The short test is a low voltage test and also known as short circuit test. It should exclude a connection between two test points where no connection should be present. The name is derived from the failure.
The short test can detect a complete short circuit or verify programmed resistance thresholds. Due to the used voltage that value will be much lower than the resistance values in an insulation test (high voltage test). To avoid damaging or destroying a unit under test (UUT) a short test is performed before running the HV-AC test or HV-DC test. It should decrease the risk for an arc.
Because of the low voltage this test phase is always non-hazardous according to DIN EN 61010.
Almost every time the short test follows an open test validating the conductivity of connections. Open test and short test are part of a cable test.
A certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001 often requires logging of test results per UUT and the storage in a database. This allows for retracing and analyzation of data in statistics.