So, it's the product standard we need to look at.

OK, I'll ask the obvious... since just about every item assembled into a BS 7671 installation will be subject to its own equipment standard and if you're saying that we don't need to read BS 7671's requirement in this case in order to select appropriate equipment, then why is this section in BS 7671 at all?

   - Andy.

AJJewsbury said:

OK, I'll ask the obvious... since just about every item assembled into a BS 7671 installation will be subject to its own equipment standard and if you're saying that we don't need to read BS 7671's requirement in this case in order to select appropriate equipment, then why is this section in BS 7671 at all?

No, never said that.

I merely said that Electric Strength and Impulse Withstand are two different things ... this product has an electric strength test, but no impulse withstand test ... the manufacturer could read-across from IEC 60664-1 in this regard between insulation withstand and impulse withstand, but they really are different things. This product standard has no impulse withstand test.

That is the extent of what I said.

AJJewsbury said:

OK, I'll ask the obvious... since just about every item assembled into a BS 7671 installation will be subject to its own equipment standard and if you're saying that we don't need to read BS 7671's requirement in this case in order to select appropriate equipment, then why is this section in BS 7671 at all?

No, never said that.

I merely said that Electric Strength and Impulse Withstand are two different things ... this product has an electric strength test, but no impulse withstand test ... the manufacturer could read-across from IEC 60664-1 in this regard between insulation withstand and impulse withstand, but they really are different things. This product standard has no impulse withstand test.

That is the extent of what I said.

Ah, sorry, I read too much into the "So, it's the product standard we need to look at." statement.

So in terms of the original question - do these terminals meet BS 7671's requirements for overvoltage category, is the answer still "we don't know" (or "not proven" as the Scots might say)?

    - Andy.

I assume we are talking Wago here (people pronounce it how they like, WayGo or VarGo)  either way it may be worth contacting Ideal Industries as they have some very similar product which may have been tested differently.

Sergio Fernandez said:

I assume we are talking Wago here (people pronounce it how they like, WayGo or VarGo)  either way it may be worth contacting Ideal Industries as they have some very similar product which may have been tested differently.

They are both tested to IEC 60998-1 and IEC 60998-2-2.

AJJewsbury said:

So in terms of the original question - do these terminals meet BS 7671's requirements for overvoltage category, is the answer still "we don't know" (or "not proven" as the Scots might say)?

I think we are at the point of 'not specified, doesn't have an impulse withstand test' as part of the product standard (which is a UK designated standard). Standard tests for cables are similar in terms of voltage tests, so this is why I'm not sure it's a problem worth thinking about ... along with the fact that there are no semiconductors and no switch or isolator contact gaps.

Having a look through IEC 60664-1 and the related product standards for cables and connectors is what I'd recommend if anyone has any serious concerns.

BEAMA may have further advice.

It's more of the BS 7671 perspective that worries me - if BS 7671 demands something and we can't tell if we've met that requirement or not, can can we in all honesty sign it off?

It's not unknown for BS 7671 to ask for things product related that are over and above what the product standard says - e.g. BS EN 61439-3 doesn't demand ferrous/non-combustible enclosures, but BS 7671 421.1.201 does (for domestic), so there seems to be a precedent for going beyond just relying on simple compliance with an appropriate product standard.

(But on the other hand, some products clearly fall below normal BS 7671 general requirements (e.g. BS and ES lampholders - live part not even meeting IP2X etc) - so the principle doesn't feel entirely clear)

    - Andy.

Andy,

I'm still not 100 % sure that "levels of availability" discussed in 443.6.1, and "degrees of availability" in 443.6.2 are a direct read-across to the voltage ratings of cables and connectors, in the way they would be for switches and isolators.

That appears to be what the OP was told by a manufacturer?