What is BS EN IEC 61439‑2 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies about?
BS EN IEC 61439‑2 contains the specific requirements for the power switchgear and control-gear assembly (abbreviated ‘PSC-assembly’) as follows:
- Assemblies for which the rated voltage does not exceed 1000 V AC or 1500 V DC
- Assemblies designed for a nominal frequency of the incoming supply or supplies not exceeding 1000 Hz
- Stationary or movable assemblies with or without enclosures
BS EN IEC 61439‑2 applies to assemblies for use in photovoltaic installations, designated as photovoltaic assemblies (PVA) and includes the particular characteristics, specific service conditions, and the requirements for PVAs.
NOTE-
BS EN IEC 61439‑2 does not apply to individual devices, for example, circuit-breakers, fuse switches and self-contained components such as, motor starters, power electronic converter systems and equipment (PECS), switch mode power supplies (SMPS), uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), basic drive modules (BDM), complete drive modules (CDM), adjustable speed power drives systems (PDS), stand-alone energy storage systems (battery and capacitor systems), and other electronic equipment which comply with their relevant product standards.
Who is BS EN IEC 61439‑2 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies for?
BS EN IEC 61439‑2 on power switchgear and control gear assemblies is for:
- Manufacturers and suppliers of assemblies intended for use in connection with generation, transmission, distribution and conversion of electric energy
- Manufacturers and suppliers of assemblies intended for the control of electrical energy-consuming equipment and for associated data processing
- Manufacturers and suppliers of assemblies intended for indoor /outdoor applications
- Manufacturers and suppliers of assemblies designed for use under special service conditions, like in ships and in rail vehicles (provided that the other relevant specific requirements are complied with)
Why should you use BS EN IEC 61439‑2 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies?
BS EN IEC 61439‑2 on power switchgear and control gear assemblies provides supplementary requirements for PSC assemblies intended for use as part of the electrical equipment of machines and can be applied in addition to the basic requirements, in order to obtain suitable assembly for a particular application.
You can use BS EN IEC 61439‑2 on power switchgear and control gear assemblies as it applies to all assemblies whether they are designed, manufactured, and verified on a one-off basis or fully standardized and manufactured in quantity.
BS EN IEC 61439‑1 has everything that is required to execute an assembly and the product and/or assembly can be carried out by any entity/end-user, other than the manufacturer, by following the given instructions.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN IEC 61439‑2:2021 will supersede BS EN 61439-2:2011, which will be withdrawn on 21 May 2024. BS EN IEC 61439‑2:2021 includes the following technical changes:
- Addition of Annexes DD, EE, and FF for assemblies for use in photovoltaic installation
- Clarification of the requirements for forms of internal separation and the addition of the requirement, when the form of separation is higher than 1, all parts within the functional unit compartment that remain live when the functional unit is switched off shall be protected to at least IPXXB
- Alignment with the structure of IEC 61439-1:2020
Addition of temperature-rise verification for:
- Temperature-rise verification of assemblies with natural cooling and circuits rated above 1600 A by a combination of comparison with a reference design and calculation
- Temperature-rise verification of assemblies with active cooling and rated currents up to 1600 A.
- Consideration of IP with active cooling.
