Role of Electrical Bodies
International Electro-technical Commission ( IEC )
The IEC was founded in 1906 and is the authority for world standards for electrical and electronic engineering. Its standards are the basis of the national standards of its member- bodies, and are also the basis of standards of the Regional standards Bodies such as those in Europe ( CENELEC ), the Pacific Area ( PASC ), the Arab Countries ( ASMO ) and the Americas ( COPANT ).
The IEC, which is a non-governmental organisation based in Geneva, is composed of National Committees from over 40 countries. These countries comprise 80% of the world’s population and consume 95% of the world’s electrical energy. Each National Committee is expected to be representative of all the major electrical and electronics interests in its country including manufacturers, specifiers, sellers and users of equipment, government, public services, the engineering profession, and research organisations.
The IEC works in close co-operation with many international organisations including the International Standards Organisation ( ISO ), which is responsible for international standards in non electrical fields.
European Committee for Electro-technical Standardisation
( CENELEC )
CENELEC was set up in 1973 and is comprised of the National Electro-technical Committees of 18 West European Countries ( 12 EC & 6 EFTA ). Its aims are to harmonise the electro- technical standards of its member countries and to assist in removing trade barriers arising from conflicting national electrical safety requirements.
CENELEC produces three types of documents, European Standards ( EN ), Harmonisation Documents ( HD ) and European Pre-Standards ( ENV’s ). European Standards are intended to be published or endorsed, in all Member Countries, as identical national standards. For Harmonisation Documents, the technical content is intended to be incorporated into the national standard, but not necessarily identically. The HD allows national deviations for a specified period. ENV’s are European Pre-Standards published by CENELEC to gain experience in newly developed areas of electro-technology and are intended to be converted into EN’s within a few years.
EN’s and HD’s are based on IEC standards, or in the rare case that a suitable one does not exist, CENELEC may initiate the work
The Electro-Technical Council of Ireland ( ETCI )
The ETCI, is a voluntary body of twenty two organisations representative of all aspects of electro-technology in this country. Formally constituted in 1972, the Council is the national body responsible for the harmonisation of standards in the electrotechnical field, in collaboration with the National Standards Authority of Ireland ( NSAI ).
ETCI is the Irish Member of the International Electro-technical Commission ( IEC ) and the European Committee for Electro-Technical Standardisation ( CENELEC ).
The objectives of the ETCI are:
· To promote and co-ordinate standardisation in all branches of electrotechnology in harmony with international agreements, and in collaboration with the National Standards Authority of Ireland ( NSAI ).
· To establish liaison with similar bodies in other countries and with international bodies.
· To promote safety in electrical equipment and installations and to encourage an awareness of electrical safety among the general public.
· To advise and make recommendations on any matter pertaining to electro-technology, subject to the statutory powers, duties and functions of other bodies.
Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland ( RECI )
RECI was founded in 1992 to promote and protect the interests of the public as users of electrical service so that they will obtain an acceptable standard of workmanship and technical competence within the electrical contracting industry, and to provide a high level of assistance to the industry to achieve this standard
· To ensure that the standards required by the Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland are relevant, realistic and reflect public expectations and are appropriate to current and evolving electrical technology, regulations, standards, rules and codes of practice.
· To promote safety and encourage an awareness of electrical safety among electrical contractors.
· To complement the role of industry and other organisations in their endeavours to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of registered electrical contractors practising within the industry
who are properly qualified to meet the standards set by RECI and who will maintain appropriate levels of technical competency.
· To ensure that persons conducting a business within the industry are appropriately registered and to encourage competence and ethical business behaviour for the benefit of the public.
· To improve registered contractor’s ability to deal effectively from initial negotiations of a contract through to satisfactory completion of the project.
· To resolve disputes between contractors and consumers promptly and fairly by mediation, direction or referral to an appropriate authority or other body if necessary.
Electrical Contractors Safety and Standards Association Ltd
( ECSSA )
The ECSSA is one of only two regulatory bodies for electrical contractors currently recognised by the ESB and ETCI.
· Members of both bodies enjoy equal status in regard to self-certification of installations and connections to the national grid.
· All ECSSA registered members undertake to carry out their work in strict accordance with ETCI wiring regulations.
· Members are required to carry Public Liability, Product Liability and, where appropriate, employers Liability insurance.
· To the customer, the ECSSA offers the assurance of quality work by qualified and insured contractors and an immediate response and investigation by ECSSA inspectors of every
complaint received regarding work carried out by an ECSSA member.
· To the contractor we offer the right to self certification, equal status in tendering for all public contracts, an excellent insurance deal with selected brokers, and a fair and unbiased disciplinary and appeals procedure. We aim to make ECSSA membership an asset rather than an evil in the lives of contractors
Electricity Supply Board ( ESB )
The ESB was established in 1927 with a mandate to generate, transmit and distribute electricity to the homes, businesses and industry of Ireland.
There are 16 Generating Stations located in different parts of the country, the biggest being Moneypoint in County Clare. The Generating Stations use a mix of fuels including coal, gas, oil, peat and also hydroelectric power from some of our larger rivers.
The transmission and distribution business is organised into four Regions with Headquarters in Dublin, Sligo, Limerick and Cork. The High Voltage Transmission system extends the electricity from the Generating Stations to the main population and industrial centres and the distribution system then brings electricity to the Customers.
The ESB also operates an extensive international consultancy business and is currently working in almost 40 countries around the world.
Health and Safety Authority ( HSA )
The HSA is a state-sponsored body, under the Department of Enterprise and Employment. It has overall responsibility for the administration and enforcement of Health and Safety at Work Act in Ireland. The HSA regulations on electricity are the law of the land.
These regulations are concerned with general electrical safety requirements rather than with detailed specifications and they will be backed up by approved codes of practice (although used by the HSA the ETCI Rules are not yet approved.) The regulations apply to all electrical equipment and installations in all workplaces, except mines and quarries, and to all work activities related to the use of electricity.
National Standards Authority of Ireland ( NSAI )
The National Standards Authority of Ireland – NSAI, an autonomous body reporting to FORFAS, and acts on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise & Employment for the publication of national standards and the provision of a comprehensive product and quality system certification service.
The Board of Directors of NSAI represents a cross section of industrial and government interests.
NSAI develops and publishes standards to meet international demands for quality, design, performance and safety of products and services. These standards are quoted extensively by specifiers in public and private purchasing requirements.
NSAI certification service, operates in accordance with the stringent European Standards series EN 45000, and global ISO Conformity Assessment Procedures, recognised and accepted worldwide as a mark of assured quality and conformity to recognised performance requirements.
As the national certification body, NSAI has been designated by the Irish Government as a “Notified Body” in connection with EC procedures leading to the issue of certificates for use of the ‘CE’ Mark of Conformity.
Unit Related ETCI Rules
