E - Distribution in low-voltage installations

3 External inuences (IEC 60364-5-51)

External inuences shall be taken into account when choosing: b The appropriate measures to ensure the safety of persons (in particular in special locations or electrical installations) b The characteristics of electrical equipment, such as degree of protection (IP), mechanical withstand (IK), etc.

3.1 Denition and reference standards

Every electrical installation occupies an environment that presents a variable degree of risk: b For people b For the equipment constituting the installation Consequently, environmental conditions inuence the denition and choice of appropriate installation equipment and the choice of protective measures for the safety of persons. The environmental conditions are referred to collectively as external inuences. Many national standards concerned with external inuences include a classication scheme which is based on, or which closely resembles, that of international standard IEC 60364-5-51.

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If several external inuences appear at the same time, they can have independent or mutual effects and the degree of protection must be chosen accordingly

3.2 Classication
Each condition of external inuence is designated by a code comprising a group of two capital letters and a number as follows: First letter (A, B or C) The rst letter relates to the general category of external inuence : b A = environment b B = utilisation b C = construction of buildings Second letter The second letter relates to the nature of the external inuence. Number The number relates to the class within each external inuence. Additional letter (optional) Used only if the effective protection of persons is greater than that indicated by the rst IP digit. When only the protection of persons is to be specied, the two digits of the IP code are replaced by the Xs. Example: IP XXB. Example For example the code AC2 signies: A = environment AC = environment-altitude AC2 = environment-altitude > 2,000 m

3.3 List of external inuences

Figure E46 below is from IEC 60364-5-51, which should be referred to if further details are required.

Fig. E46 : List of external inuences (taken from Appendix A of IEC 60364-5-51) (continued on next page)

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Code External inuences A - Environment AA Ambient temperature (C) Low High AA1 - 60 C + 5 C AA2 - 40 C + 5 C AA3 - 25 C + 5 C AA4 - 5 C + 40 C AA5 + 5 C + 40 C AA6 + 5 C + 60 C AA7 - 25 C + 55 C AA8 - 50 C + 40 C

Characteristics required for equipment

Specially designed equipment or appropriate arrangements

Normal (special precautions in certain cases) Normal Specially designed equipment or appropriate arrangements

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Code External inuences A - Environment AB Atmospheric humidity Air temperature C Low High AB1 - 60 C + 5 C AB2 - 40 C + 5 C AB3 - 25 C + 5 C AB4 - 5 C + 40 C AB5 + 5 C + 40 C AB6 + 5 C + 60 C AB7 - 25 C + 55 C AB8 - 50 C + 40 C AC Altitude AC1 y 2000 m AC2 > 2000 m AD Presence of water AD1 Negligible AD2 Free-falling drops AD3 Sprays AD4 Splashes AD5 Jets AD6 Waves AD7 Immersion AD8 AE AE1 AE2 AE3 AE4 AE5 AE6 AF AF1 AF2 AF3 AF4 AG AG1 AG2 AG3 AH AH1 AH2 AH3 AJ AK AH1 AH2 AL AH1 AH2 AM AM1 AM2 AM3 AM4 AM5 AM6 AM7 AM8 AM9 AM21

Characteristics required for equipment

Relative humidity % Low High 3 100 10 100 10 100 5 95 5 85 10 100 10 100 15 100

Absolute humidity g/m3 Low High 0.003 7 0.1 7 0.5 7 1 29 1 25 1 35 0.5 29 0.04 36

Appropriate arrangements shall be made

Normal Normal Appropriate arrangements shall be made

Normal May necessitate precaution (derating factors) Outdoor or non-weather protected locations IPX0 IPX1 or IPX2 IPX3 IPX4 IPX5 IPX6 IPX7

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Locations where hose water is used regularly Seashore locations (piers, beaches, quays) Water 150 mm above the highest point and equipment not more than 1m below the surface Submersion Equipment is permanently and totally covered IPX8 Presence of foreign solid bodies Smallest dimension Example Negligible IP0X Small objects 2.5 mm Tools IP3X Very small objects 1 mm Wire IP4X Light dust IP5X if dust penetration is not harmful to functioning Moderate dust IP6X if dust should not penetrate Heavy dust IP6X Presence of corrosive or polluting substances Negligible Normal Atmospheric According to the nature of the substance Intermittent, accidental Protection against corrosion Continuous Equipment specially designed Mechanical stress impact Low severity Normal Medium severity Standard where applicable or reinforced material High severity Reinforced protection Vibrations Low severity Household or similar Normal Medium severity Usual industrial conditions Specially designed equipment or special arrangements High severity Severe industrial conditions Other mechanical stresses Presence of ora and/or mould growth No hazard Normal Hazard Presence of fauna No hazard Normal Hazard Electromagnetic, electrostatic or ionising inuences / Low frequency electromagnetic phenomena / Harmonics Harmonics, interharmonics Refer to applicable IEC standards Signalling voltage Voltage amplitude variations Voltage unbalance Power frequency variations Induced low-frequency voltages Direct current in a.c. networks Radiated magnetic elds Electric eld Induced oscillatory voltages or currents

Fig. E46 : List of external inuences (taken from Appendix A of IEC 60364-5-51) (continued on next page)

