HEALTH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 06-01

PART A
Electrical services supply and distribution
Part A: Design considerations
2007

STATUS IN WALES
APPLIES

This document replaced

HTM 2007 Electrical services supply and distribution, 1993
HTM 2011 Emergency electrical services, 1992
HTM 2014 Abatement of electrical interference, 1993

For queries on the status of this document contact

[email protected] or telephone 029 2031 5512
Status Note amended March 2013

Electrical services Health Technical Memorandum 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Electrical services
Health Technical Memorandum
06-01: Electrical services supply
and distribution
Part A: Design considerations

SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

PRIMARY SOURCE

SECONDARY SOURCE

PUBLIC ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

(PES) DISTRIBUTION
NETWORK OPERATOR (DNO)

HEALTHCARE PREMISES
INTERNAL ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

HV (11 kV)

HIGH
VOLTAGE
NETWORK(S)

LV (400 V)

Alternative
Energy
Plant

Combined
Heat and
Power (CHP)

Emergency
Power Plant

High Voltage
Substation

www.tso.co.uk

9 780113 227556

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Unified) Distribution
Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Segregated)
Distribution Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Dual Unified)
Distribution Board
TERTIARY POWER
SUPPLY
UNINTERRUPTIBLE
POWER SUPPLY

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ISBN 0-11-322755-8

LTAGE NETWORK(S)

Low Voltage
Distribution Switch Panel

DH INFORMATION READER BOX

Policy
HR / Workforce
Management
Planning
Clinical

Estates
Performance
IM & T
Finance
Partnership Working

Document Purpose Best practice guidance

ROCR Ref:

Title

Health Technical Memorandum 06-01, Part A: 'Electrical services

supply and distribution'

Author

Department of Health / Estates and Facilities Division

Publication Date

Oct
Feb 2006
2007

Target Audience

PCT CEs, NHS Trust CEs, SHA CEs, Care Trust CEs, Foundation
Trust CEs , PCT PEC Chairs, NHS Trust Board Chairs, Special HA
CEs

Circulation List

Department of Health libraries, House of Commons library,

Strategic Health Authorities, UK Health Departments, Directors of
Estates and Facilities,

Description

Health Technical Memorandum 06-01, Part A, provides guidance

on the design, installation and testing of all fixed wiring and
integral electrical equipment used for electrical services within
healthcare premises.

Cross Ref

HTM 06-01, Part A

0
HTMs 2007, 2011 and 2014
0
0
0

Superseded Docs
Action Required

Gateway Ref:

7165

Timing

N/A

Contact Details

Chris Holme
Department of Health/Estates and Facilities Division
Quarry House, Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE
0113 254 5932
0
0

For Recipient's Use

Electrical services
Health Technical Memorandum
06-01: Electrical services supply and
distribution
Part A: Design considerations

London: The Stationery Office

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Published by TSO (The Stationery Office) and available from:

Online
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Mail, Telephone, Fax & E-mail
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Crown copyright 2007

Published with the permission of the Estates and
Facilities Division of the Department of Health,
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This document/publication is not covered by the HMSO
Click-Use Licences for core or added-value material.
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ISBN 0-11-322755-8
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First published 2007
Printed in the United Kingdom for The Stationery Office

ii

The paper used in the printing of this document (Revive Silk)

is 75% made from 100% de-inked post-consumer waste, the
remaining 25% being mill broke and virgin fibres. Recycled
papers used in its production are a combination of Totally
Chlorine Free (TCF) and Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF). It
is recyclable and biodegradable and is an NAPM and Eugropa
approved recycled grade.

Preface

About Health Technical Memoranda

Engineering Health Technical Memoranda (Health
Technical Memoranda)
give comprehensive advice and guidance on the design,
installation and operation of specialised building and
engineering technology used in the delivery of healthcare.
The focus of Health Technical Memorandum guidance
remains on healthcare-specific elements of standards,
policies and up-to-date established best practice. They are
applicable to new and existing sites, and are for use at
various stages during the whole building lifecycle:

main source of specific healthcare-related guidance for

estates and facilities professionals.
The core suite of nine subject areas provides access to
guidance which:
is more streamlined and accessible;
encapsulates the latest standards and best practice in
healthcare engineering;
provides a structured reference for healthcare
engineering.

Figure 1 Healthcare building life-cycle

CONCEPT

DISPOSAL

RE-USE
DESIGN & IDENTIFY
OPERATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS

OPERATIONAL
MANAGEMENT

Ongoing
Review

MAINTENANCE

COMMISSIONING

INSTALLATION

Healthcare providers have a duty of care to ensure that

appropriate engineering governance arrangements are in
place and are managed effectively. The Engineering
Health Technical Memorandum series provides best
practice engineering standards and policy to enable
management of this duty of care.
It is not the intention within this suite of documents to
unnecessarily repeat international or European standards,
industry standards or UK Government legislation. Where
appropriate, these will be referenced.
Healthcare-specific technical engineering guidance is a
vital tool in the safe and efficient operation of healthcare
facilities. Health Technical Memorandum guidance is the

SPECIFICATIONS
TECHNICAL & OUTPUT

PROCUREMENT

CONSTRUCTION

Structure of the Health Technical

Memorandum suite
The series of engineering-specific guidance contains a
suite of nine core subjects:
Health Technical Memorandum 00
Policies and principles (applicable to all Health
Technical Memoranda in this series)
Health Technical Memorandum 01

Decontamination
Health Technical Memorandum 02

Medical gases
iii

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Health Technical Memorandum 03

Heating and ventilation systems

Electrical Services Electrical safety guidance for low

voltage systems

Health Technical Memorandum 04

Water systems

In a similar way Health Technical Memorandum 07-02

will simply represent:

Health Technical Memorandum 05

Fire safety

Environment and Sustainability EnCO2de.

All Health Technical Memoranda are supported by the
initial document Health Technical Memorandum 00
which embraces the management and operational policies
from previous documents and explores risk management
issues.

Health Technical Memorandum 06

Electrical services
Health Technical Memorandum 07

Environment and sustainability
Health Technical Memorandum 08

Specialist services
Some subject areas may be further developed into topics
shown as -01, -02 etc and further referenced into Parts A,
B etc.
Example: Health Technical Memorandum 06-02 Part A
will represent:

HTM 08

HTM 01

Specialist
Services

IF I
C

D
O

HTM 05

iv

EN

Fire
Safety

TS

Policies and
Principles

STR

Medical
Gases

CUMENTS

HTM 00

IO
NA
L&

DU

HTM 02

N
EUROPEA

Y S TA N D

ST

D
AR

DO

IN

Electrical
Services

HTM 03

Heating &
Ventilation
Systems

IC

INTER
NA
T

HTM 06

RD

& EUROPEAN
AL
N
ST
IO

T
NA
INTER

C
H E A LT H S P E

Environment &
Sustainability

T R Y S TA N D A

RDS
DA
AN

HTM 07

S
DU

IF

IN

Decontamination

EC

FIC DOC
UM
EN
TS

HTM 04

SP

A
HE

SPECI
H
T

DH Estates and Facilities Division wishes to acknowledge

the contribution made by professional bodies,
engineering consultants, healthcare specialists and
NHS staff who have contributed to the review.

AN
DA
RDS

Figure 2 Engineering guidance

Some variation in style and structure is reflected by the

topic and approach of the different review working
groups.

Water
Systems

HE

T
AL

Executive summary

Health Technical Memorandum 06-01 Electrical

services supply and distribution replaces Health
Technical Memorandum 2007 Electrical services
supply and distribution and Health Technical
Memorandum 2011 Emergency electrical services,
and absorbs Health Technical Memorandum 2014
Abatement of electrical interference.
This part (Part A) provides guidance for all works on the
fixed wiring and integral electrical equipment used for
electrical services within healthcare premises.

This document should be used for all forms of electrical

design work ranging from a new greenfield site to
modifying an existing final subcircuit. The relevance of
each section will depend on the extent of the design
works.
It provides guidance to managers of healthcare premises
on how European and British Standards relating to
electrical safety such as the IEE Wiring Regulations
BS7671, the Building Regulations 2000 and the
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 can be used to fulfil
their duty of care in relation to the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974.

