I have a Client that will not provide a Risk Assessment to omit an RCD Commando Socket for a Data Cabinet. He wishes to employ a local isolator for the Cabinet, however he is concerned that the PDU Strip that arrived on site from the factory and pre-fitted within the data cabinet would still need an RCD. It is my opinion that the Factory built Data Rack is classed as a piece of equipment and as such does not form part of the Contractor's installation. If the Rack had arrived on site without the PDU strip fitted and it was installed by the Contractor then this would form part of the installation and therefore would require an RCD. Any advice/assistance would be appreciated.
They are defined as "couplers" .... in Reg 553.2.1
Saying that couplers must comply with BS EN 60320 logically isn't the same as saying all things complying with BS EN 60320 must be couplers - that would be like saying since sockets must comply with BS 1363 then all things complying with BS 1363 must be called sockets - and thus you couldn't have a BS 1363 plug. (Or the classic example, since tables have four legs, all four legged things must be tables).
Hang on, that's picking at a single thing from a three-part reasoning. Please don't take it out of context. 553.2.1 PLUS the fact that BS EN 60320 is "couplers" and the "outlets" are couplers as they comply with that standard.
Having said that, you've not responded to the last point - you can't select them as socket-outlets, as that doesn't comply with BS 7671.
On a wider note, I'm getting less and less happy with the definition of a socket needing to be attached(?) to fixed wiring. There's no definition of fixed wiring (I could see that it could either be wiring that's not free to move, or equally, wiring that can't be readily unplugged from the supply and relocated). If following the example of 'fixed equipment' the former might be expected, but is there really a significant difference between a wall mounted socket and one of these? https://olsondirect.co.uk/4-way-13a-switched-socket-suspended-service-unit.html
- Andy.
No, and you're quite right.
When the BS EN 60320 outlets are manufactured into a product and the whole product meets BS 5733, that product may be suitable for connection to the fixed wiring (as in the case of the BS 1363 version you point to).
You can install an accessory to BS 5733 and connect it direct to fixed wiring, but if it has BS EN 60320 appliance outlet couplers, it will still have appliance couplers (rather than socket-outlets).
They are defined as "couplers" .... in Reg 553.2.1
Saying that couplers must comply with BS EN 60320 logically isn't the same as saying all things complying with BS EN 60320 must be couplers - that would be like saying since sockets must comply with BS 1363 then all things complying with BS 1363 must be called sockets - and thus you couldn't have a BS 1363 plug. (Or the classic example, since tables have four legs, all four legged things must be tables).
Hang on, that's picking at a single thing from a three-part reasoning. Please don't take it out of context. 553.2.1 PLUS the fact that BS EN 60320 is "couplers" and the "outlets" are couplers as they comply with that standard.
Having said that, you've not responded to the last point - you can't select them as socket-outlets, as that doesn't comply with BS 7671.
On a wider note, I'm getting less and less happy with the definition of a socket needing to be attached(?) to fixed wiring. There's no definition of fixed wiring (I could see that it could either be wiring that's not free to move, or equally, wiring that can't be readily unplugged from the supply and relocated). If following the example of 'fixed equipment' the former might be expected, but is there really a significant difference between a wall mounted socket and one of these? https://olsondirect.co.uk/4-way-13a-switched-socket-suspended-service-unit.html
- Andy.
No, and you're quite right.
When the BS EN 60320 outlets are manufactured into a product and the whole product meets BS 5733, that product may be suitable for connection to the fixed wiring (as in the case of the BS 1363 version you point to).
You can install an accessory to BS 5733 and connect it direct to fixed wiring, but if it has BS EN 60320 appliance outlet couplers, it will still have appliance couplers (rather than socket-outlets).
