switched on issue 24

Issue 24 | Spring 2012 | £5.00 www.esc.org.uk

Kitchen appliancesunder the grillThe Council puts the latest equipment to the test

WELCOME

With the start of the New Year there is acontinued challenge to Part P and

uncertainty of the future of electrical safety inthe Building Regulations. Prior to Christmasthere was a call for evidence from aCommunities and Local Government (CLG)Select Committee concerning the BuildingRegulations and their application to electricaland gas installation and repairs in dwellings.This is in addition to the CLG review of theBuilding Regulations that was due to have

opened last December. It is hard not toconclude that there is a need for joined-upthinking in government if there is to be acoherent outcome from the two reviews thatare taking place on Part P.

On the matter of keeping consumers safe, theCharity held a workshop for the Fire andRescue Services in England to strengthen ourexisting relationships and find new ways inwhich we can work together to promoteelectrical fire safety to the general public(more on page 7). The workshop was wellattended and the plan is to replicate theworkshop in Scotland and Wales.

It was heart-warming to receive a £1000donation in memory of their mother from thedaughters of a lady who died in an electrical-related house fire. We have matched thedonation and are in discussions with the localFire & Rescue Services to run a joint initiativewith them. There is no question thatelectricity kills and, whilst we are grateful forthe donation, we cannot stress enough howimportant it is for everyone to be safe fromthe dangers that electricity can cause.

The Charity was proud to have held itsinaugural stakeholder event at the end of2011 under the theme: Stronger Partnerships

for a Safer Future (more on page 5). Thisevent provided us with the opportunity toshare information about the work we do withlike-minded organisations, seek their input onour future direction of travel and tounderstand what their respective agendas areand how we can work together to providegreater benefit to users of electricity. Werecognise that successful partnerships willonly happen if there is effectivecommunication whereby we listen to theviews of others and accommodate theseviews where possible.

On a final note I would like to offer the ESC’scongratulations to two people. To Roy Jones,a Trustee of the Electrical Safety Council’sBoard who has been awarded an MBE in theNew Year’s Honours List for services to youngpeople in Wales. And to Jim Speirs who hasrecently announced he will retire from theAscertiva Group in April 2012 and waspreviously director general of the ESC Groupuntil June 2009.

As always, we would welcome feedback onSwitched On, to help us improve the content.Email [email protected]

Phil Buckle Director General

A year’s subscription to the ESC’s onlineEssential Guide to the Wiring Regulations isnow available for a limitedperiod at the bargain priceof just £35 (plus VAT)! Well respected in the industry as a

source of authoritative technical

information concerning the application

of the requirements of the Wiring

Regulations (BS 7671), this fully

searchable online resource contains over 300 topics covering

a wide range of relevant subjects to help you in your work or

studies. Subjects are clearly explained with

the aid of full colour illustrations, diagrams

and tables. Each topic can be printed out

for ease of reference as required. During

the subscription year, the topics will be

updated as necessary to take account of

the changes that will be introduced by

Amendment 1 to BS 7671: 2008.

ESC Essential Guide now available FOR JUST £35

To subscribe or for a 7 day free trial, visit www.esc.org.uk

Microgeneration technical issues - see pages 17 to 19

news

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

13

technical

16

17

18

20

features

10

14

issue 24 Spring 2012

switchedonyour insight into the electricalsafety industry

Kitchen appliances put to the test

Installing smart meters:ESC campaigns for checkingtightness of meter tailconnections in consumer units

Welcome

News in brief

Inaugural stakeholder eventpromotes stronger partnerships

Fire Safety Fund helps communitiesin Wandsworth

Electrical safety workshop for Fire& Rescue Services

Householders warned about therisk of fires starting near electricalintake equipment

Portable appliance testing–challenging the myths

Council appoints new head ofcommunicationsAlso, inadequate testing leads tounlawful killing verdict

Fire resistance of cable supports

Have you ever been asked...

Ensuring microgenerationsystems are fit for purpose

Free electrical safetyinformation for your customers

Published by:The Electrical Safety CouncilUnit 331, Great Guildford Business Square30 Great Guildford StreetLondon SE1 0HSwww.esc.org.ukwww.twothirtyvolts.org.ukwww.switchedonkids.org.ukTel: 0203 463 5100 Fax: 0203 463 5139email: [email protected]

SwitchedOn Issue 24 Spring 2012 3

Letters I’m sure that there are manywithin the electrical industrythat will have strong feelingsabout some of the issuesraised in Switched On. So feelfree to shout about them.

Please email your letters to theEditor of Switched On at:[email protected]

4 SwitchedOn Issue 24 Spring 2012

news

House of Commons SelectCommittee Inquiry

A few days before Christmas, there was asurprise announcement that MPs haddecided “to carry out an inquiry into theoperation of the Building Regulations (forEngland), so far as they apply to electricaland gas installation and repairs indwellings, including houses in multipleoccupation”.

The Communities and Local GovernmentCommittee invited submissions frominterested parties, particularly contractors,dwelling owners and local authorities, onthe adequacy of the operation of thecurrent Building Regulations so far aselectrical and gas safety is concerned.

The Electrical Safety Council responded tothe invitation by the deadline of 25January. A report on the inquiry will begiven in the next issue of Switched On.

Government consultation on thefuture of Part P

The consultation by the Department forCommunities and Local Government(DCLG) on the future of Part P, originallyexpected to start in December, wasdelayed until 31 January.

If you want to have a say in the future ofPart P, the consultation package is availableat www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/publications/consultations/

The deadline for responses is 27 April.

If Part P is amended, the changedrequirements are still due to come intoeffect in April 2013, after six months’notice. However, the changes will apply inEngland only (see story below).

Building Regulations powerstransferred to Welsh Ministers

On 1 January this year, powers to makeBuilding Regulations for Wales passed fromthe UK Government to the Welsh Ministers.

Documents and guidance that hadpreviously applied to England and Walescontinue to apply in Wales followingtransfer of powers. These include:

• Building Regulations

• Approved Documents

• guidance published by DCLG, and

• approvals under competent personsprovisions.

However, from 1 January, any revisions toBuilding Regulations and relatedprocedures, processes and guidanceproposed or issued by DCLG will apply toEngland only.

Red Tape Challenge

In yet another Government consultationexercise, from mid-January to mid-February, the Red Tape Challenge website(www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk) invited views on regulations applyingto the housing and construction sector,including the Building Regulations.

According to the website, feedback fromthe Red Tape Challenge will be used todevelop future changes to the BuildingRegulations (in England), including thosethey aim to implement in 2012/2013.

ESC supports PhD student

The ESC has announced plans to provide abursary for a PhD student in an electrical-related subject.

Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC,made the announcement during apresentation at a recent Lighting EducationTrust event - ‘Educating Future Designers’ -where Rachel Nicholls, an MSC student atthe Bartlett School of Graduate Studies,received the ESC/Lightmongers award forthe best exterior lighting design project.

“We plan to be quite open in terms of thearea of research we will support,” explainedPhil Buckle. “For example, we know thatdata from the Department of Communitiesand Local Government shows thatelectrical fires are increasing as apercentage of the overall total, so wewould be interested in research focused on

this area. However, there are many otherrelevant issues which could be considered,so we hope applicants will come up withsome interesting research approaches toelectrical safety in the 21st century.”

