Published: 27 May 2014
Category: Q&A
George asks this question, which concerns a historic street lighting installation and its overcurrent protection. It has been answered by SELECT (Theme – Installation Tips):
This Q & A is one of thousands posted in our Technical Expertise area, and answered on a daily basis by our Voltimum Experts.
Question: I work for a local authority and we have thousands of street lighting columns that have two- and three-core SWA cables terminating onto gland plates and then connected through Henley blocks to fuses, with flex or singles to the lantern.
All new work - and that of the last 10 years - has been connected in MCB DP cut outs that meet the requirements. If a fault occurs in one of these older installations, then we just fix it - usually a fault in the lantern.
Recently, we have invested in energy reduction schemes and have changed the lanterns. This has been done internally and also using a contractor. Our electrician has stated that the cables cannot be left and must be terminated into a cut out, so he is changing every one he does.
The contractor has not done this; he just changes the lantern and leaves the cable that terminates in the fuse.
Which is correct?
We spend huge sums each year replacing older installations so we are doing the work to upgrade our network.?
Answer: There is no requirement in BS 7671:2008 to replace fuse overcurrent protection with circuit breakers, and fuses remain a valid means of providing such protection?
In Regulation 559.10.6.1, which relates to requirements for outdoor lighting installations, highway power supplies and street furniture, the means of isolation and switching is permitted to be provided by a suitably rated fuse carrier with certain provisions - ?i.e. for TN earthing systems and only by instructed persons.
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