Principal Changes Introduced in IS 10101:2020:
The information in this blog gives a flavour of the type of changes in the 2020 standard. Please ensure that the Registered Electrical Contractor you use in any new designs or installations is fully aware of the detail in the standard and the requirements to ensure compliance.
The new document includes more detailed information on the design of electrical installations. The definitions list has been expanded and certain definitions have been modified to align with the definitions provided in the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary. Characteristics have been expanded to cover different supply and earthing arrangements.
Chapter 4 is a key section as it deals with “Protection for Safety”. The following are included –
Clause 411.3.4 Residual Current Devices (RCDs) will now be required to be installed on lighting circuits in domestic premises.
Clause 421.7 Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) will now be recommended for circuits installed in locations with particular risks, such as:
- in premises with sleeping accommodation;
- in locations with risks of fire due to the nature of processed or stored materials, i.e. BE2 locations, (e.g. barns, woodworking shops, stores of combustible materials);
- in locations with combustible constructional materials, (example = wooden buildings);
- in fire propagating structures;
- in locations with endangering of irreplaceable goods.
I.S. 10101 – Chapter 5: Selection and Erection of Equipment includes important safety considerations, including –
Clause 527 Selection and Erection of wiring systems to minimise the spread of fire requires all cables, as a minimum, to be rated Class Dca-s2, d2, a2 in accordance with I.S. EN 50575.
Clause 531.3.3 Types of RCD’s Residual current devices (RCDs) Type AC are not recommended in new installations.
Clause 534 Devices for protection against overvoltage – a completely new section; which provides details on the selection of Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) including wiring diagrams, especially where lightning protection will be installed in a building.
I.S. 10101 – Chapter 6: Verification and Certification are now aligned with the European Standard. Certification will transition to an online format and model certificates are no longer included.
I.S. 10101 – Chapter 7: Special Installations or Locations
The associated CENELEC 60364 series of HDs have been updated and this is now reflected in I.S. 10101:2020
Part 710 Installations in Medical Locations
Part 710 has been revised to reflect changes in the European requirements (HD 60364-7-710:2012) and contains several changes specific to the patient environment.
Part 712 Photovoltaic systems requirements have expanded significantly.
Energy efficiency (Annex 8) is new and provides recommendations and guidelines on design and erection of electrical installations to optimise energy, including metering, load control and minimisation of losses in conductors.
References:
- IS 10101:2010 (available from NSAI)
- https://safeelectric.ie/
