GUIDE OF

SEPARATION
TO FORMS
Low Voltage Switchgear and
Controlgear Assemblies: BS EN
60439-1: 1994 (IEC 439-1)
Including Amendment No1: 1995
The Electrical Installation Equipment Manufacturers' Association
INTRODUCTION TO EIEMA

E
IEMA an autonomous, the Electrical incorporated Installation Equipment Association Manufacturers’ of British
manufacturers Association, of is
electrical installation equipment. The Association’s roots date back to 1915 as a product section of BEAMA - The
Federation of British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association.
EIEMA’s Low Voltage Distribution Switchboard Technical Committee consists of major UK manufacturing
companies operating under the guidance and authority of the EIEMA Industrial Products Group supported by
specialist central services for guidance on European Single Market, Quality Assurance, Legal and Health & Safety
matters.
EIEMA members actively participate in the work of numerous International, European and National standards
committees. This provides the background and support to ensure safety and performance for the design,
development and manufacture of its members’ products. The result is quality equipment of the highest standard
throughout each group of the Association.
Membership of EIEMA Low Voltage Distribution Switchboard Technical Committee is conditional upon
compliance with, or a commitment to, achieving the stringent standards of quality to BS EN ISO 9001:1994.
Other publications available from EIEMA:
Product and Members Guide Guide to the IP codes for enclosures Guide to Switch & Fusegear Devices Guide to Fuse Link
Applications Guide to Circuit Breaker Standards Guide to LV Busbar Trunking Systems Guide to Residual Current Devices
Guide to Type Tested Assemblies and Partially Type Tested Assemblies
Acknowledgements EIEMA would like to thank IEC and BSI for reference to their standards. Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
for their assistance with Section 10.
This publication is available at £10 plus postage and packing
CONTENTS
Section Page

An introduction to EIEMA
Preface
2
1 Introduction
3
2 Useful definitions
3
3 Fundamentals of separation
4
4 Achieving separation
5
5 Selecting a form of separation
6
6 Form 1 requirements
7
7 Form 2 requirements
8
8 Form 3 requirements
10
9 Form 4 requirements
12
10 Safe working
16
11 Access for cabling
17
12 Decision Tree
18
13 Typical quotation questions
20
EIEMA switchboard manufacturers
2

PREFACE

I
n May 1992 the first EIEMA Guide to the Forms of Separation to BS 5486 Part 1:1990 was published. That guide was accepted
by Specifiers and Industry alike and used
almost universally as an industry standard, providing a more clear understanding of the constructional requirements for the
various means of meeting internal separation for
Low Voltage Switchboard Assemblies.
In 1994, the Standard was amended and re-numbered to align with the European Norm EN 60439-1. Also at this time an
initiative by EIEMA members contributed to the
expansion of the various forms which subsequently led to the publication of a National Annex to the Standard, (see amendment
1: March 1995).
This fourth edition of the EIEMA guide reflects these changes and therefore remains essential reading for both Specifiers and
Users. It is intended as an explanatory
document to be used in conjunction with the Standard. Study of this guide will enable Specifiers and Users to match their specific
requirements to the even wider range of
options available from member companies of the EIEMA Low Voltage Switchboard Technical Committee.
(See inside back cover)
The Standard specifically states that the Forms of Separation shall be the subject of
agreement between Manufacturer and User. EIEMA believes this guide to be an appropriate basis for such an agreement and it
will assist in identifying the most suitable
solution for each application. Other forms of construction, however, are not precluded by the Standard.
1 INTRODUCTION
2 USEFUL DEFINITIONS

