Rural Electrification - Minimum Safety Standards for Household Connection

''A brief Introduction and summary of the main points to respect from Planning to Installation

Introduction As rural electrification takes place in the most remote areas, where technical knowledge and understanding is mostly limited or even poor; the focus on safety should be a main target for all activities related to AC power connection.

First of all the minimum of safety standards is defined by the National Standard.

Each Country has such standards and these standards are the basis of all works to be done in the field of rural electrification.

Even it’s often seen that they are very little or sometimes not at all respected in surrounding areas. We want to have these standards as our min. work output!!

How does work takes place??

Most Projects work with local installation companies and tender for work and Material.

That is the first Key to safety.

Means: Specifying work in terms of tendering for HH Installation and Infrastructure the content has to be “According to the national standard, e.g. 230 V / AC, Single Phase Household connection”. Subjects of interest are Color Code, Cross-section of wiring, Grounding / Earthing System and connection, Circuit Breaker and Metering connections.

The Standards have to be in written with the project; they should be introduced within the tender for installation and for Material procurement and should be available for the respective companies.

Only proper isolated material and equipment shall be procured and installed. Mechanically fix, tight, installed Material is the basis for good reliable and safe connections / installations.

A sample installation or a board where a sample installation is exemplary shown, including all details, helps for the introduction of the expected min. standards before installation start.

Electricity Installation work has to be executed from certified, tested and approved technicians with an appropriate Diploma or Certificate.

It should be standards for Project work and it will help a lot to mention in the installation tender that the companies have work with these technicians and to proof the existence of proper tools and measuring devices.

Sample installation and a commissioning protocol for each connection to be done helps to execute work in an ordered and appropriate manner as well as it is providing the legal framework.

However technically there are some minimum points which can be evaluated and followed up by everybody.

Good Samples of Min. Safety Standards are:

·         Sign with Name and Address of installing Company / Technician with a telephone No. for Service and Maintenance cases. Gives the technician at the same time a higher feeling for responsibility of his work.

 

·         Rain protection for outside installed Power Meters and Ready Boards

 

·         UV protection for outside Cable and wiring with conduits

·         Mechanical protection for cable and wiring inside the house

·         A Ready board is always recommendable to ensure equal technical standard and safety.  

·         Safety approved and tested installation material, e.g. CEC, VDE, & others

·         Fix and tight installation of cable, Switches, Lamps and other equipment

·         Cable “pulling Protection” so that the cable wiring cannot be pulled out of its connection port by its own weight nor by individuals through “loose hanging” or socalled “ bird swing“

·         Insulated connections with Screw cap connectors

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·         Proper grounding for each connector, a small earthing rod per connection is standard in most countries but seldom realized in remote areas

·         Proper dimensioning of Circuit breaker and Cable cross section

The following Reports have some exemplary Installation Samples

Best practice guide for planing