International electrical standards & regulations AN OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS Introduction to the installations world The world of electrical installations knowledge of the wiring suited to your specific is not always straightforward. regulations and standards requirements in terms of Working on an international project which are applicable in electrical installations and electrical engineers are often bewildered the specific country. communication networks. by the extensive amount of electrical This document compares Continuous innovation standards and wiring regulations which the basic framework No less than 1 800 determines their decisions. of the standards. people are dedicated Therefore, it is essential full-time to research and Rely on the world’s Detailed knowledge for the design engineer development. On average, leading specialist of the wiring rules to obtain more detailed Legrand invests 5% of its As one of the world The purpose of this information by contacting sales each year in R&D. leading specialists document is to clearly the appropriate standards in wiring accessories, present the most and building regulations Sustainable Legrand actively participate frequently encountered organisations. Development: a priority to the elaboration of the sets of wiring rules, For many years, installation standards showing the main One of the most complete the Legrand Group at international (IEC), technical characteristics offer of the market has drawn strength regional (NEC) and local of each set of installation 130 000 catalogue items! from its values to ensure levels. Thus, the technical and main accessories For you, the wealth profitable, sustainable expertise of the Legrand standards. Obviously, on of the Legrand Group’s and responsible growth people makes it possible any given project, it is catalogue offer is the in its business. to propose installation essential that the design guarantee that you products suitable for each engineer’s work should will find the products specific local market. be based on a detailed and solutions best CONSUMER UNIT COLOUR CNLEOiaenrDuetthrEa lOF SOLID STRANDED FLEXIBLE CONDUCTORS CMRwBCiCt:BhB CO :i i:nMr Rcteiuengisitrai adbtulur roeaeval ekccreiucrrrcurureirnte tbn ort eppaerkroaetetrecdti ocnir cuit breaker FUSE 500 mA RCBO 16 A | 30 mA JUNBCOTXION 2 way switch JUNBCOTXION RCBO Cfloumorpeasccte nt lamp Socket outlets Arteor By signing up to the Global Compact 16 A JUNBCOTXION in 2006, this approach has been CB Switch and socket Flalumoprescent given a wider dimension. The Group’s environmental Switch commitment is centred on 3 guiding RCB1O6 A | 30 mA JUNBCOTXION LED Lamp JUNBCOTXION Axolute lines: taking on board environmental LED LED lamp management in the running of Socket outlets its industrial sites, reducing Lamp the environmental impact of its 16 A | 30 mA JUNBCOTXION Lamp products by eco-design, providing RCBO Socket outlets environmentally friendly solutions Céliane Switch that contribute to energy savings. Shaver socket 02 Standard for low voltage installations 04 Overview of standards for socket outlets worldwide 06 IEC | British standard 06 Residential wiring diagram 08 Overview of the installation and related wiring accessories standard 10 Consumer units & Din-Rail equipment by Legrand Group 12 Wiring accessories by Legrand Group 14 IEC | German standard 14 Residential wiring diagram 16 Overview of the installation and related wiring accessories standard 18 Consumer units & Din-Rail equipment by Legrand Group 20 Wiring accessories by Legrand Group 22 IEC | French standard 22 Residential wiring diagram 24 Overview of the installation and related wiring accessories standard 26 Consumer units & Din-Rail equipment by Legrand Group 28 Wiring accessories by Legrand Group 30 IEC | Italian standard 30 Residential wiring diagram 32 Consumer units, Din-Rail equipment & wiring accessories by Legrand Group 34 IEC | Brazilian standard 34 Residential wiring diagram 36 Overview of the installation