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Acknowledgements

Main working group

Owen Cusack

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust

Peter Desforges

Develop

Alan Gascoine

Mayday Hospital

Ian Hawthorn

Sandwell General Hospital

Chris Holme 

Department of Health Estates and Facilities

Jim Mellish

Skanska UK PLC

John Murray

Bender UK

Nigel Porter

Welsh Health Estates

Mike Ralph

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Steve Wilson

Faber Maunsell AECOM

Subject working groups

Switchgear and Protection

Schneider Electric

Containment Systems

Dick Shelly

Skanska UK PLC

Andrew Galloway

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Isolated Power Supplies

John Murray

Bender UK

Electromagnetic Compatibility

vi

Alwyn Finney

ERA Technology

Contents

Preface
Executive summary
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Scope of Health Technical Memorandum 06-01

Abbreviations and definitions
Introduction
Overview
How to read this Health Technical Memorandum
Initial considerations
Sources of supply
Resilience
Essential/non-essential supplies
Primary sources of supply
Secondary main sources of supply generation
Tariff negotiations and private generation
Supply voltages
Design of installations for growth and change
Assessment of existing electrical systems
Greenfield site
New-build on existing site
New equipment on existing site
Load profile
Diversity factors
Consideration for EMC requirements
Roles and responsibilities
Access for maintenance
Commissioning procedures
Connection to the DNO
Connection to the healthcare site network
Supply from the DNO
Supply from internal connection point
Understanding risk and ownership
Introduction
Need for risk assessment
Ownership and design
Risk profile
Clinical risk
Category 1 Support service circulation
Category 2 Ambulant care and diagnostics
Category 3 Emergency care and diagnostics
Category 4 Patients in special medical locations
Category 5 Life support or complex surgery
Non-clinical and business continuity risk
Category 1 Business support services

1
5
7

17

vii

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

viii

Category 2 Building services safety and security

Category 3 Building services environmental control
Category 4 Medical support services
Electrical infrastructure
Resilience
Electrical infrastructure system selection
Power quality
Power factor correction
Located at the intake point
Located at sub-main distribution boards
Located on the electrical equipment
Harmonics
Located at the intake point
Located at sub-main distribution boards
Located on the electrical equipment
Voltage surge protection
Distribution strategy
Design for resilience
Supply connections
Risk of transformer failures
Risk of generator failures
Other reasons for failure of electricity supply
Distribution system high voltage
HV network one radial circuit with one substation only
HV network one radial circuit with three substations
HV network three radial circuits each with one substation
HV ring network ring with four substations
Primary and secondary distribution systems
Primary supply unified infrastructure
Primary and secondary supply unified and segregated infrastructure
Primary and secondary supply unified and dual-unified infrastructure
Dual primary and dual secondary supply unified and dual-unified infrastructure
Dual primary and dual HV secondary supply dual-unified infrastructure
Dual primary and dual LV secondary supply dual-unified infrastructure
Final circuits
Fixed equipment
Power outlets
Lighting circuits
Primary power distribution centres
HV substations
Location
Construction
Access and egress
Layout
Fire precautions
Environmental requirements
Equipment and notices provided
Transformer enclosures
Location
Construction
Access and egress
Fire precautions
Environmental requirements

25

28

41

Contents

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

LV switchrooms
Location
Construction
Access and egress
Layout
Fire precautions
Environmental requirements
Equipment and notices required to be provided
Secondary power centres and plant
Secondary power general arrangements
Photovoltaic power secondary power source
Wind turbine power source
General secondary power plant location
Essential power capacity
Essential and emergency power provision
Standby generators
Design criteria
Component parts
Generator configuration
Mobile plug-in generator island operation
Generator(s) in island operation
Generator(s) operating in parallel with PES
LV generators feeding HV ring main
Generator control
Generating set management
Multi-set operation
Mains return
Computerised load management of generators
Standards and references
Generator engines
Batteries and battery charging
Fuel and fuel storage
Exhaust systems
Environmental considerations
Protection and switchgear
High-voltage switchgear
Withdrawable units
Semi-withdrawable units
Fixed-pattern units
High-voltage busbar sections
High-voltage protection devices
High-rupture-capacity (HRC) fuse links to BS2692, IEC 60298
Time fuse links to ESIS 12.6
Inverse definite minimum time (IDMT) relays
Bias differential relays
Earth fault passage indicators
Grading of protection systems
Network reconfiguration after a fault or outage
Distribution transformer types
Fluid-type transformers
Dry-type transformers
Package substation
Transformer protection

48

62

ix

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Generator protection
Low-voltage switchboards
Form 2
Form 3
Form 4
Motor control centre (MCC)
Final distribution boards and consumer units
Low-voltage protection devices
Switch
Disconnector
Fuse
Circuit breaker
Low-voltage busbar sections
Discrimination of protective devices
Discrimination with HBC/HBC fuses
Discrimination with MCB/MCCB
Discrimination with MCB/fuse
Discrimination with RCDs
Automatic load management of switchgear (HV, LV)
Tertiary power supplies
Batteries for uninterruptible power supplies
Battery type
Battery life
Battery arrangements
Battery autonomy
Batteries for inverter units
Battery type
Battery life
Battery arrangements
Battery autonomy
Generator batteries
Battery type
Battery life
Battery autonomy
Electromagnetic compatibility
Standards
Procurement requirements
EMC phenomena
Standards and levels
Electromagnetic environment
Designing systems for EMI control
EMC control for power systems
EMC control for cables and cable-containment systems
EMC control for general systems
Cable segregation and separation
Cable screening, trunking and trays
Crosstalk characteristics
Using conductive structural supports as runs for cables
Identification of critical systems
Earthing and bonding
Wiring systems
High voltage
Low voltage

74

77

87

Contents

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Medical IT
Protected extra low voltage systems
Separated extra low voltage systems
Earthing
High-voltage earthing methods
High-voltage network cables
High-voltage generator earths
Low-voltage main earthing methods
Low-voltage generator earths
Switchroom earths
Earths for radiographic rooms
Medical IT or isolated power supply earths
Microshock
Circuit protective conductors
Functional earth
Monitored earthing systems
Lightning protection
Lightning protection system components
Ionised fields
Containment
Trenches, service tunnels and ducts
Ladder rack tray basketry
Trunking conduits
Preformed wiring containment
Layout considerations
Fire precautions
Remodelling and extensions
Circuit segregation
Access for maintenance
Suitable locations
Cable and busbar types
High-voltage distribution
Low-voltage distribution
Cable identification
Busbar distribution
Control alarm and communication cables
Control communication and non-fire-alarm cables
Information technology cables
Fire alarm cables
Final circuits
Uninterruptible power supplies
Standards
Rating
UPS environment
UPS description and configurations
UPS fault condition design
UPS power quality
UPS resilience
Inverter units
Central battery units
Rectifier units for theatre operating lamps
Isolated power supplies (IPS)
IPS environment

88

97

101

105

xi

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

IPS communication
Resilience
The patient environment
IPS low-power circuits
General low-power circuits
Socket-outlets/connection units
Sockets for special locations
Sockets for operating theatre suites
Socket for mobile X-ray units
Spark-proof sockets
Number of outlets per final circuit
Fixed equipment
Supplies to external buildings
Temporary supplies
Connections for mobile trailer units
General lighting
Theatre operating lamps
Examination lamps lighting
Emergency escape lighting
Standby lighting
Fire alarm, security circuits and critical alarms
BEMS communication and control wiring systems
Chapter 17
Validation and commissioning
Validation of specific plant
Generators and CHP plant
Uninterruptible power supplies
Isolated power supplies
Fixed wiring distribution, switchgear and protection
Records to be kept
As-installed drawings
Building logbook
Appendix 1
Maximum interruption times to the primary supply
Appendix 2
Sample test record sheets
Appendix 3
Drawing symbols
References
Acts and Regulations
British, European and International Standards
Department of Health publications
Miscellaneous publications

xii

118

123
124
134
135

1 Scope

of Health Technical Memorandum

06-01

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

Health Technical Memorandum 06-01 Electrical

services supply and distribution replaces Health
Technical Memorandum 2007 Electrical services
supply and distribution and Health Technical
Memorandum 2011 Emergency electrical
services, and absorbs Health Technical
Memorandum 2014 Abatement of electrical
interference.
This part (Part A) provides guidance for all
works on the fixed wiring and integral electrical
equipment used for electrical services within
healthcare premises. The document should be used
for all forms of electrical design work ranging from
a new greenfield site to modifying an existing final
subcircuit.

