The paper presents dc fault current interruption performances of three different types of commercially available VIs. Owing to the differences in the contact system design; shape and size, contact material and composition as well as arc control mechanisms, the performances of the three VIs are completely different. Thus, the VIs can be optimized for dc current interruption. Moreover, re-ignitions and restrikes are very common which entails that the test methods need to consider adequate voltage stress across the insulation gap (vacuum, SF6, air) during the entire interruption process.