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.
It would seem more that a little absurd that where a 32A BS EN 60309 wall mounted socket needs 30mA RCD protection, a wall mounted isolator with a stuffing gland supplying 6" of flex with a 32A BS EN 60309 female coupler on the end of it, in the same situation, would be exempted. (I note that the title of BS EN 60309 is "Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers..." so that's no help.)
Precisely the same thing could be said about lighting couplers, and to an extent installation couplers, but see Note 3 to Reg 411.3.3 ... and again 553.2.1 (assume not domestic/household premises so 411.3.4 doesn't apply).
I think however, that precisely because all of these different uses of effectively what is a "socket-outlet" exists, and because we have a requirement for "general user-accessible socket-outlets" to have some basic safety standards for the electrical installation (e.g. shuttered socket-outlets) is why it's difficult to put together a coherent set of requirements.
One last thought on the "coupler" issue.
There's a requirement for household and similar use socket-outlets to be shuttered. Many IEC 60320 outlets are not shuttered. You've said "What's the difference"?
Perhaps BS 7671 should make the statement that if a coupler is accessible in a household or similar use, then it should be shuttered as well as RCD protected?
But to be brutally honest, what's the point if we've all got appliances with supply cables having unshuttered free IEC 60320 outlets on them?
It would seem more that a little absurd that where a 32A BS EN 60309 wall mounted socket needs 30mA RCD protection, a wall mounted isolator with a stuffing gland supplying 6" of flex with a 32A BS EN 60309 female coupler on the end of it, in the same situation, would be exempted. (I note that the title of BS EN 60309 is "Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers..." so that's no help.)
Precisely the same thing could be said about lighting couplers, and to an extent installation couplers, but see Note 3 to Reg 411.3.3 ... and again 553.2.1 (assume not domestic/household premises so 411.3.4 doesn't apply).
I think however, that precisely because all of these different uses of effectively what is a "socket-outlet" exists, and because we have a requirement for "general user-accessible socket-outlets" to have some basic safety standards for the electrical installation (e.g. shuttered socket-outlets) is why it's difficult to put together a coherent set of requirements.
One last thought on the "coupler" issue.
There's a requirement for household and similar use socket-outlets to be shuttered. Many IEC 60320 outlets are not shuttered. You've said "What's the difference"?
Perhaps BS 7671 should make the statement that if a coupler is accessible in a household or similar use, then it should be shuttered as well as RCD protected?
But to be brutally honest, what's the point if we've all got appliances with supply cables having unshuttered free IEC 60320 outlets on them?