BSRIA: Building Services Research and Information

Association
CCM: CIBSE commissioning manual
CCTV: closed-circuit television
CDM: Construction Design and Management
Regulations
CE: European Conformity
CENELEC: The European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardization
CHP: combined heat and power
CIBSE: Chartered Institute of Building Services
Engineers

This document provides guidance to managers of

healthcare premises on how European and British
Standards relating to electrical safety such as the
IEE Wiring Regulations BS 7671, the Building
Regulations 2000 and the Electricity at Work
Regulations 1989 can be used to fulfil their duty of
care in relation to the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act 1974.

CPC: circuit protective conductor

The policies and principles of all engineering

services are described in Health Technical
Memorandum 00 Policies and principles, which
should be read in conjunction with this document.

DRUPS: diesel rotary uninterruptible power supplies

Abbreviations and definitions

24 x 7: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
ac: alternating current
ACB: air circuit breaker
AMD: assumed maximum demand
AVR: automatic voltage regulator
BASEC: British Approvals Services for Electrical Cables
BEMS: building energy management system
BMS: building management system
BS: British Standards

CT: current transformer

DB: distribution board
DBU: distribution unit
dc: direct current
DNO: distribution network operator
DTC: diagnostic and treatment centres
EC: European Community
ECG: electrocardiogram
EEA: European Economic Area
EEC: European Economic Community
EI: extreme inverse
EMC: electromagnetic compatibility
EMCD: electromagnetic compatibility directives
EMI: electromagnetic interference
EPR: electronic patient records
ERB: earth reference bar
ERIC: Estates Return Information Collection

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

ESD: electrostatic discharge

MCCB: moulded-case circuit breaker

ETSI: European Telecommunications Standards Institute

MD: maximum demand

EU: European Union

Medical IT: medical impedance terra (earthed) also

known as IPS

FL: full load

GRP: Glass-reinforced plastic
GSM: global system for mobile communication
HBC: high breaking capacity
HBN: Health Building Note
HDU: high dependency unit
HFN: Health Facilities Note
HGN: Health Guidance Note

MEIGaN: Medical Electrical Installation Guidance

Notes
MET: main earth terminal
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
NEAT: NHS Environmental Assessment Tool
NHS: National Health Service
OCB: oil circuit breaker

HRC: high rupturing capacity

OJEC/OJEU: Official Journal of the European

Community/Union

HV: high voltage (11 kV)

ONAN: oil natural circulation, air natural flow

HVAC: heating ventilation and air-conditioning

PEC: protective earth conductor

ICU: intensive care unit

PEI: primary electrical infrastructure

IDMT: inverse definite minimum time

PELV: protected extra LV

IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission

PES: public electrical supply

IEE: Institute of Electrical Engineering

PET: protective earth terminal

IGBT: Insulated-gate bipolar transistor

PF: power factor

IM&T: information management and technology

PFC: power factor correction

IMD: insulation monitoring device

PFI: Private Finance Initiative

IP: ingress protection (rating)

PPE: personal protective equipment

IPS: isolated power supplies (also known as medical IT)

PPS: primary power source

ISO: International Standards Organisation

PSCC: prospective short-circuit current

ISS: intake substation

PV: photovoltaic cell

IT: impedance terra earthed (derived from an isolated

power supply)

PVC: polyvinyl chloride

ITU: intensive therapy unit

IV: intravenous
LBTC: logbook template customisable
LBTS: logbook template standard
LDRP: labour delivery room and post partum
LPS: lightning protection system
LV: low voltage
M&E: mechanical and electrical
MCB: miniature circuit breaker
MCC: motor control centre


RCBO: residual current breaker with overcurrent

RCD: residual current device
REF: restricted earth fault
RMU: ring main unit
SCADA: supervisory control and data acquisition
SCBU: special care babies unit
SELV: separated extra LV
SF6: sulphur hexafluoride
SI: Systme Internationale
SP & N: single phase and neutral

1 Scope of Health Technical Memorandum 06-01

SPS: secondary power source

TETRA: trans-European trunked radio access
TFL: time fuses links may also be referred to as tlf timelag fuses
THD: total harmonic distortion
TN-C: combined neutral and earth throughout the
electrical distribution system
TN-C-S: neutral and earth is combined at point of
supply and separate throughout the electrical installation
TN-S: separate neutral and earth throughout the
electrical system
TP & N: three-phase and neutral
TPS: tertiary power supply
UMTS: universal mobile telecommunications service
UPS: uninterruptible power supply
VRLA: valve regulated lead acid (battery)
VT: voltage transformer
XLPE: cross-linked polyethylene
Applied part: part of a medical electrical device which in
normal use necessarily comes into physical contact with
the patient for the device to perform its function
or
can be brought into contact with the patient

correct and in a safe manner. The designer need not be a

direct employee of the healthcare organisation.
Essential: any part of the electrical distribution and/or
final circuits that can be automatically transferred
between either the primary or secondary supply circuits.
Medical electrical equipment: electrical equipment
intended to diagnose, treat or monitor a patient under
medical supervision which will make physical or electrical
contact with the patient, transfer energy to and from the
patient, or detect such energy flows.
Note: equipment is not covered by this Health Technical
Memorandum. The Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the government agency
which is responsible for ensuring that medical equipment
works and is acceptably safe.
Medical IT (IPS): IT electrical system having specific
requirements for medical installations. The system will
include a monitoring device to provide an alarm on loss
of IMD connections, insulation failure, overload and
high temperature.
Medical location: location intended for the purpose of
diagnosic treatment (including cosmetic) or monitoring a
patient under medical supervision.
Group 0 Medical location where no applied parts are
intended to be used.
Group 1 Medical location where discontinuity of the
electrical supply is not a risk to human life (unless the
location is part of a Group 2 location).

or

Group 2 Medical location where discontinuity of the

electrical supply can cause danger to life.

needs to be touched by the patient.

Note: discontinuity means any unplanned loss of the

power supply (see MEIGaN).

Authorised Person (HV): a person appointed to take

responsibility for the effective management of the safety
guidance given in Health Technical Memorandum 06-03
Electrical safety guidance for high voltage systems.
Authorised Person (LV): a person appointed to take
responsibility for the effective management of the safety
guidance given in Health Technical Memorandum 06-02
Electrical safety guidance for low voltage systems.
Dual-unified distribution: separate primary and
secondary circuits collectively forming the electrical
distribution of the healthcare facility. The secondary
supply is equal to the primary supply; that is, both
primary and secondary circuits are fully rated and provide
a resilient distribution.
Designer: a person (or organisation) with the
responsibility to design the electrical services technically

MEIGaN: Medical Electrical Installations Guidance

Note published by MHRA.
Normal (non-essential): any part of the electrical
distribution and/or final circuits connected only to
the primary distribution and with no means of being
connected to the essential (secondary) distribution.
Note: in some distributions, manual reconfiguration may
allow the normal circuits to be temporarily connected to
the essential (secondary) distribution.
Patient: living person undergoing healthcare, therapy or
diagnostic investigation (including dental and cosmetic).
Patient environment: any area in which intentional or
unintentional contact can occur between the patient and
parts of the electrical system or between the patient and
other persons in contact with parts of the system (see
Figure44).


Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Point of use: Electrical distribution points where

electrical equipment may be connected. This may be an
accessory or isolator etc.
Protected extra LV: a SELV system that is earthed at one
point only. Additional protection against direct contact is
achieved by barriers and/or enclosures. Alternatively the
insulation will have a withstand test voltage of 500V
dc for 60 seconds.
Residual risk: a risk that has not been fully mitigated by
the design process.
Segregated distribution: an electrical distribution that
includes separated primary and secondary circuits not of
equal size or capacity. The secondary circuits are the only
circuits that are supported by the standby power system.
Separated extra LV: an LV system (normally not
exceeding 50V ac or 120V ripple-free dc) derived from a
safety source such as an isolating transformer to BS EN
61558-1:1998 and BS EN 61558-2.
Single point of failure: a connection point (other than a
point of use) where any upstream single fault will cause
the loss of supply to the downstream parts of the
distribution.

