Electric.ie March April 2021

26 ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • Hager WIRED FOR CHANGE: Getting to grips with the new I.S.10101 regulations ർ by Tom Weafer and Luke Killeen from Hager 2. Protection against transient overvoltages Protection against transient overvoltage is now required where the consequence caused by overvoltage affects: a) human life, e.g. safety services, medical care facilities; b) public services and cultural heritage, e.g. loss of public services, IT centres, museums; commercial or industrial activity, e.g. hotels, banks, industries, commercial markets, farms. c) a large number of individuals, e.g. large buildings, offices, schools. In all other cases, a risk assessment is required to be performed. If a risk assessment is not undertaken, then protection against transient overvoltage is required. In the case of a single dwelling unit, assessment needs to be made whether the total value of the installation and equipment justifies the inclusion of such protection. 3. Residual current devices on lighting circuits in domestic premises MCB MCB MCB MCB RCCB (RCD) N N ISOLATOR MCB RCBO RCBO As the new I.S.10101 regulations were put in place on February 1st, it’s worth a quick reminder on the main elements covered and what contractors need to ensure they get to grips with. 1. Distribution boards in domestic premises All distribution boards now need to comply with I.S. EN 61439-1 and I.S. EN 61439-3 within domestic premises. All wall-mounted distribution boards must be mounted at a height NO greater than 2.15m from the floor to the top surface of the highest protective device. In a household or similar dwelling, the main isolator must interrupt both live and neutral conductors of a single-phase supply. Where the enclosure for the main overcurrent device in the ESB Networks meter cabinet is fitted with Earth and Neutral terminals, the requirement for double pole isolation also applies. Additional protection with an RCD using a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 MA should be provided for A.C final circuits supplying luminaires within a domestic setting. An overcurrent protective device rating of 6A for 1.5mm copper cable and 10A for 2.5mm cable should also now be used in lighting circuits. It is recommended to use a consumer unit with a ‘dual RCBO’ arrangement. It is recommended that lighting and socket circuits should not be mixed on the same RCD. For the latest updates on I.S.10101 Follow @HagerIreland on twitter