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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 305 Handout 2

305: Electrical systems design

Handout 2: General installation requirements
Learning outcome
The learner will:
4 Understand the characteristics and applications of supply systems and consumer's
equipment.
Assessment criteria
The learner can:
4.3: specify the arrangements for electrical installations and systems with regard to provision for:
a) Isolation and switching
b) Overcurrent protection
c) Earth fault protection.

General installation requirements

NB: Page numbers refer to BS 7671:2018, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Regulations, ‘Requirements for Electrical Installations’.
From the smallest of electrical installations to the very largest, there is some equipment that must
be included in all, regardless as to what the installation is to be used for. These will be dealt with
here.
Isolation and switching
BS 7671:2018 introduced a new Chapter to Part 4; entitled Chapter 46; Isolation and
Switching (page 121) which focused on non-automatic local and remote isolation and switching
measures for the prevention or removal of dangers associated with electrical installations or
electrically powered equipment .
This introduction required a full revision of Chapter 53; Protection, Isolation, Switching, Control
and Monitoring of a consumer's installation (page 152) which now focus’s on the general
requirements for protection, isolation, switching, control and monitoring and with the requirements
for selection and erection of the devices provided to fulfil such functions.
BS 7671:2018 identifies five separate types of switching/isolation
device and the regulations for these are covered in both Chapter 46 and
Section 537.
The scopes of Chapter 46 and Section 537 are very similar and state that:
i. non-automatic local and remote isolation and switching measures for the prevention or
removal of dangers associated with electrical installations or electrically powered
equipment and machines, and
ii. switching for the control of circuits or equipment.
Functional switching and control
• Devices for isolation, 462 (page 121) and 537.2 (page 182)
• Functional switching, 463 (page 122) and 537.3.1 (page 183)
• Switching off for mechanical maintenance 464, (page 123) and
537.3.2 (page 183)
• Emergency switching off, 465 (page 123) and 537.3.3 (page 184)
• Firefighter’s switching, 537.4 (page 184)
Isolation is defined as ‘Function intended to make dead for reasons
of safety all or a discrete section of the electrical installation by separating the electrical
installation, or section thereof, from every source of electrical energy’ (page 31).
This ensures the safety of those working on the equipment by making dead those parts which are
live in normal service.

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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 305 Handout 2
Devices for isolation
The definition of an isolator taken from BS 7671:2018 (page 31) ‘A mechanical switching device
which, in the open position, complies with the requirements specified for the isolating function. An
isolator is otherwise known as a disconnector’.
BS 7671:2018 identifies the requirements for isolation in Chapter 46; Regulation 462 (page 121)
and the devices for isolation are covered in 537.2 (page 182). Regulation 462.2 states that ‘Every
circuit shall be provided with isolation means for all live conductors’ that is, conductors that are
energised and carrying current under normal circumstances, including the neutral conductor.
Regulations 537.2.4 to 537.2.7 detail some of the requirements for isolation devices, which must
comply with the following:
 537.2.4 (page 183) states “Devices for isolation shall be selected and/or installed so as to
prevent unwanted or unintentional closure (also see Regulation 462.3, page 122)”.
 537.2.5 (page 183) states “Provision shall be made for securing off-load isolating devices
against unwanted or unintentional opening”.
 537.2.6 (page 183) states “Means of isolation shall preferably be provided by a multipole
switching device which disconnects all applicable poles of the relevant supply but single-
pole devices situated adjacent to each other are not excluded, subject to the provisions of
Regulation 461.2, (page 121)”.
 537.2.7 (page 183) states “Each device used for isolation shall be clearly identified by
position or durable marking to indicate the installation or circuit it isolates”.
Table 537.4; Guidance on the selection of protective, isolation and switching devices (page 181-
182) list devices which are suitable for isolation such as isolation switches, fuses, circuit breakers,
plugs and socket outlets.
Regulation 462.1.201 (page 121) states ‘A main linked switch or linked circuit-breaker shall be
provided as near as practicable to the origin of every installation as a means of switching the
supply on load and as a means of isolation.
A main switch intended for operation by ordinary persons, e.g. of a household or similar
installation, shall interrupt both live conductors of a single-phase supply’.
On three-phase supplies the switch need only break the line conductors however ‘Where a link is
inserted in the neutral conductor for isolating purposes, the link shall comply with the following
requirements: - it cannot be removed without the use of a tool, and – it is accessible to one or more
skilled persons only (537.2.8 – page 183).
Switching for mechanical maintenance
Requirements for switching for mechanical maintenance are covered in both 537.3 (page 183) and
464 (page 123) of BS 7671:2018. Regulation 464.1 (page 123) advises that ‘Means for switching
off shall be provided where mechanical maintenance may involve a risk of physical injury’ and lists
rotating machines as well as heating elements and electromagnetic equipment as such equipment.
Devices for switching off for mechanical maintenance
 537.3.2.2 (page 183) states “Devices for switching off for mechanical maintenance shall be
inserted in the main supply circuit.
Where a switch is provided for this purpose, it shall be capable of cutting off the full load
current of the relevant part of the installation”.
 464.1 (page 123) also states “Means for switching off shall be provided where mechanical
maintenance may involve a risk of physical injury.
 464.2 (page 123) States” Suitable means shall be provided to prevent electrically powered
equipment from inadvertently or unintentionally reactivating during mechanical
maintenance, unless the means of switching off is continuously under the control of any
person performing such maintenance”.