Stakeholder: a person (or organisation) with vested

interest (not necessary pecuniary) in the electrical services
quality and provision at healthcare premises. The
stakeholders will normally be an employee of the
healthcare organisation.
Tertiary power supply: a third supply that supplements
the primary and secondary supplies, usually in the form
of an UPS or battery system.
Unified distribution: primary (normal) and secondary
(essential) circuits combined as one circuit to form a
common electrical distribution of the healthcare site.
Where the secondary power source does not provide
100% capacity of the primary power source, local
automatic devices will be required to isolate the nonessential circuits whenever the primary power source is
not available.

Introduction

Overview
2.1

Health Technical Memoranda 2007, 2011 and

2014 have been superseded and combined into one
document: Health Technical Memorandum 06-01.

2.2

Health Technical Memorandum 06-01 Part A

addresses design considerations for the electrical
services supply and distribution within any
healthcare facility. Part B addresses the operational
management and maintenance of the electrical
services supply and distribution within any
healthcare facility. Both parts provide best
practice guidance on the design and operational
management of electrical services within healthcare
premises.

2.3

Throughout this document, the following voltages

are used (see BS 7671:2001 for the defined voltage
bands):

Extra low voltage

50V ac or 120V ripple-free dc

Separated extra low

voltage (SELV)

50V ac or 120V ripple-free dc

Protected extra low

voltage (PELV)

50V ac or 120V ripple-free dc

Low voltage

230V phase to neutral, phase to earth

or line-to-line (medical IT)
400V phase to phase

High voltage

11,000V phase to phase

6350V phase to neutral

2.4

This document has been divided into 18 chapters:

Chapters 1 and 2 set out the structure of the
Health Technical Memorandum;
Chapters 3 to 11 deal with design issues.
Although this Health Technical Memorandum
is written for new works and developments on a
greenfield site, it should be used for all works
and adaptations to the fixed wiring of any
healthcare facility;
Chapters 12 to 17 describe how the electrical
services should be installed and put together

from the various distribution centres to the final

circuits and point of use locations.
Chapter 3 provides guidance on what needs to be
considered when planning a new development in terms
of the electrical services.
Chapter 4 explains how the design options should
be assessed to minimise the risk of system failure and
the consequential impact to patients and users of the
healthcare premises. The chapter introduces the
concept of clinical risk in terms of the clinical function
of a department within the healthcare facility. The
chapter also considers the business continuity risks in a
similar manner. The chapter provides a risk matrix that
may be used in the evaluation of the distribution
strategy.
Chapter 5 defines the required standard of the
electrical supply.
Chapter 6 describes the techniques to be used that will
provide an appropriate resilient electrical system for any
healthcare facility (or part within a healthcare facility).
Chapter 7 describes the physical electrical
switchrooms, their construction, location, and
environmental requirements.
Chapter 8 continues the descriptions of switchrooms
that may be used for alternative, including emergency,
power supplies.
Chapter 9 provides the details of the electrical
equipment that will be found in the primary and
secondary distribution centres. The chapter provides
information on the protection and isolation methods of
the electrical services and distribution.
Chapter 10 provides details of battery units that may
be used to start standby generator plant or provide
more local power to items such as uninterruptible
power supplies (UPS) or inverter units.
Chapter 11 provides details on how the electrical
distribution system may radiate or absorb
electromagnetic interference and how these problems
may be mitigated.
Chapter 12 describes the general wiring formats in
relation to earthing and insulation.

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Chapter 13 describes the full earth systems to be used.

The chapter has a section for HV, LV, and switchroom
earths. In addition, the specific requirements for
isolated power supplies, earthing radiographic rooms
and circuits with high leakage currents are discussed.
The method of providing earth monitoring systems to
BS 4444:1989 for mobile trailer units is also considered
in the guidance. The chapter concludes with the
requirements for lightning protection systems.
Chapters 14 and 15 describe the various cable types
and the respective methods of installing them in
healthcare premises.
Chapter 16 describes the various final circuits,
including uninterruptible power supplies, isolated
power supplies, fixed equipment temporary supplies
and alarm circuits.
Chapter 17 provides designers and stakeholders with
an insight into the validation and commissioning tests
required before a new installation may be signed off
and formally accepted.
Appendices and References can be found at the end.

How to read this Health Technical

Memorandum
2.5

This document has been written in a top-down

format. The design process for new builds is
likely to follow a similar planning, design and
construction order to that of this document.

2.6

It is recommended that designers and stakeholders

review Chapter 4 as well as Chapter 6 for all
projects.

2.7

Designers and stakeholders should review any other

chapter in relation to the nature of the particular
project.

Initial considerations

3.1

This chapter introduces the design element of the

document. The intent is to assist designers and
stakeholders to develop the design of electrical
networks for new builds, but equally it applies
to modifications to existing installations. Some
sections of this chapter can be addressed prior to or
during the outline design stage, but all sections can
be addressed before the detailed electrical design
stage.

b. tertiary source of supply:

(v) uninterruptible power supplies (UPS),
rotary or silent;
(vi) UPS static;
(vii) battery packs.
3.4

Sources of supply
3.2

3.3

All healthcare premises require an electrical

connection to the public electrical supply (PES),
which will be provided and operated by the
distribution network operator (DNO). Electrical
supplies to large healthcare premises are mainly
at 11 kV (high voltage), while smaller healthcare
premises may be supplied at 400V (low voltage).
The supply frequency at both voltage levels will
be 50 Hz (see the Electricity Safety, Quality and
Continuity Regulations 2002 for further details).
Within this Health Technical Memorandum, the
connection to the PES will be referred to as the
primary source of supply. Any embedded
generating plant and/or combined heat and power
(CHP) plant can be used as the primary source
of supply, provided appropriate measures for
resilience, maintenance and safety have been
included.

Resilience
3.5

Large healthcare premises should generally be

supplied by a dual PES (ideally both at 100%
fully rated) arranged with either an automatic or a
manual change-over system. In order to maximise
the resilience of dual supply arrangements and
minimise the actual single point of failure, the
supplies should be diverse. Where possible, they
should originate from separate DNO substations,
in turn ideally fed from separate parts of the
National Grid, with independent cable routes to
and across the healthcare site to the substations.

3.6

Having two separate HV supply feeders is an

additional safeguard for larger premises; whether
this is practicable largely depends on the local
distribution system and the DNO.

Many healthcare premises will require resilience of

the internally distributed electrical installation,
which should be provided according to the clinical
risk assessments (see Chapter 4). The resilience may
be provided by embedded sources of electrical
power from plant such as:
a. secondary source of supply:
(i) standby generators;
(ii) CHP systems;
(iii) wind turbines;
(iv) photovoltaic systems.

Adequate stocks of the fuel used by standby

generators and/or CHP will need to be maintained.
The fuel for wind turbines (wind) and/or
photovoltaic systems (solar) may not always be
readily available at the optimum volumes, and
therefore these sources of power should not be
considered as essential power sources. UPSs use
batteries as a power source, which have a definitive
autonomy dependent on the connected load. UPS
and battery supplies should only be considered as a
short-term measure. The PES connection may be
used as the secondary source of supply where
appropriate measures for capacity, resilience,
maintenance and safety have been included with
the embedded sources of electrical power. However,
it may be less viable to provide a dual PES
connection than it is to provide additional on-site
secondary power supplies, for example standby
generators.

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Essential/non-essential supplies
3.7

3.8

3.9

When planning for new installations, the option

of segregated non-essential and essential electrical
systems or a unified electrical system (that is,
duplex or simplex) should be evaluated.
The need for more essential supplies increases the
demand on the standby system. Electrical supplies
in the healthcare sector are growing at a rate of
between 3% and 6% year on year. A suitable
philosophy should be agreed with estates staff to
reflect this growth before sizing the standby plant
and distribution strategy.
A risk-orientated approach should be adopted,
and different categories of the essential and nonessential load identified to assign appropriate
standby provision (historically, it has been
customary to have a discrete segregated essential/
non-essential service combination). For clinical
areas, there should be 100% essential load
provision. A segregated duplicated essential system
could be used to overcome the inherent single-fault
breakdown potential. This would also facilitate the
operational opportunity to test and periodically
validate electrical installations.

