Are you an Australian switchboard / automation control panel builder or equipment importer that needs help navigating through AS 61439 compliance? We have undergone this process with many companies throughout Australia.
The standard can be found at Standards Australia
Do I need to comply with this standard?
It is mandatory that any switchboard or control panel that is supplied for an Australian installation must comply with AS 61439. It is directly referred to in AS 3000 2.5.5, 2.10.3.2 and also the Electrical Safety Act clause 54 states that any supplied equipment satisfies the standard for that equipment. Any switchboard or automation control panel supplied that has either of the following criteria must comply with AS 61439 (as per AS 3000 2.10.3.2):
- Connected load exceeds 125A per phase
- Prospective short circuit current at the incoming terminals exceeds 10kA
As a board builder you have no control over the prospective short circuit current as this is a function of the installation network, so it could mean that a small automation panel that has been installed at countless other location with similar design would need to comply for some installations but not others.
The board builder has sole responsibility for compliance with the standard.
What are the summary requirements of the Standard?
The standard has done a good job of compressing the requirements and confirmation of AS 61439 compliance into a single Annex (Annex D), which is a single page list of all activities that must be performed to confirm compliance. This single page refers to relevant sections of the standard for explanation of each item.
So, this is a good starting point if you want to get an understanding of what you need to do.
Can I self-certify or does it need to be independently certified?
It is possible to self-certify as long as your board / control panel is rated at less than 10kA or has current limiting supply at <17kA. If this criterion is not fulfilled things get much trickier as short circuit verification tests (type tests) must be completed, or you will need to demonstrate equivalence with an identical design that has been type tested. If the board design is bespoke, or if it is a form 1 special automation control panel this can be extremely challenging.
If the board falls outside of this criterion, then it can be self-certified with a combination of manufacturers data and test sheets, internal test procedures and design calculations.
What are the compliance documentation requirements?
There are no AS 61439 compliance documentation requirements explicitly mentioned but as a minimum it is recommended that each switchboard has a certificate of compliance signed by the company officer, and a dossier of technical information structured accordingly from Annex D to demonstrate compliance. The switch board must have a label attached stating compliance and to which part as AS 61439 has many parts. Each board will have to comply with part 1, plus one of the other parts specific to the application (usually part 2 for most applications).
What about control panels with imported machinery?
Yes, these control panels of switchboards must absolutely comply with AS 61439 for any Australian installation if they fall within the criteria already mentioned in terms of connected load or prospective short circuit current.
AS 61439 Compliance with these enclosures is a different exercise and can be relatively straightforward if they already comply with an international standard (for example IEC 61439). AS 61439 is a copy of IEC 61439. However, if the imported control panel does not come delivered with a certificate of conformity with this IEC 61439 standard then it must be certified before it can be put into service.
It may not be possible to certify an existing panel without significant rework or even type testing, so this needs careful attention at the specification stage of importing equipment.
How can Coral Process Solutions help with this journey?
We can provide full consultancy, and fixed price costs to complete the task.
It is important to engage us as early as possible in this process. The best time is at the enquiry stage with your client so that any commercial unfavourable situations can be captured early.
We have standard sheets, checklists and procedures that we use for this process. Typically, board builders engage us to perform a compliance on one of their products, and often they feel confident to do subsequent compliance checks themselves using the framework we have provided.
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