Here the technical experts at Europa Components offer advice on installing surge protection devices in domestic dwellings.
Regulation 443.4 requires protection against transient overvoltage to be provided where the consequence caused by overvoltage could result in serious injury or loss of human life, interruption of public services and/or damage to cultural heritage, interruption of commercial or industrial activity or could affect a large number of collocated individuals.
These regulations, therefore, cover all buildings other than standard domestic dwellings, so in these instances surge protection must be installed.
For domestic dwellings a risk assessment according to regulation 443.5 shall be performed to determine if surge protection is required. If the risk assessment isn’t performed, the electrical installation shall be provided with protection against transient overvoltage, except for single dwelling units where the total value of the installation and equipment therein doesn’t justify such protection.
Recommendations
Considering the price and availability of surge protection devices it seems valid to recommend their installation in domestic dwellings, regardless of risk assessment. It is better to have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it. If declined, a recommendation can be noted on the schedule of test results or the periodic inspection report.
Installation
Surge protection (type 1 or type 2) should be fitted at the origin of the supply to the property. This can be installed inside the existing consumer unit, fed from the consumer unit and fitted in its own enclosure, or fed from the supply tails and fitted in its own enclosure.
The combined length of the conductors in relation to the current path should be <0.5M and not exceed 1M.
LIVE + CPC = <0.5M (Max 1M)
NEUTRAL + CPC = <0.5M (Max 1M)
If type 3 protection is required (for sensitive devices), this should be installed close to the equipment it is protecting to further remove smaller transients.
Europa stocks an extensive range of SPD devices, including the newly launched Surge Safe install-ready enclosed units. For more information visit: www.europacomponents.com