3.10 The provision of two segregated systems, each of

smaller power capacity, should be balanced against

having one larger unified power system in terms
of economics and reliability in emergencies. The
availability of the distribution and final subcircuits
for testing, validation and upgrading of systems
should also be taken into consideration.

3.11 In systems that employ a segregated duplicated

essential service, thought should given to the space

needed for separate feeders, independent risers and
stand-alone distribution board (DB) cupboards so
as to reinforce the system resilience. This will help
to ensure that a local failure will not compromise
the entire system.

3.12 Even when two segregated systems are provided

(essential/non-essential), an emergency coupling

should be normally locked open between them.
This allows the standby generator to be connected
to both systems if necessary; for example, during a
prolonged outage, some normally non-essential
services may become essential, such as catering and
laundry. In addition, with the coupling it is
possible to provide a larger test load.

3.13 Where essential, non-essential and duplex essential

circuits are installed, diverse cable routes should be

provided, and the possibility of a single cable fault

damaging both circuit cables should be minimised

as much as possible.
3.14 In areas where there are many essential subcircuits,

separate cable trays should be used for the routing

of duplex essential and non-essential circuit cables.

3.15 Consideration should be given to the requirements

of BS 5588 and fire-protected cables or cable

routes.

Primary sources of supply

3.16 This section deals with the primary supply,

distribution and sub-distribution of the primary

electrical infrastructure (PEI), and presents best
practice configurations for both HV and LV DNO
supplies (see Figure 1). The configurations are
presented generally in order of resilience, from low
to high. The selection of a particular configuration
will be dependent on the specific factors of each
individual design in terms of available DNO
supply, type of healthcare facility, category of
patient etc. Whichever configuration is selected, it
should be based on a risk analysis to determine the
appropriate level of resilience (see Chapter 7).

3.17 The configurations presented in this section should

not be taken as being definitive, prescriptive or

restrictive. They are intended as a guide to best
practice and not intended to restrict innovation in
any design.

Secondary main sources of supply

generation
3.18 This section deals with secondary supplies of the

PEI and presents best practice configurations for

both HV and LV standby supplies (see Figure 2).
The configurations are presented generally in order
of resilience, from low to high. The selection of a
particular configuration will be dependent on the
specific factors of each individual design.
Whichever configuration is selected, it should be
based on a risk analysis to determine the
appropriate level of resilience (see Chapter 8).

Tariff negotiations and private

generation
3.19 At an early stage of the design process, designers

and stakeholders should assess the capacity of the

new electrical load. Negotiations with an electrical
energy supplier should be initiated at this early
stage. Where the building services operator is

3 Initial considerations

Figure
Figure
4 1 Primary electrical infrastructure for healthcare premises
SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
PRIMARY SOURCE
PUBLIC ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
(PES) DISTRIBUTION
NETWORK OPERATOR
(DNO)

HV (11 kV)

HIGH
VOLTAGE
NETWORK(S)

LV (400 V)

High Voltage
Substation

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Unified)
Distribution Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Segregated)
Distribution Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Dual Unified)
Distribution Board
TERTIARY POWER
SUPPLY
UNINTERRUPTIBLE
POWER SUPPLY

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LOW VOLTAGE NETWORK(S)

Low Voltage
Distribution Switch Panel

ISOLATED
POWER SUPPLY

FINAL CIRCUITS
CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 1

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 2

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 3

CLINICAL RISK
CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 4
CATEGORY 1

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 5

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Figure
Figure
5 2 Secondary electrical infrastructures for healthcare premises

SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

SECONDARY SOURCE
HEALTHCARE PREMISES
INTERNAL ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

HIGH
VOLTAGE
NETWORK(S)

Alternative
Energy
Plant

Combined
Heat and
Power (CHP)

Standby
Power Plant

High Voltage
Substation

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Unified)
Distribution Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Segregated)
Distribution Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Dual Unified)
Distribution Board
TERTIARY POWER
SUPPLY
UNINTERRUPTIBLE
POWER SUPPLY
ISOLATED
POWER SUPPLY

FINAL CIRCUITS
CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 1

10

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 2

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 3

CLINICAL RISK
CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 4
CATEGORY 1

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 5

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LOW VOLTAGE NETWORK(S)

Low Voltage
Distribution Switch Panel

3 Initial considerations

responsible for the purchase of electrical energy,

they will also be responsible for the negotiations.
However, in the more usual case where the
electrical energy is a pass-through cost, or where
the building services operator is the healthcare
organisation, the healthcare organisation will be
responsible for the above negotiations.
3.20 The opportunities for alternative energy sources

should be explored wherever practical. For example,

sources such as CHP or wind power will reduce the
net carbon emissions and potentially provide an
improved economic solution. Where alternative
energy sources are used, the resilience of such plant
should be considered. This may be in the form of
N+1 CHP plant or suitable alternative supply
from the DNO.

3.21 Healthcare organisations should use the NHS

Environmental Assessment Tool (NEAT) both

to help find out how their facilities and services
impact on the environment and to estimate the
level of environmental impact taking place (http://
www.dh.gov.uk).

3.22 Where the proposed alterations are for

modification and/or adaptations to the internal

electrical infrastructure, tariff negotiations may not
be required. Nevertheless, the use of alternative
power sources should still be considered to offset
the increased electrical demand.

3.23 Guidance on the environmental benefits of

alternative energy sources can be obtained from:

Building Services Research and Information
Association (BSRIA) (http://www.bsria.co.uk);
Chartered Institute of Building Services
(CIBSE) (http://www.cibse.org);
Combined Heat and Power Association
(CHPA) (http://www.chpa.co.uk);
Department for Environmental Food and Rural
Affairs (http://www.defra.gov.uk);
The Carbon Trust (http://www.carbontrust.co.
uk).

See also Health Technical Memorandum 07-02

Encode.

Supply voltages
3.24 The DNO will deliver the PES at the customers

intake terminals at a declared voltage in accordance

with the requirements of the Electrical Safety,
Continuity and Quality Regulations 2002. Each

healthcare facility will have an electrical supply at

one of the following voltages:
11 kV

 arge acute hospital, typical

L
floor area greater than 8500 m2
11 kV/400 V
Medium-sized acute hospital,
typical floor area 5500 m2 to
8500 m2
400V TP & N General/community hospitals,
health centres, large off-site
clinics, off-site administrative
buildings, stores and
decontamination facilities
230V SP & N GP and dental practices, small
off-site clinics
The types of healthcare facility in the above list
are for illustration and are not definitive. For
voltage tolerances in the above list, see the latest
issue of the IEE Regulations (BS 7671:2001),
and the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity
Regulations 2002.
3.25 Some larger sites may have multiple feeds (at the

intake point) with an internal distribution network

(see Chapters 68). In such cases, the declared
voltage will be either 11 kV or 400 V. Such
connection arrangements provide an improved
resilience of supply.

3.26 Some healthcare sites, particularly older sites that

have expanded over a number of years, may have

multiple intake points (which may not all be at the
same supply voltage). The various intake points
should be consolidated to a single or multiple feeds
at a common point. Such arrangements will
provide economies with tariff and standing charges.

3.27 The DNO may arrange with the healthcare facility

(under a wayleave agreement) to have their own

electrical equipment, including transformer, onsite. This arrangement is frequently used in rural
areas where the healthcare facility is some distance
from the nearest DNO substation. In such cases,
the DNOs electrical equipment will be at a higher
voltage (11 kV) to that supplied at the healthcare
sites intake terminals (400 V).

Design of installations for growth and

change
3.28 Changes in medical technology and healthcare

practice have had an effect on the requirements for

electrical power in healthcare. Examples include:

11

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

cook-chill: the introduction of cook-chill has

meant more meals are cooked electrically and
ward-based regeneration ovens have been
introduced;
electronic patient records (EPR) and patient
entertainment systems: although these have a
very low electrical power requirement, such
systems require a significant increase in
containment and space.
3.29 Alterations to existing installations, unless planned

and allowed for during the original construction,

can be costly, particularly when structural changes
are involved.

