Page 8 - Evolution Distributionboard Technical Catalogue

ALL ABOUT AS/NZS 61439

BACKGROUND

AS/NZS 61439 is a new series of standards made up of 8 parts covering
Low-voltage Switchgear & Controlgear assemblies. This standard was
released in 2016 and as of May 2021, it has now superseded the
AS/NZS 3439 set of standards that have been in place since 2002.

The new standard is an adoption of the IEC 61439 with changes and
modifications to suit our specific requirement for Australia and New
Zealand.

The IEC 61439 was first introduced in Europe and some other parts of
the world in 2009 and came fully into force in 2014.

The 8 parts for AS/NZS 61439 are:

Part 0 Guide to specifying assemblies
Part 1 General rules

Part 2 Power switchgear and controlgear assemblies
Part 3 Distribution boards intended to be operated by ordinary persons (DBO)
Part 4 Particular requirements for assemblies for construction sites (ACS)
Part 5 Assemblies for power distribution in public networks

Part 6 Busbar trunking systems (busways)
Part 7 Assemblies for specific applications such as marinas,camping site, market squares, electric vehicles charging stations

WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE CHANGE
FROM AS/NZS 3439 TO AZ/NZS 61439?

1. The requirements for proving the design of a Partially Typed Tested
Assembly (PTTA) are very subjective with no clear guidelines. The
standard relies on the knowledge & integrity of the assembler.

2. While manufacturers had to assign a rating to each circuit they are
not required by the standard to prove its rating. In the new standard
the rating of a circuit in an installed assembly needs to be verified
and proven.

3. With the limitless permutations & combinations that are possible
with assemblies it is impractical to fully test each and every variant
design.

4. Lack of tests to prove the constructional compliance.

5. The “manufacturer” of the switchboard is not clearly defined.

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