Earthing clamps

Bondings to metal pipes are made with earthing clamps to BS951. A permanant label is required to be fixed into position at or near:

• The point of connection of every earthing conductor to an earth electrode or other means or earthing, and
• To the point of connection of every bonding conductor to an extraneous-conductive-part, and
• At the main earthing terminal where it is seperate from the main switchgear.

Switchgear and controlgear

Unless there is no possibility of confusion, a label indicating the purpose of each item must be fixed on or adjacent to the switchgear or controlgear. It may be necessary to label the item controlled as well as the controlgear.

Distribution Boards & Consumer Units

Each protective device e.g. a fuse or circuit breaker must be arranged and labelled so that the circuit protected can be easily identified.

Isolators

As well as being clearly identified switches used as isolators must also indicate the circuit or circuits that they switch.

Equipment supplied from more than one source

Certain equipment may require the operation of more than one switch in order to make it safe. In such a case a durable warning notice must be permanently fixed in a visible position to identify the appropriate devices

Periodic Inspection & Testing

A notice of durable material indelibly marked with the words as on the left must be fixed in a prominant position at or near the origin of the installation. The notice records the date of the last electrical inspection and shows the recommended date for the next inspection.

Residual Current Devices (RCDs)

Where an installation incorporates an RCD a notice must be fixed in a prominant position at or near the installation. The notice prompts the owner of the installation to test that the RCD functions correctly.

Warning notice: Non standard colours

If alterations or additions are made to an installation so that some of the wiring complies with the harmonised colours and there is also wiring in the old colours, a warning notice must be affixed at or near the appropriate distribution board.

Unexpected presence of nominal voltage exceeding 230 V

Where the nominal voltage exceeds 230 V to earth or 400 V between lines a warning label stating the maximum voltage present must be provided where it can be seen before gaining access to live parts.

Nominal voltage exceeding 230 V (U or Uo) between simultaneously accessible equipment

For simultaneously accessible equipment with terminals or other fixed live parts having a nominal voltage (U or Uo) exceeding 230 V between them, e.g. 400 V line to line, a warning label must be provided where it can be seen before gaining access to live parts.

Presence of different nominal voltages in the same equipment

Where equipment contains different nominal voltages, a warning label stating the voltages present must be provided so that it can be seen before gaining access to live parts.

Diagrams

A diagram or schedule must be provided showing:

• The number of points, size and type of cable for each circuit
• The method used to provide protection from indirect contact.
• The information necessary for the identification of each device performing the functions of protection, isolation and switching and it's location.
• Any circuit vulnerable to an insulation test.
• Circuits that may be vulnerable to an insulation test would be those that have solid state devices such as burgalar alarms, fire alarms, central heating controllers, solid state transformers etc

Deliveries to anywhere in the UK are quick, tracked and accurate, technical support (by phone and on site if needed) and design/product advice is available before, during and after installation. The recording and collating of serial numbers, factory and other test results, manuals any other information required for equipment warranties, add ons and extensions is included.

Trade, DIY and Retail Clients Welcome.

A whole house surge protector is installed to provide protection from transient overvoltages originating from the mains/grid. A whole house surge protector is installed directly inline and as close as possible to the mains/supply meter, this allows for surge protection for all circuits and equipment including solar inverters, routers, stereos and other sensitive electrical equipment within the network. The addition of a 100Amp lockable isolator also allows for safe and convenient isolation of all electrical equipment within the network including consumer units, solar inverters, battery storage units and EV chargers from the mains/grid in one place.

Surge protectors are in compliance with the recently updated 18th edition amendment 2 of BS7671.

DC surge protection devices (SPDs) are installed between the solar panels and the solar inverter to protect both the solar inverter and the downstream electrical equipment from transient overvoltages of an atmospheric origin impacting the electrical system via the DC side of the system / the solar panels.

DC Surge protectors are in compliance with the recently updated 18th edition amendment 2 of BS7671.

Engineering Recommendation G98

Grid Connections for Micro-Generators including Solar PV Systems and Elecricity Storage Systems in the UK. Under 16Amps Per Phase, grid synchronised.

BSI - PAS 63100:2024 - Protection Against Fire of Battery Energy Storage Systems for use in Dwellings

This Publically Available Specification (PAS) from the British Standards Institution (BSI) was sponsored by The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Although not yet a British Standard, this guidance was developed in response to an urgent demand for clarity as to good practice across the industry including product, service and process standards.

How to provide backup power to a house using a portable generator

In this article we show you how to provide backup power to your home using a portable diesel, petrol or LPG backup generator. We look at changeover switches, the importance of earthing, backup generator loadings, how to isolate non essential loads. We ask where to locate the backup generator when it's in operation, how best to safely isolate the grid/mains power supply and switch to a backup generator supply.

Ground Faults, Isolation (ISO) Faults, RISO Low Faults and Insulation Resistance Faults with Solar PV Systems

After a number of years exposed to wind, rain, snow, ice and sometimes animals; solar panel systems can start to develop faults. The most common faults we find related to exposure are ground faults, isolation (ISO) faults, RISO low faults and insulation resistance faults. In this article we take a look at what these faults are, the possible causes and what steps are taken to identify and resolve them.