Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies with a rated short-circuit withstand strength above 10 kA, are required, by law, to conform to the South African standard, SANS 1473-1 (Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies: Part 1: Typetested, partially type-tested and specially tested assemblies with rated short-circuit withstand strength above lOkA). Standard SANS 1473-1 stipulates three categories of assemblies i.e. type-tested, partially type-tested and specially tested assemblies. The specially tested assembly is unique to the South African market, while the other two
categories are stipulated in standard SANS IEC 60439-1 (Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies: Part 1: Type-tested and partially type-tested assemblies), which is internationally accepted in many countries as the applicable low-voltage assembly standard. Standard SANS 1473-1 specifies seven type-tests for certification as a type-tested assembly (TTA), but specifies, at most, three type-tests for certification as a specially tested assembly (STA). The underlying purpose of a technical standard is to provide for the safety of people and property, with the purpose of the research being twofold:
1. To investigate if the testing requirements specified for a specially tested assembly (STA), in accordance with standard SANS 1473-1, are correctly applied, and do not pose any safety risks.
2. To investigate any safety risks that stem from the fact that four type-tests are excluded for verification as a specially tested assembly (STA), as opposed to the seven type tests required for verification as a type-tested assembly (TTA).
The document highlights the technical inadequacies of an assembly that is certified as a STA, in accordance with standard SANS 1473-1, and the potential safety risks associated with this type of assembly classification. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/4201 |
Date | January 2004 |
Creators | Bonner, Mark James. |
Contributors | Ijumba, Nelson M. |
Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis |
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