This document provides guidance for the specification and selection of the appropriate approach and for the planning and the execution of the maintenance of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear and their assemblies having a rated voltage up to and including 1 000 V AC or 1 500 V DC, and designed for a nominal frequency of the incoming supply or supplies not exceeding 1 000 Hz.

This document provides guidance on the safety precautions for personnel designed to carry out maintenance services, with the aim to minimize the safety risks, optimize service continuity (power availability) and contribute to the environment of a low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. It recognises there are different approaches to maintenance, e.g. scheduled maintenance, condition-based maintenance and predictive maintenance. This document does not consider specifically corrective maintenance but many of the recommendations included would apply when carrying out corrective maintenance. It provides additional recommendations to comply with validation requirements in IEC 60364‑6.

This document explains how the use of preventive maintenance improves the efficiency and lifetime of built-in components and consequently the assemblies themselves. All parties (specifiers, owners, designers, manufacturers, maintenance personnel) involved with low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies can benefit from this document.

This document applies to both stationary and movable switchgear and controlgear assemblies with or without an enclosure. It is also applicable to switchgear and controlgear assemblies intended for use under special service conditions, possibly with additional recommendations, for example in ships and rail vehicles. It also applies to low-voltage assembly upgrades which can have additional considerations to ensure modifications are fully verified to the appropriate assembly standard.

This document does not apply to low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies used in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Finally, this document is not a substitute for national regulations regarding the safety of electrical equipment and for the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. These are required to complement the overall principles defined in this document.