and related wiring accessories standard 38 Consumer units & Din-Rail equipment by Legrand Group 40 Wiring accessories by Legrand Group 42 IEC | Chinese standard 42 Residential wiring diagram 44 Wiring accessories by Legrand Group 46 Other IEC based installation rules 48 NEC | American standard 48 Residential wiring diagram 50 Overview of the installation and related wiring accessories standard 52 Consumer units & Din-Rail equipment by Legrand Group 54 Wiring accessories by Legrand Group 56 Energy distribution 58 Putting a stop to energy waste 60 From technical rooms to workstations 62 Residential multimedia networks 64 Home automation for everyone 66 Home automation “Prestige” 68 Complete solutions for other projects 70 Electrical symbols in the world 02 Standard for low voltage installations Type of standards (IEC/NEC) for low voltage electrical installations. IEC NEC This map is for guidance only, Legrand as a company cannot be held responsible IEC and NEC or liable for errors nor for changes that occur constantly with local standards. A Bolivia (230 V | 50 Hz) Cuba (115/230 V | 60 Hz) Afghanistan (220 V | 50 Hz) Bosnia and Herzegovina (220 V | 50 Hz) Cyprus (230 V | 50 Hz) Alba nia (230 V | 50 Hz) Botswana (220 V | 50 Hz) Czech Republic (230 V | 50 Hz) Algeria (220 V | 50 Hz) Brazil (220-127 V | 60 Hz) D Andorra (230 V | 50 Hz) Brunei Darussalam (240 V | 50 Hz) Denmark (230 V | 50 Hz) Angola (220 V | 50 Hz) Bulgaria (220/230 V | 50 Hz) Djibouti (220 V | 50 Hz) Argentina (220 V | 50 Hz) Burkina Faso (230 V | 50 Hz) Dominican Republic (240 V | 60 Hz) Armenia (220 V | 50 Hz) Burundi (220 V | 50 Hz) E Australia (230 V | 50 Hz) C Ecuador (110 V | 60 Hz) Austria (230 V | 50 Hz) Cambodia (220 V | 50 Hz) Egypt (220 V | 50 Hz) Azerbaijan (220 V | 50 Hz) Cameroon (220 V | 50 Hz) El Salvador (240/120 V | 60 Hz) B Canada (240/120 V, 240 V | 60 Hz) Eritrea (220 V | 50 Hz) Bahamas (120/240 V, 120/208 V | 60 Hz) Central African Republic (220 V | 50 Hz) Estonia (220 V | 50 Hz) Bahrain (240 V | 50 Hz) Chad (220 V | 50 Hz) Ethiopia (220 V | 50 Hz) Bangladesh (230 V | 50 Hz) Chile (220 V | 50 Hz) F Belarus (220 V, 220/127 V, 127 V | 50 Hz) China (220 V | 50 Hz) Fiji (240 V | 50 Hz) Belgium (230 V | 50 Hz) Colombia (240/120 V, 208/120 V | 60 Hz) Finland (230 V | 50 Hz) Belize (110 V | 60 Hz) Congo (Democratic Republic) (220-240 V | 50 Hz) France (230 V | 50 Hz) Benin (220 V | 50 Hz) Costa Rica (240/120 V | 60 Hz) French Overseas Territories (220 V | 50 Hz) Bhutan (230 V | 50 Hz) Croatia (230 V | 50 Hz) 03 G Madagascar (220/110 V | 50 Hz) Sierra Leone (230 V | 50 Hz) Gabon (220 V | 50 Hz) Malawi (230 V | 50 Hz) Singapore (230 V | 50 Hz) Gambia (220 V | 50 Hz) Malaysia (240 V | 50 Hz) Slovakia (230 V | 50 Hz) Georgia (220 V | 50 Hz) Maldives (220 V | 50 Hz) Slovenia (230 V | 50 Hz) Germany (230 V | 50 Hz) Mali (220 V | 50 Hz) Somalia (230 V, 220 V, 110 V | 50 Hz) Ghana (240-220 V | 50 Hz) Malta (230 V | 50 Hz) South Africa (250 V, 230 V, 220 V | 50 Hz) Greece (230 V | 50 Hz) Mauritania (220 V | 50 Hz) Spain (220 V, 220/127 V | 50 Hz) Grenada (230 V | 50 Hz) Mauritius (220 V | 50 Hz) Sri Lanka (230 V | 50 Hz) Guatemala (220/110 V | 60 Hz) Mexico (220/127 V, 220 V, 120 V | 50 Hz) Sudan (240 V | 50 Hz) Guyana (120/240 V | 50 Hz, 60 Hz) Moldova (220 V, 220/127 V, 127 V | 50 Hz) Suriname (220/127 V | 60 Hz) H Monaco (220 V | 50 Hz) Swaziland (230 V | 50 Hz) Haiti (220 V, 110 V | 60 Hz) Mongolia (220 V | 50 Hz) Sweden (230 V | 50 Hz) Honduras (220/110 V | 60 Hz) Morocco (220 V | 50 Hz) Switzerland (230 V | 50 Hz) Hungary (230 V | 50 Hz) Mozambique (220 V | 50 Hz) Syrian Arab Republic (220 V | 50 Hz) I Myanmar (230 V | 50 Hz) T Iceland (230 V | 50 Hz) N Taiwan (220 V | 60 Hz) India (230 V | 50 Hz) Namibia (220 V | 50 Hz) Tajikistan (220 V, 220/127 V, 127 V | 50 Hz) Indonesia (220 V | 50 Hz) Nepal (220 V | 50 Hz) Tanzania (United Republic) (230 V | 50 Hz) Iran (220 V | 50 Hz) Netherlands (230 V | 50 Hz) Thailand (220 V | 50 Hz) Iraq (220 V | 50 Hz) New Zealand (230 V | 50 Hz) Togo (230 V | 50 Hz) Ireland (230 V | 50 Hz) Nicaragua (240/120 V | 60 Hz) Tonga (240 V | 50 Hz) Israel (230 V | 50 Hz) Niger (220 V | 50 Hz) Trinidad and Tobago (230/115 V | 60 Hz) Ivory Coast (230 V | 50 Hz) Nigeria (230 V, 220 V | 50 Hz) Tunisia (230 V | 50 Hz) Italy (230 V | 50 Hz) Norway (230 V | 50 Hz) Turkey (220 V | 50 Hz) J O Turkmenistan (220 V, 220/127 V, 127 V | 50 Hz) Jamaica (220/110 V | 50 Hz) Oman (240 V | 50 Hz) U Japan (110 V | 60 Hz) P Uganda (240 V | 50 Hz) Jordan (230 V | 50 Hz) Pakistan (230 V | 50 Hz) Ukraine (220 V | 50 Hz) K Panama (240/120 V | 60 Hz) United Arab Emirates (240 V | 50 Hz) Kazakhstan (220-230 V | 50 Hz) Papua New Guinea (240 V | 50 Hz) United Kingdom of Great Britain Kenya (240 V | 50 Hz) Paraguay (220 V | 50 Hz) and Northern Ireland (230 V | 50 Hz) Korea (North) (220 V | 60 Hz) Peru (220 V | 60 Hz) United States of America (120/240 V, 208/120 V | 60 Hz) Korea (South) (110 V | 60 Hz) Philippines (250 V | 60 Hz) Uruguay (220 V | 50 Hz) Kuwait (230 V | 50 Hz) Poland (230 V | 50 Hz) Uzbekistan (220 V | 50 Hz) Kyrgyzstan (220 V | 50 Hz) Portugal (230 V | 50 Hz) V L Q Vanuatu (220 V | 50 Hz) Laos (220 V | 50 Hz) Qatar (240 V | 50 Hz) Venezuela (120 V | 60 Hz) Latvia (220 V | 50 Hz) R Vietnam (220 V | 50 Hz) Lebanon (220 V | 50 Hz) Romania (230 V | 50 Hz) Y Lesotho (220 V | 50 Hz) Russian Federation (220 V | 50 Hz) Yemen (250 V | 50 Hz) Liberia (230 V, 220 V | 50 Hz) Rwanda (220 V | 50 Hz) Z Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (220 V | 50 Hz) S Zambia (230 V | 50 Hz) Liechtenstein (230 V | 50 Hz) Saint Lucia (240 V | 50 Hz) Zimbabwe (225 V | 50 Hz) Lithuania (230 V | 50 Hz) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (230 V | 50 Hz) Luxembourg (230 V | 50 Hz) Saudi Arabia (220/127 V | 60 Hz) M Senegal (220 V | 50 Hz) Macedonia (220 V | 50 Hz) Seychelles (230 V | 50 Hz) 04 Overview of standards for socket outlets worldwide The map gives an overview of which local standard a country belongs to. GERMAN FRENCH AMERICAN BRITISH AUSTRALIAN OTHERS 1 Brazilian 2 Danish 3 European plug 4 Israeli 5 Italian 6 Euro-US 7 Chinese This map is for guidance only, Legrand as a company cannot be held responsible 8 Indian or liable for errors nor for changes that occur constantly with local standards. A Afghanistan Benin Colombia Albania Bhutan Congo (Democratic Republic) Algeria Bolivia Costa Rica Andorra Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Angola Botswana Cuba Argentina 1 Brazil Cyprus Armenia Brunei Darussalam Czech Republic Australia Bulgaria D Austria Burkina Faso 2 Denmark Azerbaijan Burundi 3 Djibouti B C Dominican Republic Bahamas 6 Cambodia E Bahrain Cameroon Ecuador Bangladesh Canada Egypt Barbados Central African Republic El Salvador Belarus Chad 5 Eritrea Belgium Chile Estonia Belize 7 China 5 Ethiopia 05 F Lithuania Saudi Arabia Fiji Luxembourg Senegal Finland M Seychelles France Macedonia Sierra Leone French Overseas Territories Madagascar Singapore G Malawi Slovakia Gabon Malaysia Slovenia Gambia Maldives 3 Somalia Mali Georgia South Africa Malta Germany Spain Mauritania Ghana Sri Lanka Mauritius Greece Sudan Mexico Grenada Suriname Moldova Guatemala Swaziland Monaco Guyana Sweden 7 Mongolia H Morocco 3 Switzerland Haiti Mozambique Syrian Arab Republic Honduras Myanmar T Hungary N 6 Taiwan I Namibia Tajikistan Iceland Nepal Tanzania (United Republic) 8 India Netherlands 6 Thailand Indonesia New Zealand Togo Iran Nicaragua Tonga Iraq Niger Trinidad and Tobago Ireland Nigeria Tunisia 4 Israel Norway Turkey Ivory Coast O Turkmenistan 5 Italy Oman U J P Uganda Jamaica Pakistan Ukraine Japan Panama United Arab Emirates 5 Jordan Papua New Guinea K United Kingdom of Great Britain Paraguay Kazakhstan and Northern Ireland Peru Kenya United States of America 6 Philippines Korea (North and South) Uruguay Poland Kuwait Uzbekistan Portugal Kyrgyzstan V Q L Vanuatu Qatar 6 Laos R Venezuela Latvia Romania 6 Vietnam Lebanon Russian Federation Y Lesotho Rwanda Yemen Liberia S Z Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Saint