Regulations
Amendment No. 3 BS 7671 & Consumer Units for use in Domestic (Household) Premises
REGULATION 421.1.201 From January 2015 Amendment No. 3 to BS 7671 IET Wiring Regulations prescribe that within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies shall have their enclosures manufactured from noncombustible material, or be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and comply with product standard BS EN 61439-3.
What are Domestic Household Premises? Typical domestic household premises would include single and multiple occupancy homes such as houses, bungalows, high rise & low rise flats, apartments, student lets, sheltered accommodation, farmhouses, houseboats, static homes, home office, attached garages, workshops and detached summerhouses etc. Other types of building you may need to consider (these may be commercial ventures) but also where people live and guests sleep overnight such as guest houses, hostels, bed & breakfast accommodation, nursing homes etc.
What is Non-combustible Material? There are many types of non-combustible material, however, amendment 3 of the 17th Edition regulations provides an acceptable example as ferrous metal i.e. Steel Consumer Units.
What is an Enclosure? The consumer unit enclosure must be manufactured from a non-combustible material so as to limit the spread of fire. An enclosure means the box, cover, door, hinges, handle and any components required to maintain the integrity of the unit.
What is Similar Switchgear? Similar switchgear is switchgear that is used for the same fundamental application i.e. a circuit protection assembly with two pole isolator and one or more circuit protection devices, e.g. fuse switch, garage unit or PV switchgear etc.
What are Cabinets? Typical cabinets are meter cabinets that are normally built into the fabric of the building and that may or may notinclude consumer units within. If the cabinet is of an all metal construction (non-combustible), then a standard skeleton consumer unit (FAL) can be installed within. If the cabinet is of a combustible material, a metal consumer unit is required.
The most important change from the 16th to the 17th Edition is the increased use of residual current devices. Previously, RCDs have only been required to protect socket outlets for use outdoors (where disconnection times were unable to be achieved), and special locations.
With the introduction of the 17th Edition, this has changed, the term ‘Additional Protection’ is used throughout the publication. The use of RCDs are recognised as a means of providing additional protection in the event of a failure of the provision for basic protection, as an additional means of fault protection, and to protect against carelessness by users.
If an RCD is used to provide Additional Protection it must then meet the requirements of the regulation 415.1.1. That is, that the RCD must have a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30mA, and an operating time not exceeding 40ms at 5x the rated current.
The 17th Edition refers to various applications and installations which require additional protection by the means of the aforementioned RCD.
The first of which is found in Regulation 411.3.3, which has been modified in Amendment 3, where by additional protection is required for:
a). Socket outlets with a rated current not exceeding 20A
b). Mobile equipment with a current rating not exceeding 32A for use outdoors
An exception to ‘a’ is permitted:
1). Where, other than for an installation in a dwelling, a documented risk assessment determines that the RCD protection is not necessary, or
2). For a specific labelled or otherwise suitably identified socket outlet provided for connection of a particular item ofequipment
This regulation has been modified in Amendment 3 to provide less exceptional circumstances where RCD’s may not be used. The document doesn’t define the risk assessment, but the installer should consider each individual socket in all areas, and should include consideration and timings for regular assessments. Labelling could be interpreted as a socket outlet marked ‘fridge’, ‘freezer’. ‘I.T.’
60309-1-IEC 1999+A1:2005+A2:2012
PLUGS, SOCKET-OUTLETS AND COUPLERS FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES
Part 1: General requirements
Scope
This standard applies to plugs and socket-outlets, cable couplers and appliance couplers, with a rated operating voltage not exceeding 1000V d.c. or a.c. and 500Hz a.c, and a rated current not exceeding 800A, primarily intended for industrial use, either indoors or outdoors.
These accessories are intended to be installed by instructed persons (IEC 60050 -195:1998, Amendment 1:2001, 195-04-02) or skilled persons (IEC 60050-195-1998, Amendment 1:2001, 195-04-01) only.
The list of preferred ratings is not intended to exclude other ratings.
This standard applies to plugs and socket- outlets, cable couplers and appliance couplers, hereinafter referred to as accessories, for use when ambient temperature is normally within the range of -25°C to +40°C. These accessories are intended to be connected to cable of copper or copper alloy only. This standard applies to accessories with screw less type terminals or insulation piercing terminals, with a rated current up to and including 32A for series 1 and 30 for A series 11. The use of these accessories on building sites and for agricultural, commercial and domestic applications is not precluded. Socket –outlets or appliance inlets incorporated in or fixed to electrical equipment are within the scope of this standard. This standard also applies to accessories intended to be used in extra-low voltage installations.
The standard does not apply to accessories primarily intended for domestic and similar general purposes. In locations where special conditions prevail, for example on board ship or where explosions are liable to occur, additional requirements may be necessary.
60309-2-IEC 1999+A1:2005+A2:2012
PLUGS, SOCKET-OUTLETS AND COUPLERS FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES
Part 2: Dimensional interchange ability requirements for pin and contact-tube accessories
Scope
Replacement
This standard applies to plugs and socket – outlets, cable couplers and appliance couplers with a rated operating voltage not exceeding 1000V, 500Hz and a rated current not exceeding 125A, primarily intended for use, either indoors or outdoors.
NOTE all references for accessories with a rated current of more than 125A in part 1 are not applicable to this part 2. This standard applies to plugs and socket- outlets, cable couplers and appliance couplers with pins and contact tubes of standardized configurations. This standard applies to plugs and socket – outlets, cable couplers and appliance couplers, hereinafter referred to as accessories, for use when ambient temperature is normally within the range of -25°C to – 40°C. The use of these accessories on building sites and for agricultural, commercial and domestic applications is not precluded. This standard applies to accessories with screw less type terminals or insulation piercing terminals, with a rated current up to and including 32 A for series 1 and 30 for A series 11. Socket –outlets or appliance inlets incorporated in or fixed to electrical equipment are within the scope of this standard. This standard applies to accessories intended to be used in extra-low voltage installations.
NOTE: This standard does not apply to accessories primarily intended for domestic and similar general purposes in locations where special conditions prevail, for example on board a ship or where explosions are liable to occur, additional requirements may be necessary.
BS EN 60947-3 Low-voltage switchgear and control gear. Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse-combination units
Publication Date: 31 July 2009Amendment May 2012. Amends and replaces BS EN 60947-3:2009 which remains current. Corrigendum January 2013.
BS EN 60947-3 applies to switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse-combination units to be used in distribution circuits and motor circuits of which the rated voltage does not exceed 1 000 V a.c. or 1 500 V d.c.
The manufacturer shall specify the type, ratings and characteristics according to the relevant standard of any incorporated fuses. This part does not apply to equipment coming within the scope of IEC 60947-2, IEC 60947-4-1 and IEC 60947-5-1; however, when switches and fuse-combination units coming into the scope of this part are normally used to start, accelerate and/or stop an individual motor they shall also comply with any additional requirements.
The requirements for single pole operated three pole switches and Auxiliary switches fitted to equipment within the scope of this part shall comply with the requirements of IEC 60947-5-1.
BS EN 60947-3 does not include the additional requirements necessary for electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres.
The object of this part is to state:
* The characteristics of the equipment* The conditions with which the equipment shall comply with reference to:
1) Operation and behaviour in normal service2) Operation and behaviour in case of specified abnormal conditions, e.g. short circuit3) Dielectric properties
* The tests for confirming that these conditions have been met and the methods to be adopted for these tests* The information to be marked on the equipment or made available by the manufacturer, e.g. in the catalogue.