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Legislation and Codes of Practice

The document discusses regulations and guidelines around the use of residual current devices (RCDs) in the UK and other countries. It notes that RCD use is mandatory in many places and outlines growing legislation in the UK accelerating their adoption. Specific regulations are presented covering RCD requirements for areas like indirect contact protection, direct contact areas, caravans, swimming pools, agricultural sites, construction sites, and testing.

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buddhika Madusanka
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101 views

Legislation and Codes of Practice

The document discusses regulations and guidelines around the use of residual current devices (RCDs) in the UK and other countries. It notes that RCD use is mandatory in many places and outlines growing legislation in the UK accelerating their adoption. Specific regulations are presented covering RCD requirements for areas like indirect contact protection, direct contact areas, caravans, swimming pools, agricultural sites, construction sites, and testing.

Uploaded by

buddhika Madusanka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RCD Legislation and Codes of Practice

Overseas legislation
The use of RCDs is mandatory in many countries, including the majority of EEC and Scandinavian states, most of the Middle East countries, Singapore,
Malaysia, South Africa, Hong Kong and Commonwealth countries, and the USA. Other countries are reviewing their position and there is no doubt that
many will follow suit in the near future.

Guidelines in the UK
Here in the UK, there is a growing body of legislation, regulations, codes of practice and recommendations which is accelerating the rate of adoption of
RCDs and widening considerably their areas of application. The trend is clear and cannot be ignored.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974


The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 made under it are statutory documents and non-compliance
constitutes a criminal offence.

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989


Because of the wide range of work covered by the regulations, the requirements are framed in general terms. However, in the Memorandum of Guidance
on the above regulations, a clear case is made for using RCDs as an additional safeguard for earthing (Reg 8). Also under Clause 12 (Isolation), it advises
that the use of RCDs will meet the provision of isolation.

IEE Wiring Regulations BS 7671


Although compliance with BS 7671 (2001) (otherwise known as the 16th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations) is not mandatory – in the event of an accident, failure
to comply could result in prosecution by the HSE. The HSE also accepts that compliance with BS 7671 also gives compliance with The Electricity at Work Act.

a) Indirect Contact d) Cont. (Caravans)


Chapter 413-02 States that where indirect contact protection is to be use by caravans or motor homes, shall be protected by an RCD and no
achieved by earthed equipotential bonding and automatic disconnection of more than three socket outlets shall be connected to one RCD
the supply, an RCD can be used as the means of protection in TN and IT
e) Swimming Pools
earthing systems and is the preferred method of TT systems.
i) Reg 602-07-01 States that where it is not possible to locate socket
Also, the IEE’s "Design participants notes" for the 16th Edition BS 7671:
outlets outside of Zone B, they shall comply with BS 4343 and shall be at
confirms that if an RCD is selected to provide indirect protection, it is not
least 1.25m from the edge of Zone A and at least 0.3m above floor level.
necessary to undertake the disconnection calculations required for
These outlets must be protected by an RCD.
overcurrent devices because the RCD will always trip within 0.2 seconds.
ii) Reg 602-07-02 States that socket outlets, switches or accessories can
b) Direct Contact be installed in Zone C if they are protected by an RCD
Regulation 412-06-02 States that an RCD is recognised as reducing the
f) Agricultural and Horticultural Premises
risk of an electric shock from direct contact with live parts as long as:
Reg 650-03-01 States that circuits supplying socket outlets shall be RCD
i) The RCD is not the sole means of protection, see Reg 402-01-01
protected
ii) The RCD’s tripping current is rated at 30mA, and tripping time is under
40mS for a 150mA fault current g) Construction Site Installations
Reg 604-08-03 States that all socket outlets shall have one or more of
c) Areas of Increased Shock Risk the following measures:
i) Reg 471-08-01 States that in areas of increased shock risk, automatic • Automatic disconnection and reduced low voltage system
disconnection of the supply shall be by means of an RCD • An RCD complying with Reg 412-06-02 (ii)
ii) Reg 471-16-01 States that socket outlets rated at 32A or less, that can • SELV (Reg 411-02 and 471-02)
reasonably be expected to supply portable equipment for use outdoors, • Electrical separation (Reg 413-06 and 471-12)
shall be protected by an RCD h) Functional testing of RCDs
iii) Reg 471-16-02 States that portable equipment for outdoors connected Regulation 713-13-01 States that where an RCD is used to provide
other than through a socket outlet by means of a flexible cable and having protection against indirect contact or supplementary protection against
a current capacity of less than 32A, shall be protected by an RCD direct contact, the RCD shall be subjected to an appropriate fault condition
iv) Reg 471-08-06 States that all socket outlets in a TT earthing system independent of any test facility incorporated in the device. The table
shall be RCD protected below gives the required trip times to comply with BS7071 for portable
RCDs and BS 7288 for RCD socket outlets
d) Caravans
Fault Current 0.5 x In 1 x In 5 x In
i) Reg 608-03-02 States that where a caravan is protected from indirect
contact by automatic disconnection of the supply, a double pole RCD shall Trip Time No trip permissible < 200 mS < 40 mS
be installed complying with Reg 412-06-02 Where " In" is the rated trip current of the RCD in milliamps
ii) Reg 608-13-05 States that socket outlets on caravan parks provided for 23

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