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Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

The Low Voltage Switchgear & Controlgear

Assembly standards
The move from IEC 60439-X to 61439-X
Schneider Electric East Mediterranean Low Voltage Systems Newsletter Issue #1 - April 2011

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Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

Content
The International ASSEMBLY Standards ................................... 2
From IEC 60439-1 to IEC 61439-1&2

Why a New Standard?....................................................................... 3 Clear Definitions of Roles ............................................................... 3 Elimination of TTA and PTTA Concepts .................................... 3 Clarified & Reinforced Requirements ......................................... 5
Strength of materials and parts

Overview of the Design Verifications ......................................... 5


(according to IEC 61439-2, in order of appearance)

Overview of the Routine Verifications ....................................... 6

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Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

The International ASSEMBLY Standards


From IEC 60439-1 to IEC 61439-1&2
OLD IEC 60439-X LV switchgear & controlgear Assemblies (ASSEMBLIES) Power switchgear and controlgear assemblies TTA and PTTA (Also used as a general rules standard) 60439-1 Busbar Trunkings Systems 60439-2 Distribution Boards for unskilled pers. 60439-3 ASSEMLIES for construction sites 60439-4 ASSEMBLIES for public networks 60439-5

NEW IEC 61439-X LV switchgear & controlgear Assemblies (ASSEMBLIES)

General rules 61439-1 (2009) Power switchgear and controlgear assemblies 61439-2 (2009) Distribution Boards for Ordinary pers. 61439-3 ASSEMLIES for construction sites 61439-4 ASSEMBLIES for public networks 61439-5 Busbar Trunkings Systems 61439-6

IEC 61439-2 is to be read in conjunction with IEC 61439-1, instead of IEC 60439-1 alone Structure aligned with Standard for protection devices IEC60947 Tests identical to those in IEC 60439-1 do not need to be repeat

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IEC61439-1 & 2 Standard

Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

Why a New Standard?


80%

Requirements not always clear Role of Switchboard System manufacturer and Panel Builder not clear enough

of the ASSEMBLIES worldwide do not comply with the standard concept abused and misused

A Partially Type Tested ASSEMBLY (PTTA)

Original Manufacturer (Switchboard System manufacturer) and ASSEMBLY Manufacturer (Panel Builder) PTTA/TTA concepts replaced with (tested) ASSEMBLY
Recognition of Clarified & reinforced requirements

Main Changes

Clear Definitions of Roles


ASSEMBLY Manufacturer (Panel Builder) Original Manufacturer (System manufacturer)
Carries out the original design Carries out the design verifications that can be certified through a certification body (ASEFA, ASTA, KEMA,) Takes the responsibility for the final Assembly Carries out routine verifications
Specier Certication body Project Specication

ASSEMBLY System

Original Manufacturer

Assembly system

Assembly Manufacturer (Panel Builder)

Specifier (design office, End user,)


Specifies or selects the ASSEMBLY

Full range of mechanical & electrical components (functional units, switching devices, enclosures) designed by the Original Manufacturer to be assembled according to his instructions

Tested assembly

User

Elimination of TTA and PTTA concepts


Type Tested Assemblies Tested ASSEMBLIES Partially Type Tested Assemblies TTA Design verifications

7 type tests on the design 3 routine tests on the realization of each panel

Mainly type-tests Or possibility for only some of the verifications under clear and strict conditions to do Comparison with a tested reference design (Design Rules) Calculations including safety margins

PTTA

Calculations not clearly defined to justify not to do some type-tests 3 same routine tests

Routine verifications

Same as TTA in 10 items instead of 3

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IEC61439-1 & 2 Standard

Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

No.

