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Electrical Switchboards Form Separation

The document discusses different forms of separation (Forms 1-4) that are used in switchboard assemblies to provide protection against contact with live parts, limit arc faults, and prevent passage of objects between units. Form 1 provides the lowest level of separation while Form 4 provides the highest level with complete separation of busbars, functional units, and terminals. The requirements for each Form are described in detail, along with several methods that manufacturers can use to achieve the required level of separation.

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Momčilo Bubnjević
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411 views16 pages

Electrical Switchboards Form Separation

The document discusses different forms of separation (Forms 1-4) that are used in switchboard assemblies to provide protection against contact with live parts, limit arc faults, and prevent passage of objects between units. Form 1 provides the lowest level of separation while Form 4 provides the highest level with complete separation of busbars, functional units, and terminals. The requirements for each Form are described in detail, along with several methods that manufacturers can use to achieve the required level of separation.

Uploaded by

Momčilo Bubnjević
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Forms of Separation - Introduction

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
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 materials. 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 manufacturer's 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.
Achieving Separation
The 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 & barriers to be manufactured from earthed metal, etc
Separation can be achieved in several ways. Depending on a particular application & the
requirement for maintenance, this may include:
a) PVC sleeving, wrapping or plastic coating of conductors
b) Insulated terminals shields or PVC boots
c) Rigid insulated barriers or partitions
d) Compartments formed from earthed metal
e) A devices integral housing
Where a Specifier or user has a particular preference, this should be clearly stated at the
enquiry stage.
Summary

The major levels of separation are designated Forms 1 to 4.


Form 1 may be adequate if no live working is contemplated.
Form 2 provides a little extra flexibility but, for the majority of
applications.
Form 3 is better choice.
Form 4 is appropriate where maximum opportunity for live
working is essential.
Form 1 Requirements
Form 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;

1. Busbars are not separated from the functional units.


2. Functional units are not separated from other functional
units.
3. Functional units are not separated from any incoming or
outgoing termination
4. Busbars are not separated from any incoming or outgoing
terminations.
Form 2 Requirements

Form 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;
1. Busbars are separated from functional units
2. Functional units are not separated from other functional
units
Compliance with requirements of Form 2 may be offered by
EIEMA manufacturers by any of the 3 methods. Specifiers &
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.
Form 2 Type 1 (Form 2b Type 1)
Main criteria as FORM 2. Busbar separation is achieved by insulated
coverings, e.g. PVC sleeving, wrapping or coating.
Terminals are therefore separated from the busbars, but not from
functional units or each other.
Form 2 Type 2 (Form 2b Type 2)
Main criteria as FORM 2. Busbar separation is achieved by metallic
or non-metallic rigid barriers or partitions.
Terminals are therefore separated from the busbars, but not from
functional units or each other.
Forms 3 Requirements

Form 3 defines overall Assemblies which are enclosed to provide protection


against contact with internal live parts & components, & in which there is internal
separation of the busbars from functional units & separation of all functional units
from each other.
The following general conditions apply:-
1. Busbar are separated from functional units
2. Functional units are separated from each other
3. Functional units are separated from incoming & outgoing terminals
4. Incoming & outgoing terminals are not separated from each other
Compliance with the requirements of Form 3, may be offered by EIEMA
manufacturers by any of the 3 methods. Specifiers & Users should clearly state
their preference.
Form 3a
Basic form as above. Terminals are not separated from the busbars
or each other. The actual means of separation is not defined in the
standard.
Form 3b Type 1
As basic Form 3. Busbar separation is achieved by insulated
coverings, e.g. PVC sleeving, wrapping or coating. Terminals are
therefore separated from the busbars, but not each other.
Form 3b Type 2
As basic Form 3. Busbar separation is achieved by metallic or non-
metallic grid barriers or partitions. Terminals are therefore separated
from the busbars, but not from each other.
Form 4 Requirements

Form 4 covers overall Assemblies which are so enclosed as to provide protection


against contact with internal live parts and components, and in which there is
internal separation of the busbar system from functional units, and separation of
all functional units from each other. Incoming & Outgoing are also required to
be separated from the busbars and from each other.

The following general conditions apply;


1. Busbars are separated from functional units.
2. Functional units are separated from each other.
3. Terminations to functional units are separated from each other.
Compliance with any of the requirements of Form 4 may be offered by EIEMA
manufacturers by any of the following seven methods. Specifiers & Users
should clearly indicate their preference.
Form 4 Type 1
As basic Form 4. Busbar separation is achieved by insulated coverings, e.g.. PVC
sleeving, Wrapping or coating. Cables are terminated within the same
compartment as the associated functional unit. Cables may glanded elsewhere, e.g.
in a common cabling chamber.
Form 4 Type 2 (Form 4a Type 2)

As basic Form 4. Busbar separation is achieved by metallic or non-metallic rigid


barriers or partitions. Cables are terminated within the same compartment as the
functional unit. Cables may be glanded elsewhere, e.g. in a common cabling
chamber.
Form 4 Type 3 (Form 4a Type 3)

As basic Form 4. Busbar separation is achieved by metallic or non-metallic rigid


barriers or partitions. Cables are terminated within the same compartment as the
functional unit. The termination for each functional unit has its own integral
glanding facility.
Form 4 Type 4 (Form 4b Type 4)

As basic Form 4. Busbar separation is achieved by insulated coverings, e.g. PVC


sleeving, wrapping or coating. Terminals are external to the functional unit and
separated by insulated coverings, e.g. PVC Boots. Cables may be glanded
elsewhere, e.g. in a common cabling chamber.

Note:
Where connections between the
cable terminals & the functional
unit pass through the same general
compartment as the busbars, busbar
separation may be achieved by
insulated covering of these
connections only.
Form 4 Type 5 (Form 4b Type 5)
As basic Form 4. Busbar separation is achieved by metallic or non-metallic rigid
barriers or partitions. Terminals are external to the functional unit and separated
by insulated coverings, e.g. PVC Boots. Cables may be glanded elsewhere, e.g.
in a common cabling chamber.
Form 4 Type 6 (Form 4b Type 6)
As basic main criteria for Form 4. All separation is achieved by metallic or
non-metallic rigid barriers or partitions. Terminals are external to the
functional unit compartment and enclosed in their own compartment by
means of rigid barriers or partitions. Cables may be glanded elsewhere, e.g.
in a common cabling chamber.
Form 4 Type 7 (Form 4b Type 7)

As basic main criteria for Form 4. All separation requirements are achieved by
metallic or non-metallic rigid barriers or partitions. Terminals are external to the
functional unit compartment and enclosed in their own compartment by means of
rigid barriers or partitions complete with integral glanding facility.

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