IEC TR 61439-0:2013

Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Part 0: Guidance to specifying assemblies

IEC/TR 61439-0:2013(E), which is a technical report identifies, from the user's perspective, those functions and characteristics that should be defined when specifying ASSEMBLIES. It provides:
- an explanation of the ASSEMBLY characteristics and options within the IEC 61439 series;
- a guidance on how to select the appropriate option and to define characteristics so as to meet specific application needs, using a functional approach; and
- an assistance in the specification of ASSEMBLIES. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2010. It constitutes a technical revision. This second edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- alignment with IEC 61439-1:2011;
- alignment of Annex B with Annex AA of IEC 61439-2:2011;
- alignment of Table C.1 with Table BB.1 of IEC 61439-2:2011;
- addition of a new Annex D regarding IEC 61439-3;
- addition of a new Annex E regarding IEC 61439-4;
- addition of a new Annex G regarding IEC 61439-6;
- general editorial review. Within the IEC 61439 series of standards for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies (ASSEMBLIES), there are system and application details that are specified by the user to enable the manufacturer to produce an ASSEMBLY that meets the needs and expectations of the user.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Apr-2013
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 29.130.20 - Low voltage switchgear and controlgear
• Technical Committee: SC 121B - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies
• Drafting Committee: MT 2 - TC 121/SC 121B/MT 2
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 22-Jul-2022

Relations

• Revises: IEC TR 61439-0:2010 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies - Part 0: Guide to specifying assemblies
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC TR 61439-0:2022 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies- Part 0: Guidance to specifying assemblies
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC/TR 61439-0 ®
Edition 2.0 2013-04
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies –
Part 0: Guidance to specifying assemblies

IEC/TR 61439-0:2013(E)
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Central Office Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé Fax: [phone]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 [e-mail]
Switzerland www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

Useful links:
IEC publications search - www.iec.ch/searchpub Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
The advanced search enables you to find IEC publications The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and
by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical electrical terms containing more than 30 000 terms and
committee,…). definitions in English and French, with equivalent terms in
It also gives information on projects, replaced and additional languages. Also known as the International
withdrawn publications. Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) on-line.

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also once a month by email. Customer Service Centre: [e-mail].

IEC/TR 61439-0 ®
Edition 2.0 2013-04
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies –

Part 0: Guidance to specifying assemblies

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
XB
ICS 29.130.20 ISBN 978-2-83220-787-1

– 2 – TR 61439-0 © IEC:2013(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms and definitions . 10
4 Application of ASSEMBLIES within the IEC 61439 series . 10
4.1 General . 10
4.2 ASSEMBLY design and verification . 10
4.3 Service conditions and interface characteristics . 10
4.4 Design . 11
5 Electrical system . 11
5.1 General . 11
5.2 Earthing system . 11
5.3 Nominal voltage . 11
5.4 Transient overvoltages . 12
5.5 Unusual voltage transients, temporary overvoltages . 13
5.6 Rated frequency f (Hz) . 13
n
5.7 Additional on-site testing requirements: wiring, operational performance and
function . 14
6 Short-circuit withstand capability . 14
6.1 General . 14
6.2 Prospective short-circuit current at supply terminals I (kA) . 14
cp
6.3 Prospective short-circuit current in the neutral . 15
6.4 Prospective short-circuit current in the protective circuit . 15
6.5 Short-circuit protective device (SCPD). 15
6.6 Co-ordination of short-circuit protective devices including external short-
circuit protective device details . 16
6.7 Data associated with loads likely to contribute to the short-circuit current . 16
7 Protection of persons against electric shock . 17
7.1 General . 17
7.2 Basic protection (protection against direct contact) . 17
7.2.1 General . 17
7.2.2 Basic insulation provided by insulating material . 17
7.2.3 Barriers or enclosures . 17
7.3 Fault protection (protection against indirect contact) . 18
7.3.1 General . 18
7.3.2 Requirements for the protective conductor to facilitate automatic
disconnection of the supply . 18
7.3.3 Electrical separation . 19
7.3.4 Protection by total insulation . 19
8 Installation environment . 20
8.1 General . 20
8.2 Location type . 20
8.3 Protection against ingress of solid foreign bodies and ingress of water . 20
8.4 External mechanical impact . 21
8.5 Resistance to UV radiation . 21
8.6 Resistance to corrosion . 21

