Published: 9 October 2008
Category: Q&A
Our Voltimum Experts answer your questions on a daily basis in our Technical Expertise area. This one, concerning a school workshop and whether its fixed equipment should be RCD protected, is answered by SELECT:
Question: In a school workshop application, all standard sockets are protected by RCBOs. The fixed equipment, both single- and three-phase (i.e. lathes, drills, saws etc) is protected by MCBs, as recommended by manufacturers. The workshop has its own dedicated distribution board incorporating emergency stop circuitry solely for machinery / socket outlets. Is there a requirement to provide further protection via RCDs / RCBOs / RCCBs for the fixed items of machinery, taking into account the problems associated with nuisance tripping?
I attach the machinery schedule - click on the 'Downloadable Attachments' link below to download it (.PFD doc - 33.3kB).
Answer: There is no specific requirement in BS 7671 to provide RCD protection for the machinery circuits.
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