S.I. No. 526/1997 - National Standards Authority Of Ireland (Section 28) (Electrical Plugs, Plug Similar Devices and Sockets For Domestic Use) Regulations, 1997.


I, MARY HARNEY, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 28 of National Standards Authority of Ireland Act 1996 , (No. 28 of 1996) (as adapted by the Enterprise and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 ( S.I. No. 305 of 1997 )), hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Standards Authority of Ireland (Section 28) (Electrical Plugs, Plug Similar Devices and Sockets for Domestic Use) Regulations, 1997.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on the 18th day of December, 1997.

2. These Regulations do not apply to 13 ampere plugs complying in all respects with I.S. 401:97 or to those electrical devices mentioned in the First Schedule to these Regulations.

3. (1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:

“the Authority” means the National Standards Authority of Ireland.

“I.S. 411:1997” means Irish Standard 411:1997 being the Irish standard specification for safety requirements for 13A switched and unswitched socket outlets as declared by the Authority;

“I.S. 401:1997” means Irish Standard 401:1997 being the Irish standard specification for 13A rewirable and non-rewirable plugs as declared by the Authority;

“I.S. 421:1997” means Irish Standard 421:1997 being the Irish standard specification for safety requirements for 13 Amp Adaptors as declared by the Authority;

“BS 5733:1979” means British Standard 5733:1979 being the British standard specification for electrical accessories, as amended by AMD 9157 of May 1996.

“adaptor” means a portable accessory intended for domestic use having plug pins, intended to engage with the contacts of a socket-outlet, and having socket-outlet contacts to accommodate one or more plugs;

“plug” means a portable fused accessory intended for domestic use having projecting pins designed to engage with the contacts of a corresponding socket-outlet and incorporating means for the mechanical retention of an electrical cord and for transmitting an electrical current passing through the cord;

“plug-similar device” means a device intended for domestic use incorporating plug pins and intended to be plugged directly into a socket-outlet and includes:

(a) an adaptor,

(b) a small power supply incorporating plug pins and intended to be plugged directly into a socket-outlet,

(c) a plug-in time switch incorporating a socket-outlet,

(d) a plug-in residual current circuit breaker,

(e) a lamp-plug combination,

(f) a 13 ampere plug which complies with I.S. 401:1997 in all respects except where insertion into a socket-outlet complying with I.S. 411:1997 is prevented by its pin shape, pin rotation or pin location,

(g) any similar device;

“power supply” means a unit which takes energy from the mains electricity supply and supplies it in a form suitable for operating electronic circuits;

“socket-outlet” means an accessory having a set of three socket-contacts designed to engage with the pins of a corresponding plug and having terminals for the connection of appropriate electrical cables or electrical cords or which applies in all respects with I.S. 411:1997, except where its receptor shape, pin rotation or pin location prevents the insertion of a plug complying with I.S. 401:1997.

(2) Where there is a requirement in any provisions of these Regulations that an electrical device shall conform to an Irish or British standard, such requirement shall be satisfied if the electrical device conforms to any equivalent standard or specification recognized for use in a Member State of the European Communities, provided that conformity to such a standard or specification provides a level of safety equivalent to that which would be provided by conformity to the relevant Irish or British standard, and any reference to such a requirement shall be construed accordingly.

(3) In these Regulations a reference to an Irish standard mark shall be construed as a reference to that standard mark as amended or revised by the Authority under section 20 of the National Standards Authority of Ireland Act, 1996 .

