DEFINITIONS

Current-using equipment
Equipment intended to convert electrical energy into another form of energy, for
example light, heat, motive power.

(D)

Danger zone
In the case of high voltage, area limited by the minimum clearance around hazardous-
live-parts without complete protection against direct contact. Entering the danger zone
is considered as the same as touching hazardous-live-parts.

Data processing equipment

Electrically operated machine units that, separately or assembled in systems,
accumulate, process and store data.

Demand factor
The ratio expressed as a numerical value or as a percentage of the maximum demand
of an installation or a group of installations within a specified period, to the
corresponding total installed load of the installation(s).

Design current (of a circuit)

The current intended to be carried by a circuit in normal service.

Differential current
The vectorial sum, (measured simultaneously), of the currents in the supply conductors
of an electrical circuit.

Direct contact
Contact of persons or livestock with live parts.

Disconnector
A mechanical switching device which, in the open position, complies with the
requirements specified for isolation. A disconnector is otherwise known as an isolator.

Distribution board
An assembly of protective devices, including one or more fuses or circuit-breakers,
arranged for the distribution of electrical energy to final sub-circuits or to other
distribution boards.

Distribution circuit
A circuit supplying a distribution board.

Double insulation
Insulation comprising both basic safety insulation and supplementary insulation.

Duct
A closed passageway formed underground or in a structure through which cables may
be installed.

SBC 401 2007 21/7

 DEFINITIONS

(E)

Earth (ground)
The conductive mass of the earth whose electric potential at any point is
conventionally taken as equal to zero.

Earth electrode
One or more conductive parts embedded in the earth for the purpose of making
effective electrical contact with the general mass of earth. It can be conductive part,
which may be embedded in a specific conductive medium, e.g. concrete or coke, in
electric contact with earth.

Earth electrode resistance

The resistance of an earth electrode to earth.

Earth equipotential zone

A zone within which exposed conductive parts and extraneous conductive parts are
maintained at substantially the same potential by bonding such that, under fault
conditions, the difference in potential between simultaneously accessible exposed and
extraneous conductive parts will not cause electric shock.

Earth fault
A conductive part or a group of conductive parts in an intimate contact with and
providing an electrical connection with earth.

Earth fault loop impedance

The impedance of the earth fault current loop starting and ending at the point of earth
fault. This impedance is denoted by the symbol Z s .

Earthing
Connection of the exposed conductive parts of an installation to the main earthing
terminal of the installation.

Earthing arrangement
all the electric connections and devices involved in the earthing of a system, an
installation and equipment. This could be a locally limited arrangement of
interconnected earth electrodes on the high-voltage side.

Earthing conductor
A protective conductor connecting the main earthing terminal or bar to the earth
electrode.

Earthing Systems
An electrical system consisting of a single source of electrical energy and an
installation. For certain purposes, of the Regulations, types of systems are identified as
follows, depending upon the relationship of the source, and of exposed conductive
parts of the installation, to Earth:
TN system: a system having one or more points of the source of energy directly
earthed, the exposed conductive parts of the installation being connected to that
point by protective conductors.
TN-C system: a system in which the neutral and protective functions are
combined in a single conductor throughout the system.

SBC 401 2007 21/8