3.30 Healthcare premises are frequently remodelled

within the economic life of an electrical

installation. Designers and stakeholders should
identify means of remodelling the electrical
distribution and determine to what extent any
flexibility for remodelling should be incorporated
with the initial design.

3.31 Each electrical distribution centre should include

an element of equipped and unequipped enclosures

for retrofitting of switches, protective devices and
so on.

3.32 The designers should evaluate, by risk assessment,

the degree of remodelling and natural expansion

that will be incorporated into the initial
installation. The risk assessment should reflect both
clinical and commercial risks.

3.33 This allowance for growth and remodelling should

be incorporated into the adopted distribution

strategy (see Chapter 6).

Assessment of existing electrical

systems
3.34 Designers will need to make a reasonable

assessment of any existing electrical services that

are to be modified or connected to as part of the
proposed works. For existing sites, the building
logbook (see Chapter 17) will provide details of
the existing electrical systems, periodic test results
(including fault levels), applied diversity, load
profile and schematic drawings of the electrical
system and/or network. Examination of the settings
on all adjustable protection devices will identify the
extent of any tolerance within the grading and
discrimination of such protective devices.

12

Greenfield site
3.35 Where the proposed works is a new building site

and not part of an existing hospital complex, the

assessment of existing electrical systems may be
limited to an understanding of the DNOs
infrastructure in the area. This knowledge will
help in determining the cost associated with any
reinforcements.

New-build on existing site

3.36 Where the proposed works are a new building site

within part of an existing complex, the assessment

of existing electrical systems will determine the
extent of any spare capacity at the proposed
connection point. The connection point may be
at the site intake or embedded in the internal
distribution network. This knowledge will help to
determine the practicalities and cost associated with
any reinforcements of switchgear, protection
devices and cables.

New equipment on existing site

3.37 Where the proposed work is limited to the

installation of new equipment or the modifications

of sub-distribution and final circuits, the power
requirements and an understanding of the existing
distribution (including final subcircuits) will
determine the most appropriate connection point
and any reinforcements of switchgear, protection
devices and cables.

Load profile
3.38 Designers and stakeholders should understand the

electrical profile of the healthcare facility at an early

stage. This will prove invaluable in assessing the
viability of any secondary and/or tertiary energy
sources (for example CHP plant). Where the
healthcare facility is an existing site, electrical
demand data records should be available. The
data may be available from the building energy
management system (BEMS), the utility supplier
(in the form of digital pulse metering) or from the
Estates Return Information Collection (ERIC).

3.39 Table 1 indicates a typical range of power densities

found in healthcare premises over a five-year

period. The actual figures will reflect the
technology used and the particular department.
Power densities at the lower end of the range
reflect average power densities of large healthcare
premises. Power densities at the upper end of the
range reflect power densities for smaller healthcare

3 Initial considerations

premises such as GP surgeries. The figures do not

take account of any growth. Power densities at the
lower end do not necessarily imply any improved
efficiency over power densities at the higher end.
However, power densities outside the range may
give cause for further investigation.

3.40 Figure 3 shows a typical daily electrical profile for a

hospital. The annual profile is shown in Figure 4.

The actual shape and kVA values are unique to the
site and a function of the size and clinical facilities
provided.

3.41 The various options of providing the electrical

energy required to satisfy the load profile should be

evaluated. Where the profile indicates a relatively
short peak maximum demand, which is high in
relation to the average demand, the cost of the
DNO connection will be disproportionately
expensive, as the cost of the connection is only
optimised at the maximum demand period. In such
cases, the healthcare organisation should consider
developing some of the electrical energy from onsite alternative energy sources such as CHP or wind
power. Where alternative energy sources are used,
the resilience of such plant should be considered.

Table 1 T
 ypical range of power densities for a
healthcare facility over a five-year period
Power

W/m2

GJ/100 m3

General power

925

3.710.3

IM&T power

36

1.22.5

Medical power

515

2.06.2

General

915

3.76.2

Special

0.91.5

0.40.6

Task

1.352

0.50.8

01

00.4

Lighting

Medical

kVA

Typicalelectrical
Hospitalprofiles
Diurnal for
Electrical
Profile
Figure 3 Typical diurnal
a hospital

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Time of day

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

July

June

May

April

March

Feb

Jan

kVA

Figure 4 Typical annual

electrical
a hospital
Typical
Hospitalprofiles
Annual for
Electrical
Profile

13

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Diversity factors

radiography) may be higher on weekday mornings

than in the afternoon, while the accident and
emergency department may peak in the early
evenings.

3.42 The electrical diversity factor is the ratio of

instantaneous power to the total installed power.

Diversity factors can be applied to each element of
the electrical service (for example the lighting load
or low-power load) or to a whole department.
Where the healthcare site is large and has multiple
substations, the diversity factors can be calculated
for each individual substation. It should be clear
that the diversity factor for a particular service (for
example lighting) may differ during the day and
year, while the diversity of, say, the chiller plant
may have a different cycle. Similarly, the diversity
variation for one department (for example

3.43 The above variations in actual diversity will reflect

the true load profile as identified in paragraphs

3.383.41 above.

3.44 Designers should assess the actual diversity factors

for each service and department to make a value

judgement of the site-wide normalised diversity.
This figure can then be applied to the total installed
power and the allowance for growth to determine
the electrical capacity of the DNO connection.
Table 2 shows some typical figures.

Table 2 Typical electrical diversity factors for healthcare premises

AHU fans
Building services pump

Power density
(W/m2)

PF

Building
diversity

Substation
diversity

Connected Off-peak Growth

load diversity diversity factor

1525

0.95

0.70.90

1.00

0.70.90

0.68

0.10

13

0.95

0.70.90

1.00

0.70.90

0.68

0.10

58

0.95

1.350.23

0.50

0.30.5

0.6

0.05

Chiller

2535

0.95

0.90.95

1.00

0.90.95

0.8

0.05

General low power

925

0.95

0.490.60

0.70

0.70.85

0.65

0.20

Information systems

36

0.95

0.80

0.80

0.65

0.20

Medical equipment

616

0.95

0.350.49

0.70

0.50.7

0.2

0.20

Lifts

915

1.00

0.49 0.63

0.70

0.70.9

0.8

0.15

0.91.5

1.00

0.350.63

0.70

0.50.9

0.5

0.15

Task lighting

12

1.00

0.450.54

0.60

0.750.9

0.4

0.15

Medical lighting

01

1.00

0.420.54

0.60

0.70.9

0.7

0.15

General lighting
Specialist lighting

Notes:
Power density: The power density relates to the relevant internal floor area of the healthcare premises.
Power factor (PF): Power factor is assumed to be the corrected power factor at each substation.
Building diversity: The building diversity reflects that not all substations within the healthcare premises will have the same
operating profile. The building diversity is the product of the connected load and substation diversity. The building diversity is
the actual demand seen at the point of common coupling with the PES.
Substation diversity: Substation diversity reflects that not all areas, of any one substation, will have the same operating profile,
for example clinics and 24-hour areas. The substation diversity is multiplied by the connected load diversity to produce the
building diversity.
Connected load diversity: Connected load diversity reflects that any electrical system (fixed medical equipment etc) will not be
operating at full demand or used to maximum capacity at all times of the day.
Off-peak diversity: Off-peak diversity reflects that not all equipment will be used (to the same profile) at night as in the day (for
example 12-hour clinics etc). The off-peak diversity is not used in these calculations, but will be an element used in the energy
calculations.
Growth factor: Growth factor is an allowance for the natural expansion in electrical equipment used, and potential remodelling
of the hospital. Growth factor is applied to switchgear, cable sizes, and transformer sizes etc. The function of the growth factor is
to ensure that the electrical network will not need premature replacement.

14

3 Initial considerations

Consideration for EMC requirements

3.45 Electrical installations must be compliant with the

requirements of the Electromagnetic Compatibility

Regulations 2005. The regulations describe the
electrical installation as a manufactured item, and
therefore require the installation to be tested for
electromagnetic radiation and absorption.
Procurement contracts for electrical equipment
associated with the distribution of the electrical
installation should stipulate that the equipment
must be compliant with the Electromagnetic
Compatibility Regulations 2005.

