Understanding IEC 61230 and Safety Laws for Portable Earthing Systems

Everyone who works on high voltage installations, supply networks, fittings and appliances must ensure they comply with an established regulatory framework. This also applies to everyone who supervises the work.

Regulatory requirements

1. Portable earthing systems must be used on de-energised high voltage electrical equipment unless live working procedures are used.
2. Safety clearance zones are set in place to all electrical systems and equipment unless they have been de-energised, tested and earthed.
3. Employers are required to provide portable earthing systems as well as suitable training for employees working on high voltage systems.
4. Employees must use portable earthing systems when required.  Network Operators, Employers and Employees must also ensure that they are appropriate for the task, properly used, and properly installed.  These portable earthing systems must be compliant with IEC 61230.

IEC 61230

IEC 6120 is an international standard that sets out the requirements that Portable Earthing Systems must meet.

Among the many things it covers, it specifies how these systems must be:

• Electrically and mechanically tested,
• What documentation must be kept,
• Labelled or marked, and
• Inspected and tested.

The need for LV Bonding is growing

With the growing number of domestic solar powered generators, electric vehicles and electric storage batteries there is a growing risk of the LV network being energized even when isolated from the LV supply network.

Consequently, the need to apply LV bonding systems is also growing, but is not yet mandatory.

For further reading

For New Zealand, see EEA Guide to Portable Equipment for Work On or Near Conductors.

The IEC 61230 standard is titled “Live working – Portable equipment for earthing or earthing and short-circuiting.” This standard is crucial for ensuring the safety of workers performing maintenance on electrical systems. Here are the key aspects:

Scope and Application

Applicability: IEC 61230 applies to portable equipment used for temporary earthing or earthing and short-circuiting of electrically isolated or de-energized AC and DC installations. This includes distribution and transmission networks, whether they are overhead or underground, and covers both low and high voltage systems.

Components Covered: The standard covers equipment that includes an earthing device, a short-circuiting device, or a combination of both, along with insulating components.

Key Requirements

Performance Criteria: The performance of the equipment is based on its ability to withstand electro-dynamic and electro-thermal effects during short-circuits. This is expressed through rated values of current, time, and peak factor.

Material Specifications: The standard allows for the use of aluminum in all conductive parts of the device and provides guidelines for the use of separate components of the equipment.

Safety and Testing

Testing Procedures: It includes detailed requirements and tests to ensure the equipment can handle the stresses of short-circuits. This involves checking the electro-dynamic and electro-thermal performance.

Updates and Revisions: The second edition of the standard, published in 2008, includes significant updates such as extending the scope to cover DC installations and revising existing annexes.

Importance

Confidence: By designing and testing our PEDs to the IEC 61230 standard, you and your staff can have confidence that our systems will protect personnel from electrical hazards during maintenance and repair activities.

For further reading

See IEC 61230