Electrical regulations and standards

Regulations

In most countries, electrical installations shall comply with more than one set of regulations, issued by National Authorities or by recognized private bodies. It is essential to take into account these local constraints before starting the design.

Standards

This Guide is based on relevant IEC standards, in particular IEC 60364. IEC 60364 has been established by medical and engineering experts of all countries in the world comparing their experience at an international level. Currently, the safety principles of IEC 60364 and 60479-1 are the fundamentals of most electrical standards in the world (see table below).

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IEC 60038 Standard voltages
IEC 60076-2 Power transformers - Temperature rise
IEC 60076-3 Power transformers - Insulation levels, dielectric tests and external clearances in air
IEC 60076-5 Power transformers - Ability to withstand short-circuit
IEC 60076-10 Power transformers - Determination of sound levels
IEC 60146 Semiconductor convertors - General requirements and line commutated convertors
IEC 60255 Electrical relays
IEC 60265-1 High-voltage switches - High-voltage switches for rated voltages above 1 kV and less than 52 kV
IEC 60269-1 Low-voltage fuses - General requirements
IEC 60269-2 Low-voltage fuses - Supplementary requirements for fuses for use by unskilled persons (fuses mainly for household and similar applications)
IEC 60282-1 High-voltage fuses - Current-limiting fuses
IEC 60287-1-1 Electric cables - Calculation of the current rating - Current rating equations (100% load factor) and calculation of losses - General
IEC 60364 Electrical installations of buildings
IEC 60364-1 Electrical installations of buildings - Fundamental principles
IEC 60364-4-41 Electrical installations of buildings - Protection for safety - Protection against electric shock
IEC 60364-4-42 Electrical installations of buildings - Protection for safety - Protection against thermal effects
IEC 60364-4-43 Electrical installations of buildings - Protection for safety - Protection against overcurrent
IEC 60364-4-44 Electrical installations of buildings - Protection for safety - Protection against electromagnetic and voltage disrurbance
IEC 60364-5-51 Electrical installations of buildings - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Common rules
IEC 60364-5-52 Electrical installations of buildings - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Wiring systems
IEC 60364-5-53 Electrical installations of buildings - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Isolation, switching and control
IEC 60364-5-54 Electrical installations of buildings - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Earthing arrangements
IEC 60364-5-55 Electrical installations of buildings - Selection and erection of electrical equipment - Other equipments
IEC 60364-6-61 Electrical installations of buildings - Verification and testing - Initial verification
IEC 60364-7-701 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Locations containing a bath tub or shower basin
IEC 60364-7-702 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Swimming pools and other basins
IEC 60364-7-703 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Locations containing sauna heaters
IEC 60364-7-704 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Construction and demolition site installations
IEC 60364-7-705 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Electrical installations of agricultural and horticultural premises
IEC 60364-7-706 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Restrictive conducting locations
IEC 60364-7-707 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Earthing requirements for the installation of data processing equipment
IEC 60364-7-708 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Electrical installations in caravan parks and caravans
IEC 60364-7-709 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Marinas and pleasure craft
IEC 60364-7-710 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Medical locations
IEC 60364-7-711 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Exhibitions, shows and stands
IEC 60364-7-712 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems
IEC 60364-7-713 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Furniture
IEC 60364-7-714 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - External lighting installations
IEC 60364-7-715 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Extra-low-voltage lighting installations
IEC 60364-7-717 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Mobile or transportable units
IEC 60364-7-740 Electrical installations of buildings - Requirements for special installations or locations - Temporary electrical installations for structures, amusement devices and booths at fairgrounds, amusement parks and circuses

IEC 60439-1 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Type-tested and partially type-tested assemblies
IEC 60439-2 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Particular requirements for busbar trunking systems (busways)
IEC 60439-3 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Particular requirements for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies intended to be installed in places where unskilled persons have access for their use - Distribution boards
IEC 60439-4 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Particular requirements for assemblies for construction sites (ACS)

IEC 60439-5 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Particular requirements for assemblies intended to be installed outdoors in public places - Cable distribution cabinets (CDCs)
IEC 60446 Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and identification - Identification of conductors by colours or numerals
IEC 60479-1 Effects of current on human beings and livestock - General aspects
IEC 60479-2 Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Special aspects
IEC 60479-3 Effects of current on human beings and livestock - Effects of currents passing through the body of livestock
IEC 60529 Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code)
IEC 60644 Specification for high-voltage fuse-links for motor circuit applications
IEC 60664 Insulation coordination for equipment within low-voltage systems
IEC 60715 Dimensions of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear. Standardized mounting on rails for mechanical support of electrical devices in switchgear and controlgear installations.
IEC 60724 Short-circuit temperature limits of electric cables with rated voltages of 1 kV (Um = 1.2 kV) and 3 kV (Um = 3.6 kV)
IEC 60755 General requirements for residual current operated protective devices
IEC 60787 Application guide for the selection of fuse-links of high-voltage fuses for transformer circuit application
IEC 60831 Shunt power capacitors of the self-healing type for AC systems having a rated voltage up to and including 1000 V - General - Performance, testing and rating - Safety requirements - Guide for installation and operation
IEC 60947-1 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - General rules
IEC 60947-2 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Circuit-breakers
IEC 60947-3 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse-combination units
IEC 60947-4-1 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters
IEC 60947-6-1 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Multiple function equipment - Automatic transfer switching equipment
IEC 61000 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
IEC 61140 Protection against electric shocks - common aspects for installation and equipment

IEC 61439-0 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Specification guide
IEC 61439-1 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - General rules
IEC 61439-2 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Power switchgear and controlgear Assemblies
IEC 61439-5 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Assemblies for power distribution in public networks
IEC 61557-1 Electrical safety in low-voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V AC and 1500 V DC - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures - General requirements
IEC 61557-8 Electrical safety in low-voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V AC and 1500 V DC - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures
IEC 61557-9 Electrical safety in low-voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V AC and 1500 V DC - Equipment for insulation fault location in IT systems
IEC 61557-12 Electrical safety in low-voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V AC and 1500 V DC - Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures. Performance measuring and monitoring devices (PMD)
IEC 61558-2-6 Safety of power transformers, power supply units and similar - Particular requirements for safety isolating transformers for general use
IEC 62271-1 Common specifications for high-voltage switchgear and controlgear standards
IEC 62271-100 High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - High-voltage alternating-current circuit-breakers
IEC 62271-102 High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Alternating current disconnectors and earthing switches
IEC 62271-105 High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Alternating current switch-fuse combinations
IEC 62271-200 High-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Alternating current metal-enclosed switchgear and controlgear for rated voltages above 1 kV and up to and including 52 kV
IEC 62271-202 High-voltage/low voltage prefabricated substations

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