UK trade association BEAMA‘s Low Voltage Switchboard and Busbar Systems (LSBS) Group has published a new guide to help improve the specification and procurement of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies.
The publication, Specifying a Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assembly, has been developed to help specifiers and procurement teams ensure assemblies comply with relevant standards and are suitable for their intended operating conditions.
Designed to complement the BS EN IEC 61439 series of standards, the guide covers key considerations including conformance, design verification, environmental conditions, and marking requirements.
The guide aims to support informed specification decisions that contribute to the safety, performance, and reliability of electrical installations. It also builds on the BEAMA LSBS Group’s ongoing work to promote best practice within the low-voltage switchboard sector, following last year’s Consequence of Non-Compliance campaign.
Supporting best practice in electrical specification
Nick Hayler, Head of Building Electrical Systems at BEAMA, comments, “Correct specification is critical to the safety, performance, and efficiency of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies.
“Developed in close collaboration with technical experts from our Low Voltage Switchboard and Busbar Systems Group membership, the new Specifying a Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assembly guide sets out practical and safety-critical considerations to consider before selecting an assembly.
“Too often, assembly specification is treated as a box-ticking exercise and there is a tendency for selections to be driven by price considerations rather than a full assessment of the appropriate specification, when it should be based on a clear understanding of conformance, design verification, and the environmental conditions an assembly will face in service.
“Getting this wrong can have serious consequences. It can affect assembly performance and the safety of everyone who installs, operates, and maintains it.
“By addressing marking requirements and other details that can be missed, we want to support the specification of robust, fit-for-purpose electrical distribution networks.”
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