It will not always be possible to design-in

equipment that is CE-marked to show compliance
with the EMCD. An installation may comprise
CE-marked and non-CE-marked equipment.
Supply of non-CE-marked equipment is acceptable
providing the installer who is integrating them into
the system can be sure that they will not cause
undue interference to the installation or be overly
sensitive to the electromagnetic environment where
the equipment will be used.
3.47 The designer should obtain a technical file from

the installer demonstrating that good engineering

practice has been applied, and should show details
of any concessions granted to items that are not
compliant with the installation specification, but
which may be used without detrimental effects.

Roles and responsibilities

3.46 The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive

(EMCD) and the Electromagnetic Compatibility

Regulations 2005 describe who is responsible for
meeting compliance. There are only two parties
involved the manufacturer and the operator.
In a healthcare building project:

3.48 Designers and stakeholders may assume that any

the designer and installer of an integrated

heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
(HVAC) or power distribution control system
are the manufacturer;
the manager of the healthcare premises and the
building services maintenance organisation are
the operators.

equipment which is supplied for operation in the

medical environment will have sufficient immunity
to operate successfully in that environment, and it
should not emit excessive radiation. The above
statement assumes that the healthcare organisation
has an approved policy for the procurement of
medical equipment which does not involve the
designers or stakeholders of the electrical
installation.

Figure 5 Roles and responsibilities

Building owner/
designer

Ensures system legally

complies with EMC
legislation

Requires documentary
proof of compliance

Designer

Designs using compliant

systems. Defines EMC
specifications and good
EMC practices to be used

Specifies documents to be
provided

Integrator

Provides compliant
integrated installation

Specifies documents to be
provided

Contractor

Purchases and installs

systems that meet the
design specification.
Installs using good EMC
practices

Supplies evidence of
compliance to the
operator

15

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Access for maintenance

3.49 In order to comply with the Construction, Design

and Management Regulations (CDM) 1994,

designers need to give due account for access and
maintenance at a very early stage of the design,
irrespective of the size, complexity and extent of the
proposed installation.

3.50 Electrical services should not compromise the

space and access routes for other services such

as mechanical and public health. Maintenance
tasks should be carried out with the minimum
disruption to continuity of supply and business.

3.51 The following documents provide additional

embedded generator plant (including CHP or

PV cells), the DNO will need to understand the
methods used to clear any faults from the internal
energy sources in order that they are not reflected
onto the DNOs network.

3.56 For greenfield sites, it may be necessary to

coordinate the activities of the DNO, meter

operator and energy supplier before a connection
can be completed (see paragraphs 8.298.47).

3.57 The DNO will reserve the right not to connect a

new installation where the installation fails to

comply with its criteria.

information:

Connection to the healthcare site network

Health Technical Memorandum 06-01 Part B

Operational management;

3.58 Where the new installation will be connected into

Health Technical Memorandum 00 Policies

and principles;
Defence Works Functional Standard DMG 08
Access and accommodation for engineering
services: space requirements for plant access,
operation and maintenance;
manufacturers operational and maintenance
manuals.

Commissioning procedures
3.52 Designers should consider how the installation

will be commissioned and how the required test

measurements will be made. This will include the
inspection of services that may be hidden at the
time of handover. It will also include the
implications of any phased occupation (see
Chapter17 for more information).

3.53 The design team should make an application to

connect the new works to the DNO or healthcare

site prior to doing so. At this point, the installation
should be suitably safe and ready to be energised.

Connection to the DNO

3.54 Where the new installation will be connected

directly to the DNOs network (PES), the

application to connect will take the form of
a completion certificate as identified in
BS7671:2001. The DNO will be entitled to
conduct a range of tests to be satisfied that the
installation is safe for energising and that any fault
currents which may arise are cleared before
injecting into the DNOs network.

16

3.55 In cases where the new installation includes

part of the healthcare sites existing network, the

application to connect will take the form of a
completion certificate as identified in
BS7671:2001. The healthcare facility will be
entitled to conduct a range of tests to be satisfied
that the installation is safe for energising and that
any fault currents which may arise are cleared
before reflecting onto the remaining part of the
healthcare sites network.

3.59 The site engineer should reserve the right not to

connect a new installation where the installation

does not comply with the guidance given in this
Health Technical Memorandum and local electrical
safety guidance. The site engineer may also reserve
the right not to connect a new installation where
the installation compromises the distribution
strategy of any other part of the electrical network.

3.60 At a very early stage of the design (or if appropriate,

procurement planning), the designer should assess

the power requirement and subsequently make a
request for a suitable supply.

Supply from the DNO

3.61 Where the new supply will be direct from the

DNO, the designer should contact the DNO for

the appropriate forms. The cost of the supply will
reflect the level of infrastructure reinforcement.

Supply from internal connection point

3.62 Where the new supply will be connected to

part of the healthcare facilitys existing internal

distribution, the designer should liaise with the
site engineer to determine the most appropriate
connection point, and the required method and
degree of reinforcement of the internal distribution.

4.1

Understanding risk and ownership

This chapter deals with the assessment of risk and

the need to ensure that the design of the primary
electrical infrastructure (PEI) adequately protects
the end-user, and in particular patients, from
electrical failures. It promotes multidisciplinary
design-team and stakeholder involvement
throughout the design process to ensure an
appropriate distribution strategy (see Chapter 6),
incorporating resilience, redundancy and
duplication as necessary. This should identify any
residual risks from the design. The identification
of the residual risks will enable the healthcare
organisation to manage their collective ownership
of risk management and hence make appropriate
non-electrical and/or fixed wiring operational and
emergency contingency plans in accordance with
DH Emeregency Planning Guidance.

4.5

The design process should ensure that single

points of failure are minimised by providing the
appropriate level of resilience at the point of use.
Risk management carefully balances the approach
to a design strategy with the cost/benefit
relationships, where cost represents investment,
business continuity and operational risk.

4.6

Failures of the PEI system are commonly

considered as a consequential effect of the failure
of the incoming DNO supply, main transformer,
main switchboard etc. In these cases, it is assumed
that the emergency power system (secondary and/
or tertiary power supply) is available. However,
failure of the PEI itself is also possible. All potential
points of failure should therefore be considered
during the design process. The emergency supply
system design may be different for each type of
failure.

Introduction
4.2

A failure can occur at any point or at any time

in any electrical system, regardless of the design
standards employed. The design and installation of
PEI systems inherently allows failure (by operation
of a protective device) to minimise the risk of
danger and/or risk of injury. This is true of internal
PEI systems as well as the wider PES network
delivered by the DNO. The effects of accidental
damage and the need for maintenance and training
should not be overlooked. It is essential that an
appropriate level of risk management is considered
and practical emergency contingency plans are
always available and ready to implement.

Need for risk assessment

4.3

Appropriate controls should be put in place to

reduce any risk to an acceptable manageable level.
It is essential that, at the very least, legislative
requirements be met and risk be managed
proactively.

4.4

A complete risk assessment for a sustainable

electrical supply is a key duty of care owed to
patients, staff and visitors.

Note
An inappropriate level of resilience or response to a
failure may compromise patient safety.

Ownership and design

4.7

The duties of the stakeholders involved in the

design, or assessment and operation, of an existing
infrastructure should ensure (as far as reasonably
practicable) that all risk levels and the likelihood
of an electrical failure are balanced against the
consequences of such failures. All stakeholders
and designers should understand and accept the
intended operation, limitations and inherent
possible failure scenarios of the electrical system
and, where necessary, implement contingency
arrangements where risks of electrical failures
cannot be, or are not, mitigated within or by the
electrical system itself. These risks will include
those inherent and residual from the design strategy
(see Chapter 6). For example, the stakeholders and
designers may agree that it is an acceptable risk that
clinical risk Category 1 and 2 areas (see paragraphs
4.124.24) need not have any embedded secondary
17

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

power source (SPS) to cover an outage of the

electrical system. The management of such residual
risks may therefore be to reorganise any postponed
elective consultations.