TR 61439-0 © IEC:2013(E) – 3 –
8.7 Ambient air temperature . 21
8.8 Maximum relative humidity . 21
8.9 Pollution degree . 22
8.10 Altitude . 22
8.11 EMC environment . 22
8.12 Special service conditions . 23
8.12.1 General . 23
8.12.2 Climatic conditions . 24
8.12.3 Protection against ingress of solid foreign bodies and ingress of
water . 24
8.12.4 Shock, vibration, seismic occurrence and external mechanical impact
(IK) . 24
8.12.5 Fire and explosion hazards . 24
8.12.6 Exceptional overvoltages . 25
8.12.7 EMC environment . 25
9 Installation method . 25
9.1 General . 25
9.2 Assembly type . 25
9.3 Portability . 26
9.4 Maximum overall dimensions and weight . 26
9.5 External conductor type(s) . 26
9.6 Direction(s) of external conductors . 26
9.7 External conductor material . 26
9.8 External phase conductor, cross-sections, and terminations . 27
9.9 External PE, N, PEN conductors cross-sections, and terminations . 27
9.10 Special terminal identification requirements . 27
10 Storage and handling . 28
10.1 General . 28
10.2 Maximum dimensions and weight of transport units . 28
10.3 Methods of transport (e.g. forklift, crane) . 28
10.4 Environmental conditions different from the service conditions . 28
10.5 Packing details . 28
11 Operating arrangements . 28
11.1 General . 28
11.2 Access to manually operated devices . 29
11.3 Isolation of load installation equipment items . 29
12 Maintenance and upgrade capabilities . 30
12.1 General . 30
12.2 Requirements related to accessibility for inspection and similar operations . 30
12.3 Requirements related to accessibility for maintenance in service by
authorized persons . 30
12.4 Requirements related to extension under voltage . 31
12.5 Protection against direct contact with hazardous live internal parts during
maintenance or upgrade . 31
12.6 Method of functional units connection . 31
12.7 Operating and maintenance gangways within an ASSEMBLY . 32
12.8 Internal separation . 32
13 Current carrying capability . 32
13.1 General . 32

– 4 – TR 61439-0 © IEC:2013(E)
13.2 Rated current I (A) (maximum current allowable) . 32
nA
13.3 Rated current of circuits I (A) . 33
nc
13.4 Rated diversity factor (RDF) . 33
13.5 Ratio of cross-section of the neutral conductor to phase conductors . 33
13.5.1 General .
...

IEC/TR 61439-0 ®
Edition 2.0 2013-04
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies –
Part 0: Guidance to specifying assemblies

IEC/TR 61439-0:2013(E)
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form

or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,

please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Central Office Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé Fax: [phone]

CH-1211 Geneva 20 [e-mail]
Switzerland www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

Useful links:
IEC publications search - www.iec.ch/searchpub Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
The advanced search enables you to find IEC publications The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and
by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical electrical terms containing more than 30 000 terms and
committee,…). definitions in English and French, with equivalent terms in
It also gives information on projects, replaced and additional languages. Also known as the International
withdrawn publications. Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) on-line.

IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication
details all new publications released. Available on-line and or need further assistance, please contact the
also once a month by email. Customer Service Centre: [e-mail].

