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Switchboard - Forms of Internal Separation

IEC 61439 'Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies', specifies standard arrangements of switchboard (call forms of internal separation). The are labelled as Form 1, Form 2, Form 3 and Form 4. Forms 2, 3 and 4 are further broken down into Form 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b. Each Form relates to the internal separation of the busbars, functional units and terminals, each being defined as: Busbar - low impedance conductor to which several electric circuits can be connected Main busbar - busbar to which one or more distribution busbar, incoming unit or outgoing unit can be connected

Distribution busbar - busbar in one section which is connected to the main busbar from which incoming or outgoing units can be connected

Functional Unit - part of the assembly comprising the electrical and mechanical elements that contribute to the fulfilment of the same function

Incoming unit - functional unit which feeds energy into the assembly Outgoing unit - functional unit supplying energy to the outgoing circuits

Terminals - part of the assembly which provide for connection of incoming and outgoing cable and busbar Internal separation is achieved by the use of barriers or partitions (including metallic or non-metallic), insulation of live parts or an integral housing (i.e. moulded case circuit breaker). The internal barriers should provide protection against contact to IP XXB and against the ingress of foreign bodies to at least IP 2X. Form 1 has no internal separation between , while Form 4b has the greatest with busbars, functional units and terminals all being separated (see illustration):


Forms of separationForm 1 - no internal separation of the busbars, functional units and terminals from each other.

Form 2a - separation of the busbars from the functional units. Terminals are not separated from the busbars. Form 2b - as for 2a, but with the terminals are not separated from the functional units. Form 3a - separation of the busbars from the functional units and each functional unit from the other units. Terminals of each functional unit are not separated from each other. Terminals are not separate from the busbars. Form 3b - as per 3a, but with the terminals separated from the busbar (and functional units) Form 4a - separation of the busbars from the functional units and each functional unit from the other units. Separation of the terminals for a functional unit from the busbars and those of any other unit. Terminals enclosed in the same compartment as the functional unit.

Form 4b - as per 4a, but with the terminals for each functional unit enclosed in their own space.

BS EN National Annex
The United Kingdom implementation of the IEC standard (in BS EN 61439-2) further defines the separation of busbars and cables by the use of Types. These have been widely adopted within and outside the United Kingdom.

Form Type 1 2a 2b 1 2 3a 3b 1 2 4a 1

Construction

busbars separation is by an insulated covering (i.e. sleeving, wrapping, coatings, etc.) busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions busbars separation is by an insulated covering (i.e. sleeving, wrapping, coatings, etc.) busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions busbars separation is by an insulated covering (i.e. sleeving, wrapping, coatings, etc.) cables may be glanded elsewhere busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions cables may be glanded elsewhere busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions functional units have integral glanding facilities busbars separation is by an insulated covering (i.e. sleeving, wrapping, coatings, etc.) cables may be glanded elsewhere busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions terminals separated by insulated covering, glanded in common cable chamber all separation requirements by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions glanded in common cable chamber all separation requirements by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions functional units have integral glanding facilities

4b

You may also be interested in the related post IEC 61439 Verification Methods.

IEC 61439 Verification Methods

The (relatively new) switchgear and control gear standard, IEC 61439 'Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies' , ensures compliance to the standard by a series of design and routine verifications.

Design Verifications
The standard has three methods which can be used to verify the design characteristics of an assembly will meet the standard. These are verification by test, verification by calculation and verification by the use of design rules. The following table (table D.1 from Annex D of the standard, IEC:2011) summarizes each characteristic and the allowable options for design verification:

Verification options No. Characteristics to be verified Clauses Testing Calculation Design or Rules subclauses 10.2 10.2.2 10.2.3 10.2.3.1 10.2.3.2 10.2.4 10.2.5 10.2.6 10.2.7 10.3 10.4 10.4 10.5 10.5.2 10.5.3 YES YES NO YES NO NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES NO NO NO YES NO NO

Strength of materials and parts: Resistance to corrosion Properties of insulating materials: Thermal stability Resistance of insulating materials to abnormal heat and fire due to internal electric effects Resistance to ultraviolet (UV) radiation Lifting Mechanical impact Marking Degree of protection of the enclosures Clearances Creepage distances Protection against electric shock and integrity of protective circuits: Effective continuity between the exposed conductive parts of the assembly and the protective circuit Short-circuit withstand strength of the protective circuit Incorporation of switching devices and components Internal electrical circuits and connections

2 3 4 5

6 7

10.6 10.7

NO NO

NO NO

YES YES

8 9

Terminals for external conductors Dielectric properties: Power-frequency withstand voltage Impulse withstand voltage

10.8 10.9 10.9.2 10.9.3 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13

NO YES YES YES YES YES YES

NO NO NO YES YES NO NO

YES NO YES YES NO YES NO

10 Temperature-rise limits 11 Short-circuit withstand strength 12 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) 13 Mechanical operation

Routine Verification
Routine verification is carried out the detect faults in workmanship and the correct functioning of the panel. The standard (IEC:2011) list the following: 1. Construction (see 11.2 to 11.8) i. degree of protection of enclosures clearances and creepage distances protection against electric shock and integrity of protective circuits incorporation of built-in components internal electrical circuits and connections terminals for external conductors mechanical operation

ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. 2.

Performance (see 11.9 to 11.10) i. dielectric properties wiring, operational performance and function

ii.

Original and Assembly Manufacturer

IEC 61439 Verification, Courtesy ABBThe standard also tries to explain the differing roles of the original panel manufacturer and a assembly manufacturer. The original manufacturer is the party who initially carries out the panel design and arranges for the necessary design verifications to be performed. The assembly manufacturer is the party who finally builds the panel to the customers requirements and delivers it. The image shows the relationship between the parties and who performs the verification. Note: if an assembly manufacturer incorporates his own arrangements, he is then deemed to be the original manufacturer by the standard. In addition to this post, you may also be interested in my post on 'Forms of Internal Separation' according to the standard: Switchboard - Forms of Internal Separation Return TopTrackbackPrintPermalink Switchboards, Standards, Verification

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