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Use of RCD protection in industrial and commercial installations

Andy
Hello All

We all know the benefits of RCD protection and how the regulations are changing regarding domestics. I am constantly being asked if RCDs are required for normal switched socket circuits in industrial installations apart from the obvious use of RCDs for areas likely to cause a reduction in resistance (sockets that could conceivably be used out side). So are RCDs required for general office circuits, for dedicated IT equipment (computers etc), work areas such as clean dry packing areas and so on.


Given RCDs require testing regularly and the results recorded which causes disruption to production equipment, IT equipment, Data centers etc are RCDs really required especially if they are installed within steel conduit or steel trunking on walls or under floors?


Any advice welcome


Andy
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  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I had to look into providing a test bench function for testing electrical equipment. Issue was that the equipment ocassionaly had an issue that would trip an RCD and this RCD fed a wider area. I looked at a way to resolve this in a way that was both safe and ensured that any issues with the equipment being tested were identified. Using an isolating transformer only served to stop the RCD function form working when testing the item of equipment, However by making a TN-S by earthing the neutral of the isolating transformer and putting in a local RCD and an MCB to provide a test point that would trip on an earth fault without tripping the source RCD. 


    Again creating zones provides a way to sectionalise the distribution while maintaining some safety overall.
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  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I had to look into providing a test bench function for testing electrical equipment. Issue was that the equipment ocassionaly had an issue that would trip an RCD and this RCD fed a wider area. I looked at a way to resolve this in a way that was both safe and ensured that any issues with the equipment being tested were identified. Using an isolating transformer only served to stop the RCD function form working when testing the item of equipment, However by making a TN-S by earthing the neutral of the isolating transformer and putting in a local RCD and an MCB to provide a test point that would trip on an earth fault without tripping the source RCD. 


    Again creating zones provides a way to sectionalise the distribution while maintaining some safety overall.
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