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Underfloor Bus Bar Systems

Bob Cowie
The Definition in the Regulations for a Socket states " A Device, provided with Female Contacts, which is intended to be installed with the fixed wiring, and intended to receive a plug. A Luminaire track system is not regarded as a socket-outlet system"

From the above it would be my understanding that the Tap-Offs on an underfloor Bus Bar system are considered to be sockets. The exclusion of Luminaire track systems also appears to support this viewpoint as it infers that power Underfloor Bus Bar should be classed as sockets.
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    An understanding of the difference between the terms socket-outlet, connector, and tap-off is essential to the application of BS 7671.

    For example, if a 63 A busbar trunking system has 32 A tap-off points, does it need RCD protection in accordance with Regulation 411.3.3?

    Answer:
    Not necessarily - the tap-off point is not a socket-outlet, and therefore Regulation 411.3.3 is not relevant. (Although of course, RCD protection may be required for other purposes).

    If 13 A, 16 A or 32 A socket-outlets are supplied from the tap-off point, Regulation 411.3.3 applies, but in this case, the RCD required by that Regulation could be provided after the tap-off point.



    The tap-off may be considered to be part of the busbar system or other system components - see definition of busbar trunking system on page 25 of BS 7671:2018 - and this means they are neither connectors (page 26) nor socket-outlets (page 37).

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    An understanding of the difference between the terms socket-outlet, connector, and tap-off is essential to the application of BS 7671.

    For example, if a 63 A busbar trunking system has 32 A tap-off points, does it need RCD protection in accordance with Regulation 411.3.3?

    Answer:
    Not necessarily - the tap-off point is not a socket-outlet, and therefore Regulation 411.3.3 is not relevant. (Although of course, RCD protection may be required for other purposes).

    If 13 A, 16 A or 32 A socket-outlets are supplied from the tap-off point, Regulation 411.3.3 applies, but in this case, the RCD required by that Regulation could be provided after the tap-off point.



    The tap-off may be considered to be part of the busbar system or other system components - see definition of busbar trunking system on page 25 of BS 7671:2018 - and this means they are neither connectors (page 26) nor socket-outlets (page 37).

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