Guidelines for the specification of components, protection, and control of harmonic filters are provided in this guide. The guide applies to the use of 50 Hz and 60 Hz passive shunt power harmonic filters on low-voltage, medium-voltage, and high-voltage electric power systems. This document is specifically created for harmonic filters, although standards do exist for most of the components that are used in a filter. Applications including industrial low-voltage facilities, utility medium-voltage systems, and arc furnace installations are covered.

This guide addresses the selection of the components, protection, and control of harmonic filters. It does not address the engineering required to establish the proper size and configuration of harmonic filters to achieve desired performance. This document provides guidelines for passive shunt harmonic filters for use on 50 Hz and 60 Hz power systems to reduce harmonic distortion on the system(s). (As of publication of this guide, no IEEE standards exist specifically for harmonic filters, although IEEE standards do exist for most of the components that are used in a filter. This guide references standards where they exist and gives typical criteria where appropriate standards do not exist.)