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3 External inuences (IEC 60364-5-51)

Fig. E46 : List of external inuences (taken from Appendix A of IEC 60364-5-51) (concluded)

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Code External inuences A - Environment AM22 Conducted unidirectional transients of the nanosecond time scale AM23 Conducted unidirectional transients of the microsecond to the millisecond time scale AM24 Conducted oscillatory transients AM25 Radiated high frequency phenomena AM31 Electrostatic discharges AM41 Ionisation AN Solar radiation AN1 Low AN2 Medium AN3 High AP Seismic effect AP1 Negligible AP2 Low severity AP3 Medium severity AP4 High severity AQ Lightning AQ1 Negligible AQ2 Indirect exposure AQ3 Direct exposure AR Movement of air AQ1 Low AQ2 Medium AQ3 High AS Wind AQ1 Low AQ2 Medium AQ3 High B - Utilization BA Capability of persons BA1 Ordinary BA2 Children BA3 Handicapped BA4 Instructed BA5 Skilled BB Electrical resistance of human body BC Contact of persons with earth potential BC1 None BC2 Low BC3 Frequent BC4 Continuous BD Condition of evacuation in case of emergency BD1 Low density / easy exit BD2 Low density / difcult exit BD3 High density / easy exit BD4 High density / difcult exit BE Nature of processed or stored materials BE1 No signicant risks BE2 Fire risks BE3 Explosion risks BE4 Contamination risks C - Construction of building CA Construction materials CA1 Non combustible CA2 Combustible CB Building design CB1 Negligible risks CB2 Propagation of re CB3 Movement CB4 lexible or unstable

Characteristics required for equipment Refer to applicable IEC standards

Normal

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Normal

Normal

Normal

Normal

Normal

Class of equipment according to IEC61140

Normal

Normal

Normal

Normal

E - Distribution in low-voltage installations

3.4 Protection provided for enclosed equipment: codes IP and IK

IP code denition (see Fig. E47)
The degree of protection provided by an enclosure is indicated in the IP code, recommended in IEC 60529. Protection is afforded against the following external inuences: b Penetration by solid bodies b Protection of persons against access to live parts b Protection against the ingress of dust b Protection against the ingress of liquids Note: the IP code applies to electrical equipment for voltages up to and including 72.5 kV.

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Elements of the IP Code and their meanings

A brief description of the IP Code elements is given in the following chart (see Fig. E48).

Element Code letters

Numerals or letters IP

Meaning for the protection of equipment

Meaning for the protection of persons

First characteristic numeral

Against ingress of solid foreign objects 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 (non-protected) u 50 mm diameter u 12.5 mm diameter u 2.5 mm diameter u 1.0 mm diameter Dust-protected Dust-tight

Against access to hazardous parts with (non-protected) Back of hand Finger Too l Wire Wire Wire

Second characteristic numeral

Against ingress of water with harmful effects 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (non-protected) Vertically dripping Dripping (15 tilted) Spraying Splashing Jetting Powerful jetting Temporary immersion Continuous immersion

IP Code letters (International Protection) First characteristic numeral (numerals 0 to 6, or letter X) Second characteristic numeral (numerals 0 to 6, or letter X) Additional letter (optional) (letters A, B, C, D) Supplementary letter (optional) (letters H, M, S, W)

Additional letter (optional)

Against access to hazardous parts with A B C D back of hand Finger Too l Wire Supplementary information specific to: High-voltage apparatus Motion during water test Stationary during water test Weather conditions

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Where a characteristic numeral is not required to be specified, it shall be replaced by the letter "X" ("XX" if both numerals are omitted). Additional letters and/or supplementary letters may be omitted without replacement.
Fig. E47 : IP Code arrangement

Supplementary letter (optional)

H M S W

Fig. E48 : Elements of the IP Code

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3 External inuences (IEC 60364-5-51)

IK Code denition
Standard IEC 62262 denes an IK code that characterises the aptitude of equipment to resist mechanical impacts on all sides (see Fig. E49).

IK code 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Fig. E49 : Elements of the IK Code

Impact energy (in Joules) 0 y 0.14 y 0.20 y 0.35 y 0.50 y 0.70 y1 y2 y5 y 10 y 20

AG code

AG1

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AG2 AG3 AG4

IP and IK code specications for distribution switchboards

The degrees of protection IP and IK of an enclosure must be specied as a function of the different external inuences dened by standard IEC 60364-5-51, in particular: b Presence of solid bodies (code AE) b Presence of water (code AD) b Mechanical stresses (no code) b Capability of persons (code BA) b Prisma Plus switchboards are designed for indoor installation. Unless the rules, standards and regulations of a specic country stipulate otherwise, Schneider Electric recommends the following IP and IK values (see Fig. E50 and Fig. E51 ) IP recommendations

IP codes according to conditions Normal without risk of vertically falling water Normal with risk of vertically falling water Very severe with risk of splashing water from all directions Fig. E50 : IP recommendations

Technical rooms Hallways Workshops

30 31 54/55

IK recommendations

IK codes according to conditions No risk of major impact Signicant risk of major impact that could damage devices Maximum risk of impact that could damage the enclosure Fig. E51 : IK recommendations

Technical rooms Hallways Workshops

07 08 (enclosure with door) 10

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