NECA NEWS June 2021

Page 58

SWITCHBOARDS

AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AS/NZS 61439 IN MAY 2021, THE NEW AS/NZS 61439 SERIES OF STANDARDS BECAME THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE STANDARD FOR SWITCHBOARD SPECIFICATION. TO SUPPORT MEMBERS WITH ITS IMPLEMENTATION, NECA RECENTLY RAN A WEBINAR, WHICH INCLUDED A DETAILED Q&A DISCUSSION. HERE ARE SOME OF THE KEY QUESTIONS OUR PANEL ADDRESSED. Do the new requirements apply to all switchboards or is there a minimum current limit?

If you add a Circuit Breaker (CB) to an existing switchboard, how can it be verified?

AS/NZS 61439 compliance is mandated in Amendment 2 for assemblies rated greater than 10kA and above, or for assemblies having more than 125A of connected load per phase. This applies regardless of whether or not AS/NZS 61439 is specified by the client/consultant.

Verification of the alteration includes the following:

If a tender was submitted prior to May 2021, can the switchboard still be manufactured to AS/NZS 3439?

No. The new standard applies to switchboards that are being energised from May 2021 onwards, regardless of the tender date. This may vary in certain jurisdictions.

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Is the new CB installed as per the original manufacturer’s instructions, using verified means (busbars, support, size of enclosure etc). This is expected to require consultation with the switchboard builder. Will the new load corresponding to the additional breaker overload the existing busbars? This can be verified by understanding the existing maximum demand on the switchboard section busbars, and seeing if the proposed additional load will exceed the rating of these busbars (as documented by the switchboard builder).

Will the additional load overload the main incoming breaker and/ or distribution breakers? As per the previous step, the existing load is required, and it must be verified that the additional load does not exceed the maximum rating of the supply breaker and/ or distribution breakers feeding the additional load (as documented by the switchboard builder).

What about repairs to existing switchboards? If it’s an alteration, for example adding additional circuits or a new breaker, then it needs to be certified to AS/NZS 61439. The previous question addresses the verification process. If it’s a repair, then it is not required to comply with AS/NZS 61439.

June 2021


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Articles inside

Putting the energy Back into Super

8min
pages 76-77

Business in Brief

3min
pages 78-79

Holograms – The natural evolution of the Video Call?

2min
pages 80-81

Tools of the Trade

2min
pages 82-84

How to use Probation Periods effectively in Your Business

5min
pages 74-75

OHM’s Law in the Wireless World

3min
pages 72-73

The Importance of Injury Management

4min
pages 70-71

electrical Fatality Incident Data

3min
pages 68-69

Leveraging Industry 4.0 for Digital Transformation

4min
pages 62-63

Demystifying IoT/Industry 4.0 and the Role of electrical Contractors

4min
pages 64-65

new IR Laws for Casual employees

3min
pages 66-67

AS/CA S009 Revisions – Are You up to Date?

3min
pages 60-61

Switchboards and the Implementation of AS/nZS 61439

5min
pages 58-59

ACRS Directors Report

33min
pages 56-57

Signatures and WHS Requirements

6min
pages 52-53

Branch update

4min
pages 48-49

neCA WA Industry night Program

7min
page 47

Relationships: The Key to Success

4min
pages 42-43

Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls

2min
page 46

The electrotechnology Training Package is Changing

2min
page 45

Changes to the WA electrical Requirements

2min
page 41

Branch update

8min
pages 38-39

Women in electrotechnology

5min
pages 36-37

2021 neCA Apprentice Awards

3min
page 27

Crucial Women In Construction High Tea

3min
pages 28-29

neCA’s Inspector Forum

2min
page 35

Branch update

3min
page 30

Warning to Industry After Fatalities

2min
page 34

Branch update

1min
page 26

Mega Projects – A Whole Lot More Than Construction

3min
pages 10-11

Independent Review of Queensland’s

2min
page 23

Additional Apprentice and Trainee Funding

1min
page 9

essential Business Knowledge for every Contractor

9min
pages 18-21

Federal Budget

2min
page 12

neCA Industry nights

2min
page 25

How effective is Your estimating Method?

6min
pages 14-15

Succeeding in Business is All About Connection

5min
pages 16-17
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