B
S EN 60439 Part 1, describes a system for classifying the various forms of separation to be provided principally for:
• protection against contact with live parts belonging to the adjacent functional units.
• limitation of the probability of initiating arc faults.
• protection against the passage of solid foreign bodies from one unit of an Assembly
to an adjacent unit.
Even though the Standard has now been revised with a UK National Annex to
provide a wider scope of forms, it still does not give detailed advice on how to achieve these aims.
Manufacturers of switchboard assemblies employ many variations of design to meet this protection and any other additional
market requirements.
The means utilised to achieve these conditions may be partitions or barriers of metallic or non-metallic material. The
partitions or barriers may provide individual
separate compartments or alternatively, barriered sub-sections.
Greater clarification has been included within this guide by providing some basic
definitions of the terms used and explaining some of the various methods employed by manufacturers to meet the required degree
of separation.
In general, the cost of an Assembly increases with enhanced levels of separation, but choosing the most expensive
arrangement will not necessarily lead to the most
appropriate solution. T
he Standard includes definitions relating to Assemblies. Those particularly
relevant to the separation of Assemblies include the following. The same clause numbering has been used to aid cross
reference to the Standard.
2.1.1 Assembly: “A combination of one or more low-voltage switching devices together with associated control,
measuring, signalling, protective, regulating
equipment, etc., completely assembled under the responsibility of the manufacturer with all the internal electrical and
mechanical interconnections and structural parts.” This
includes floor standing or wall mounting distribution switchboards, panelboards, and motor control centres using
electromechanical and/or electronic components. It does
however specifically exclude individual devices and self-contained components which control a single circuit i.e., wall mounted
starters and fuse switches.
2.1.5 Functional Unit: “A part of an assembly comprising all the electrical and
mechanical elements that contribute to the fulfilment of the same function.” Essentially this is all parts necessary to form a
complete incoming or outgoing circuit. It includes all
the main current carrying equipment, including cable terminals, and control devices within the assembly, that are necessary to
form the complete circuit. It excludes the
connections from the unit to the busbars (busbar connections) and any insulation or shrouding with which they may be provided
with. (Generally such connections have a
short-circuit rating to match the rated current and short-circuit characteristics of the functional unit and historically were referred
to as ‘fault free zones’).

3
3 FUNDAMENTALS OF SEPARATION
4
2.2.1 Section: “A constructional unit of an assembly between two successive
vertical delineations”. Usually considered to be a single full height column containing one or more functional units. Generally
several columns are required to complete an
Assembly.
2.2.2 Sub-Section: “A constructional unit of an assembly between two successive horizontal delineations within a
section”. Abstract in nature. The area or space within
a column identified and bounded by two adjacent and horizontal constructional members e.g., cross members or shelves.
2.2.3 Compartment: “A section or sub-section enclosed except for openings necessary for interconnection, control or
ventilation.” An enclosed area or space within
an Assembly. Also includes a product complete with its own integral housing (MCB, MCCB, Moulded Switch, ACB) if
protection to IP2X is assured. See also 2.4.5.
2.4.5 Enclosure: “A part providing protection of equipment against certain external influences and in any direction,
protection against direct contact to a degree of
protection of at least IP2X”.
2.4.10 Partition: “A part of the enclosure of a compartment separating it from other compartments”. A component used to
form the top, bottom, sides, front or back of a
compartment or enclosure and which can be manufactured from metal or an appropriate plastic material.
2.4.11 Barrier: “A part providing protection against direct contact from any usual direction of access (minimum IP2X)
and against arcs from switching devices and the
like, if any”. Prevents finger contact with live parts and/or protects operators from emissions from switching devices. It can take
the form of insulating material in direct
contact with the live part, e.g., heat shrink sleeving on a busbar. Alternatively it can take the form of rigid insulation or an earthed
metal screen appropriately positioned relative
to the live part(s). I
n accordance with the Standard, separation of the various elements of an
Assembly: busbars, functional units, terminals, can be claimed providing one or more of the following criteria are met:
1. “Protection against contact with live parts belonging to adjacent functional units. The degree of protection shall be at least
IP2X or IPXXB”
As a minimum, finger contact with live parts in adjacent functional units is prevented. With Assemblies supplied by EIEMA
Member Companies this is extended to
include protection against finger contact between: functional units, adjacent busbars and busbar connections, and terminals as
required for the particular form of separation being
considered.
The requirement is proven with the standard test finger.
4 ACHIEVING SEPARATION
2. “Limitation of the probability of initiating arcing faults”
Note: A second amendment to IEC 439-1 is presently being considered. This effectively removes this requirement from the
Standard, since no common repeatable method of testing could be arrived at internationally.
EIEMA Members meet this non specific and probabilistic requirement by; good design practices and ensuring, usually by
type test, the operation of switching and short
circuit protective devices does not adversely affect adjacent functional units or busbars.
3. “Protection against the passage of solid foreign bodies from one unit of an Assembly to an adjacent unit. The degree of
protection shall be at least IP2X”
The minimum requirement is proven by the standard test finger not being able to touch live parts in adjacent units and a
12mm ball not being able to pass between units.
In practice a higher degree of protection may be required for horizontal partitions to prevent small objects from falling
between compartments and should be identified in the
contract specification.
These three fundamental criteria are interrelated. EIEMA Member Companies will therefore ensure all three are fully met in
respect of the particular form of separation
offered. T
he fundamental requirements in the Standard are performance criteria and not constructional details on how separation should be
achieved. There is a
requirement that Assemblies are divided by means of partitions or barriers (metallic or non-metallic) into separate compartments
or barriered sub-sections, but not for example:
• each functional unit to be in its own compartment;
• partitions and barriers to be manufactured from earthed metal, etc.
Separation can be achieved in several ways. Depending on a particular application
and the requirements for maintenance, this may include:
a) PVC sleeving, wrapping or plastic coating of conductors.
b) Insulated terminal shields or PVC ‘boots’.
c) Rigid insulated barriers or partitions.
d) Compartments formed from earthed metal.
e) A device’s integral housing.
Where a Specifier or User has a particular preference, this should be clearly stated at the enquiry stage.