The ESC/Lightmongers award ceremonywas part of the Lighting Education Trust’sannual lecture, which is sponsored by theESC and Hoare Lea Lighting.

ESC Board member Roy Joneshonoured

Roy Jones – a member ofthe Council’s Board andgoverning body - hasbeen awarded an MBE inthe New Year’s Honourslist, for services to youngpeople in Wales.

Roy has over 40 years’ of service within theutility sector and is currently a communityliaison manager for ScottishPower.Following the launch of ScottishPowerLearning in 1995, he oversaw the deliveryof the Prince’s Trust team programmeacross North Wales and Merseyside and, asNew Deal manager, helped establishschemes to bring young people intoemployment.

Roy has also managed the Your ChampionsAward for ScottishPower and Trinity MirrorNorth Wales, which gives recognition tounsung community heroes in the region.

Changes to Qualified Supervisorcompetence deferred to 2013

It was announced in the autumn 2011issue of Switched On that new technicalcompetence requirements for proposedQualified Supervisors for registeredelectrical contracting firms would comeinto effect on 1 January 2012.

However, at a meeting last December, theElectrotechnical Assessment SpecificationManagement Committee decided to deferthe implementation of the newrequirements until 6 April 2013, to alignwith the anticipated revisions to Part P ofthe Building Regulations.

Further details are available from the IETwebsite at:www.electrical.theiet.org/building-regulations/eas/

IN BRIEF


news

The Council looks forward to seeing you at one of the five ELEXshows in 2012. The dates and venues are: Harrogate (8-9

March), Exeter (26-27 April), Manchester (21-22 June), Coventry(20-21 September), and Sandown Park, Surrey, (8-9 November).

ELEX always provides the ESC with theopportunity to hear first-hand about theissues affecting electrical contractors, andallows it to distribute the whole range ofconsumer literature and best practiceguidance that the ESC has to offer toelectricians, apprentices, tutors, and otherinterested parties.

The last show of 2011, at Sandown Parkon 10-11 November was another

successful one. The ESC hosted an Industry Forum at the event,bringing together panel members from ELECSA, ECA, the IET,NAPIT and NICEIC, to provide news on developments within theindustry and any changes to BS 7671.

As with previous events, the forum was wellattended and, with the new-style technical Q&Asession in the second half of the forum, therewas something for everyone, especially thoselucky enough to win a printed copy of BS 7671: 2008 (2011), kindly donated by the IET.

Visit www.elexshow.info for moreinformation.

ESC CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ELEX SHOWS IN 2012

The Electrical Safety Council recentlyheld its inaugural stakeholder event at

the Southbank Centre in London –Stronger Partnerships for a Safer Future.The event, hosted by Council chairmanCharles Tanswell, brought together over30 representatives from industry,consumer organisations and government.

In his address Tanswell spoke about theimportance of building meaningfulpartnerships to drive the safety agendaforward: “The Charity is cognisant of theneed to initiate open, two-way dialoguewith its stakeholders to ensure they

understand itsmission and arewilling topartner with theCouncil inhelping topreventelectricalaccidents,injuries anddeaths in theUK,” he said.

In themeantime,director general

Phil Buckle outlined the strategic directionof the Charity and provided a scorecard ofrecent achievements. He noted that thestrategic priorities (see box) will allow theCouncil to focus our work on where it canmake the biggest impact for consumers.

The event also provided an opportunityfor partner organisations to highlight howthey have worked with the ESC to achievetheir business objectives. Francis Philippafrom Foundations highlighted how ESCfunding improves the electrical safety ofthe homes of vulnerable people acrossthe UK and demonstrated very clearly the

beneficiaries of the Charity. Paul Collins ofNICEIC showed how his organisation usedESC’s technical expertise to provide bestpractice guidance to industry in order tomaintain standards in the UK. In addition,Suzanne Kuyser from the Trading StandardsInstitute spoke about the support TradingStandards received from the ESC in gettingcounterfeit and substandard electricalproducts off the market.

The presentations were followed bybreakout sessions in which workinggroups discussed some of the big issuesthat the ESC faces in developing effectivecampaigns and initiatives to improve theelectrical safety of the UK’s consumers.

INAUGURAL STAKEHOLDER EVENT PROMOTESSTRONGER PARTNERSHIPS

For more information about our partnership working, please visit the Stakeholder and Business section of the Council’s website: www.esc.org.uk

The ESC’s strategic priorities

• Raising the profile of the Charityand awareness of electrical safety

• Building the capacity of our people

• Safer Places

• Safer Products

• Income Streams

• Research

The Partnership was awarded funding toassist it in the development of a joint

local community services initiative to delivera safety awareness programme. Theprogramme, aimed at the elderly, alsoenabled electrical products to be offered toparticipants free of charge to help increasesafety, including four-way bar adaptors foruse in place of block adaptors.

The need for the initiative had been

identified by the local Fire & RescueServices. They had advised the Partnershipof an increase in the number of fires in thehomes of elderly residents in the area,pointing to the high concentration of olderpeople living locally in social housing as anincreased risk.

The joint safety initiative was co-ordinatedand delivered by officers from theCommunity Safety Division of Wandsworth

Council, London Ambulance Service,Wandsworth Police and local Fire & RescueServices.

In November last year, over 100 residentsaged between 65 and 93 from theRoehampton area of Wandsworth inLondon attended the first two-day event inthe programme, aimed at making themmore aware of safety and security, both intheir homes and also when they are out andabout.

A number of safety scenario presentationswere provided to the residents, with aparticular emphasis on electrical safety inthe home. Other scenarios included theimportance of having a working smokealarm, how to deal with minor burns andscalds, when to call 999 for an ambulance,and how to deal with strangers at the door.

Participants spent half a day working theirway through the scenarios and everyonewho came took home a ‘goody bag’containing useful things for their safety andsecurity, such as a small torch, a timer switchto turn lights on and off for security reasons,and an energy-saving lamp. They were alsogiven a checklist of things to do beforegoing to bed, which included a list ofelectrical safety checks.

Everyone who attended the event was alsooffered the opportunity to receive a homesafety visit from the local Fire & RescueServices to check on electrical safety in theirhomes. The purpose of these visits is tomake sure householders have a workingsmoke alarm and to offer them furtheradvice about a sensible bedtime routine forchecking fire safety.

Several people who attended the event hadspecial needs, so visiting them in their ownhomes will give the Fire Service a greatopportunity to ensure householders have allthe information and advice on specialequipment they need to help make theirlives safer.

If any items such as a faulty electric blanketor damaged cables on portable appliances

news


HOW THE COUNCIL’S FIRE SAFETY FUND HELPEDCOMMUNITIES IN WANDSWORTH Wandsworth Community Safety Partnership was one of many successful applicants under theElectrical Safety Council’s 2011 Fire Safety Fund.

The ESC’s Fire Safety Fund

As part of ESC’s commitment to reduce electrically-related fires in homes, its ongoing Fire Safety Fundprovides an opportunity for the Council to continue workingwith partners to support fire prevention schemes at local level.

