DEFINITIONS

Escalator
A stairway whose steps move continuously on a circulating belt.

Escalator machinery space

A space in which the escalator machine(s) and associated equipment are spaced.

Exhibition
Event intended for the purpose of displaying and/or selling products etc., which can
take place in any suitable location, either a room, building or temporary structure.

Explosive atmosphere
Mixture with air, under atmospheric conditions, of flammable substances in the form
of gas, vapour, mist or dust, in which after ignition, combustion spreads throughout the
unconsumed mixture.

Explosive gas atmosphere

Mixture with air, under atmospheric conditions, of flammable substances in the form
of gas or vapour, in which after ignition, combustion spreads throughout the
unconsumed mixture.

Explosive materials
Materials, including explosives blasting agents, and detonators, that are authorized for
transportation by the legal authorities.

Exposed cable
Branch cable connected to the main circuit.

Exposed conductive part

A conductive part of electrical equipment, which can be touched and which is not
normally live, but which may become live under fault conditions.

External conductive parts

External metal items entering or leaving the structure to be protected such as: pipe,
network cable screen, metal ducts etc. which may carry a part of lightning current.

External influence
Any influence external to an electrical installation, which affects the design and safe
operation of that installation.

Extra low-voltage (ELV)

A nominal voltage not exceeding the relevant voltage limit (50 V a.c. or 75 V d.c.)
between conductors or between conductor and earth.

Extraneous conductive part

A conductive part not forming part of the installation and liable to introduce a
potential, generally the earth potential.
NOTE Examples are: Structural metal work of a building, water pipe and heating tubes etc. and
non-electrical apparatus (radiators, gas or coal-fixed cooking ranges, metal sinks etc).

SBC 401 2007 21/11

 DEFINITIONS

(F)

Facility
Physical entity (for example, a hospital, factory, machinery, etc.) that is built,
constructed, installed or established to perform some particular function or to serve or
facilitate some particular end.

Fairground
An area where one or more stands, amusement devices or booths are erected for leisure
use.

Fastener
An attachment device used to secure the conductor to the structure.

Fault
Contact of a live part with exposed or extraneous conductive parts caused by accident
or failure of insulation.

Fault current
A current resulting from an insulation failure or the bridging of insulation.

Fault protection
Protection against electric shock under single-fault conditions. For low-voltage
installations, systems and equipment, fault protection generally corresponds to
protection against indirect contact, mainly with regard to failure of basic insulation.

Final circuit (branch circuit)

A circuit connected directly to current using equipment or to socket-outlets.

Fixed equipment
Equipment fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specific location.

Fixed wiring or cable

Wiring or cable mounted on a fixed support so that its position does not change.

Flame protection
Self-closing gauge hatches, vapour seals, pressure-vacuum breather valves, flame
arresters, or other reasonably effective means to minimize the possibility of flame
entering the vapour space of a tank.

Flammable air-vapour mixtures

Flammable vapours mixed with air in proportions that will cause the mixture to burn
rapidly when ignited. The combustion range for ordinary petroleum products, such as
gasoline, is from about 11 / 2 to 7 1 / 2 percent of vapour by volume, the remainder being
air.

Flammable element
Any element capable of being easily ignited.

Flammable Vapours
The vapours given off from a flammable or combustible liquid at or above its flash
point.

SBC 401 2007 21/12