What is BS EN 61230 - Portable equipment for earthing live working about?
BS EN 61230 is an international standard that is applicable to portable equipment, with or without matching connection points, for temporary earthing or earthing and short-circuiting of electrically isolated or de-energized a.c. and d.c. installations, distribution and transmission networks, whether they are overhead or underground or of low or high voltage. BS EN 61230 covers equipment comprising an earthing or a short-circuiting or an earthing and short-circuiting device and insulating component.
BS EN 61230 also covers:
- Earthing or short-circuiting or earthing and short-circuiting devices intended to be installed with insulating means. An example of an earthing device is given in figure 1c
- Separate components, such as conductive extension (see figure 1b) or clamp or cable with end fittings
The performance of equipment, devices and components covered by BS EN 61230 is based on electro-dynamic and electro-thermal effects acting during short-circuit. The withstand capability of the devices and equipment is expressed by their rated values of current, time and peak factor.
Who is BS EN 61230 - Portable equipment for earthing live working for?
BS EN 61230 on portable equipment for earthing live working is useful for:
- Electrical equipment manufacturers/users
- Testing and inspection centres
- The mechanical industry
- The electrical industry
- The health and safety department
Why should you use BS EN 61230 - Portable equipment for earthing live working?
A proper earthing system protects the installations by providing a low-impedance channel. An electrical installation that lacks grounding, or one that is inadequate, puts the electrical equipment, wiring, and electrical panels at risk of overheating and causing a fire. It prevents the building from collapsing due to lightning. Earthing aids in the protection of overvoltage and voltage stabilization.
BS EN 61230 provides its users with guidelines for personnel safety, equipment security, and preventing or at the very least reducing equipment damage caused by high currents. Using BS EN 61230 guidelines ensures the safety, protection, and reliability of electrical equipment for its users.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 61230:2008 supersedes EN 61230:1995 + A11:1999, which is withdrawn. BS EN 61230:2008 includes some technical changes with respect to EN 61230:1995 + A11:1999. These include:
- Extension of the scope to cover the use of equipment on d.c. Installations
- Extension of the use of aluminium to all conductive parts of the device
- Extension of the application to silicone rubber cables made by the revision of TC 20 document EN 61138
- Possibility of using this standard for separate components of the equipment
- General revision of requirements and tests