EN IEC 61439 Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies

The “IEC 61439 Low voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies” standard, which is based on a European standard and later published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), consists of several sections published under the same title. Namely,

• The standard “IEC 61439-1 Part 1: General requirements” describes general definitions and service conditions, construction requirements, technical characteristics and verification requirements for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. Throughout this standard, the term assemblies is used to refer to low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. For the purpose of determining assembly suitability, the requirements of the relevant part of the IEC 61439 series of standards apply together with the requirements referred to in this standard. For assemblies not covered, IEC 61439-2 applies.

The latest update of this standard includes important technical changes:

• A statement that power electrical converter systems, switched-mode power supplies, uninterruptible power supplies and adjustable-speed power drive systems have been tested in accordance with their product standards, but when incorporated into assemblies, the incorporation is in accordance with this series of standards.
• Introducing a group of rated currents for circuits within a loaded assembly and refocusing temperature rise verification on this new feature.
• DC related requirements have been added.
• The concept of class I and class II installations is introduced for protection against electric shock.

• Devices having a nominal voltage not exceeding 1000 Volts alternating current or 1500 Volts direct current.
• Assemblies designed so that the nominal frequency of the incoming supply or supplies does not exceed 1000 Hz. Frequencies above 1 kHz are considered high frequencies, and IEC 60664-1 applies to take into account additional restrictions on insulation coordination (installations designed for indoor and outdoor applications).
• Fixed or mobile installations with or without enclosure.
• Assemblies designed for use in connection with the generation, transmission, distribution and conversion of electrical energy and the control of equipment consuming electrical energy and the associated data processing (e.g. assemblies designed for use under special service conditions on ships and rail vehicles, provided that any other relevant specific requirements are met). Additional requirements for installations on ships are covered by the IEC 60092-302-2 standard.

• Devices intended to be operated by lay persons, for example in household applications such as switching operations and changing fuse links.
• Appliances incorporating circuits with protective devices intended to be operated by lay persons.
• Arrangements for applications where the nominal earth voltage does not exceed 300 Volts alternating current. For direct current applications, voltage limits are taken into account.
• Installations where the nominal current (Inc) of the output circuits does not exceed 125 Amps and the nominal current (InA) does not exceed 250 Amps.
• Assemblies designed to be used in connection with the generation, transmission, distribution and conversion of electrical energy and for the control of electrical energy consuming equipment and associated data processing.
• Closed, fixed installations.
• Mounts for indoor or outdoor use.

Distribution boards intended to be operated by lay persons may contain protection devices, control devices, signaling devices alone or a combination of devices such as circuit breakers, load shedding relay, energy management, communication devices, lighting control.

• In the standard “IEC 61439-4 Part 4: Specific requirements for installations for construction sites (ACS)”, the specific requirements of the ACS are defined as follows:
  • Devices having a nominal voltage not exceeding 1000 Volts in the case of AC or 1500 Volts in the case of DC.
  • Assemblies in which the nominal primary voltage and nominal secondary voltage of transformers included in the ACS are within the limits specified above.
  • Devices designed for use in temporary workplaces, both indoors and outdoors, that is, in areas not generally accessible to the public and where construction, assembly, repair, alteration or demolition of property (buildings) or civil engineering (public works) or excavation or other similar operations are carried out.
  • Portable (semi-permanent) or mobile assemblies with enclosures.
• The standard “IEC 61439-5 Part 5: Installations for power distribution in public networks” defines specific requirements for public power network distribution assemblies (PENDAs). PENDAs have the following criteria:
  • It is used for the distribution of electrical energy in three-phase systems where the nominal voltage does not exceed 1000 Volts alternating current and in DC systems where the nominal voltage does not exceed 1500 Volts direct current.
  • It is fixed.
  • Open type assemblies are not within the scope of this standard.
  • Suitable for installation in places accessible only to skilled persons, but outdoor types can be installed in places accessible to ordinary persons.
  • It is designed for use in energy distribution in public electricity networks.
  • Indoor use: fittings for installation inside power plants.
  • Outdoor use: assemblies incorporating a housing suitable for outdoor installation.

The purpose of this standard is to specify definitions for PENDAs and to specify service conditions, construction requirements, specifications and tests. Tests at higher performance levels may be applied with some network parameters.

• In the “IEC 61439-6 Part 6: Busbar trunking systems (busway)” standard, definitions are specified for low-voltage busbar trunking systems and the service conditions, construction requirements, technical specifications and verification requirements are explained as follows:
  • Busbar trunking systems with a nominal voltage not exceeding 1000 Volts in AC or 1500 Volts in DC.
  • Busbar trunking systems designed for the production, transmission, distribution and conversion of electrical energy and for the control of electrical energy consuming equipment.
  • Busbar trunking systems designed for use under special service conditions, for example on ships, in rail vehicles and in domestic applications (operated by unqualified persons), provided that the relevant special requirements are complied with.
  • Busbar trunking systems designed for electrical equipment of machines. Additional requirements for busbar trunking systems forming part of a machine are met by the IEC 60204 series of standards.

This standard applies to all busbar trunking systems, whether designed, manufactured and verified as a one-off or fully standardised and produced in quantity. Manufacture or assembly may be carried out by a manufacturer other than the original manufacturer.

• The standard “IEC 61439-7 Part 7: Installations for specific applications such as marinas, camping areas, marketplaces, electric vehicle charging stations” defines specific requirements for installations for the following applications (marinas, camping areas, marketplaces and electric vehicle charging stations):
  • Installations having a nominal voltage not exceeding 1000 Volts alternating current or 1500 Volts direct current.
  • Assemblies designed for use in connection with the generation, transmission, distribution and conversion of electrical energy and the control of equipment that consumes electrical energy.
  • Installations operated by lay persons (e.g. for plugging and unplugging electrical equipment).
  • Assemblies intended for installation and use in public market squares, marinas, campsites and other similar areas, including temporary installations.
  • Assemblies designed for charging stations for electric vehicles for Mode 3 and Mode 4. Designed to integrate functionality and additional requirements for electric vehicle conductive charging systems according to the IEC 61851-1 standard.
• The standard “IEC 61439-8 Part 8: Assemblies for use in photovoltaic installations” describes the requirements for the design and verification of assemblies for use in photovoltaic installations. Such photovoltaic assemblies are called PVAs. PVAs have the following properties:
  • Voltage 1 Assemblies used to combine or recombine electrical energy in DC systems not exceeding 500 Volts direct current and to supply power to an AC network having a voltage not exceeding 1 000 Volts alternating current.
  • Enclosed fixed installations.
  • Assemblies intended to be operated by authorized persons but which may be placed in an area accessible to lay persons.
  • Mountings suitable for indoor or outdoor installation.

This standard establishes definitions, specifies service conditions, details construction requirements, defines technical specifications and provides validations for PVAs. PVAs may also include control or signaling devices associated with the distribution of electrical energy. This standard applies to all PVAs, whether designed and manufactured as a one-off or fully standardized and mass-produced.

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