Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has notified new provisions in the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code, mandating the installation of residual current device (RCD) in all electricity service connections.
The rated residual operating current of the RCD must not exceed 30 mA for installations with smaller electrical loads, and 300 mA for larger loads.
In a recent press communiqué, TNERC said that the use of RCD will be mandatory in all installations of both single-phase and three-phase connections of house, shops, industries, hospitals, parks, street lights, temples, schools, colleges, etc, as well as temporary service connections.
Emphasizing the benefit of RCDs, TNERC said that “a life-saving device called Residual Current Device (RCD) with rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 milliampere (mA) must be installed to avoid electrical shock and protect life of the human beings.”
A residual current devices (RCD) is also referred to as residual current circuit breaker (RCCB). An RCCB or RCD offers all features of an earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) and is hence increasingly preferred over an ELCB.
In installations of larger electrical loads exceeding 10kW, like big shops, malls, hospitals, godowns, large scale industries, a common RCD at the point of commencement of supply with rated residual operating current of 300 mA must be installed for avoiding fire accidents and protection of properties.
To avoid the nuisance tripping in installations of larger loads, the electrical circuits should be sub-divided according to loads/segregation of floors or building portions as per the site conditions, TNERC said.
Further, an independent RCD shall be provided for each sub-divided circuit, so that the people in each portion of the building shall be protected from electrical shock, in case of electrical faults in that particular portion of the building.
Applicants seeking new service connections must install the life-saving RCD in their installation and declare to the effect in the application itself, TNERC said.
“No service connection shall be effected, unless an RCD is installed and safety to the inmates is ensured,” TNERC stressed.
The intention of TNERC was to stop electrical accidents and loss of life. The commission sought to propagate this mandatory provision to the general public and the younger generation so as to spread awareness on electrical safety, and to ensure prompt implementation of this directive.
(Featured photograph (source: www.cselectric.co.in) shows a residual current device, and is for representation only)