The surge arrester has an electrical element consisting of an electrical component (2) having two electrodes (3,4) between which a granulate (5) made of electrically conductive material such as graphite grains or balls, is arranged. A temperature-resistant insulating sheath (6) is arranged around the two electrodes. An intumescent material (11) based on expanded graphite, is introduced into the bed of granules at higher temperatures of more than 100[deg] C, such that the volume increases and the loose bed of granules is compressed to a fixed bed of granules.