The Fund, about to enter its fourth year, aims to support local electricalfire prevention schemes UK-wide that aim to influence safety standardsand help to change behaviours, with a particular focus on areas of high-risk and vulnerable groups to help keep people safer.

Last year’s Fire Safety Fund, which ran from April 2011 to March 2012,provided £140k which was shared between 33 initiatives UK-wide: 21 inEngland, 8 in Scotland, 3 in Wales and 1 in Northern Ireland.

This year’s Fund opens around April 2012.

such as kettles are found, they will be givena voucher to use to replace the items if theycannot afford to buy replacementsthemselves.

The first event was a great success witheveryone who attended saying they hadeither learnt something new or had beenreminded about various aspects of theirpersonal safety. All the Emergency ServicesOfficers who ran the scenarios said it hadbeen an extremely worthwhile exercise, asthey had quality one-to-one engagementwith the residents, giving the opportunity toreally reinforce the safety messages.

Comments and feedback from the residentsincluded some from a married couple whosaid: “We’ve gone back home and checked all

the electrical appliances and will be muchmore cautious about opening the door tostrangers in future.” The nuns from the localConvent who attended said: “We all feelmuch safer now with the safety tips we’ve beengiven.”

To find out more about the ESC’s Fire SafetyFund and to view the full range of initiativessupported this year, go to:

www.esc.org.uk/public/news-and-campaigns/campaigns/fire-safety-fund


news

Asuccessful workshop on electrical fire safety for English Fireand Rescue Services (FRSs) attracted 38 community fire safety

officers from 25 Brigades – representing over half of the Brigadesin England – with officials from the Department of Communitiesand Local Government (DCLG) ‘Fire Kills’ campaign also inattendance.

The workshop provided the ESC with an opportunity to build onits relationship with FRSs, to increase shared understanding ofelectrical fire safety issues and to consider how FRSs can increaseelectrical safety messaging in their fire prevention activities withinlocal communities.

The London-based event included two workshop sessions: onedelivered by Mike Clark, ESC’s technical director and Mark Hobbs,protection legislation and support manager with East Sussex FRS;and the other delivered by John Elliott, senior engineer at the ESC.

One of the workshop sessions looked at fires in homes caused bythe effects of overloading or faults in electricity cut-out fuses,meters and consumer units, which are commonly located underthe stairs or adjacent to other escape routes. Other electrically-

related fire safety issues associated with the forthcoming smartmeter installation programme were also discussed.

The other session looked at the ways an electrical installation orportable electrical appliances can cause fires in homes. It alsohighlighted instances where the risks might be increased by thebehaviour of the occupants. Topics covered included particularareas of risk, such as downlighters, and provided guidance onwhat to look for when FRSs carry out visual inspections duringtheir home safety visits.

Feedback received on the event was very positive, with allattendees agreeing that, following the workshop sessions, theyhad a greater understanding of electrical safety issues and anincreased knowledge of the ESC, including its aims and activities.One attendee commented: “It was an excellent workshop which wasvery beneficial to our day to day work activities.”

Following the event, many of the Brigades agreed to review theirexisting guidance for householders with a view to increasing theelectrical safety messages, which the ESC hopes will contribute toa reduction in fires caused by electricity.

COUNCIL RUNS ELECTRICAL SAFETY WORKSHOP FORFIRE & RESCUE SERVICES

2008: All reported accidental 2008: Accidental fires of domestic fires electrical origin

Total Caused by Caused by products installations

Fires 41,283 19,009 16,955 2,051

Deaths 294 50 47 3

Injuries 8,519 3,099 2,885 214

Source: Unconfirmed provisional data from DCLG


news

The ESC is warning householders not tostore combustible materials close to the

electrical intake equipment in their homes.The Council is getting the message acrossby supplying labels and leaflets to Fire &Rescue Services (FRS) in England as part ofits electrical fire safety campaign work.

The label and leaflet will be offered tohouseholders by FRS fire prevention officersduring their home safety visits. The warningis particularly appropriate where theelectrical intake equipment (service head,meter and consumer unit) is in a cupboardwhich is used to store items such as coats,cleaning materials and other items that canbe easily ignited. Fires in under-staircupboards are particularly dangerous, asthey can cut off the means of escape fromupstairs.

This joint initiative with the Chief FireOfficers Association (CFOA) followed aninvestigation by East Sussex Fire & RescueService into the cause of a fatal fire inEastbourne, and then into a number ofother fires in domestic and similarproperties in their area, that had started inthe vicinity of electrical intake equipment.The most likely cause of the fires was foundto be resistance heating at deterioratingcable terminations and fuse contacts. Thereport can be found at:www.cfoa.org.uk/download/18650

Whilst the number of such incidents isrelatively small, some have caused real risk

to life due to the nature and circumstancesof how and when the fires occur (often atnight when people are asleep, combinedwith the typical location of an electricalintake being near the means of escape froma property).

Whilst electrical equipment is designed tocontain the thermal effects of faults, such asarcs, sparks and, to some extent,overheating at terminations, the effects canand do ignite materials that are in closeproximity. This was one of the factors thatled to the deaths of 14 elderly residents atthe Rosepark care home in Lanarkshire in2004.

In collaboration with the Association ofMeter Operators, the ESC has also offered topart-fund a supply of the labels for use bymeter operators when visiting homes toreplace electricity meters. This widerelectrical fire safety campaign will run up to2019, by which time the electricity meters inall 26 million homes in Great Britain are dueto have been replaced under the smartmeter programme.

HOUSEHOLDERS WARNED ABOUTTHE RISK OF FIRES STARTING NEARELECTRICAL INTAKE EQUIPMENT

PARLIAMENTARYEVENTCELEBRATES60THANNIVERSARYOF SCEME

The Society of Electrical and MechanicalEngineers (SCEME) celebrated its 60thanniversary last November. To honourthe occasion the society held aparliamentary reception at the House ofCommons, hosted by Minister of Statefor Business and Enterprise Mark Prisk.

SCEME was formed in 1951 to provide aplatform for mechanical and electricalengineers working for LocalGovernment Authorities. “The societyhas come a long way since its inception60 years ago and the House ofCommons event was an opportunity tomark the achievements of the societythroughout that time,” said currentSCEME president Phil Harris.

“Over the years the society has becomea vital network for engineers involved inlocal government work and in morerecent years we have seen the scope ofthe society broaden beyond buildingservices engineers to encompasssustainability, energy conservation andcommunication matters.”

SCEME currently has around 70 memberswho meet up four times a year to discussthe latest topics and initiatives within thesector. In 1998 the Society widened itsmembership criteria to includeprofessional engineers working forcommercial organisations which provideengineering design and managementservices to Local Authorities.

For more information about SCEME,log on to www.sceme.org

SCEME president Phil Harris (left) and BIS ministerMark Prisk (right).


news

Most readers of this magazine will befamiliar with the concept of in-service

inspection and testing of electricalequipment, commonly but misleadinglyreferred to as portable appliance testing (PAT).Although IET and Health and Safety Executive(HSE) guidelines are available, the subject ofPAT still causes confusion and concern forbusiness. People are not clear about whichequipment needs to be tested and uncertainabout how often it should be done. HSEwants to ensure that you, as electricalcontractors or electricians, understand what isrequired so your clients and customers canget the best advice.

