S.I. No. 178/1983 - Industrial Research and Standards (Section 44) (Electrical Plugs and Sockets) Order, 1983.


S.I. No. 178 of 1983.

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND STANDARDS (SECTION 44) (ELECTRICAL PLUGS AND SOCKETS) ORDER, 1983.

I, JOHN BRUTON, Minister for Industry and Energy, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 44 (1) of the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961 (No. 20 of 1961), as adapted by the Industry and Energy (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1983 ( S.I. No. 21 of 1983 ) hereby order as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Industrial Research and Standards (Section 44) (Electrical Plugs and Sockets) Order, 1983.

2. This Order shall come into operation on the 1st day of August, 1983.

3. (1) It shall be unlawful to manufacture, assemble, or sell any socket-outlet complying with the provisions of the Industrial Research and Standards Act (Section 44) (Electrical Mains Socket-Outlets) Order, 1973 ( S.I. No. 322 of 1973 ), unless it complies with the safety requirements set out in the Schedule to this Order.

(2) It shall be unlawful to manufacture, assemble or sell any plug which is intended for insertion into a socket outlet of a type specified in paragraph (1) of this Article unless such plug complies with the safety requirements set out in the Schedule to this Order.

4. In any proceedings against a person who contravenes the provisions of Article 3 of this Order relating to socket-outlets and plugs of the type specified in column (1) of the Table to this Article it shall be a defence to prove that such socket outlets or plugs, as the case may be, comply with the provisions of the standards specified in column (2) of that Table opposite the mention of the socket-outlets and plugs in the said column (1).

TABLE

Type of socket-outlet and corresponding plug

Standard

(1)

(2)

As specified in sub-clause 4.1 of Irish Standard 180:1973

British Standard 546: 1950 including Supplement No. 1 and Amendments 1953, 1961, 1969, 1977 and 1982

As specified in sub-clause 4.2 of Irish Standard 180:1973

British Standard 1363: 1967 including Amendments 1969, 1971, 1977 and 1978

As specified in sub-clause 4.3 of Irish Standard 180:1973

CEE Publication 7: 1963 (Standard Sheet IV) and modifications 1972, 1973 and 1974

SCHEDULE

SAFETY OBJECTIVES FOR ELECTRICAL PLUGS AND SOCKETS

1. General Conditions

( a ) The manufacturer's or brand name or trade mark shall be clearly indicated on the socket-outlet or plug.

( b ) Socket-outlets which conform to sub-clause 4.1 and 4.2 of I.S. 180: 1973 and plugs intended for insertion into such socket-outlets shall have their live, neutral and earth contacts marked L.N.E. respectively according to the following convention:

When viewed from the front of a socket-outlet the positions of the contacts shall be:

top — earth

lower right — live

lower left — neutral

( c ) The rating of plugs intended for insertions into socket-outlets which comply with the provisions of the Industrial Research and Standards Act (Section 44) (Electrical Mains Socket-Outlets) Order, 1973, shall be the same as the rating of the corresponding socket-outlets as specified in Clause 3 of I.S. 180: 1973.

( d ) The socket-outlets and plugs shall be so designed, manufactured and constructed as to ensure that protection against the hazards specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Schedule is assured provided that the socket-outlet or plug is used for a purpose for which it was apparently intended by the manufacturer thereof and is adequately maintained.

2. Protection against hazards arising from the socket-outlet or plug

For the purposes of complying with the provisions of paragraph 1 (d) of this Schedule, the socket-outlet or plug shall be designed, manufactured and constructed so that:

( a ) persons are adequately protected against danger of physical injury or other harm which might be caused by electrical contact direct or indirect;

( b ) temperatures or arcs which would cause a danger to persons or property are not produced;

( c ) foreseeable non-electrical dangers are not caused by the socket-outlets or plugs, to persons or property, and

( d ) the electrical insulation is adequate.

3. Protections against hazards which may be caused by external influences on a socket-outlet or plug

For the purposes of complying with the provisions of paragraph 1 (d) of this Schedule, socket-outlets or plugs shall be so designed, manufactured and constructed that they are capable of withstanding such rough handling as could reasonably be expected in normal use, so that persons and property are not endangered.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 22nd day of June, 1983.

JOHN BRUTON,

Minister for Industry and Energy.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The purpose of this Order is to prohibit the manufacture, assembly or sale of electrical plugs or socket-outlets unless they meet certain specified requirements.

The objective of the Order is, in the interests of greater safety, to ensure that plugs and socket-outlets are designed, manufactured and constructed to a particular standard so as not to endanger persons or property.