DEFINITIONS

TN-S system: a system having separate neutral and protective conductors

throughout the system.
TN-C-S system: a system in which neutral and protective functions are combined
in a single conductor in part of the system.
TT system: A system having one point of the source of energy directly earthed,
the exposed conductive parts of the installation being connected to earth electrodes
electrically independent of the earth electrodes of the source.
IT system: A system having no direct connection between live parts and Earth, the
exposed conductive parts of the electrical installation are being earthed.

Earth leakage current

A current, which flows to earth or to extraneous conductive parts in a circuit, which is
electrically sound. This current may have a capacitive component including that
resulting from the deliberate use of capacitor.

Earth-leakage protective device

Device which will remove the output power from one or more transformer(s), inverter(s) or
converter(s) in the event of a short-circuit between any relevant part of the output circuit and
earth.

Efficiency of a LPS
The ratio of the average annual number of direct lightning flashes which cannot cause
damage to the building to the direct lightning flash number to the building.

Electric circuit
An assembly of electrical equipment of the installation supplied from the same origin
and protected against overcurrent by the same protective devices.

Electric shock
Pathophysiological effect resulting from an electric current passing through a human
or animal body.

Electrical equipment
Any item used for such purposes as generation, conversion, transmission, distribution
or utilization of electrical energy, such as machines, transformers, apparatus,
measuring instruments, protective devices, equipment for wiring systems, appliances.

Electrical installation
An assembly of associated electrical equipment that fulfills a specific purpose or
purposes and having coordinated characteristics.

Electrical safety source

Source intended to maintain the supply to electrical equipment essential for the safety
services.

Electrically independent earth electrodes

Earth electrodes are located at such a distance from one another that the maximum
current likely to traverse one of them does not significantly affect the potential of the
others.

Electrically protective barrier

Part providing protection against direct contact from any usual direction of access.

SBC 401 2007 21/9

 DEFINITIONS

Electrically protective enclosure

Electrical enclosure surrounding internal parts of equipment to prevent access to
hazardous-live-part from any direction.

Electrically protective obstacle

Part preventing unintentional direct contact, but not preventing direct contact by
deliberate action.

Electrically protective screen (shield)

Conductive screen (shield) used to separate an electric circuit and/or conductors from
hazardous-live-parts.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI)

Degradation of the performance of an equipment, transmission channel or system
caused by electromagnetic disturbance.

Emergency stopping
Emergency stopping is intended to stop a movement, which has become dangerous.

Emergency supply power system for safety services

A supply system intended to maintain the functioning of equipment essential for the
safety of persons.

Emergency switching
An operation intended to remove as quickly as possible danger, which may have occurred
unexpectedly.

Enclosure
A part providing protection of equipment against certain external influences and, in
any direction, protection against direct contact.

Enhanced protective provision

Protective provision having a reliability of protection not less than that provided by
two independent protective provisions.

Equipment protective conductor (symbol PE)

A conductor required by some measures for protection against electric shock for
electrically connecting any of the following parts: exposed conductive parts,
extraneous conductive parts, main earthing terminal, earth electrode, earthed point of
the source or artificial neutral.

Equipotential bonding
Special electrical connections intended to bring exposed conductive parts or
extraneous conductive parts to the same or approximately the same potential, but not
intended to carry current in normal service.

Equipotential bonding conductor

A protective conductor for ensuring equipotential bonding.

Equipotential bonding terminal

Terminal provided on equipment or on a device and intended for the electric
connection with the equipotential bonding system.

SBC 401 2007 21/10