The myth that all electrical equipment needsto be tested every year by a qualifiedelectrician was one that HSE refuted in its‘myth of the month’ series back in 2007. Morerecently the issue of PAT has been raised inthe course of Professor Löfstedt’sindependent review of health and safetylegislation. He considered PAT an example ofa regulation that is being applied too widelyand disproportionately largely because thereare many instances of equipment beinginspected and tested too frequently andtested unnecessarily. He recommended thatHSE further clarifies what is necessary andwhat is not.

Although there is a legal requirement tomaintain electrical equipment if lack ofmaintenance could result in danger, there isno legal requirement to test equipment, orthat testing should be carried out at anyparticular frequency. Despite this, somecompanies offering PAT services cite healthand safety legislation as a reason forinspection. In fact, checks and inspection ofequipment by users may be the only actionneeded for portable appliances that are atlow risk of developing hazardous faults.

HSE therefore welcomes thisrecommendation from Professor Löfstedt. Itreflects the Executive’s position in relation tomaintaining electrical equipment, includingportable appliances, that are at low risk ofdeveloping hazardous faults and which arenot subject to excessive wear and tear.Löfstedt’s recommendation also supports

HSE’s view that the focus should be on anappropriate risk-based maintenance regimefor electrical equipment (portable appliancesand other forms of equipment).

HSE is clear that testing equipment includingportable appliances can be a useful, and insome instances an essential, part of aneffective maintenance regime but testing, ifundertaken, is only one element of this. Visualchecks by users and regular inspections of theequipment are also vital parts of anymaintenance regime and, particularly forappliances that are at low risk of developinghazardous faults, they may be the only actionrequired.

When someone is thinking about testingportable appliances, in addition to visualinspection and the frequency at which thisshould be done, it is appropriate to take a risk-based approach. The type of equipment,what it is being used for and the environmentin which it is being used are all factors thatwill influence the need for testing and thefrequency. For example, for a business thatuses equipment robustly in aggressiveenvironments - such as a jobbing builder onconstruction sites - frequent visualinspections and testing may be appropriate.Conversely, for businesses where portableequipment is rarely moved and sits in abenign environment, such as computerequipment in an office, then testing may onlybe required rarely, if at all.

HSE is leading by example. Having reviewedthe results of its annual tests of portableappliances in all its offices over the last fiveyears, HSE has decided that further tests arenot necessary for certain types of equipmentfor the foreseeable future, if at all. HSE will, ofcourse, continue to monitor any faultsreported as a result of user checks and visualinspections and review this decision ifnecessary.

Both inspection and testing, if required,should be undertaken by someonecompetent to do it. Businesses can easilyarrange for a member of their staff to betrained to carry out formal visual inspectionswhich are not technically demanding. This

may be particularly valuable for low riskbusinesses where inspection may identifymost, if not all, problems with theirequipment and thus avoid any unnecessarytesting.

HSE is now taking forward Professor Löfstedt’srecommendations and will review and refreshits guidance on PAT in the next few months. Itwill work with key stakeholders, such as ESC,IET, NICEIC, SELECT, ECA, NAPIT, theAssociation for Professional Appliance Testingand representatives of small businesses anduser groups such as facilities managers tomake sure that clear messages about PATreach all those with an interest.

HSE needs your help too. You are ideallyplaced to help businesses by providingproportionate advice and only promotingportable appliance testing when assuranceabout safety of electrical equipment cannotbe obtained in any other way. If you have anycomments and ideas on how we might tacklethis together then please get in touch withHSE to discuss them further by [email protected]

Useful links:

Advice on maintaining portable andtransportable equipmentwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg107.pdf

Further advice for those working withportable equipment in low risk environmentsis available atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf

Reclaiming health and safety for all: Anindependent review of health and safetylegislation. www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lofstedt-report.pdf

PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING – CHALLENGING THE MYTHSPortable appliance testing continues to cause confusion and concern for business. The Healthand Safety Executive brings readers up to speed on the requirements.


feature

The Council’s continued analysis of the EU injurydatabase and research into electrical riskcategorisation has revealed the need to evaluatethe safety and compliance of kitchen applianceswith product standards. This product category isregularly notified as being unsafe under RAPEX,the EU’s rapid alert system for dangerousconsumer products. The problem is exacerbatedas some products appeal to children.

The European safety standard for toasters and similarportable cooking appliances, EN 60335-2-9, has beenamended twice since 2008. Revisions have reducedsurface temperature limits and addressed usage bychildren aged eight years and over following instructionor while under supervision. With this in mind, and theESC’s commitment to an ongoing product safety-screening programme, the Council commissioned anindependent laboratory to inspect and test 11 kitchenappliances.

There is a wide range of products available on themarket. To ensure that a broad range of product typeswere covered, one sample of each particular producttype was purchased. The products were bought fromthe high street or online. Some were chosen for theirinnovative features and others for their potentialappeal to children. They included a selection of basicand medium-priced portable cooking appliances, amicrowave oven and a portable washing machine. Theproducts and number of samples selected are shown inthe table below.

Product type Samples

Toasters 3

Halogen oven 1

Mini oven 1

Microwave oven 1

Popcorn maker/egg boiler 1

Rice cooker 1

Deep fat fryer 1

Induction cooker 1

Portable washing machine 1

The ESC’s investigation revealed that only one of the11 products tested passed the test programme with nodepartures or observations being noted. Over half ofthe samples failed to meet the requirements of therelevant product standard. Problems and observationsfound included:

• Hazardous surface temperatures

• Inadequate protection against accidental contactwith basic insulation in a class II construction

• Missing symbol or caution warning againstcontact with hot surfaces

• Inadvertent operation with possibility ofcontacting hot surfaces

• Poor internal construction with a potential for internalwiring to contact rotating parts

• Absence of information in manufacturers’ instructionsconcerning vulnerable users

• Incorrect CE-marking and missing markings such asvendor’s name or trademark

• Fitted plugs with 13A fuse link when 3A would suffice

Product safety regulations

Electrical appliances must satisfy the requirements ofthe Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994before being placed on the UK market. Electricalappliances in conformity with EU safety standardsbenefit from a presumption of conformity under thesafety objectives of the Regulations.

The EN 60335 series of European standards cover thesafety of household and similar electrical appliances.Part 1 contains the general requirements. There are over100 ‘Part 2’ standards under the same series coveringspecific electrical appliances. For example,EN 60335-2-9 covers grills, toasters and similar portablecooking appliances. Both standards must be applied, asthe ‘Part 2’ contains clauses that supplement or modifythe generic ‘Part 1’ standard EN 60335-1.

These standards are continually reviewed and updatedto reflect good engineering practice and developmentsin design and technology.

Product testing

Each sample was subjected to testing and inspectionunder the appropriate part of the EN 60335 series ofstandards. Many of the samples are within the scope ofEN 60335-2-9. This standard has recently beenamended to cover child usage. The amendment, whichcomes into force and replaces previous issues inOctober 2013, also introduces reduced surfacetemperature limits for metal, coated metal, glass andceramic, and plastic surfaces of electrical applianceswithin the scope of the standard.

