Protection Against Electric Shock

Abstract

This article is the second part of two that looks at summarising protective measures applied to special installations or locations defined in Part 7 of the 17th Edition of the IEE wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2008). In particular, this article looks at Sections 712 to 753. One of the fundamental principles for electrical installations is protection for safety (Section 131) in which Regulation 131.2 Protection against electric shock requires protection to prevent a person or livestock coming into contact with live parts by the provision of basic protection (direct contact) as well as fault protection (indirect contact) to prevent an electric shock when an exposed conductive part becomes live due to a fault. The technical requirements of this principle are dealt with in Part 4 of the Regulations by Chapter 41 “Protection Against Electric Shock”. This chapter highlights four protective measures that are generally permitted (Regulation 410.3.3);