14.12.2009
ETCI TC2 has recently issued the following notices relating to the National Rules
for Electrical Installations, Fourth Edition:
Amendments to 4th Edition
The latest list of amendments, corrigenda and errata list for the Fourth Edition, referenced 06/2009, was issued on 18th November 2009. This list can be accessed on the ETCI website.
Core Colours
Some electrical installations may contain older wiring systems that do not comply with the colour code specified in the current National Rules. In such cases, it is necessary for safety reasons that warning notices be provided for the benefit of personnel that may not be familiar with the older systems. In some older installations, the colour black was used for the neutral conductor, and in three-phase circuits, the colour blue was used for a phase/line conductor.
TC2 advises that warning notices should be provided in the relevant locations, e.g. distribution boards, with the following wording or its equivalent:
WARNING
The colours for cables and insulated conductors in this (part of the) installation do not comply with the National Rules for Electrical Installations ET 101: 2008. The core colours and their respective functions should be verified by measurement.
Certification of Electrical Installations Begun Before 30th September 2009
The implementation date of the Fourth Edition was set at 30th September 2009. This meant that all electrical installations completed after this date must comply with the Fourth Edition.
A situation has arisen due to the current economic situation whereby many electrical installations have been left in an unfinished state since 2008. The installation would have been designed to the Third Edition, and, presumably, intended for completion before September 2009.
At some future time, when the completion process of the electrical installation is resumed, the question arises concerning which Edition of the Rules should apply. A similar situation can arise in the case of large projects that were begun before September 2009. The requirements to be observed are given below:
- Installations completed before 30th September 2009 may be certified for compliance with the Third Edition.
- Installations begun before 30th September 2009, and in a substantial state of advancement, may be completed and certified in accordance with the Third Edition.
- For the purposes of these Guidelines, the date of the installation is considered to be the date on which work commenced on site. The date should be verifiable.
- A project designed in accordance with the Third Edition, where work did not commence on site before 30th September 2009, must be revised so as to comply with the Fourth Edition.
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Related contacts
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Electro-Technical Council of Ireland Ltd,
ETCI Offices, Unit H12,
Centrepoint Business Park,
Oak Road, Dublin 12, Ireland
Telephone: 01-4290088
Fax: 01-4290090 |
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Source: ETCI December 2009 Newsletter |
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