“The ESC’sinvestigationrevealed that

only one of the11 productstested passed

the testprogramme”

Kitchen appliances


feature

We asked the test laboratory to consider the aboveaspects during product testing.

Product testing results

Markings and instructions

None of the portable cooking appliances included thelatest wording in the manufacturer’s instructionsconcerning use of the appliance by children aged fromeight years and above. It is therefore likely that theproducts were tested to the earlier version of thestandard, which is valid until October 2013.

Two samples were missing current standard wordingfrom the manufacturer’s instructions for vulnerableusers. One sample was also missing the name,trademark or identification mark of the manufactureror responsible vendor.

One sample was missing a warning in the userinstructions to replace the supply cord if it shows signsof damage. Four samples were missing the followingwording from their instruction booklets: “The applianceis not intended to be operated by means of an externaltimer or separate remote-control system.” The portablehalogen oven was also not marked with theappropriate IEC symbol for a hot surface or with thewording “CAUTION: Hot Surface”.

Two samples rated at less than 3A had 13A fuses fittedin their plugs. In general a 3A fuse link is adequate foran electrical appliance with a rated power of up to700W, which applied in this instance. The operatingcharacteristics of an appliance may justify a higher fuserating, such as inrush currents, but this was not thecase for the two samples under test.

Accessible hot surfaces

Surface temperatures for the halogen oven (figure 1)and the mini oven (figure 2) were above the limits inthe current product standard. The outer glass surface ofthe halogen oven measured 143°C against a limit of120°C required by the standard. This sample was alsonot marked with a hot surface symbol in accordancewith IEC 60417 or with a caution warning against hotsurfaces. The glass door of the mini oven measured157°C and its outer surface measured 146°C. Thesample was marked with a symbol and the wording“Do Not Touch, Hot Surface”, but it is foreseeable thatthe user or indeed bystanders, including children, maycontact these surfaces accidentally. In this case theywould be exposed to a potential burn hazard. The burnthreshold for a healthy adult, when touching glass for a

contact period of 0.5s, is 84°C to 90°C. This is takenfrom the guidance standard for temperatures oftouchable hot surfaces, EN 13202.

The burn threshold figures are 67°C to 73°C for bare(uncoated) metal, as is the case for the outer surface ofone of the toasters. This sample complies with thecurrent standard but fails the latest surfacetemperature limit for bare (uncoated) metal imposedby amendment A13 to EN 60335-2-9. It is possiblehowever that this sample has been manufactured tothe earlier version of the standard, which remainscurrent until October 2013.

Inadvertent operation

Figure 3 (overleaf) is a multifunctional heating andcooking appliance. It will steam food, boil eggs, makepopcorn and cook hot dog sausages whilesimultaneously heating bread rolls. Two separateproduct standards were applied, as not all safety aspectsof the product are covered by a single product standard.It was possible to set the main switch to dual heatingmode for cooking functions requiring single heatingfrom the base only, which resulted in the heating rodsgenerating temperatures above 90°C. While the safetystandard does not specify temperature limits foraccidental contact in such a scenario, the heating rodspose a potential burn hazard, nonetheless.

“The outer glasssurface of thehalogen ovenmeasured 143°Cagainst a limit of120°C required bythe standard”

put to the test

Figure 2: Mini oven

s

s Figure 1: Halogen oven


feature

Internal construction

The internal wiring of the portable washing machinewas not adequately secured. As such, there is a risk thatthe unsecured wiring might come into contact withthe drive belt during normal operation and result in apotentially hazardous situation.

Features that appeal to children

There appears to be an increasing number of electricalproducts that have bright and contrasting colourscombined with enclosures having potential childappeal. EN 60335 - 1 attempts to address this issue bystating: “appliances shall not have an enclosure that isshaped or decorated like a toy”.

The toaster (figure 4) plays a tune when the toast popsup and a character’s face is present on either side ofthe toast. These features might encourage a child totouch or handle the toaster thereby increasingly theprobability of an injury. The user instructions do statethat the product is not a toy and should not be playedwith, but the potential hazards resulting from suchfeatures should be considered when deciding to buy.

Figure 4: The toaster had features that may appeal tochildren.

Conclusions

Despite the recent introduction of new wordingconcerning the use of appliances by children aged fromeight years and above into the revised safety standardEN 60335-2-9, we noticed some issues and wouldencourage manufacturers to adopt these changes attheir earliest opportunity. The absence of warningsfrom user instructions and various product markings,including no vendor details, would suggest that safetystandards in support of the UK’s Electrical Equipment(Safety) Regulations are not being properly followed.

While the current-carrying capacity for the twosamples having oversized fuse links is adequate, bothproducts would benefit for safety reasons from havinga lower value fuse link, as their rated power is below700W.

High surface temperatures are perhaps expected forportable ovens but in this case two samples had

temperatures well above safety standard limits. Theabsence of a warning for hot surfaces on the halogenoven is particularly concerning and might increase thelikelihood of a burn injury. It is clear that manufacturersneed to be aware of the changes and modify theirappliances, as appropriate.

The combined heating and cooking appliance

incorporating accessible heating rods is a challenge for

both manufacturers and safety standard makers.

Despite the test laboratory applying two standards to

cover the individual product features, inadvertent

operation is possible resulting in a potential burn

hazard not recognised by either standard. Innovation in

product design is inevitable but adequate safeguards

must be considered and applied during the design and

development stage. This is particularly important where

accessible heating rods are so close to the popcorn

container, which might be accessible to young children

or other vulnerable users with slower reaction times.

A portable washing machine may be convenient and

easy to use, yet in this case the sample’s internal

wiring was not adequately secured. The absence of

information concerning vulnerable users from the

manufacturer’s instructions and the undersized CE-

marking would suggest that the safety standard and

UK Regulations were not understood or properly

applied.

Deciding upon features of electrical appliances that

children might find appealing is a subjective matter.

There are differences of opinion between test

laboratories and indeed EU regulatory authorities.

There is considerable debate among EU Member States

as to what constitutes a child-appealing electrical

appliance. The European Commission and its various

committees dealing with electrical goods are

continually updating guidance for market surveillance

authorities throughout Europe.

As with all our safety investigations, we have informed

manufacturers and retailers, as applicable of our

findings and have kept the market surveillance

authorities informed of our actions. A copy of the full

laboratory test report can be viewed on the Council’s

website: www.esc.org.uk

“High surfacetemperatures are

perhapsexpected for

portable ovensbut in this casetwo samples hadtemperatures

well above safetystandard limits”

Figure 3: Multifunctionalheating and cooking device s

s


news

Anneke Rousseau is the new head ofcommunications at the Electrical

Safety Council. She assumed the role latelast year after an internal restructure.

Anneke’s remit covers marketing,campaigns and media. In highlighting herpriorities, Anneke noted that she will beseeking to strengthen the brand amongconsumers, especially through digitalmedia and to focus on buildingmeaningful partnerships to get people to

take electricity more seriously and actaccordingly.

“I’m pleased to take on this role especiallyat this time as the Charity seeks toposition itself as a consumer safetychampion,” she said. “The reality is thatpeople don’t take electricity seriouslyenough but with electricity causingapproximately 70 deaths and over 20,000fires each year, that is something to betaken seriously.”

