Electrical Safety in your facilities

Derek Thompson & David Richmond

• Case study

• Responsibilities of duty holders

• Identifying the risk

• Standards of compliance

• Inspection testing and maintenance

• In service code of practise

• Training and Competence

Jenny Tonge

Dr Tonge is the MP for Richmond Park

• The death of a Lib Dem MP's daughter was caused by electrocution as a result of defective home improvement work, a coroner's court has found.

• Mary Wherry, daughter of Richmond Park MP Jenny Tonge, died as she emptied her dishwasher at her home in west London (August 2004).

• The 34-year-old mother of two had not realised a metal screw supporting a utensil rack was touching a live wire. She was found by her two young sons.

230v -low voltage - Low current

• Death can occur from any shock that carries enough

current to stop the heart. Low currents (70–700 mA)

usually trigger fibrillation in the heart, which is

reversible via defibrillator but can be fatal without

help.

• Currents as low as 30 mA AC or 300-500 mA DC

applied to the body surface can cause fibrillation.

Large currents (> 1 A) cause permanent damage via

burns, and cellular damage.

The voltage necessary to create current of a given level through the body varies widely with the resistance of the skin; wet or sweaty skin or broken skin can allow a larger current to flow.

Whether an electric current is fatal is also dependent on the path it takes through the body, which depends in turn on the points at which the current enters and leaves the body. The current path must usually include either the heart or the brain to be fatal.

• Detective Inspector Tim Dobson said the wires did

not go up the wall vertically and then horizontally, as

expected, but veered off at a five degree angle.

• "The wire was outside the area of expectancy, at a

slight angle," he said.

• Mrs Wherry's family including Dr Tonge were in court

to hear the verdict but left without comment

afterwards.

The need to anticipate abnormal

conditions

• The Electricity at Work Regulations require the

means of preventing danger to be provided in

anticipation of excess current; a fault or overload

need not have occurred.

• Fault currents arise as a result of short circuits

between conductors caused either by inherent

failure of the electrical equipment or some outside

influence, eg mechanical damage to a cable.

Safe working practise

• Overload currents can arise as a result of the inadequacy of a system to supply the load and may be caused by an increased demand created by outside influence on the electrical equipment, eg. mechanical overloading of an electric motor.

• In the case of work of an electrical nature it is preferable that the conductors be made dead before work starts. (See regulations 12, 13 and 14.) In such cases it is essential that the equipment be isolated which will include securing by locking off etc;

Safe isolation of supply

• The conductors proved dead at the point of

work before the work starts. Where a test

instrument or voltage indicator is used for this

purpose this device should itself be proved

preferably immediately before and

immediately after testing the conductors.

The Electricity at Work Regulations

1989 came into force on 1 April 1990.

• The purpose of the Regulations is to require precautions to be taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity in work activities.

This is a free-to-

download, web-

friendly version of

HSR25, (Second

edition, published

2007). This version

has been adapted for

online use from HSE’s

current printed

version.

Duty Holders – perception of circumstances

• The determination of control measures forms

part of the statutory risk assessment duty-

holders are required to undertake. Such

assessments involve duty-holders identifying

the hazards in their workplace, determining

who might be harmed and how; evaluating

the risk from the hazards and deciding

whether the existing control measures are

sufficient or whether more should be done.

Case law precedent

• Ultimately, it is for the courts to decide

whether or not duty-holders have complied

with the law. However, HSE needs to have a

coherent view of its own, consistent with

relevant case law, as to what the law requires

from duty-holders, both as a basis for any

action it may wish to take and to provide

guidance to staff on what they should expect

from duty-holders.

Statute

• The EaWR’s guidance is intended to assist duty holders in meeting the requirements of the Regulations. It will be of interest and practical help primarily to engineers (including those involved in the design, construction, operation or maintenance of electrical systems and equipment), technicians and their managers. It sets out the Regulations and gives technical and legal guidance on the Regulations except as they apply to mines or

quarries. While it reflects the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) view of the meaning of terms used in the Regulations only the Courts can provide a binding interpretation. The purpose of this Memorandum is to amplify the nature of the precautions in general terms so as to help in the achievement of high standards of electrical safety in compliance with the duties imposed. However, for detailed advice reference must be made elsewhere and some relevant sources of information available at the time of writing are made throughout the Memorandum.

HSE Memorandum

• The purpose of this

Memorandum is to highlight

the nature of the precautions

in general terms to help in the

achievement of high standards

of electrical safety in

compliance with the duties

imposed.

