Standards Development

Scope

This British Standard gives recommendations for the management, design, setting-up and operation of temporary electrical systems using low voltage a.c. electricity, for the entertainment and similar or related industries. Mobile and transportable units with electrical installations that are used in these industries are also covered.

This British Standard gives recommendations for the provision of a safe and suitable temporary electrical system for an event and the duties and work to implement this.

NOTE 1 Each aspect of the work could be under the control of a different person responsible.

This British Standard gives guidance on matters of common interest to producers, production companies, event organizers and managers, freelance people, facilities and services hire companies, equipment hire companies, equipment manufacturers, electrical consultants, electrical installation contractors, distributors, suppliers of electricity, venues, local authorities and those responsible for safety.

The systems covered by this British Standard operate at low voltage as defined in BS 7671:20XX and supply equipment normally operating at 230 V a.c. or 400 V a.c. 50 Hz. Electricity at low voltage can be taken from an existing installed electrical system, the public supply, privately owned supplies or from mobile or portable generators. Direct current supplies are outside the scope of this British Standard.

NOTE 2 It is expected that all electrical equipment, switchgear units, distribution units and cables used for work covered by this British Standard are manufactured to the appropriate product standards, and that the temporary electrical systems and their use are designed, set-up, supervised, operated and removed by suitably competent persons. It is also expected that responsibility for such temporary electrical systems is taken by a suitably competent person referred to as the person responsible.

NOTE 3 All equipment forming the temporary electrical system is expected to be delivered to site as pre-assembled units that have been tested and are known to be safe and suitable for use. This does not preclude the manufacture on site of simple units that might be necessary; though this is the exception and not the rule.

NOTE 4 In many situations temporary electrical distributions are intimately associated with mobile and transportable units. In such cases, see BS 7671:20XX Section 717, for further information.

NOTE 5 This British Standard may be applied to temporary electrical distributions at exhibitions and fairgrounds; see BS 7671:20XX Sections 711 and 740, respectively for specific information for these activities. Specialized documents related to exhibitions are published by the Association of Event Venues [1].

NOTE 6 Specialized documents related to theatres and places of entertainment are published by the Association of British Theatre Technicians [2].

NOTE 7 This British Standard does not offer guidance for hazardous locations where expert advice needs to be sought.

Purpose

It’s an existing code of practice aimed at contextualising the UK Wiring Requirements (BS 7671) for the events, broadcast and entertainment industries. It also provides a framework for compliance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work and the Construction Design and Management Regulations respectively in regard to electrical work.

It has already been widely adopted by industry. As BS 761 has changed significantly and the Construction Design and Management Regulations now apply to events, BS 7909 needs to give updated guidance to assist in compliance.