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IGC 2 Element 5 New Syllabus
IGC 2 Element 5 New Syllabus
Unit IGC2
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Learning Outcomes
On completion of this element, you should be able to
demonstrate understanding of the content through the
application of knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar
situations. In particular you should be able to:
Unit IGC 2
Element 5.1
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Basic Principles
• An electrical circuit comprises 3 elements:
• Pressure = potential difference
– Measured in volts (V)
• Flow rate = current
– Measured in amps (I)
• Resistance = obstruction in circuit
– Measured in ohms (R)
• Linked together by Ohm’s Law:
V=I×R
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Potential Difference
• “Electrical pressure”
• The driving force or pressure
which “pushes” an electrical
current around a circuit
• Voltage: unit = volts (V)
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Current
• Current can be thought of as “flow”
• Electrons flow through the materials
making up a circuit
• Current: unit = amps (A)
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Resistance
• “Resistance to flow”
• The resistance of a circuit to the
passage of the electrons
• Resistance: unit = ohm (Ω)
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Ohm’s Law
V=I×R
I = V/R V
R = V/I
I R
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AC/DC
• Alternating current (AC):
− Mains supply is AC
− Current flows backwards and forwards
− UK = 230 volts, 50Hz
− USA = 120 volts, 60Hz
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The Hazards of Electricity
• Electric shock
− Heart fibrillation
− Muscle Contraction
− Burns
− Arcing
• Fire and explosion
• Secondary effects
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Electrical Shock
Current (Ma) flowing Effect
through the body
0.5 - 2 • Threshold of sensation
• Tingling sensations
2 - 10 • Muscle tremor
• Pain
• Muscle contractions
10 - 60 • Unable to release grip
• Unable to breathe
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Cardiac arrest
60 + • Extreme muscular
contractions
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• Burns
4
Electric Burns
Direct contact
• Current flowing through the
body
• Entry and exit point and
internal
Indirect contact
• As result of arcing, fire or
explosion following an
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electrical accident
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Static Electricity
• Build-up of potential
difference (volts) between
surfaces
• Caused by friction
• Surfaces become
"charged"
• Spark caused on contact
with earth
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Arcing
• Ability of electricity to “jump” across an
air gap
• Usually involves high voltage
• Main hazards
− Electric shock
− Burns (direct, indirect)
− Damage to eyes from UV radiation emitted
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Secondary Effects
Physical injury caused by an electrical
incident, such as:
• Cuts
• Bruises
• Broken bones
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Portable Electrical Equipment
Accidents with Portable Electrical
Equipment can be due to:
• Using unsuitable equipment
• Using in damp conditions
• Misuse
• Physical abuse such as driving
over cables
• Repairs carried out improperly
• Continued use of faulty, defective
equipment
• Chemical/abrasion damage to the flex
• Lack of inspection testing or
maintenance
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Answers
1 • Voltage – a measure of the potential
difference or electrical driving
force/pressure that is forcing electricity
through the conductor (unit: volt; symbol:
V).
• Current – a measure of the rate of flow of
electricity through a conductor (unit:
ampere or amp; symbol: I).
• Resistance – a measure of how much a
component in the circuit resists the passage
of electricity (unit: ohm; symbol: R).
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Answers
2- Electric shock, fire and explosion,
burns, arcing, secondary effects
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Unit IGC 2
Element 5.2
Control Measures
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Protection of Conductors
• Insulated to prevent contact with live
conductor:
− Cable coverings unbroken
− Equipment casing intact
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Group Syndicate Activity
What factors do you think
should be considered
when selecting suitable
electrical equipment for
use on a construction site?
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Protective Systems
• Fuses
• Earthing
• Isolation of supply
• Reduced and low voltage systems
• Residual Current Devices (RCD’s)
• Double insulation
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Fuses
• Designed to protect the equipment
not the people!
