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Switchboard - Forms of Internal Separation

By Steven McFadyen (/user-profile/userid/3)on January 29th, 2012

IEC 61439 'Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies', specifies standard arrangements of switchboard (call
forms of internal separation).

The are labelled as Form 1, Form 2, Form 3 and Form 4. Forms 2, 3 and 4 are further broken down into Form 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a
and 4b.

Each Form relates to the internal separation of the busbars, functional units and terminals, each being defined as:
UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply
Busbar - low impedance conductor to which several electric circuits can be connected (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/227/ups-
Main busbar - busbar to which one or more distribution busbar, incoming unit or outgoing unit can be uninterruptible-power-supply)
connected A UPS is an uninterruptible power supply. It is a device
which maintains a continuous supply of electrical power,
Distribution busbar - busbar in one section which is connected to the main busbar from which incoming or even in the event of failure of the...
outgoing units can be connected
Wiki Depreciation
Functional Unit - part of the assembly comprising the electrical and mechanical elements that contribute to the (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/136/wiki-
fulfilment of the same function depreciation)
We have had the Wiki with us for a long time now, but at last
Incoming unit - functional unit which feeds energy into the assembly I have decided to say bye bye – more details on why below.

Outgoing unit - functional unit supplying energy to the outgoing circuits Voltage Levels to IEC 60038
(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/203/voltage-levels-
Terminals - part of the assembly which provide for connection of incoming and outgoing cable and busbar to-iec-60038)
The standard aims to consolidate AC and traction voltages
Internal separation is achieved by the use of barriers or partitions (including metallic or non-metallic), insulation of live parts within the industry and defines the following bands: band 1 -
or an integral housing (i.e. moulded case circuit breaker). The internal barriers should provide protection against contact to A.C. systems 100 V to 1...
IP XXB and against the ingress of foreign bodies to at least IP 2X.

Lead us, Warleader

Form 1 has no internal separation between , while Form 4b has the greatest with busbars, functional units and terminals all
(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/65/lead-us-
being separated (see illustration): warleader)
Delum, who had watched all in silence, his face empty of
expression, now spoke in turn. ' "Lead us, Warleader, into
glory."' Reading is something I do...

Introduction to Current Transformers

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/209/introduction-
to-current-transformers)
Current transformers (CTs) are used to convert high level
currents to a smaller more reasonable level for use as
inputs to protection relays and metering...

Electrical Engineering

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 Electrical engineering is a field that covers a wide variety of
sub-fields, including electricity and electronics. It is a field
that goes back to the...

Hazardous Areas – IEC and NEC/CEC Comparison

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/126/hazardous-
areas-iec-and-nec-cec-comparison)
Depending where in the world you work, you are likely
following one of two standards International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) National...

E-Ink (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/56/e-ink)
Before the technical, some general information. E-ink
display are found in a lot of e-readers, some mobile phones
and similar devices and the intent is...

Medium Voltage Switchgear Room Design Guide

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/176/medium-
voltage-switchgear-room-design-guide)
Many medium voltage (MV) indoor switchgear rooms exist
worldwide. The complexity of these rooms varies
considerably depending on location, function and...

Famous Scientists
(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/SunBlogNuke/2/Windows-Live-Writer/Switchboard---Forms-of-Internal-
(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/143/famous-
Separati_9950/IEC61439FormsOfSeperation_2.jpg)
scientists)
Forms of separation
Here’s list of some famous scientists. Deliberately short,
Form 1 - no internal separation of the busbars, functional units and terminals from each other. with the aim to provide a quick memory jog or overview. If
Form 2a - separation of the busbars from the functional units. Terminals are not separated from the busbars. your looking for more detailed information...
Form 2b - as for 2a, but with the terminals are not separated from the functional units.
Form 3a - separation of the busbars from the functional units and each functional unit from the other units.
Terminals of each functional unit are not separated from each other. Terminals are not separate from the busbars.
Form 3b - as per 3a, but with the terminals separated from the busbar (and functional units)
Form 4a - separation of the busbars from the functional units and each functional unit from the other units.
Separation of the terminals for a functional unit from the busbars and those of any other unit. Terminals enclosed
in the same compartment as the functional unit.
Form 4b - as per 4a, but with the terminals for each functional unit enclosed in their own space.

BS EN National Annex

The United Kingdom implementation of the IEC standard (in BS EN 61439-2) further defines the separation of busbars and
cables by the use of Types. These have been widely adopted within and outside the United Kingdom.

Form Type Construction

2a

2b 1 busbars separation is by an insulated covering (i.e. sleeving, wrapping, coatings,

etc.)

2 busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions

3a

3b 1 busbars separation is by an insulated covering (i.e. sleeving, wrapping, coatings,

etc.)

2 busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions

4a 1 busbars separation is by an insulated covering (i.e. sleeving, wrapping, coatings,

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cables
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 2 busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions
cables may be glanded elsewhere

3 busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions

functional units have integral glanding facilities

4b 4 busbars separation is by an insulated covering (i.e. sleeving, wrapping, coatings,

etc.)
cables may be glanded elsewhere

5 busbars separated by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions

terminals separated by insulated covering, glanded in common cable chamber

6 all separation requirements by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions

glanded in common cable chamber

7 all separation requirements by rigid metallic or non-metallic barriers or partitions

functional units have integral glanding facilities

You may also be interested in the related post IEC 61439 Verification Methods
(http://myelectrical.com/opinion/entryid/125/iec-61439-verification-methods) .

Switchboards (https://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/switchboards), Terminology

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/terminology), Standards (https://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/standards), IEC
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Steven McFadyen (/user-profile/userid/3)
Steven has over twenty five years experience working on some of the largest construction
projects. He has a deep technical understanding of electrical engineering and is keen to share this
knowledge.
About the author(/user-profile/userid/3)

(http://myelectricalengineering.co.uk)

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− ⚑
KL
Kelly Lee
6 years ago

Why do we need to separate the busbars? And why do we need to compartmentalise it? As I looked into it
why some need the partitions and some boards doen't nee the partitions?

0 0 Reply • Share ›

− ⚑
M
Mdjakkur
7 years ago

Anyone please give me some examples of location and atmosphere where we can use the 7 form of internal
separation.??

0 0 Reply • Share ›

− ⚑
GR
G.MS REDDY
8 years ago

In form-2b each outgoing can be provided pad lock is there any std???

0 0 Reply • Share ›

− ⚑
S
shree
8 years ago

Hi Steven,

Is that TPN and 3P MCCB are same? In which feeder types it can be used.

0 0 Reply • Share ›

− ⚑
S
suraj kurup
8 years ago

Hi, I would like to know whether type test is done for FORM-2b switchgears also?
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> suraj kurup − ⚑
 8 years ago

There is no type test. It is now design verification. You need to read the standard to see what you have to
do (tests, calculations, etc.) to verify the switchgear compliance.

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