespan can be 15 years or more.
The filters are also compliant with these industry and government standards:
- MIL-188-125
- UL1283 (in process)
- ISO 9001
- RoHS Compliance
- MIL-STD-461
- MIL-STD-220
- MIL-F-15733
For critical commercial infrastructure, the filters also meet IEC 61000-4-24 residual current severity level 3. This spec for critical commercial infrastructure is equivalent to MIL-STD-188-125-1A. Due to the standard design of commercial infrastructure, the electronic equipment already has some natural protection from the building and equipment enclosures.
Commercial infrastructure would require an assessment of:
- Equipment that must remain on in the event of a HEMP event.
- Equipment that is not critical to remain on continuously.
- Equipment that may have manual backups where basic protection will suffice.
Contact our team to arrange for a consultation and/or site visit.
Low and Medium Voltage TEMPEST Filters for Power Line Applications
TSS USA Manufacturing also provides low and medium voltage TEMPEST filters to protect power line applications from unplanned EMI and EMP events.
TEMPEST (Transient Electromagnetic Pulse Emanation Standard) filters can help eliminate unplanned emanation of EMI and, with it, sensitive, confidential, and classified information that might allow access to unauthorized persons. This U.S. National Security Agency and NATO specification and certification is meant to prevent eavesdropping and signal interception because of unplanned outgoing EMI. In addition to the use of shielding, physical isolation, and masking, filters are a regular component in solutions, both in government and public sectors.
A TEMPEST power filter connected to the power line, according to a declassified specification, provides a 100 dB insertion loss across a broad spectrum of signals (from 14 KHz to 10GHz in TSS USA Manufacturing TEMPEST power line filters). Because decibels are a logarithmic unit, that’s 0.001% of the original signal.
Our TEMPEST filters meet the following standards at minimum:
- UL1283 (in process)
- Low Voltage Directive
- MIL-STD-220
- MIL-F-15733