Source of electrical energy (functional)

Source of electrical energy (safety)

Knowledge and Experience

• When those who design, construct, operate or maintain electrical

installations and equipment need advice they should refer to appropriate

guidance, such as may be found in national, international, reputable

foreign and harmonised or industry standards and codes of practice or

HSE guidance, or they should seek expert advice. Only those who

have both the knowledge and the experience to

make the right judgements and decisions and the

necessary skill and ability to carry them into effect

should undertake work subject to these

Regulations. A little knowledge is often sufficient to make electrical

equipment function but a much higher level of knowledge and experience

is usually needed to ensure safety.

Condition Reporting

• All electrical installations deteriorate with age

and use. They should therefore be inspected

and tested at regular intervals to check

whether they are in a satisfactory condition

for continued use. Such safety checks are

commonly referred to as 'periodic inspection

and testing'. Once completed you will be

issued with an Electrical Condition Report

(EICR).

Aged Installations• Because the Regulations state principles of electrical safety in a form which may be

applied to any electrical equipment and any work activity having a bearing on electrical safety, they apply to all electrical systems and equipment (as defined) whenever manufactured, purchased, installed or taken into use even if its

manufacture or installation pre-dates the Regulations. Where electrical equipment pre-dates the Regulations this does not of itself mean that the continued use of the equipment would be in contravention of the Regulations. For example, much of the equipment to which the Regulations apply may have been made to a standard, such as a British Standard, which has since been modified or superseded. It is likely

to be reasonably practicable to replace it with equipment made to a more recent standard when, but only when, it becomes unsafe or falls due for replacement for other than safety reasons, whichever occurs sooner. Equally, fixed installations to which BS 7671 is relevant may have been installed in accordance with an earlier edition, now superseded but then current; that, in itself, does not mean that the installation does not comply with the 1989 Regulations.

• Author: The IET

• Year: 2011

• Format: Paperback

• Pages: 429

• ISBN: 978-1-84919-269-9

• Product code: PWR1701B

• Who is this book for:

• The IET Wiring Regulations are of interest to all those concerned with the design, installation and maintenance of electric wiring in buildings. The market includes electricians, electrical contractors, consultants, local authorities, surveyors and architects. This book will also be of interest to professional engineers, as well as students at university and further education colleges.

Installations excluded from BS7671

• Mines and quarries

• Equipment on vehicles

• Systems for public electricity supply

• Explosion protection

• Operating at up to 1000 volts ac or 1500 volts

dc.

• Author: IET Publication, by Geoff Cronshaw

• Year: 2011

• Format: Paperback

• Pages: 154

• ISBN: 978-1-84919-283-5

• The estimated arrival date is May 2014

Product code: PWG7171B

• Who is this book for:

• GN 7 – Special Locations is of interest to all those who are

involved with specifying, designing, installing or verifying

electrical installations and it covers this essential additional

areas BS 7671. The market includes consulting engineers,

electricians, electrical installers, inspectors and technicians

and can also serve as a guide for surveyors.

• Author: IET Publication

• Year: 2011

• Format: Paperback

• Pages: 128

• ISBN: 978-1-84919-275-0

• Product code: PWG3171B

• Who is this book for:

• GN 3 is of interest to all those who are involved with specifying, planning or carrying out the inspection and tests on electrical installations BS 7671. The market includes consulting engineers, electricians, electrical installers, inspectors and technicians and can also serve as a guide for surveyors.

Electrical Installation Condition Report

(EICR)

• Form 6, the Electric Installation Condition Report

(EICR) from Appendix 6 of BS 7671, is for use when

carrying out routine periodic inspection and testing

of an existing domestic and similar installation with

up to 100 A single- or three-phase supply.

• Condition Reports for larger installations

• Please note that for completeness, the examples

included in Appendix 6, of items requiring inspection

for an electrical installation condition report that

should be used as the basis for larger installations

are also listed.

FORMS for 2008 inc. Amd. No 1:2011

Subject to your agreement to

the following conditions, you

are permitted to, free of

charge, photocopy and/or

electronically manipulate the

forms for use solely in

connection with your

electrical contracting

business.

BS 7671:2008 (2011) Amendment 1

forms

• The following forms along with associated guidance for recipients:

• standard and single signature electrical installation certificate

• minor works certificate

• electrical installation condition report

• condition report inspection schedule for domestic and similar premises with up to 100 A supply

• schedule of inspections

• generic schedule of test results

Frequency of reporting

Electrical installations should be inspected and tested every:

• 10 years for an owner-occupied home.

• 5 years for a rented home.