In December 2007, Emma Shaw, a 22-year-

old mother, was electrocuted in the airing

cupboard of her flat in the West Midlands.

At an inquest into Miss Shaw’s death, the

jury heard how the tragedy resulted from a

plasterboard fixing screw being driven into a

concealed cable when the flat was being

built the previous year, causing the metallic

frame of the partition to become ‘live’ when

the electrical installation was energised.

The damage to the cable had not been

detected because insulation resistance tests

had not been carried out properly on the

wiring, the jury were told.

The fault had remained undetected untilwater from a leak in a hot water cylindercame into contact with the metal partition.This caused water on the airing cupboardfloor also to become ‘live’, which led to theelectrocution when Miss Shaw attempted toturn off the water stop cock when in contactwith the water. As the flat was on the firstfloor, no RCD protection had been provided.

Her son Brayden, then aged 23 months, hadbeen shut in the living room while hismother went to tend to the leak.

Last December, after listening to two weeksof evidence, the inquest jury found that theinitial testing of the electrical installation in

the flat by the installing contractor, AnchorElectrical and Building Services Ltd ofStaffordshire, was "not carried out to aprofessional standard, if at all".

Evidence at the inquest revealed that whenthe electrics were installed, a series of errorswere made. These included an unqualifiedelectrician’s mate testing and approving thewiring in the flat. The inquest heard that foursafety documents that the mate had filledout, and which were checked by thecompany’s supervisor, also had a number oferrors in them.

The jury said that there had been a “failureby the company to assess the capabilities oftheir workforce and constantly monitor theirdevelopment” and a “failure to comply withtheir health and safety standards”. Theyconcluded that Miss Shaw had beenunlawfully killed.

Following the verdict of unlawful killing, theHealth and Safety Executive confirmed thatnew evidence would be passed to theCrown Prosecution Service, which hadpreviously said that there was insufficientevidence to successfully prosecute anyone.

The Coroner told the inquest that he woulduse coroner’s rules to write to the NICEICand other relevant bodies, asking if anythingcan be done to curb the practice ofelectricians signing safety certificates basedsolely on information reported to them byothers.

INADEQUATE TESTING LEADS TO UNLAWFULKILLING VERDICT

COUNCIL APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS


feature

As reported in previous issues of Switched On, the Council hasbeen raising awareness of some of the safety concernsregarding the installation of smart electricity meters.

The ESC believes that the tightness of meter tail connections within aconsumer unit should be routinely checked as part of the smartmeter installation process – something which energy companies andmeter operators do not currently do.

The Council argues that the removal of an existing meter andinstallation of the smart meter may mean that the meter tails to theconsumer unit are disturbed and connections within the consumerunit are loosened. This could result in the meter tails pulling out oftheir connection, causing a risk of electric shock, loss of supply, or thecreation of a high resistance connection that could lead to anincreased risk of fire.

Evidence from a report produced by East Sussex Fire and RescueServices, and from other reported fire incidents, indicates that manyfires occur within the consumer unit, some of which were as a resultof a high resistance connection.

Investigation

To support its concerns and the anecdotal evidence, the ESCcommissioned an independent laboratory to simulate changing anelectricity meter. This would determine what effect disturbing themeter tails would have on the connections to the incoming terminalsof the isolator within a consumer unit, positioned in a typicalmeter/consumer unit arrangement.

The investigation included a comparison between traditional 7-strandconductors and a 19-strand conductor. The latter is more flexible andhas been adopted by several meter operators as their preferred typeof conductor for connecting the meter to the cut-out and/or to aconsumer’s isolating switch, due to its perceived improved connectionproperties.

An investigation into different cable end preparation was alsoincluded, by flattening or twisting the conductor prior to connection.

A selection of six consumer unit isolator switches and a combinationof conductors sized 16 mm2 (7-strand) and 25 mm2 (7-strand and19-strand) – 18 connections in total – were subjected to thefollowing test methodology:

Test 1 –tighten to manufacturer’s stated torque or, where none isstated, as tabulated in BS EN 60947-1, and recheck torque after 24hours.

Test 2 – simulate foreseeable movement of meter tails using a‘flexion’ test, as described in BS EN 60947-1.

Test 3 – apply a tighter twist to the strands prior to connection andapply procedures A and B below.

Test 4 – flatten the conductor (with pliers by hand) such that there is

minimal displacement of conductors prior to connection and applyprocedures A and B below.

Procedure A – Apply a pull-out test as described in clause 8.2.4.4 inBS EN 60947-1 – record the pulling force.

Procedure B – measure and record the movement, if any, of theterminal screw to reach the specified torque.

Example of 7-strand conductor

Example of 19-strand conductor

Example of twisted 7-strand conductor

Example of flattened 19-strand conductor

Installing smart meters:ESC campaigns for checking tightness of meter tail connections in consumer units


feature

Conclusions and next steps

It can be seen from the test results in table 1 that disturbing themeter tails in a way foreseeable when changing an electricity meter islikely to loosen the connection at the main isolating switch in aconsumer unit, to a greater or lesser extent. This is possibly due tothe individual conductor strands changing position within theterminal space.

Flattening the conductors appeared to improve the effectiveness ofthe connection, although it was concluded that this presented theadditional risk that terminals originally designed for 25 mm2

conductors would no longer accept this size after the conductors hadbeen prepared in this way.

Twisting the conductors gave variable results but had the additionalrisk that terminals originally designed for 25 mm2 conductors wouldno longer accept this size after the conductors had been prepared inthis way.

Whilst we wouldn’t expect meter tails to be routinely replaced duringthe installation of a smart meter, unless they were seen to be visually

damaged or undersized, our investigations showed that 19-strandconductors provided a more effective connection than those with7-strands.

The results of the investigation confirm the Council’s view that thetightness of meter tail connections in consumer units should bechecked after installing a smart meter (or other electricity meter),where there is a risk of the meter tails being disturbed.

After sharing the findings of our investigation with the Association ofMeter Operators (AMO) and with other stakeholders, such as theDepartment of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Health andSafety Executive (HSE) and Energy Networks Association (ENA), theCouncil is hopeful that checking the tightness of meter tailconnections in consumer units on an individual risk assessment basiswill be included in the Meter Operator’s Code of Practice Agreement(MOCOPA).

A copy of the laboratory report is available to view in the‘industry section’ of the Council’s website: www.esc.org.uk

Table 1: Test results

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3* Test 4**

Connections pulled out 3 9 1 1

Connections requiringretightening to 7 out of remaining 15 10 out of remaining 11 10 out of remaining 15 4 out of remaining 14original torque

*unable to terminate two conductors following preparation procedure** unable to terminate three conductors following preparation procedure


technical

Fire resistance of cable supportsIn 2005, two firefighters lost their lives when fighting a fire ina block of flats in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Whilst there werea number of contributing factors to that tragic event, one ofthe firefighters died when he became entangled in electriccables that had fallen as a result of the plastic cable trunkingin which it was contained melting. The subsequentinvestigation found that the firefighter had cable insulationstuck on the palm of his glove, indicating that he had beenattempting to untangle himself as he died.