5
 I 5 SELECTING A FORM OF
n general, the price of an Assembly will increase with increased levels of separation and/or types of construction. Choosing the
arrangement with the most
internal barriers will not always lead to the most appropriate solution. SEPARATION
Where specific requirements are not stated or identified, the manufacturer is
likely to assume the most cost effective solution will satisfy the customer’s needs and offer it accordingly.
To select the most suitable arrangement for each application, EIEMA members recommend the following points are
considered:
• Site and position of the Switchboard.
• Maintenance requirements of the switchgear.
• Skill level of personnel having access to the Assembly
• Probability of requiring access to the terminals of a particular circuit with those
adjacent live and still in service.
• Difficulty and/or inconvenience in isolating the complete Assembly.
• Price and benefits of the different forms.
Further guidance on selection is provided in the form of a decision tree, see Section 12 page 18.
Key throughout
Busbars
Insulated busbars
Conductors connecting busbars to the outgoing circuits
Short-circuit protective devices
Denotes separation
On the following pages the various forms of separation are drawn schematically. The forms
shown in brackets ()are those included in a proposed 2nd amendment to IEC 439-1, presently still under consideration. e.g Form
4 type 3 (Form 4a Type 3).

6
Terminal
Terminals separated by insulated coverings or PVC boots
Terminals separated by rigid barriers
Terminals with individual rigid glanding facility
 F 6 FORM 1 REQUIREMENTS
orm 1 covers overall Assemblies which are enclosed so as to provide protection against contact with any internal live parts
or components, but where no
internal separation is provided for functional units or terminations.
For Form 1;
i Busbars are not separated from the functional units,
ii Functional units are not separated from other functional units.
iii Functional units are not separated from any incoming or outgoing termination.
iv Busbars are not separated from any incoming or outgoing terminations.
FORM 1

7
Incoming. I Outgoing I I Outgoing I Outgoing
unit units units units
 7 FORM 2 REQUIREMENTS
Incoming unit

F
orm 2 defines overall Assemblies which are enclosed to provide protection against contact with any internal live parts or
components, and where there is
internal separation of the busbars from functional units.
The following general conditions apply;
i Busbars are separated from functional units
ii Functional units are not separated from other functional units.
Compliance with the requirements of Form 2 may be offered by EIEMA
manufacturers by any of the three methods. Specifiers and Users should clearly state their preference.
FORM 2 (Form 2a)
Basic form as above. However, with this method terminals are not separated from the busbars, or each other. The actual
means of separation is not defined in the Standard.
Outgoing units
Outgoing units
Outgoing units