Characteristic to be verified

Verification options available Clauses or Subclauses Verification Verification Verification by testing by calculation by design rules

Strength of Material and Parts:


Resistance to corrosion

10.2
10.2.2 10.2.3 10.2.3.1 10.2.3.2 10.2.3.3 Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No Yes No No

Properties of Insulating Materials:


Thermal stability Resistance of insulating Materials to normal heat Resistance to abnormal heat and fire due to internal electric effects

2 3 4

Resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation Lifting Mechanical impact Marking Degree of Protection of Enclosures Clearance and Creepage Distances Protection against electric shock and integrity of protective circuits:

10.2.4 10.2.5 10.2.6 10.2.7 10.3 10.4 10.5

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No Yes

No No No No Yes Yes

Effective continuity between the exposed conductive parts of the ASSEMBLY and the 10.5.2 protective circuit Effectiveness of the assembly for external faults 10.5.3

Yes Yes

No Yes

No Yes

5 6 7 8

Incorporation of switching devices and Components Internal electrical circuits and connections Terminal for external conductors Dielectric properties:
Power-frequency withstand voltage Impulse withstand voltage

10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9


10.9.2 10.9.3

No No No
Yes Yes

No No No
No

Yes Yes Yes


No Yes

9 10 11 12

Temperature-rise limits Short-circuit withstand strength Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) Mechanical operation

10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13

Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes No No

Yes Yes Yes No

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Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

Clarified & Reinforced Requirements:


Strength of materials and parts
Following
This looks at the suitability of plastic and metal parts to prove the long term capabilities of the equipment.

tests are compulsory

Resistance to corrosion Properties of insulating materials Thermal stability Resistance of insulating materials to normal heat Resistance to abnormal heat and fire due to internal electric effects Resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation Lifting Mechanical impact (IK) Marking

Current carrying All the tests (also short circuit) have to be made with the devices inside the assembly
No more possibility to make a temperature rise with a heating resistance No device substitution for each circuit alone to its rated current and the complete assembly (including diversity factor) maximum 1600A and all components de-rated to 80%

The tests have to be made

The verification by calculation is limited

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Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

Overview of The Design Verifications


(according to IEC 61439-2, in order of appearance)
Construction
Resistance to corrosion Thermal stability of insulating materials (dry heat test) (a new ball pressure test will be withdrawn from Edition 2) Resistance to abnormal heat due to internal electric effects (glow-wire test) (8) UV radiation test (outdoor ASSEMBLIES only) Lifting test IK test, where specified Marking Degree of protection of enclosures (7) Clearances (higher minimums) and creepage distances (5) Continuity between exposed conductive parts and the protective circuit (4.1) Effectiveness of the protective circuit for external faults (4.2) Incorporation of switching devices and components Internal circuits and connections Terminals for external conductors

Performance

Power-frequency voltage test (2) (complying with IEC60947) Impulse withstand voltage test (no more optional) Temperature rise limits (1) Short-circuit withstand strength (3) Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (9) Mechanical operation (6) (200 operating cycles instead of 50)

NOTE
(1) to (7) show the 7 type-tests according to table 7 of IEC 60439-1 (items 1 to 7) (8) and (9) were also required but not in table 7

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Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

Overview of The Routine Verifications


Routine Verification
Degree of protection of enclosures Clearances

Visual inspection
X X

Tests
or measurement if specified values (in 1st Ed (2009) of IEC 61439 -1 these values are 1,5 times the values in Ed 2 to be published in 2011 (and in IEC 60439- 1) or impulse withstand voltage test or measurement if visual inspection not applicable Random verification of tightness of the connections of protective circuit

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 Dielectric properties Wiring, operational performance and function

X X X X

Or Random verification of tightness Number, type and identification of terminals

effectiveness of mechanical actuating elements locks and interlocks, including those associated with removable parts Power-frequency dielectric test or verification of insulating resistance (with incoming up to 250A only) Verification of completeness of information & markings, inspection of wiring and Function test where relevant

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Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

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Low Voltage Systems Newsletter

To find out more: www.eastmed.schneider-electric.com

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Schneider Electric East Mediterranean s.a.l.

Cyprus Iraq Jordan Syria

+ 357 24 812 649 customercare.cy@schneider-electric.com + 962 6 516 6260 customercare.iq@schneider-electric.com + 962 6 516 6465 customercare.jo@schneider-electric.com customercare.lb@schneider-electric.com + 963 11 6124799 customercare.sy@schneider-electric.com

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