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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 305 Handout 2

 537.3.2.3 (page 184) states ‘Devices for switching off for mechanical maintenance or
control switches for such devices shall require manual operation.
The open position of the contacts of the device shall be visible or be clearly and reliably
indicated.
The indication required by this regulation may be achieved by the use of the symbols 'O'
and 'I' to indicate the open and closed positions respectively’.
 537.3.2.4 (page 184) states ‘Devices for switching off for mechanical maintenance shall be
clearly identified by position or durable marking so as to be identifiable for their intended
use’.
Emergency switching off
Emergency switching off involves the rapid disconnection of the electrical supply by a single action
to remove or prevent danger. Requirements for emergency switching off are covered in
Regulations 465 (page 123) and 537.3.3 (page 184) of BS 7671:2018.
Devices for emergency switch off must comply with:
 537.3.3.4 (page 184) states “A device for emergency switching shall be capable of breaking
the full load current of the relevant part(s) of the installation taking account of stalled motor
currents where appropriate.”
 537.3.3.3 (page 184) states “Means for emergency switching off may consist of:
one switching device capable of directly cutting off the
appropriate supply, or
- a combination of devices activated by a single action for the
purpose of cutting off the appropriate supply”.
 537.4.2.3 (page 184) also states “Hand-operated switching devices for direct interruption of
the main circuit shall be selected where practicable.
 537.3.3.5 (page 184) states “The means of operating (handles, push-buttons, etc.) devices
for emergency switching off shall be clearly identified, preferably by colour. If a colour is
used for identification, this shall be RED with a contrasting background (e.g. yellow).
 537.3.3.6 (page 184) also adds “Devices for emergency switching off shall be so placed as
to be readily identifiable and convenient for their intended use”.
 537.3.3.7 (page 184) states “The means of operation of a device for emergency switching
off shall be capable of latching in the 'OFF' position, unless both the means of operation for
emergency switching off and for re-energizing are under the control of the same person.

Electrical machines must be provided with a means of emergency switching and a person
operating an electrically driven machine must have access to an emergency switch so that the
machine can be stopped in an emergency. The remote stop/start arrangement shown below could
meet this requirement for an electrically driven machine.

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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 305 Handout 2

Devices which are suitable for emergency switching, are switches, circuit breakers and contactors
and are listed in Table 537.4; Guidance on the selection of protective, isolation and switching
devices (page 181-182)
Functional switching (control)
Functional switching involves the switching on or off or varying the supply of electrically operated
equipment in normal service. Requirements for emergency switching are covered in Regulations
537.5 (page 157) and 463 (page 122) of BS 7671:2018. The device must be capable of interrupting
the total steady current of the circuit or appliance. When the device controls a discharge lighting
circuit it must have a current rating capable of switching an inductive load. Plug and socket outlets
may be used as switching devices. Recent years have seen an increase in the number of
electronic dimmer switches being used for the control and functional switching of lighting circuits.
Devices for switching must comply with:
 537.3.1.1 (page 183) states “The devices for functional switching and control shall be
selected in accordance with Table 537.4 (page 181).
 537.3.1.2 (page 183) states “Functional switching devices shall be suitable for the most
onerous duty they are intended to perform”.

 537.3.1.3 (page 183) states” Functional switching devices may control the current without
necessarily opening the corresponding poles”.

Firefighter’s switching
There are occasions when a low voltage supply feeds an installation exceeding low voltage. For
example, high-voltage discharge lighting used in neon display lighting utilises voltages around
6 500 volts fed by a step-up transformer from a 230 volt supply. If a fire-fighter were to spray water
in to the high-voltage side of this discharge lighting, there would be a real risk of the fire-fighter
receiving a dangerous, if not fatal, electric shock. Because of this, an external switch is provided so
that this equipment can be isolated before fire-fighting takes place.

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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 305 Handout 2
Requirements for firefighter’s switches are covered in Regulation 537.4 (page 184) of
BS 7671:2018.
A firefighter’s switch must be provided for ‘Every outdoor installation on each single premises
should wherever practicable be controlled by a single firefighter's switch. Similarly, every internal
installation in each single premises should be controlled by a single firefighter's switch independent
of the switch for any outdoor installation. (537.4.2.1 – page 185).
Regulation 537.4.2.2 details the specific requirements for the fire-fighter’s switch, including its
location and physical construction.

