What is BS 159 - Requirements of busbars and busbar connections about?

BS 159 is a British Standard that specifies requirements for both enclosed and open busbars and busbar connections which are components of a.c. high-voltage electrical systems (above 1 kV) and are composed of metal such as copper or aluminium, with air, oil, gas, solid or semi-solid materials as principal insulation.

BS 159 can apply, for aspects other than frequency, to high voltage d.c. busbars and busbar connections (above 1.5 kV) which have similar characteristics to those for a.c.

Insulators such as bushings and supports can comprise part of the assembly, and detailed requirements for such insulators are specified in BS 223. For degrees of protection for enclosures, reference should be made to BS 5490.

The busbars in BS 159 can also form a component of metal enclosed switchgear (see BS 5227 and BS 5524).

BS 159 does not apply to:

Insulated cables which can form a part of busbars and busbar connections
Low-voltage busbars which are specified in BS 5486-1

Note: The titles of the publications referred to in BS 159 are listed on the inside back cover.

Who is BS 159- Requirements of busbars and busbar connections for?

BS 159 on requirements of busbars and busbar connections is useful for:

Electrical engineers
Manufacturers of busbars (high voltage)
Manufacturer of transformers
Manufacturer of heavy electrical equipment
Manufacturers of insulators
Cable installers and cabling designers
Power distribution companies

Why should you use BS 159 - Requirements of busbars and busbar connections?

Busbars are used to carry a large amount of current and thus need a lot of attention while selecting.

BS 159 provides you with the guidance to select the right busbar and busbar connections for your need. BS 159 also helps with inspections by providing certain applicable test methods.

BS 159 helps manufacture safer high voltage busbars and assess their performance over time.

BS 159:1992

Specification for high-voltage busbars and busbar connections

Published:

28 Feb 1992

Withdrawn:

15 Mar 2022