IEC/TR 61439-0 ®
Edition 2.0 2013-04
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies –

Part 0: Guidance to specifying assemblies

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
XB
ICS 29.130.20 ISBN 978-2-83220-787-1

– 2 – TR 61439-0 © IEC:2013(E)

CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5

INTRODUCTION . 7

1 Scope . 9

2 Normative references . 9

3 Terms and definitions . 10

4 Application of ASSEMBLIES within the IEC 61439 series . 10

4.1 General . 10

4.2 ASSEMBLY design and verification . 10
4.3 Service conditions and interface characteristics . 10
4.4 Design . 11
5 Electrical system . 11
5.1 General . 11
5.2 Earthing system . 11
5.3 Nominal voltage . 11
5.4 Transient overvoltages . 12
5.5 Unusual voltage transients, temporary overvoltages . 13
5.6 Rated frequency f (Hz) . 13
n
5.7 Additional on-site testing requirements: wiring, operational performance and
function . 14
6 Short-circuit withstand capability . 14
6.1 General . 14
6.2 Prospective short-circuit current at supply terminals I (kA) . 14
cp
6.3 Prospective short-circuit current in the neutral . 15
6.4 Prospective short-circuit current in the protective circuit . 15
6.5 Short-circuit protective device (SCPD). 15
6.6 Co-ordination of short-circuit protective devices including external short-
circuit protective device details . 16
6.7 Data associated with loads likely to contribute to the short-circuit current . 16
7 Protection of persons against electric shock . 17
7.1 General . 17
7.2 Basic protection (protection against direct contact) . 17
7.2.1 General . 17
7.2.2 Basic insulation provided by insulating material . 17

7.2.3 Barriers or enclosures . 17
7.3 Fault protection (protection against indirect contact) . 18
7.3.1 General . 18
7.3.2 Requirements for the protective conductor to facilitate automatic
disconnection of the supply . 18
7.3.3 Electrical separation . 19
7.3.4 Protection by total insulation . 19
8 Installation environment . 20
8.1 General . 20
8.2 Location type . 20
8.3 Protection against ingress of solid foreign bodies and ingress of water . 20
8.4 External mechanical impact . 21
8.5 Resistance to UV radiation . 21
8.6 Resistance to corrosion . 21

TR 61439-0 © IEC:2013(E) – 3 –

8.7 Ambient air temperature . 21

8.8 Maximum relative humidity . 21

8.9 Pollution degree . 22

8.10 Altitude . 22

8.11 EMC environment . 22

8.12 Special service conditions . 23

8.12.1 General . 23

8.12.2 Climatic conditions . 24

8.12.3 Protection against ingress of solid foreign bodies and ingress of

water . 24

8.12.4 Shock, vibration, seismic occurrence and external mechanical impact
(IK) . 24
8.12.5 Fire and explosion hazards . 24
8.12.6 Exceptional overvoltages . 25
8.12.7 EMC environment . 25
9 Installation method . 25
9.1 General . 25
9.2 Assembly type . 25
9.3 Portability . 26
9.4 Maximum overall dimensions and weight . 26
9.5 External conductor type(s) . 26
9.6 Direction(s) of external conductors . 26
9.7 External conductor material . 26
9.8 External phase conductor, cross-sections, and terminations . 27
9.9 External PE, N, PEN conductors cross-sections, and terminations . 27
9.10 Special terminal identification requirements . 27
10 Storage and handling . 28
10.1 General . 28
10.2 Maximum dimensions and weight of transport units . 28
10.3 Methods of transport (e.g. forklift, crane) . 28
10.4 Environmental conditions different from the service conditions . 28
10.5 Packing details . 28
11 Operating arrangements . 28
11.1 General . 28
11.2 Access to manually operated devices . 29

11.3 Isolation of load installation equipment items . 29
12 Maintenance and upgrade capabilities . 30
12.1 General . 30
12.2 Requirements related to accessibility for inspection and similar operations . 30
12.3 Requirements related to accessibility for maintenance in service by
authorized persons . 30
12.4 Requirements related to extension under voltage . 31
12.5 Protection against direct contact with hazardous live internal parts during
maintenance or upgrade . 31
12.6 Method of functional units connection . 31
12.7 Operating and maintenance gangways within an ASSEMBLY . 32
12.8 Internal separation . 32
13 Current carrying capability . 32
13.1 General . 32

– 4 – TR 61439-0 © IEC:2013(E)

13.2 Rated current I (A) (maximum current allowable) . 32
nA
13.3 Rated current of circuits I (A) . 33
nc
13.4 Rated diversity factor (RDF) . 33

13.5 Ratio of cross
...