BS EN 60898-1:2019+A11:2024

Electrical accessories. Circuit-breakers for overcurrent protection for household and similar installations. Circuit-breakers for a.c. operation | Status: Current

1 Scope This part of IEC 60898 applies to a.c. air-break circuit-breakers for operation at 50 Hz, 60 Hz or 50/60 Hz, having a rated voltage not exceeding 440 V (between phases), a rated current not exceeding 125 A and a rated short-circuit capacity not exceeding 25 000 A. As far as possible, itis in line with the requirements contained in IEC 60947‑2.

NOTE 1 Additional requirements are necessary for circuit-breakers used in locations having more severe overvoltage conditions.

These circuit-breakers are intended for the protection against overcurrents of wiring installations of buildings and similar applications; they are designed for use by uninstructed people and do not require maintenance. They are intended for use in an environment with pollution degree 2 and overvoltage category III. For an environment with a higher pollution degree, enclosures giving the appropriate degree of protection are used. They are suitable for isolation. Circuit-breakers of this standard are suitable for use in IT systems provided that the requirements of HD 60364‑4‑43 are complied with. This standard also applies to circuit-breakers having more than one rated current, provided that the means for changing from one discrete rating to another is not accessible in normal service and that the rating cannot be changed without the use of a tool. This standard does not apply to

• — circuit-breakers intended to protect motors;
• — circuit-breakers, the current setting of which is adj ustable by means accessible to the user.

For circuit-breakers having a degree of protection higher than IP20 according to IEC 60529, for use in locations where arduous environmental conditions prevail (e.g. excessive humidity, heat or cold or deposition of dust) and in hazardous locations (e.g. where explosions are liable to occur), special constructions may be required. This standard does not apply to circuit-breakers for a.c. and d.c. operation,which is covered by IEC 60898‑2. This document does not apply to circuit-breakers for DC operation that are covered by IEC 60898‑3. This standard does not apply to circuit-breakers which incorporate residual current tripping devices, which is covered by IEC 61009‑1, IEC 61009‑2‑1, and IEC 61009‑2‑2. Supplementary requirements may be necessary for circuit-breakers of the screw-in types. A guide for coordination under short-circuit conditions between a circuit-breaker and another short-circuit protective device (SCPDs) is given in Annex D. For more severe overvoltage conditions, circuit-breakers complying with other standards (e.g. IEC 60947‑2) should be used.

NOTE 2 Circuit-breakers within the scope of this standard can also be used for protection against electric shock in case of fault, depending on their tripping characteristics and on the characteristics of the installation. The criterion of application for such purposes is dealt with by installation rules.

NOTE 3 Recommendations for the dimensional coordination between enclosures and circuit-breakers for mounting on rails according to EN 60715 or equivalent means are given in the CENELEC report PD CLC/TR 50473.

This standard contains all requirements necessary to ensure compliance with the operational characteristics required for these devices by type tests. It also contains the details relative to test requirements and methods of testing necessary to ensure reproducibility of test results. This standard states

1. a) the characteristics of circuit-breakers;
2. b) the conditions with which circuit-breakers shall comply, with reference to:
   1. 1) their operation and behaviour in normal service;
   2. 2) their operation and behaviour in case of overload;
   3. 3) their operation and behaviour in case of short-circuits up to their rated short-circuit capacity;
   4. 4) their dielectric properties;
3. c) the tests intended for confirming that these conditions have been met and the methods to be adopted for the tests;
4. d) the data to be marked on the devices;
5. e) the test sequences to be carried out and the number of samples (see Annex C);
6. f) the co-ordination under short-circuit conditions with another short-circuit protective device (SCPD) associated in the same circuit (see Annex D);
7. g) the routine tests to be carried out on each circuit-breaker to reveal unacceptable variations in material or manufacture, likely to affect safety (see Annex I).