To meet requirements in BS 7671, and recommendations andrequirements of codes of practice for safety services (such asemergency lighting and fire alarms), wiring systems should besupported in a way that helps protect against such tragedies.

Example of a wiring system collapsed due to fire

Requirements applying to all wiring systems

The requirements of BS 7671 apply to all wiring systems of abuilding, including those of distribution circuits and final circuits,safety services, and data and communications services.

Regulation 527.1.2 requires wiring systems to be so installed that thegeneral building structural performance and fire safety are notreduced. In the context of wiring systems, this implies that theyshould be supported in such a way that, where appropriate (such asin corridors, stairways and other escape routes), they will not collapsewhen affected by a fire. As highlighted earlier, this could entangle aperson trying to escape from the building or a firefighter carrying outa search and rescue operation and could cause injury or death.

The above requirement would be unlikely to be met by the sole useof plastic cable clips, non-metallic cable ties or plastic trunking tosupport wiring systems. Cables and any associated trunking, conduitor cable tray should, wherever possible, be securely attached tosuitable fire-resistant parts of the building fabric, using appropriatenon-combustible fixings.

It should not be overlooked that Section 422 of BS 7671 also appliesin locations where particular risks of fire exist. This may be due to theconditions of evacuation in an emergency, the nature of processed orstored materials, or the combustibility of the building materials. ThisSection includes certain requirements relating to the flammabilityand fire resistance of wiring systems that have implications on thesupports for those wiring systems.

For safety services such as fire alarm and emergency lighting systems,Regulation 560.8.1 requires, amongst other things, that the wiringsystems meet the requirements of the relevant code of practiceappropriate to the application.

Recommendations applying to fire alarm wiring systems

The recommendations of BS 5839-1:2002 + A2: 2008, Firedetection and fire alarm systems for buildings – Part 1: Code ofpractice for system design, installation, commissioning andmaintenance, apply in addition to the requirements of BS 7671.

Clause 26.2(c) recommends that cable systems used for all parts ofthe critical signal paths, and for the low voltage mains supply tothe system, should resist the effects of fire. Note 9 to that clause,which was added after the two firefighters died in the Stevenagefire, states that experience has shown that collapse of cablessupported only by plastic cable trunking can create a serioushazard for firefighters, who could become entangled in the cables.Also, clause 46.2(5), relating to inspections, states thatshortcomings in cable support that could result in collapse of asignificant length of cable in the event of fire might be regarded asa major non-compliance.

To meet the recommendations of clause 26.2, methods of cablesupport should be such that circuit integrity will not be reducedbelow that afforded by the cable used, and should withstand asimilar temperature and duration to that of the cable, whilstmaintaining adequate support. In practice this means that fixingsfor ‘standard’ fire resisting cables should survive for 30 minutes ata nominal temperature of 850 ˚C without loss of integrity andthose for ‘enhanced’ fire resisting cables for 120 minutes at anominal temperature of 950 ˚C.

Recommendations applying to emergency lighting wiring systems

The recommendations of BS 5266-1: 2011, Emergency lighting −Part 1: Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises, applyin addition to the requirements of BS 7671.

Clause 8.2, relating to the wiring for central power supply systems,identifies the need for wiring systems used for the connection ofemergency escape lighting luminaires to the standby power supplyto adequately resist the effects of fire and mechanical damage.

Clause 8.2.2 states that cable supports and fixings should be non-combustible, such that circuit integrity is not reduced below thatafforded by the cable used. A note to that clause states that, ineffect, this recommendation precludes the use of plastic supportsand fixings where these would be the sole means of supporting thecable.

The supports should therefore be suitably selected and installed toprevent collapse of the wiring system in the event of fire. Also, forwiring systems listed in clause 8.2.2 as having an inherently highresistance to attack by fire (which have a survival duration of 60minutes or 120 minutes as appropriate when tested in accordancewith BS EN 50200: 2006) the supports should be suitable towithstand a similar temperature and duration to that of the wiringsystem, whilst maintaining adequate support.

Although the wiring system bringing the mains voltage supply toself-contained emergency lighting luminaires is not covered byclause 8.2 of BS 5266, it still has to comply with BS 7671. It shouldtherefore be supported in such a way that it will not collapse whenaffected by a fire.

Have you everbeen asked...

During the last year or so, there has been a significant increase in thenumber of electrical installations in domestic premises in the UK thathave a microgeneration system, such as solar photovoltaic (PV), micro-wind and micro-hydro. Such a system provides a second source of supplyto the installation, in addition to that derived from public electricitysupply network. Some customers having, or a thinking of having, amicrogeneration system seem to believe that this system will providecontinuity of supply if and when the public supply fails. However, this isnot the case.

In response to increased concerns over the issue of global warmingand climate change, and in order to honour commitments madeunder the Kyoto Protocol, the UK government enacted a number ofmeasures in the Climate Change Act 2008. Key targets within thisAct are:

• to ensure that the net UK carbon account for the year 2050 is atleast 80% lower than the 1990 baseline

• a reduction in emissions of at least 30% against the 1990baseline by 2020.

At the European level, Directive 2009/28/EC, on the promotion of theuse of energy from renewable sources, contains a national overalltarget for the UK of 20% for the share of energy from renewablesources in gross final consumption of energy in 2020.

As a result of the above commitments, the UK government introducedFeed-in Tariffs (FITs) to provide a financial incentive to encourageuptake of microgeneration.

A number of customers having, or thinking of having, amicrogeneration system installed under the FITs scheme seem tobelieve that by so doing they will have no loss of supply if and whenthe public supply to their premises fails. This is not the case, however.Any such microgenerators are designed to be operated in parallel withthe public supply and not as an alternative to it.

If, in the event of a failure of the public supply, a microgenerator

remained connected to the public supply network, the voltage present

on the network cabling and equipment as a result of this could pose a

serious risk of electric shock to persons required to carry out repair or

maintenance activities on a seemingly de-energised network.

In BS 7671, Regulation 551.7.4 requires means of automatic switching

to be provided to disconnect the microgenerator from the public

electricity supply system in the event of loss of the supply from that

system or any deviation of the voltage or frequency at the supply

terminals beyond declared values. Furthermore, Regulation 551.7.5

requires means to be provided to prevent the connection of the

microgenerator to the public electricity supply system in the event of

such loss of supply or deviation of the voltage or frequency at the

supply terminals.

Detailed requirements relating to the above requirements of BS 7671

are given in the Energy Networks Association’s Engineering

Recommendation G83/1-1. Table 1 of clause 5.3.1 of G83/1-1 gives

the maximum range of trip settings and the maximum trip times for

the so-called ‘interface protection’, in relation to:

• overvoltage

• undervoltage

• over frequency

• under frequency

• loss of mains.

Clause 5.3.3 of G83/1-1 requires that the above-mentioned means of

preventing connection of the microgenerator to the public electricity

supply system shall do so until the voltage and frequency of that

system have remained within the values given in Table 1 for at least

three minutes.

can a microgeneration system providecontinuity of supply in the event of amains failure? ?


technical


technical

18

As part of its drive to reduce CO2 emissions, the UKgovernment has promoted the installation ofmicrogeneration systems. There are types of microgenerationsystem that produce heat (such as solar thermal systems)and types that produce electricity.

