ESB Group - Standards

Standards

The Shannon Scheme was the start of the ESB's heavy reliance on German and Swedish electro-technology. Siemens, AEG and ASEA (Now ABB) equipment was used throughout the Irish generation and distribution system. The Irish system standardised on the 220 volt 50Hz (now 230 volt) single phase and 380volt (now 400 volt) 3 phase supply systems which had been developed by Siemens and AEG in Germany. Residential installations followed a mixture of British (BS) and German (DVE) & (DIN) standards.

Siemens standard diazed and the more modern neozed fuses remain the standard type of fuse used in domestic and industrial installations and modern circuit breakers comply with German DIN standards.

British core colours Live (Red), Black (Neutral) and Green (Earth/Ground) were used. These were later updated to Live (Brown), Neutral (Blue) and Earth/Ground (Green & Yellow) as per CENELEC and European standards. Three phase core colours also comply with EU standards: L1 (Brown), L2 (Black), L3 (Grey), N (Blue), Earth/Ground (Yellow & Green)

British wiring accessories have generally been used in residential and light commercial installations e.g. junction boxes, light switches, wires and cables etc. However, in recent years European standard wiring accessories are beginning to replace some of these.

In industrial installations, Irish standards have always tended to follow German (DIN) and (DVE) norms.

Earthing/Grounding System

• TN-C-S is preferred. This is referred to in Ireland as a "Neutralised" supply. Most homes and businesses are connected to such a system.
  Where this system is used, all metal pipe work must be bonded i.e. connected to the system's earth/ground creating an equipotential zone.

In such an installation earth straps and yellow & green earth wires can be seen connected to pipework under sinks, in heating systems etc.

• TT system is used where TN-C-S earthing is not possible due to the design of the local distribution network, or the geology. This system is referred to as 'unneutralised' or 'not neutralised'.

Where a TT network connection is used, the entire supply must be protected by an RCD

Converting a TT supply to a TN-C supply "Neutralisation" may only be carried out by an ESB engineer with the approval of ESB Networks. Under no circumstances should a home owner, or an electrical contractor make any connection between the Earth/Ground and Neutral. To do so inappropriately could expose people to a risk of serious shock or electrocution.

Plugs and Socket Outlets

German Schuko socket outlets were once widely used alongside the British standard BS546 round pin plugs (both 3 pin and 2 pin verities). However, both of these systems were replaced by BS 1363, standarised as Irish Standard IS 401 (Plug) and IS411 (Socket outlet). This standard eliminated incompatibilities between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and was chosen as it was completely incompatible with both the old Schuko or BS 546 installations and encouraged people to rewire their homes to comply with the new standard. It removed the possibility of connecting Class I (requiring an earth connection) appliances, to socket outlets that are either unearthed (ungrounded) or with incompatible earthing contacts – e.g. 2-pin side-earthed Schuko plug will not make earth contact with a 3 hole, 5 amp BS 546 socket. This harmonisation occurred before the advent of pre-fitted 2-pin plugs on appliances destined for the European 220 volt market, which might have led to a different outcome. Until UK and Irish voltages were standardised at 230 volts in the 1990s, it was common for such plugs to be pre-fitted on appliances destined for the Irish market, although they were prohibited on appliances destined for the United Kingdom market. Both countries now require the pre-fitting of BS 1363 plugs on domestic appliances. It is now extremely rare to find a non BS 1363 plug in use. The 5 Amp version of BS 546 is sometimes used for lamps controlled by a central switch or dimmer. They may also be used for other specialist purposes. It is therefore, not advisable to connect an appliance to such a socket outlet and tourists should not use adaptors to connect to them if they are present in hotel bedrooms. They are exclusively for lighting or specialist purposes.

Industrial, heavy commercial and stage/studio installations use European standard IS EN 60309:1999 / IEC 60309 plugs and sockets. These are also used for stage and studio lighting, in recent preference to BS 546 15 amp fittings.

The distribution board system used in Irish homes also differs substantially from those used in the UK and elsewhere. All distribution boards (fuse boxes) are required to have a 'main fuse' or 'main breaker' rated at the maximum permissible load for that installation. Typically, this is a 63 A fuse and a switch, or a Minized fuse isolator which accepts a Neozed fuse.

The distribution boards have been using DIN rail modular mounting systems for several decades. Even older fuse systems may be mounted on DIN rails.

30 mA RCD protection is required for all socket outlets since 1981, however it may also be present on older installations.

Homes are typically wired as follows:

• Lighting : 10 Amp Radials
• Socket outlets: 16 Amp or 20 Amp Radials _{(RCD Required)}
• Fixed appliances : 16 Amp or 20 Amp Radials _{(RCD may be required)}
• Water heater : 20 Amp Radial _{(RCD Required)}
• Cookers : 32–45 Amp Radial _{(RCD not required, but may be fitted optionally)}
• Hob : 32–45 A Radial _{(RCD not required, but may be fitted optionally)}
• Showers: 32 – 45 Amp Radial _{(RCD protected)}
• Outdoor sockets : 16 or 20 A Radials _{(RCD required)}

Lighting :

Bayonet mount bulbs are used in most standard fittings and have been the dominant standard in most installations since the introduction of electric lighting in Ireland. Various styles of bayonet cap and mounts are used for a variety of sizes and types of bulbs, including spots and halogens.

Edison screw fittings are not as common, but may be found on some imported lighting equipment, particularly from Southern Europe.

Low voltage halogen bulbs use bipin fittings.

Standards are controlled by:

• The ElectroTechnical Council of Ireland (ETCI)

and

• The National Standards Authority of Ireland