Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for overload protection for overvoltage protection equipment that has at least one voltage-limiting element and at least one voltage-switching element, and optionally with a back-up fuse, wherein the voltage-limiting element is in the form of a varistor and the voltage-switching element is in the form of a spark gap and these elements are connected in series. According to the invention, to protect against inadmissible pulsed currents, the voltage-limiting element in the series circuit has a monitoring spark gap, forming a bypass, connected in parallel with it. Furthermore, a monitoring device, e.g. a thermal monitoring device, is provided that bypasses both the monitoring spark gap and the voltage-switching element in the event of ageing effects, inadmissibly high mains voltages and/or low-energy, periodic, high-frequency overvoltages.