Recent industry developments are bringing greater attention to the practical requirements of gas testing and handling as manufacturers and utilities adopt SF6-free switchgear.
On September 29, 2026, Schneider Electric published findings from an IDC study it commissioned on SF6-free medium-voltage infrastructure. Among the UK organisations surveyed, 28% had already begun the transition, while 62% expected to be actively transitioning within the next two years. These figures reflect the surveyed organisations’ plans rather than the share of installed switchgear. Source: Schneider Electric
CIGRE also published Technical Brochure 993 in 2026, addressing the application and management of non-SF6 gases and gas mixtures. Its public overview covers gas quality checks, leak detection, filling and recovery. Source: CIGRE
Together, these developments highlight an operational question: how should testing and handling equipment be selected for the gas used in each application?
The term “SF6-free” covers different technologies and gas formulations. Equipment selection should begin with the exact gas components, their target concentrations and the switchgear manufacturer’s approved specification.
For a C4F7N/CO2/O2 mixture, for example, customers should define the concentration of each component, the filling pressure and the operating temperature range. Compatibility of instruments, seals, hoses and other gas-contact components needs confirmation for that application.
Leak detection, composition analysis and moisture measurement serve different purposes.
A leak detector helps locate escaping gas. A composition analyzer checks the mixture proportions. Moisture measurement assesses water content against the specified limit. Where relevant, gas exposed to electrical activity also requires assessment for decomposition products.
A pressure reading alone cannot establish mixture composition or gas quality. Instrument selection should therefore specify the target gases, measurement range, accuracy and sampling conditions.
Gas preparation, evacuation, filling, recovery and storage should form a coordinated process.
For factory testing, the specification should also address gas transfer between repeated test cycles and the checks required before reuse. Recovering a mixture into a storage vessel and separating its components are different tasks, with different equipment requirements.
KSTONE’s approach is to define these application requirements before discussing equipment configurations. As SF6-free technologies develop, a clear gas specification and a documented testing and handling workflow provide a practical basis for equipment selection.