Rural Electrification - Minimum Safety Standards for Household Connection

Brief introduction and summary of the main points to respect from Planning to Installation

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 weak or sometimes not at all respected in surrounding areas, these standards should be the minimum work output!

How does work take 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 must be incorporated into 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 minimum standards before installation start. A Sample installation and a commissioning protocol for each connection helps to execute work in an ordered and appropriate manner as well as it is providing the legal framework.

Electricity installation has to be executed from certified, tested and approved technicians with an appropriate Diploma or Certificate. This should be standard for every project work. It will help a lot to mention that in the installation tender. Further the companies must work with these technicians and proof the existence of proper tools and measuring devices. 

 

However there are some minimum points which can be evaluated and followed up by everybody. Good Samples of minimum safety standards are:

• Sign with Name and Address of installing Company / Technician with a telephone No. for Service and Maintenance cases. This gives the technician 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 cables, switches, lamps and other equipment
• Cable “pulling protection” sothe cable wiring cannot be pulled out of its connection port by its own weight nor by individuals through “loose hanging” or so called “bird swing“
• Insulated connections with Screw cap connectors
• 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