• 3 years for a caravan

• 1 year for a swimming pool.

Other times when a periodic inspection should be carried out are:

• When a property is being prepared for letting.

• Before selling a property or buying a previously-occupied property.

Guidance Note 3 Table 3.2

indicates the type of

installation

Routine check and…

Maximum period between

inspections and tests.

Fire alarms in buildings

• BS 5839-1:2013 is the current code of practice that makes recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises.

• Compliance with BS 5839-1 is very commonly required throughout the UK by building control bodies, fire and rescue authorities and other authorities who may enforce provisions for fire safety in certain occupancies.

BS 5839-6:2013 Fire detection and fire alarm

systems for buildings. Code of practice for the

design, installation, commissioning and

maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm

systems in domestic premises

•Designed to accommodate a single family

•Houses in multiple occupation that comprise a

number of self-contained units, each designed

to accommodate a single family

•Sheltered housing, including both the dwelling

units and the common areas.

BS 5266-1:2011 Emergency lighting – Part 1:

Code of practice for the emergency escape

lighting of premises

• BS 5266-1:2011 gives recommendations and guidance on the factors that need to be considered in the design of, and the installation and wiring of, electrical emergency escape lighting systems, in order to provide the lighting performance needed for safe movement of people in the event of the supply to normal lighting failing. It also gives recommendations for lighting in areas with fixed seating.

Frequency of test

Monthly

• Switch off the mains power supply to the lighting unit. Walk past all emergency lights to ensure they are working. Note any defects and get repaired immediately. Record your results in your fire safety logbook.

Yearly

• Switch off the mains power supply to the lighting unit. Leave the unit to run for the rated period (eg three hours). The lights should be on for the whole period. If lights fail within this time, replace the battery..

• Third Anniversary of the Installation

• On the 3rd year of the installation the emergency lighting unit should be assessed by a qualified electrician. The mains power supply should be disabled and a full three hour test of the lighting unit should be carried out. It is also important to have the unit checked for compliance with the latest British Standard. Any faults should be fixed and the actions taken should be recorded in the emergency lighting log book.

• Author: IET Publication

• Year: 2012

• Format: Paperback

• Pages: c.152pp.

• ISBN: 978-1-84919-626-0

• Product code: PWR02340

• Who is this book for:

• Facilities managers or duty holders; practitioners contracted to carry out in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment (PAT); students taking the C&G 2377 series of examinations.

In service code of practise

Guidance on Initial frequency

Equipment environment

Formal Visual Inspection

(Months)

Combined Inspection and

Testing (Months)

NIHE – Landlord Responsibility

• Any installations for the supply and use of water, gas,

electricity and sanitation (including baths, sinks,

wash-hand basins and toilets)

• Any appliances provided by the landlord under the

tenancy for making use of the supply of water, gas

and electricity

• Any installations for space heating and water heating

• Any fixtures, fittings and furnishings provided by the

landlord under the terms of the tenancy

• Keeping in good repair any common areas or areas

required for access

What happens if the Housing Executive

determines that they are not at fault?

• NIHE Quote:

“As a result of our investigations, it may be established

that a contractor or another person or organisation

may have caused the alleged defect in question. In

those circumstances details will be passed to that

person or organisation to further investigate your claim

and you will be advised to contact them directly and we

will close our file.”

How do I know if someone is competent to do

electrical work?

• A person can demonstrate competence to perform electrical work if they have successfully completed an assessed training course, run by an accredited training organisation, that included the type of work being considered.

• As part of that course, this person should have demonstrated an ability to understand electrical theory and put this into practice.

• A successfully completed electrical apprenticeship, with some post-apprenticeship experience, is a good way of demonstrating competence for general electrical work.

• More specialised work, such as maintenance of high-voltage switchgear or control system modification, is almost certainly likely to require additional training and experience.

Regulatory Bodies

About The NICEIC

• NICEIC is the UK’s leading voluntary regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry. It has been assessing the electrical competence of electricians for over fifty years and currently maintains a roll of over 26,000 registered contractors.

NICEIC Approved Contractor

• Approved contractors undergo a rigorous

assessment process, covering a representative

sample of their work, their premises,

documentation, equipment, and the

competence of their key supervisory staff.

• They are then re-assessed on a regular basis

to ensure continued compliance.

For the householder

• NICEIC operates an independent complaints procedure governing the technical standards of its Approved Contractor and Part P Domestic Installer Schemes (England and Wales).

• If the work of a registered contractor is found to be below the accepted technical standard, NICEIC can require the contractor to correct the work at no additional cost to the customer.