• Form a weak link in a circuit
• Designed to overheat and melt if the
current exceeds the fuse rating
• Rating should be above operating
current required by equipment but
less than the current rating of the
cable in the circuit
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Circuit Breaker
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Earthing
• Outer metal casing
connected to earth by
wire
• Provides fault current
with a low resistance
path to earth
• Electric shock should be
minor
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• Will usually blow the fuse
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Isolation and Lock-Off
Low Voltages
• For hand tools, the 110 volt centre-tapped
(CTE) system is recommended
• System relies on the mid-point of the
reduced voltage transformer being
earthed
• Maximum shock voltage is 55 volts, but
full 110 volt supply powers the equipment
• Systems reduced to 25 volts are often
used for lighting on construction sites
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Double Insulation
• Live parts cannot be touched
• 2 layers of insulation
• Either layer sufficient to provide
protection
• Eliminates need for earth protection
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Competent Persons
• Knowledge
− Of electricity and electrical work
• Ability
− Understanding of the system, hazards and
precautions
− Understanding of when it is safe/unsafe
• Training
• Experience
− Experience of electrical work
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Safe Systems of Work
• Work “dead” whenever possible
• Work on or near live electrical
equipment
− only under exceptional circumstances
− and if controlled tightly
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Buried Cables
• May be struck during excavations
• Can result in:
− Arcing, shock, burns, fire
• Precautions
− Check plans
− Detection equipment
− Expose by hand digging
− Identify and label
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• Usually uninsulated
• Protect by:
− Isolation
− Safe systems of
work/permit-to-work
− Barriers, signs, goal-posts
− Banksmen
− Non-conducting
equipment
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Emergency Action
• Don’t touch the casualty
• Call for help
• Isolate from the power supply
• Call for ambulance
• Check for breathing
− Recovery position if breathing
− Start CPR if not breathing
• Treat burns
• Treat for physical shock
• Ensure medical help is obtained
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User Checks
• Damage to cable sheath
• Damage to plug
• Flex fully insulated – no kinks/splits
• Inadequate joints
• Unsecured sheath
• Wet or contaminated
• Damage to casing of equipment
• Burns/scorch marks
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Formal Visual Inspection
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Group Question
What are the advantages and limitations
of Portable Appliance Testing?
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Advantages:
• Demonstrates legal compliance
• Detects faults not visible to the eye
• Allows early removal/repair of unsafe
equipment
• Identifies trends or patterns of faults
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Limitations:
• Provides proof of safety at one moment in
time only
• Does not ensure safe use or prevent
misuse
• Items may be missed and then remain
untested
• Can't be applied to all equipment (e.g.
computers)
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End of Section Quiz
Answers
1 - Advantages of fuses:
• Very cheap and reliable.
• Offer a good level of protection for the electrical
equipment against current overload that might damage the
equipment or cause overheating, fire or explosion.
Limitations of fuses:
• They primarily protect equipment and not people. It is
possible to receive a severe, even fatal, electrical shock from
equipment that is protected by a fuse for two reasons:
– A fuse does not stop current flow quickly enough to
prevent ventricular fibrillation.
– The current flow must be above the fuse rating for the fuse
to operate and this may be above the 60 mA capable of
causing fatal injury.
• Very easy to bypass, e.g. by wrapping the fuse in tinfoil.
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Answers
2- the removal of electrical power from an electrical system. This
is more than “switching off” it is making the equipment “dead”
and safe to work on
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Answers
4- Things to check during routine visual (user) inspection of a
portable appliance:
• Body of plug is intact and secure.
• Outer sheath of flex covers inner cores into body of plug.
• Plug cable clamp appears to be tight.
• Flex appears fully insulated, with no splits or severe
kinks/pinches.
• Body of appliance is intact.
• Outer sheath of flex covers inner cores into body of
appliance.
• Appliance cable clamp appears to be tight.
• No obvious scorch marks to plug or appliance body.
• Plug and appliance are not excessively soiled.
• Plug and appliance are not wet.
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