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Electrical Installations – Standards & Regulation around the World

Electrical Installations – Standards & Regulation in Different Countries

Introduction

The construction and the characteristics, performances and tests to be carried out on HV, MV and LV (HV: High Voltage; V ≥ 60 kV.MV: Medium Voltage; 1 kV < V< 60 kV. LV: Low Voltage; V ≤ 1 kV) installations, as well as the equipment used are subjected to national and international technical standards and regulations.

The same way the manual operation of the equipment, for maintenance or network reconfiguration purposes, and the obligations of the owners and the operation personnel, as well the procedures to be followed, the documentation to be produced, the safety precautions to be implemented, and the protection equipment and clothes that shall be used during the operation are regulated by national and international standards and national laws.Electrical Installations - Standards & Regulation around the World

Wiring Regulations

Electrical Wiring Regulations are technical documents with an official character defining the characteristics and safety measurements to be followed during the design, construction and operation of an electrical power system.

Main Wiring Regulations in Several Countries

Main Wiring Regulations in several countries are:

Europe

Portugal

  • Regras Técnicas das Instalações Eléctricas de Baixa Tensão (RTIEBT) – Low Voltage
  • Regulamento de Segurança de Subestações e Postos de Transformação (RSSPT) – Substations
  • Regulamento de Segurança de Linhas Eléctricas de Alta Tensão (RSLEAT) – EHV, HV and MV Over-headlines and Underground Cables
  • Regulamento de Segurança de Redes de Distribuição de Energia Eléctrica em Baixa Tensão (RSRDEEBT) – Low Voltage Distribuition Networks (overheadlines and underground cables)

France: French Standards NF C 15-100 (Low Voltage) and NF C13-200 (High Voltage)

Germany: German Standards

United Kingdom: BS Standard 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations)

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines & Other countries: IEC Standard 60364

United States of America

National Electrical Code (NEC) – NFPA Standard 70

Canada

Canadian Electrical Code (CSA C22), Part I to VI, and SPE-1000: Model Code for the Field Evaluation of Electrical Equipment

Middle East/Gulf Countries

Apart from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, these wiring regulations are mainly based on British Standard BS 7671.

  • Dubai: Regulations for Electrical Installations by Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA)
  • Abu Dhabi: Electricity Wiring Regulations
  • Oman: Oman Electric Standards (OES)
  • Qatar: Regulations for the Installation of Electrical Wiring, Electrical Equipment and Air Conditioning Equipment
  • Bahrain: Electricity Regulations and Guide for Electrical Contractors
  • Kuwait: Regulation for electrical installations MEW/R-1 to MEW/R-8 and MEW/S-1
  • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Building Code (SBC) Requirements, Section 401 – Electrical (SBC 401)

Australia/New Zealand

Standard AS / NZS 3000:2007-Wiring Rules

Hong Kong

Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations

Main Standards

Standards play an important role in electrical installations, since they provide a common language to everyone that is involved in the different phases of a project – design, manufacture, construction, testing and supervision.

Some of the main standards commonly used are:

International

  • International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
  • International Standards Organization (ISO)

Europe

  • European Standards (EN)
  • European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC)
  • Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – UK
  • British Standards Institution (BSI) – UK
  • French Standards (NF)
  • Portuguese Standards (NP)
  • German Standards (DIN and VDE)
  • Italian Standards (UNI)
  • Spanish Standards (AENOR)

United States of America

  • American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
  • Inter National Electrical Testing Association (NETA)
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
  • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
  • National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
  • Factory Mutual (FM)
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Click image to enlarge

Electrical Installations - Standards & Regulation in Different Countries

Canada

  • Canadian Standards (CEA)

Brazil

  • Brazilian Standards ( NRB / ABNT )

Australia and New Zealand

  • Australian and New Zealand Standards ( AS / NZS )

China

  • Chinese Standards (GB)

Following is the wiring color codes for different countries according to their local area regulations.

Click image to enlarge

Electrical Wiring Color Codes (NEC & IEC) - Single Phase & Three Phase (AC)

About the Author: Manuel Bolotinha

About the Author: Manuel Bolotinha

-Licentiate Degree in Electrical Engineering – Energy and Power Systems (1974 – Instituto Superior Técnico/University of Lisbon)
– Master Degree in Electrical and Computers Engineering (2017 – Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia/Nova University of Lisbon)
– Senior Consultant in Substations and Power Systems; Professional Instructor

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