BS EN 60855-1:2017

What is BS EN 60855-1‒Insulating foam-filled tubes and solid rods about?

BS EN 60855-1 is an international standard that covers guidelines for dimensions of low-voltage switchgear and control gear.

BS EN 60855-1 specifies dimensional and functional requirements for the compatible mounting of switchgear, control gear, and accessories on some types of rails.

BS EN 60715 specifies dimensions that are critical for the correct design of mounting rails and equipment. It deals with specific steel mounting rails satisfying the requirements and gives additional dimensional data and loading requirements applicable to such rails.

Note 1: BS EN 60715 covers the following:

• "Top hat" section
• "C" section
• "G" section

Note 2: Mounting rails used as a protective conductor using a conducting connection to a protective conductor terminal block are specified in IEC 60947-7-2. In other applications where the mounting rail is used as an earthing conductor, the relevant product standard applies.

Who is BS EN 60855-1‒Insulating foam-filled tubes and solid rods for?

BS EN 60855-1 on Insulating foam-filled tubes and solid rods is useful for:

• Manufacturers and suppliers of low-voltage switchgear and control gear
• Dealers and distributors of low-voltage switchgear and control gear
• Designers of low-voltage switchgear and control gear
• Test /service providers for low-voltage switchgear and control gear

Why should you use BS EN 60715 on Standardized mounting on rails?

This part of IEC 60855 has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of IEC 61477. The product covered by this part of IEC 60855 may have an impact on the environment during some or all stages of its life cycle. These impacts can range from slight to significant, be short-term or long-term, and occur at the global, regional, or local level.

This part of IEC 60855 does not include requirements and test provisions for the manufacturers of the product, or recommendations to the users of the product for environmental improvement. However, all parties intervening in its design, manufacture, packaging, distribution, use, maintenance, repair, reuse, recovery, and disposal are invited to take account of environmental considerations.

Technical committee 78 is considering the preparation of IEC 60855-2, which would cover foam-filled tubes and solid rods of cross-section other than circular.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN 60855-1:2017 supersedes BS EN 60855:1997, which is withdrawn. BS EN 60855-1:2017 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• Reintroduction of specific diameters of foam-filled tubes and solid rods of circular cross-section with its tolerances
• Reintroduction of the dielectric tests before and after exposure to humidity, as included in IEC 60855-1:2009
• Specification of an alternative test (after exposure to immersion) in case of foam-filled tubes and solid rods having completed the production phase
• Review of phase angle maximum specified values
• Review of the wet test procedure and the improvement of the associated test arrangement