4. A person shall not manufacture, assemble, store, supply, offer to supply or exhibit any—

(a) socket-outlet including a 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 ), or

(b) plug which is intended for insertion into a socket-outlet of a type specified in paragraph (a) of this Regulation, or

(c) adaptor, plug-similar device or any device incorporating a socket-outlet, unless—

(i) such socket-outlet complies with the provisions of I.S. 411:1997 safety requirements for 13 A switched and unswitched socket-outlets, or

(ii) such plug complies with the provisions of I.S./EN 50075, or

(iii) such adaptor complies with the provisions of I.S. 421:1977 safety requirement for Adaptors for 13A Plugs and sockets,

or

(iv) such socket-outlet, plug, plug-similar device or device incorporating a socket-outlet complies with the safety requirements set out in the Second Schedule to these Regulations,

or

(v) such manufacturer, assembler or seller can show that such socket-outlet, plug or plug-similar device complies with the provisions of the standards specified in column (2) of the Table to this Regulation opposite the mention of the socket-outlet, plug and plug-similar device in column (1) of the said Table.

TABLE.

Type of socket-outlet, corresponding plug, and plug-similar device.

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, 1982, 1987 and 1989.

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

CEE Publication 7:1963 (Standard Sheets IV and VII) and modifications 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1981.

Plug Similar Device.

Relevant clauses in I.S. 401:1997, I.S. 411:1997, I.S. 421:1997 or BS 5733:1995 and in the standards indicated above which correspond with its plug-similarity.

5. The Industrial Research and Standards (Section 44) (Electrical Plugs, Plug-Similar Devices and Sockets) Order, 1987 ( S.I. No. 172 of 1987 ), is hereby revoked.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Regulation 2

EXCLUDED ELECTRICAL DEVICES

1. Any plug, socket or adaptor which incorporates any other electrical device (other than a fuse link, switch or indicator light).

2. Any plug or socket forming part of a ceiling-rose connector (that is to say a connector designed to hold up over-head electric lighting fittings).

3. Any plug or socket forming part of a luminaire comprising a track system for electric lights and their fittings.

4. Any non-I.S. 401:1997 plug supplied loose which is manufactured to comply with the safety provisions of IEC 884-1 and which is marked with or accompanied by a warning that it is not suitable for connections to a mains socket in the State or the United Kingdom.

5. Any non-rewirable or any moulded-on Europlug (that is to say any plug conforming with IS EN 50075) which is designed for the purpose of connecting to a shaver supply unit conforming to IS/EN 60742:1990, Isolating Transformers and Safety Isolating Transformers Requirements.

6. Any travel adaptor (that is to say any adaptor which enables a plug designed for use in the State or the United Kingdom to be connected to a socket used outside the State and the United Kingdom).

SECOND SCHEDULE

Regulation 4

SAFETY OBJECTIVES FOR ELECTRICAL SOCKET-OUTLETS, PLUGS AND PLUG SIMILAR-DEVICES

1. General Conditions:

(a) The manufacturer's name or brand name or trade mark or that of any person responsible for placing them on the market shall be clearly indicated on socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices.

(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 and E, respectively, according to the following practice:

(i) when viewed from the front of a socket-outlet the positions of the contacts shall be:

top

earth

lower right

live

lower left

neutral

(ii) when viewed from the pin side of a plug the positions of the contacts shall be:

top

earth

lower right

neutral

lower left

live

(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-Outlet) Order, 1973 ( S.I. No. 322 of 1973 ) shall be the same as the rating of the corresponding socket-outlets specified in Clause 3 of I.S. 180:1973.

(d) Socket-outlets, plugs and plug-similar devices 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 such socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices are used for purposes for which they were intended by the manufacturer thereof and are adequately maintained.

2. Protection against hazards arising from socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices

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

(a) persons are adequately protected against danger or 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 socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices to persons or property, and

(d) the electrical insulation is adequate.

3. Protection against hazards which may be caused by external influences on socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices

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

/images/seal.jpg

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 18th day of December, 1997.

MARY HARNEY,

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Regulations and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The purpose of these Regulations is to cater for new Irish and British Standards relating to these products and to allow for equivalent European standards where applicable. The regulations also provide for future amendments to Irish Standard Marks. These Regulations revoke the existing regulations, S.I. 172 of 1987. However, the main purpose of the Regulations remain unchanged in ensuring that non 13 Amp plugs, plug similar devices and socket outlets are manufactured and conform to particular standards before being sold to the consumer.