Lucia Zambia Liechtenstein Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Zimbabwe 06 CONSUMER UNIT Consumer unit 45 A | 30 mA IEC | British RCBO standard Typical residential wiring diagram issued from 50 A | 30 mA BS 7671 requirements for electrical installations. RCBO | Consumer units and Din-Rail equipment by Legrand Group 10-11 || Wiring accessories by Legrand Group 12-13 32 A | 30 mA RCBO 20 A | 30 mA RCBO 6 A RCBO N.B.: Conductors cross section is calculated according to various parameters for each circuit. See regulations for details of alternative options using For more details on countries combinations of RCD and MCB. See maps page 02 to 05 07 COLOUR CODE OF SOLID STRANDED FLEXIBLE CONDUCTORS D R A or Line MCB: Miniature circuit breaker D Neutral RCBO: Residual current operated circuit breaker N A Earth with integral overcurrent protection T S H S TI RI B 45 A Cable Cooker (range) 45 A Wall outlet Switch Instant shower 50 A Ceiling unit switch Double 13 A socket outlets Spur unit Fixed appliance Simple 13 A socket outlets 20 A D.P. Wall Water-heater switch 6 A Switch Ceiling rose All-insulated All-insulated lampholder lampholder 08 IEC I BRITISH STANDARD Overview of the installation and related wiring accessories standard t SUPPLY In general, a double pole switch Socket outlets to BS 546 are Since 1 January 1995 nominal vol- controls and isolates the appliance no longer used in domestic tage in UK is 230 V +10% / - 6% a.c. when necessary and the connection installations in the UK but are still at 50 Hz. Earth is normally supplied of the appliance can be made widely used in some other countries. but may be local. either directly to the switch or via a flexible cable outlet. Switches t PLUGS should conform to BS EN 60669 t HOUSE SERVICE CUT-OUT Plugs of domestic appliances and Cooker Control unit to BS 4177. The Electricity Boards protective should conform to BS 1363-1. device, usually a 80 A or a 100 A They contain a fuse link HRC Fuse. It is sealed in a special to BS 1362 of a rating appropriate housing to prevent tampering. to the flexible cord of the appliance (max =13 A). Domestic appliances sold in UK must be fitted with t METER Usually a dual meter for normal and off-peak energy consumption, 9x4 Ø 8,7 sealed to prevent tampering. 28,6 2 2 t CONSUMER UNIT It houses the main switch which 6x4 6x4 Ø 7 isolates the total installation and 22 25,4 the individual circuit protection 13A BS1363-1t 15A BS546 devices. The consumer unit should comply with BS EN 60439-3. FLUSH FITTING OF TWO GANG SOCKET a BS 1363-1 plug, further the UK Circuit protection is normally Fixing plug and socket safety regulations Height Width provided by miniature circuit centres require mandatory third party breakers to BS EN 60898 (older 1 gang 75 mm 75 mm 60.5 mm certification of plugs. installation may have fuse 2 gang 75 mm 135 mm 121 mm protection). The consumer unit may also contain one or more residual t LIGHTING CIRCUITS current devices providing additizo- t SOCKET OUTLET CIRCUITS Usually a circuit supplies several nal protection in all or part of the Socket outlets should comply with lighting points in turn. A lighting installation (older installations may BS 1363-2 and are usually of the point usually consists of a ceiling not have RCD protection provided). switched type. They are usually rose in which incoming, outgoing supplied via a ring final circuit and switch connections are made which is a circuit running from and a pendant flexible cord t POWER CIRCUITS the protection device to each outlet supplying an attached lampholder Appliances having heavy current and then returning to the protection or may be a complete luminaire. consumption (cookers, water- device. Permanent connections Light switches should meet heaters, etc.) should each be to a ring final circuit and branches BS EN 60669-1. Dimmers should supplied on a specific circuit off the ring are made via fused meet BS EN 60669-2-1. of the appropriate rating. connection units to BS 1363-4.