Forms of Separation

BS EN 61439-2

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Forms of Separation
BS EN 61439-2
Objective
The principle reason for separating an assembly is to facilitate access to a part of the assembly The Law
whilst other parts may remain energised and in service. Whilst, in general separation does not Electricity at work act
improve the electrical performance of the assembly it does provide:
Regulation 14
• Protection against contact with live parts belonging to adjacent functional units "No person shall be engaged in any work
• Protection against the passage of solid foreign bodies from one unit of an assembly to an activity on or near any live conductor
adjacent unit. (other than on suitably covered with
insulating material so as to prevent
Legal Obligations danger) that danger may arise unless:
In the UK the standards do not take precedence over legal obligations in particular the Low a) it is unreasonable in all the
Voltage Directive (LVD) and the Electricity at work Act (EWA). circumstances for it to be dead; and
When working within a partially energised assembly, there is no allowance for tolerable risk. If b) it is reasonable in all the circumstances
an assembly can reasonably be isolated prior to any covers being removed, it must be. for him to be at work on or near it while
Where it is impractical to totally isolate an assembly the degree of separation, and the way in it is live; and
which the separation is achieved within the assembly should be considered in a risk assessment c) suitable precautions (including where
by the Duty Holder. This risk assessment will consider all relevant factors including: necessary the provision of suitable
i) Work to be carried out protective equiment) are taken to
ii) Mechanical protection afforded by any insulation and separation prevent injury.
iii) Possibility of initiating a flashover
iv) Likelihood of an electric shock

BS EN 61439-2 stipulates:
Power Switchgear and Controlgear assemblies can be divided to meet one or both of the
following conditions between functional units, separate compartments or enclosed protected
spaces.
1. Protection against contact with hazardous parts. The degree of protection shall be at least
IPXXB
2. Protection against the passage of solid foreign bodies. The degree of protection shall be at
least IP2X
The form of separation shall be the subject of an agreement between manufacturer and the
end user.

BS EN 61439-2 includes four main categories of separation (1,2,3,4)

The annex offers a guide to the various types of construction. It identifies a total of 18 variants
with the introduction of two sub categories ‘Compartmentalised’ and ‘Group Mounted’.

Installation criteria Recommended form

Isolation available for all operations (except changing fuse links) Form 1 or 2
Adjust settings, limited maintenance, while adjacent circuits live Form 3
Connect / disconnect cables, adjust settings, limited maintenance, Form 4
while adjacent circuits live

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 Forms of
Separation

Isolation available for all operations (except changing fuse links).

Form 1
Form 1 Form 2a
Form 1 or 2

No Internal Separation. Separation of busbars from

functional units, the housing of the
device is the means of separation.

Form 3a Form 3b type 1 Form 3b type 1

Group Mounted Group Mounted Compartmentalised
Separation of busbars from functional units and Separation of busbars from functional units and separation of functional units from each
separation of functional units from each other. other. Terminals are separated from functional units but not from each other.
Terminals are separated from functional units
but not from each other. The housing of the
device is the means of separation.

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 Forms of
Separation

Isolation available for all operations (except changing fuse links).

Form 2
Form 2b type 1 Form 2b type 2

Form 1 or 2
Separation of busbars from functional Separation of busbars from functional
units, the housing of the device is the units.
means of separation.

Adjust settings and limited maintenance, while adjacent circuits live.

Form 3

Form 3b type 2 Form 3b type 2

Group Mounted Compartmentalised
Separation of busbars from functional units and separation of functional units
from each other. Terminals are separated from functional units and busbars
Form 3

but not from each other.

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 Forms of
Separation

Form 4a type1 Form 4a type1 Form 4a type2

Compartmentalised Group mounted Separation of busbars from functional
Separation of busbars from functional units and separation of functional units from each units and separation of functional units
other. Terminals are separated from other terminals and from the busbars. from each other. Terminals are
separated from other terminals and
from the busbars.

Form 4b type 5 Form 4b type 6 Form 4b type 6

Separation of busbars from functional units Compartmentalised Group mounted
and separation of functional units from Separation of busbars from functional units and separation of functional units from each
each other. Terminals are separated from other. Terminals are separated from their own functional unit, other terminals and from
their own functional unit, other terminals the busbars.
and from the busbars. Separation of
terminals by insulated coverings.

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 Forms of
Separation

Form 4a type3 Form 4b type 4

Separation of busbars from functional Separation of busbars from functional
units and separation of functional units units and separation of functional units

Connect / disconnect cables, adjust settings and limited maintenance, while adjacent circuits live.
from each other. Terminals are separated
from each other. Terminals are separated
from other terminals and from the
from their own functional unit, other
busbars. Individual, integral glanding for
terminals and from the busbars.
each circuit.

Form 4

Form 4b type7
Separation of busbars from functional units and separation of functional units from each
other. Terminals are separated from their own functional unit, other terminals and from the
busbars. Individual, integral glanding for each circuit.
Form 4

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Forms of Separation BS EN 61439-2 2014

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