Standards Development

Scope

Throughout this part, the abbreviation BTS is used for a busbar trunking system. Where reference to  IEC 61439-1: 2020 is made, the term assembly therefore reads as “BTS”.

This part of IEC 61439 lays down the definitions and states the service conditions, construction requirements, technical characteristics and verification requirements for low voltage BTS (see 3.101).

This document applies to BTS as follows:

BTS for which the rated voltage does not exceed 1 000 V in case of AC or 1 500 V in case of DC;

BTS designed for a nominal frequency of the incoming supply or supplies not exceeding 1 000 Hz;

Note Frequencies above 1 kHz are considered as high frequencies, see also IEC 60664-1:2020, 5.3.3.2.5 to take into account additional constraints to insulation coordination.

BTS intended for indoor and outdoor applications;

BTS intended for use as stationary assemblies with or without an enclosure

BTS intended for use in connection with the generation, transmission, distribution and conversion of electric energy, and for the control of electric energy consuming equipment;

BTS designed for use under special service conditions, for example in ships, in Railway applications - Rolling stock equipment -, and for domestic applications (operated by unskilled persons), provided that the relevant specific requirements are complied with;

Note 1 Supplementary requirements in ships are covered by IEC 60092‑302-2: 2019;

Note 2 Supplementary requirements in Railway applications – Rolling stock equipment – are covered by IEC 61373: 2010;

Note 3 Supplementary requirements for ordinary persons are covered by IEC 60364-4-41: 2017 and IEC 60898 series.

This document provides supplementary requirements for BTS intended for use as part of the electrical equipment of machines and can be applied in addition to the requirements given in IEC 60204-1: 2021.

This document applies to all BTS whether they are designed, manufactured and verified on a one-off basis or fully standardized and manufactured in quantity.

The manufacture and/or assembly may be carried out by a manufacturer other than the original manufacturer (see 3.10.1 and 3.10.2 of IEC 61439-1:2020).

This document does not apply to individual devices, for example, circuit breakers, fuse switches and self-contained components such as, motor starters, power electronic converter systems and equipment (PECS), switch mode power supplies (SMPS), uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), basic drive modules (BDM), complete drive modules (CDM), adjustable speed power drives systems (PDS), stand-alone energy storage systems (battery and capacitor systems), and other electronic equipment which comply with their relevant product standards. This document describes their integration into an BTS.

This document does not apply to the specific types of assemblies covered by other parts of the IEC 61439 series, to supply track systems for luminaires in accordance with IEC 60570: 2019, to cable trunking systems and cable ducting systems for electrical installations in accordance with the IEC 61084 series, nor to power track systems in accordance with the IEC 61534 series.

For some applications involving, for example, explosive atmospheres, functional safety, fire behaviour, there can be a need to comply with the requirements of other standards or legislation in addition to those specified in the IEC 61439-6.

Unless local legislation details additional requirements, equipment within the scope of this document, which complies with this document, is deemed to meet essential safety requirements. This includes fully verified specifier options, for example user choice of protection against accidental contact with hazardous live parts of IPXXB or IP3XD. Where special requirements are agreed between the user and manufacturer, that are not fully specified within this document, for example, (i) part of the assembly is outside the scope of this document, (ii) exceptional vibration is present at the place of installation, (iii) exceptional voltage variations occur in service, or (iv) possible adverse effects from sonic or ultrasonic sources, a risk assessment and/or additional or more severe verifications may be required to demonstrate that the essential safety requirements have been fulfilled.