IEC 61439
|
DIN EN 61439 |
|---|---|
| Area | Electrical installation |
| title | Low-voltage switchgear assemblies - rules, scope, changes |
| Brief description: | Determination of the safety requirements for electrical equipment |
| Latest edition | 2012 |
| ISO | IEC 61439 |
The IEC 61439 standard , adopted in the European standard EN 61439 and the national standards DIN EN 61439 , SN EN 61439 , ÖVE / ÖNORM EN 61439 in the German-speaking area, deals with safety requirements for low-voltage switchgear . It affects, among other things, electrical power distribution in buildings and industrial applications. The fully restructured standard came into effect on June 1, 2010. After the transition period, the IEC 61439 standard replaced the previous IEC 60439 in November 2014.
General
The new series of standards EN (IEC) 61439 defines clear rules for low-voltage switchgear assemblies (SK). It defines the safety requirements for electrical equipment for planners, system builders, electrical installers and end customers in order to comply with protection goals for people and systems in electrical installations .
A low-voltage switchgear assembly (SK) is the combination of one or more low-voltage switchgear with the associated equipment for controlling, measuring, reporting, protecting and regulating.
Electrical equipment of SK include: arc fault protection devices , circuit breakers , miniature circuit breakers , residual current devices , cables , terminals , etc.
The standard is to be used for energy distributors , switchgear and control systems , meter cabinets and distribution cabinets for private and commercial buildings, for site power distributors and cable distribution cabinets as well as for switchgear combinations in special areas.
Scope of the standard
The IEC 61439 standard consists of three parts:
- EN (IEC) 61439-0
- Planning guidelines for the specification of switchgear assemblies
- EN (IEC) 61439-1
- General requirements apply to switchgears, power distributors and control and switch cabinets
- EN (IEC) 61439-2 to 61439-6
- Product-specific parts for power switchgear assemblies
In addition to adapting to the current state of technology, the standard also contains new terms, dimensions and verifications. As the successor standard to IEC 60439, the new standard describes operating conditions, construction requirements, technical properties and verification options for all types of low-voltage switchgear assemblies.
Significant changes to EN 60439
In 1993, with the IEC 60439 standard, the different types of switchgear were combined in one standard for the first time and classified using the terms TSK (type-tested switchgear assembly) and PTSK (partially type-tested switchgear assembly). The new IEC 61439 standard replaces the previous TSK and PTSK categories with the "low-voltage switchgear assembly". Another new feature is the “design verification”, which eliminates the type test and the distinction between TSK and PTSK.
In addition, the so-called black box concept is being introduced for the first time in order to establish important points between the manufacturer of the switchgear assembly and the user of this SK.
Compared to the old standard, IEC 61439 clearly describes the areas of responsibility of all those involved. EN 61439 divides the responsibility for the manufacture of a low-voltage switchgear assembly into the tasks of an “original manufacturer” and those of a “manufacturer of a switchgear assembly”.
The "original manufacturer" is the company that produces a ready-to-use SK for customer applications. For example, Siemens AG is an original manufacturer of switchgear assemblies and is therefore responsible for verifying the design.
The “manufacturer of a switchgear assembly” is any qualified electrician who builds a distribution board himself from switchgear assemblies from an original manufacturer. It is responsible for the individual switchgear and is therefore obliged to create a design verification for all changes that are not included in the design verification of the original manufacturer.
Planners and operators who buy, use or operate the switchgear assembly are, for example, designated as "users". You are asking for certificates for complete design verification.
The dimensioning factor was defined in more detail, the requirements with regard to heating were explained in more detail and adapted to the state of the art. In addition, new requirements from the IEC 62208 standard (empty housing for SK) have been adopted.
Black box concept
The IEC 61439 standard defines which points are to be clarified between the manufacturer of the switchgear assembly and the user. The SK is declared a so-called "black box" and comes into contact with the installation environment via four defined interfaces:
- Connection to the electrical network
- Installation and environmental conditions
- Circuits and consumers as well
- Operate and wait.
These are determined by the respective characteristic technical features and properties, such as protection class (IP), rated frequency f n , rated insulation voltage U i or door lock.
From the manufacturer's point of view, the black box includes the switchgear assembly with its internal structure, the implementation of the defined interfaces to the installation outside the equipment, and the requirements of the user. The advantages of the black box concept for the qualified electrician lie in a significant simplification of their work and the greatest possible security through the use of prefabricated distribution systems.
Type and item verification
The "design verification" replaces the previous type test. The original manufacturer proves the basic conformity of the switchgear assembly with proof of compliance with the construction requirements. Various individual verifications must be provided for this purpose and documented in the design verification.
The original manufacturer can use various methods to verify that the design meets the requirements of the applicable switchgear combination standard.
The "routine verification" is the verification that every switchgear assembly is subject to during and after its manufacture. It is used, for example, to identify material and manufacturing defects and to ensure functionality. The result is recorded. If the manufacturer of the switchgear assembly creates the SK according to the rules of the original manufacturer, he only needs to carry out the routine verification. If he does not create the SK according to the rules of the original manufacturer and installs his own modifications, the manufacturer of the SK is considered to be the original manufacturer and must perform both the design verification and the routine verification.
Documentation of the evidence
Design verification
Switchgear manufacturers also expect new requirements with regard to the extensive documentation requirements required by the EN 61439-1 standard. For example, proof of samples of a switchgear assembly or parts of a switchgear assembly to show that the design meets the requirements of the relevant SK standard. Further requirements can be:
- complete and detailed documentation of the design verification from the original manufacturer
- Test reports, protocols, calculations and records
- Archiving of documentation for the entire product life cycle
- Checklists to check whether all requirements in the planning and execution of the switchgear in accordance with the standard have been met.
It is not necessary to pass the documentation on to the manufacturer of the switchgear assembly. The design verification only needs to be provided once for structurally identical constructions . In the event of changes to the original system, however, the design verification must be provided for the changes (manufacturer becomes the original manufacturer).
The design verification relates to the design and behavior of the SK in operation and must contain the following criteria:
- Strength of materials and parts
- Protection classes of enclosures
- Clearances
- Creepage distances
- Protection against electric shock and continuity of protective earth circuits
- Installation of equipment
- Internal electrical circuits and connections
- Connections for conductors introduced from outside
- Insulation properties
- Warming limits
- Short circuit strength
- Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
- Mechanical function
Routine verification
The responsibility for a complete and detailed documentation of a routine verification lies with the manufacturer of the SK. It consists of the test report with all the data used as well as the necessary calculations and comparisons made. This documentation must be archived for the entire service life of the products.
In order to determine the correct functioning of the completed SK as well as material and manufacturing errors, the manufacturer of the SK must provide a piece of evidence with the following content:
- Degree of protection of housings
- Clearances and creepage distances
- Protection against electric shock and continuity of protective earth circuits
- Installation of equipment
- Internal electrical circuits and connections
- Connections for conductors introduced from outside
- Mechanical function
- Insulation properties
- Wiring , operating behavior and function
Together, the different verifications confirm that the assembled components of an SK work with one another.
Individual evidence
- ↑ DIN EN 61439-1: 2012-06; VDE 0660-600-1: 2012-06 General specifications
Web links
- IEC 61439 - Everything you need to know about the new standard
- Scope of the standard and definition of a low-voltage switchgear assembly
- Type and item verification
- Responsibilities
- Plan switchgear in accordance with standards
- Plan and build low-voltage switchgear combinations in accordance with standards