Electricity-producing microgeneration systems supplement theconventional large power stations with small-scale generatorslocated in consumers’ premises. These microgeneration systemsutilise a range of technologies, including photovoltaic (PV), sterlingengine-driven, wind-based and water-based (micro-hydro) systems.Irrespective of the technology used, microgeneration offers theadvantages of zero or extremely low fuel costs and a reduction inthe transmission losses that occur in the national transmission ofelectrical energy. This article explores the regulatory frameworksurrounding the installation of a microgeneration system.

For many consumers, the main incentive for investing in amicrogeneration system has been the introduction of ‘feed in tariffs’(FITs). These tariffs reward the consumer for using a microgenerationsystem to produce energy, which may be used to supply aproportion of the consumer’s own energy needs.

The structures of FITs are complex; the generation tariff and exporttariff offered to a consumer depend on both the type of technologyemployed and the rating of the microgenerator.

The introduction of FITs led to a dramatic increase in the number ofmicrogeneration systems being installed. However, the installation ofa microgeneration system is a complex affair and the receipt of theapplicable financial incentives is conditional on the systemcomplying with the appropriate requirements.

The coalition government’s policies on regulations and green energyare having an increasing impact on the world of microgeneration,and many of the guidance documents referred to in this article haverecently been revised, are in the process of being revised, or are likelyto be revised in the near future.

In order to ensure that microgeneration systems conform to a

minimum standard, the Department of Energy and Climate Change

(DECC) introduced the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

This comprehensive scheme includes both a system for product

certification and a system of supervising competent person

accreditation schemes for installers of microgeneration systems.

Receipt of FIT payments is conditional on the installed

microgenerator system complying with the MCS requirements. To

ensure that, when purchasing a microgeneration system, consumers

are not subjected to unethical or unacceptable business practices,

the Renewable Energy Association has set up the REAL Assurance

Scheme, which has a Consumer Code that all MCS-certificated

contractors must agree to comply with.

For a particular form of microgeneration, there may be additional

requirements, the best known of these being given in the MSC

document The Installers Guide to Photovoltaic Installation, which

supersedes the DTI Guide to the Installation of PV Systems. This

document contains useful information relating to the design,

installation and commissioning of PV systems.

For microgenerators (generally characterised as being rated at up to

16 A per phase) to be connected to the public electricity supply

network, the installed equipment must satisfy the requirements of

the Distributed Generation Connection Guide G83/1-1, published by

the Energy Networks Association. This document is intended to

provide manufacturers and installers with guidance on the technical

aspects of connecting small-scale embedded generators (SSEGs) in

parallel with the public electricity supply network.

In order to access the funds available through FITs, the installer must

supply evidence to the Distribution Network Operator (DNO), within

30 days of commissioning the microgeneration system, that the

microgenerator installation complies with G83/1-1. G83/1-1 is

under review and will soon be replaced by G83/2.

Ensuring microgeneration systems are fit for purpose


technical

For larger microgeneration schemes, above the 16A per phaseG83/1-1 limit, the requirements of ENA Connection Guide G59/2usually apply instead of those of G83/1-1.

In recent years, the planning restrictions applying to theinstallation of domestic microgeneration systems on the outsideof buildings have been relaxed, with the installation of someforms of microgenerator being classed as permitted development.However, this relaxation is unlikely to apply in conservation areas,or to a listed building or to a building on a world heritage site. Theinstallation of a microgeneration system in one of these situationswill require planning permission and may require listed buildingconsent. Even when the work is classed as permitteddevelopment, there may be some planning restrictions in force.Therefore, before installing a microgeneration system it would beprudent to check with the local planning office as to whatrestrictions, if any, apply. Depending whether the property is inEngland, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, different legislationwill apply.

In England and Wales it is a statutory requirement that BuildingRegulations are complied with. The following sections of theBuilding Regulations may be applicable to the installation of amicrogeneration system and therefore, where applicable, need becomplied with:

Part A Structure.

Part B Fire Safety.

Part C Site preparation and resistance to contaminates and moisture.

Part E Resistance to the passage of sound.

Part L Conservation of fuel and power.

Part P Electrical Safety – dwellings.

Requirements relating to many of the electrical aspects of installingmicrogeneration systems are included in BS 7671 (IET WiringRegulations 17th Edition) and, depending on the technologyemployed, requirements of other standards such as BS EN 62446:Grid connected photovoltaic systems – Minimum requirements forsystem documentation, commissioning tests and inspection.

Finally, the contractor installing and maintaining a microgerationsystem will need to comply with health and safety legislation.Installers of these systems frequently face challenges regardingmanual handling, working at height and electrical safety.

For consumers who wish to receive the government funded financialincentives available to those who have a microgeneration systeminstalled, a plethora of regulations have to be complied with, whichmakes the installation of such equipment a job for experiencedprofessionals. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme includes therecognition of several competent person registration schemes.Employing an installer registered with an appropriate scheme shouldgo a long way towards ensuring that the installer is a competentperson able to comply with the regulations and guidance applicableto the installation of microgenerators.

All the previous issues of Switched On are available to read or download from the‘Business & Community’ section of our website.

20

BACK ISSUES OF SWITCHED ON

The ESC has developed a range ofleaflets and DVDs to provide electrical

safety advice to homeowners, tenants andlandlords.

The purpose is to not only raise the profileof the ESC amongst these targetaudiences, but also to promote thebenefits of using installers registered withgovernment approved schemes.

Every year, on average 70 people die and350,000 are seriously injured in domesticelectrical accidents in UK homes. To thisend, the ESC is continually trying to findnew and engaging ways of makinghouseholders aware of the potentialdangers of electricity.

By providing essential electrical safetyinformation directly to consumers, theCouncil can raise awareness of electricalsafety issues within the home.

The ESC’s 25-minute Guide to electricalsafety DVD features a family and theirlodger embarking upon their daily routine.Each part of the story views the day from adifferent person’s perspective, and shows avariety of electrical hazards that each ofthem may face. By bringing the hazards tolife in the DVD, viewers can see how oftenelectricity features in their daily lives andthe potential, sometimes unexpected,hazards that it can pose.

One of the key messages for householdersis for them to think about the condition oftheir electrical installation- just because itworks; doesn’t mean that it is safe.

To help reinforce this message, the Councilhas produced a 10-minute DVD aimed atthose intending to buy, sell or renovate aproperty. The DVD takes viewers around ahouse to show them typical electricalproblems that can exist on olderproperties.

The DVD, entitled Think electrics!, advisespeople to ensure that the condition of theelectrical installation is checked by aregistered electrician before committingthemselves to a new property.

The ESC would be pleased tosupply 100 copies of either ofthese DVDs to electriciansand other interested parties free of charge, for distribution to customers and clients.

FREE ELECTRICAL SAFETY INFORMATION FORYOUR CUSTOMERS

Please email [email protected] torequest copies or for furtherinformation.

Leaflets can be downloaded free ofcharge from the Council’s website atwww.esc.org.uk, where a number ofsafety videos can also be viewed.

switched on issue 24

Documents

future of electrical

safer future

andrescue services

waspreviously director

localfire rescue services

electricalrelated house

new ways

consumers safe