Safety of Electrical Installations EUEW General Assembly Brussels 6 June 2008 Roger Lovegrove ECA Technical Committee AIE
What is AIE? Association of European Electrical Contractors Associations
Who are the members of the AIE? 21 national associations in Europe 4 corresponding members: Asia & Pacific, Australia, South Africa, USA
Why do we need safe electrical installations? Unsafe installations and electrical failures cause accidents and fires
Consequences of unsafe installation Death or Severe Injury Damage to property and equipment
What are the dangers? Injury to persons Electric Shock - Death or Injury Electrical burns Explosion Arcing Mechanical Equipment Failure
Fires Death Suffocation Burns Damage to property and equipment Failure of supplies Disruption to production and services Other accidents
Costs - Can be Immense! Death or Severe Injury - Site/business shut down - Accident & Emergency costs - Hospitalisation costs - Investigation costs - Insurance costs - Legal costs - Court costs - Witness costs - Compensation costs Cost of a death c1.5 million Euros!
Costs Damage to Property & Equipment? Many businesses never recover
What is a Safe Installation? Designed and installed to a Standard Equipment manufactured to a Standard Verified as complying with a Standard Maintained to a Standard
What are the requirements for a safe electrical installation? Correct earthing system and conductors Correct earth leakage protection Correct over-current protection Correct type and size of cables Correct over-voltage protection Correct enclosure and insulation of live parts
Requirements for a safe electrical installation Equipment must be manufactured to EU or National product standards Wholesalers: Only stock equipment that complies Ensure equipment ordered is supplied Provide correct information Procedures to identify cloned products
Verification IEC 364 and HD 384 require installations to be verified before being put into service Chapter 61 refers Verification means inspected & tested
Maintenance Legal requirements in many countries: Installations to be maintained in a safe condition IEC 364 and HD 384 Chapter 62 requires Periodic Verification Existing installations to be inspected and tested to identify defects, damage, deterioration, dangerous conditions
Why is Periodic Verification needed? Increasing use of electrical equipment in all buildings means: Society is heavily dependant on a safe electricity supply Necessary to comply with the requirements of HD 60364-6 clause 62 Verify that the electrical installation has not deteriorated and become unsafe (ageing, obsolescence, damage, etc.) Verify that electrical installations continue to be safe to use
What is Periodic Verification? Inspection of the condition and suitability of the installed equipment and the correct ratings of cables and protective devices Testing circuits for: adequate earthing sound insulation proper connections correct operation of safety devices
Examples
European Statistics DOMESTIC Properties Annually: 507,360 fires 2,600 deaths 36,320 injuries FEEDS report (Forum for European Electrical Domestic Safety)
Periodic Verification Some countries Legal Requirements Intervals 5 9 years Change of ownership Change of tenancy Some countries - recommendation only Some countries - no requirements
Safety of Electrical Installations AIE INITIATIVE European Specification ES 59009 Inspection & Testing of Electrical Installations in Domestic Properties
Safety of Electrical Installations AIE INITIATIVE Working on European Commission for a European recommendation for all countries to apply regular Periodic Verification to all domestic premises
Business Opportunities For Contractors: Inspection & Testing Rewiring Upgrading
Business Opportunities What is in it for you? Business for contractors means business for suppliers
Publicity and Promotions The Electrical Industry in Europe should: Publicise the dangers of old installations Promote the need for Safe Installations Publicise the benefits of Periodic Verification Promote use of RCDs Promote the need for adequate sockets Promote the need for energy efficient lighting Contractors, Manufacturers, Wholesalers Work Together
There is business out there waiting for you Go and Get it! Thank you for your attention www.aie.eu www.eca.co.uk