CAN/CSA-E947-1-99 (R2004)

1 General The purpose of this standard is to harmonize as far as practicable all rules and requirements of a general nature applicable to low-voltage switchgear and controlgear in order to obtain uniformity of requirements and tests throughout the corresponding range of equipment and to avoid the need for testing to different standards. All those parts of the various equipment standards which can be considered as general have therefore been gathered in this standard together with specific subjects of wide interest and application, e.g. temperature-rise, dielectric properties, etc. For each type of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear, only two main documents are necessary to determine all requirements and tests: 1) this basic standard, referred to as "Part 1" in the specific standards covering the various types of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear; 2) the relevant equipment standard hereinafter referred to as the "relevant product standard" or "product standard". For a general rule to apply to a specific product standard, it shall be explicitly referred to by the latter, by quoting the relevant clause or subclause number of this standard followed by "Part 1" e.g. "7.2.3 of Part 1". A specific product standard may not require, and hence may omit, a general rule (as being not applicable), or it may add to it (if deemed inadequate in the particular case), but it may not deviate from it, unless there is a substantial technical justification. The object of this Part 1 Standard is to specify general electrical safety requirements for certain products. For the requirements of this Standard to apply to a specific end-use product, it will need to be explicitly referred to by that product standard. Each individual product standard may supplement, modify, or omit a general rule in the Part 1 Standard, to provide the relevant requirements for each type of product. This Standard applies to the safety of such equipment designed to be installed and used in accordance with the rules of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I. 1 NOTE - The product standards due to be part of the series of IEc standards covering low-voltage switchgear and controlgear are: 947-2: Part 2: Circuit-breakers 947-3: Part 3: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse combination units 947-4: Part 4: Contactors and motor-starters 947-5: Part 5: Control-circuit devices and switching elements 947-6: Part 6: Multiple function equipment 947-7: Part 7: Ancillary equipment (1A) Manufacturers designing products for use in Canada may find a helpful summary of the equipment-related references of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, in the CSA publication entitled Guide for the Design of Electrical Equipment for Installation and Use in Canada. (1B) The user of this Standard should be aware that the term "switchgear" as used in IEC 947-1 has a different definition than the North American definition. Refer to Clause 2.1.1 of this Standard for the definition. (1C) A definition of "high-voltage" has been added to Clause 2.1 to ensure compatibility with the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I. (1D) The Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, requires that the disconnecting means disconnect all ungrounded conductors of the circuit simultaneously. 1.1 Scope and object This standard applies, when required by the relevant product standard, to switchgear and controlgear hereinafter referred to as "equipment" and intended to be connected to circuits, the rated voltage of which does not exceed 1 000 v a.c. or 1 500 V d.c. It does not apply to low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies which are dealt with in IEC 439. NOTE - In certain clauses or subclauses of this standard, the equipment covered by this standard is also referred to as "device", to be consistent with the text of such clauses or subclauses. The ob