Overcurrent protection
According to Regulation 430.3 (page 87) ‘A protective device shall be provided to break any
overcurrent in the circuit conductors before such a current could cause a danger due to thermal or
mechanical effects detrimental to insulation, connections, joints, terminations or the surroundings
of the conductors’.
An overcurrent can be defined as:
’a current exceeding the rated value. For conductors the rated value is the current-carrying
capacity. (page 34)’
Fuses provide overcurrent protection when situated in the line conductors; they must not be
connected in the neutral conductor. Circuit breakers may be used in place of fuses, in which case
the circuit breaker may also provide the means of isolation, although a further means of isolation is
usually provided so that maintenance can be carried out on the circuit breakers themselves.
Overcurrent can be subdivided into overload current, and fault current.
An overload current can be defined as ’an overcurrent occurring in a circuit which is
electrically sound’ (page 34) Overload currents usually occur because the circuit is abused or
because it has been badly designed or modified.

A fault current is defined as ’a current resulting from a fault’ (page 30). A fault is further defined
as:
’A circuit condition in which current flows through an abnormal or unintended path. This
may result from an insulation failure or a bridging of insulation. Note: Conventionally the
impedance between live conductors or between live conductors and exposed- or
extraneous-conductive-parts at the fault position is considered negligible’ (page 30).
Faults usually occur as a result of an accident or situation that could not have been predicted
before the event.
An overload may result in currents of two or three times the rated current flowing in the circuit.
Fault currents may be hundreds of times greater than the rated current. In both cases the basic
requirements for protection are that the fault currents should be interrupted quickly and the circuit
isolated safely before the fault current causes a temperature rise which might damage the
insulation and terminations of the circuit conductors.
The selected protective device should have a current rating which is not less than the full load
current of the circuit, but which does not exceed the cable current rating. The cable is then fully
protected against both overload and short-circuit faults.

Earth fault protection

With the introduction the 18th Edition of BS 7671:2018 there is a greater emphasis placed on fault
protection as a result of earth leakage using RCDs. All sockets up to and including 32 Amps now
need to be protected by an RCD with an IΔn of 30mA regardless of whether feeding outlets inside
or outside this also includes mobile equipment with a rated current not exceeding 32A for use
outdoors. Cables buried in walls at depths less than 50mm must either have appropriate
mechanical protection, e.g. be installed in earthed metallic conduit or be protected by an RCD with

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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 305 Handout 2
an IΔn of 30mA, regardless of type of circuit. Regulation 411.3.4 requires domestic (household)
premises, to have additional protection by an RCD with a rated residual operating current not
exceeding 30 mA for AC final circuits supplying luminaires.
Also see Section 3.6.1 of the On-Site Guide for more descriptions on the application of RCDs
(page 34).
Residual current device (RCD)
An RCD is a type of circuit breaker that continuously compares the current in the line and neutral
conductors of the circuit. The currents in a healthy circuit will be equal, but in a circuit that develops
a fault, some current will flow to earth and the phase and neutral currents will no longer balance.
The RCD detects the imbalance and disconnects the circuit. The basic circuit for a single-phase
RCD is shown in the diagram below:

The load current is fed through two equal and opposing coils wound on to a common toroidal ring.
The line and neutral currents in a healthy circuit produce equal and opposing fluxes in the toroidal
ring, which induces no voltage in the tripping coil. However, if more current flows in the line
conductor than in the neutral conductor as a result of a fault between line and earth, an out-of-
balance flux will result in an emf being induced in the trip coil, which will open the double pole
switch and isolate the load.
Modern RCDs have tripping sensitivities between 10 and 30mA, and therefore a faulty circuit can
be isolated before the lower lethal limit to human beings (about 50mA) is reached.
Because of the almost inevitable need to provide RCD protection for all circuits in domestic
premises, utilizing a consumer unit with an RCD would seem to be the obvious solution. However,
Regulation 314.1 (page 50) requires that installations be divided into separate circuits to avoid,
amongst other things, hazards that can result if the complete installation were to be disconnected
from the supply. Therefore, the recommended solution is to provide RCBOs for each circuit or to
provide two or more RCDs with circuits spread across these RCDs. For example, placing
downstairs lights and upstairs sockets on RCD one and upstairs lights and downstairs sockets on
RCD two. Figures 3.6.3(i), 3.6.3(ii) and 3.6.3(iii) of the IET On-Site Guide (pages 36-37) contain
diagrams showing how this can be achieved in practice.
Finally, it should perhaps be said that a foolproof method of giving protection to people or animals
that simultaneously touch both live and neutral has yet to be devised. The ultimate safety of an
installation depends upon the skill and experience of the electrical contractor and the good sense
of the user

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