IEC / SANS 60439-1 and 61439-1/2/3 – Type Testing

In 2003, Diesel Electric Services embarked on a project for certification to design fully compliant conventional LV switchboard assemblies that met the requirements of IEC / SANS 60439-1. 

IEC / SANS 60439-1 required detailed destructive testing to proof that one’s calculations were in fact correct, this including busbar supports, busbar spacing, riser supports, temperature rise, ventilation requirements, neutral bars support and earth bar mountings, which are deemed 
the most important.

We can confirm that Diesel Electric Services, as a panel builder that has a “fully type-tested” design process and has passed a fully type-tested testing procedure, with certification, have completed two additional external tests, namely, lifting (10.2) and corrosion resistance (10.2.2) and ensured during this test procedure that our material selection is maintained at the standard set by our design used to pass the “fully type-tested” testing procedure covered by IEC/SANS 60439-1, with reference to busbar support material / insulating materials / trunking / non-ferrous cable glands / partitioning materials and marking materials used.

Diesel Electric Services has a fully type-tested design at 50 kA, to IEC/SANS 60439-1 and a partially type-tested design at 70 kA, to the same standard. This coupled to the additional test required by IEC/SANS 61439-1/2/3, empowers us to issue a product that is self-certified to comply strictly to IEC/SANS 61439-1/2/3, as detailed in the standard.

The presumption that the latest specification is “better”, is in fact not correct, it just allows more latitude to equipment substitution without going through the costly process of destructive testing, required by IEC/SANS 60439-1 but if the design tool was designed for easy substitution, the verification process becomes extremely simple. 

Diesel Electric Services, continuously generating fresh ideas!