Risk profile
4.8

This Health Technical Memorandum divides risk

into two core elements: clinical risk (subdivided
into patient and non-patient areas) and non-clinical
business continuity risks (subdivided into medical
services and engineering services). Designers and
stakeholders should consult with medical and
technical staff to evaluate the overall risk and
the measures proposed to address the perceived
outcomes. Most critical within this assessment is
the mobility and degree of healthcare support
provided to the patient, including medical
procedures, critical care and continuity of
treatment.

4.10 Small healthcare premises such as GP practices and

health clinics/centres may have areas that fall into

Category 1 and possibly Category 2. Community
hospitals may have departments in Categories 1, 2
and 3, but unlikely in Category 4 or 5. Large acute
healthcare premises and above may well have
departments in all categories. There is no rule that
definitively places healthcare premises in any one
category, or defines one category for a particular
healthcare site.

4.11 Each healthcare facility will have a mixture of

categories (clinical risks and non-clinical business

continuity risks) in varying ratios. The assessed
higher clinical or non-clinical and business
continuity risk for any particular area will
determine the adopted electrical infrastructure
strategy for that area. Designers and stakeholders
should evaluate the economics of providing
different distribution strategies (see Chapter 6)
for each risk category area, or of applying an
appropriate distribution strategy for the highestorder risk category to many or all areas.

Clinical risk
4.12 Within any healthcare environment, there are wide

ranges of departments with complex requirements

and potential risks. The risk management process
will categorise each department in terms of
susceptibility to risk from total (or partial) loss of
electrical supply.

4.13 The consequence of a power failure is assessed and

categorised against some broad clinical patient

groups and patient care plans. This is on a
scale from ambulant through to critical care.
Consequence is also related to the organisation in
terms of contingency arrangements, emergency
preparedness and business continuity, all of which
have a financial implication. There is also the
operational consequence of the electrical system
in terms of the operation and maintenance of the
infrastructure from the point of view of both its
physical construction and installation, and the
managerial and technical staff structure in place to
operate the electrical infrastructure.

4.14 The level of consequence of a power failure may

be evaluated as increasing with patients clinical

category, for instance, and the level of consequence
per category will equally be dependent on the
duration and extent of the failure.

4.15 IEE Guidance Note 7 (also IEC 60364-7-710)

addresses special locations. Chapter 10 of the

IEE guide deals with specific in-patient areas
and classifies the dependence certain healthcare
departments have on a sustainable electrical supply.
The guide relates in part to the reliability of
electrical supplies and their subsequent safety
requirements. These classifications are ranked in
time performance (seconds) to re-establishing a
supply following an interruption, whether
controlled or otherwise.

4.16 Within a GP practice or health centre, it may

be assessed as acceptable to have single points of

failure in a system, given that patients are likely
to be more mobile than patients in critical care
areas, and staff will be able to move away from the
affected area in the event of a power failure. At the
other end of the scale, for example in critical care
areas, the consequence of a prolonged, or even a
very short, power failure could be serious health
disabilities or, in the worst cases, fatality. In this
instance, a more resilient infrastructure with
additional levels of secondary and/or tertiary power
supplies would be appropriate.

4.17 While it is not intended to be absolute, this section

should be sufficient to prompt the necessary

discussion at all stages of the design process. The
categories given are intended to demonstrate a
range of patient risk from an electrical fault or loss
of electrical supply.

4.18 Consideration of the categories in Figure 6 should

establish a minimum acceptable risk option at the

18

4 Understanding risk and ownership

point of treatment or care. For the purpose of this

guidance, the patient levels described are not
intended to be exhaustive, but rather an aid to
consider the issues.

Category 1 Support service circulation

4.19 These areas do not directly relate to the patient

environment of any group under Chapter 10

in IEE Guidance Note 7. The areas include
circulation spaces, waiting areas, offices and nonpatient care areas such as laboratories or finance
departments. Consequently, engineering services
do not have an immediate effect on the clinical
treatment or safety of patients (notwithstanding
the requirements of the escape lighting and so on
that may be provided from a local tertiary power
source).

business continuity risk if these areas are not

connected to the SPS for supply failures that last
greater than three hours (notwithstanding the
requirements of the escape lighting etc that may
be provided from a local tertiary power source).

Category 3 Emergency care and

diagnostics
4.21 These areas relate to the patient environment

of group 0 under Chapter 10 in IEE Guidance

Note7. The areas will include mental health
wards and some maternity areas. Patients are
not generally connected to any electro-medical
equipment. However, medical monitoring or
medical test equipment may occasionally be used
and connected externally to the patients body
for a short or intermittent time (for example
patient monitors or ultrasound machines).
Clinical treatment and patient safety will not be
compromised by an interruption of electrical
power. However, the interruption of electrical
power should be limited to less than 15 seconds
for other engineering services used in the
support of the clinical treatment such as
medical gases, hot and cold water, HVAC,
communication etc (notwithstanding the
requirements of the escape lighting etc that may
be provided from a local tertiary power source).

Category 2 Ambulant care and

diagnostics
4.20 These areas do not directly relate to the patient

environment of any group under Chapter 10 in

IEE Guidance Note 7. The areas may include
patients in consultation (excluding examination)
or general out-patient areas. Loss of supply may
give rise to disruption, inconvenience and a
reduced environmental quality but would not
directly compromise patient clinical treatment
and safety. The loss of electrical power to other
engineering services (for example ventilation or
medical gases) equally will not cause concern for
the safety of the patient or staff. There may be a

Figure 8

Figure 6 Patient clinical risk categories

PATIENT CLINICAL RISK CATEGORY

Figure 9

Support service
circulation

Ambulant care
and diagnostics

Emergency care
and diagnostics

Special medical
locations

Life support/
complex surgery

19

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Category 4 Patients in special medical

locations
4.22 These areas will relate to the patient

environment of group 1 under Chapter 10 in

IEE Guidance Note 7. The areas may include
LDRP (labour, delivery, recovery, post-partum)
areas (maternity), endoscopy rooms, accident
and emergency general/minors, haemodialysis
areas, ECG areas, nuclear medicine, radiography
diagnostic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
endoscopic examination rooms, urology
treatment areas, or therapy rooms and
ultrasound. Patients may have electro-medical
equipment, medical monitoring or medical test
equipment connected externally to their body
for a prolonged period. Clinical treatment and
patient safety may be compromised (but not
endangered) by any interruption of electrical
supply. Electrical protective devices should
include an RCD, but may not require an IPS
circuit. Supplementary equipotential bonding
will be required in the patient environment. Any
interruption of the electrical supply to medical
equipment should be limited to within
15seconds. Consideration may be given to
providing an alternative electrical supply (tertiary
power supplies) within 0.5 seconds, subject
to the range of patient treatment. Other
engineering services used in support of clinical
treatment should be connected to the SPS
within 15 seconds of any interruption of
the electrical supply (notwithstanding the
requirements of the escape lighting and so on
that may be provided from a local tertiary power
source).

Category 5 Life support or complex

surgery
4.23 These areas will relate to the patient

environment of group 2 under Chapter 10 in

IEE Guidance Note 7. The areas are defined
as operating theatre suites, critical care areas,
cardiac wards, catheterising rooms, accident
& emergency resuscitation units, MRI,
angiographic rooms, PET and CT scanner
rooms. Patients may have electro-medical
equipment, medical monitoring or medical test
equipment (for example intracardiac procedures)
connected externally or internally to their bodies

20

for a prolonged period. Clinical treatment and

patient safety may be compromised by any
interruption of electrical supply. A patients
natural electrical resistance is significantly
reduced when electro-medical conductive
parts are placed in the body. Supplementary
equipotential bonding (within the patient
environment) should be provided for patient
safety. Best practice provision should include,
but not be limited to, IPS systems and the
provision of an alternative electrical supply
(tertiary power supplies) within 0.5 seconds
of any interruption of the electrical supply if
required by the medical equipment. Other
engineering services used in support
of the patient clinical treatment should be
connected to the secondary power source (SPS)
within 15 seconds of any interruption of the
electrical supply (notwithstanding the
requirements of the escape lighting etc that may
be provided from a local tertiary power source).
4.24 Tertiary power supplies such as a UPS (see

paragraphs 16.316.19) or a battery, within the

equipment, may be considered as a method to
limit the interruption of electrical supply to less
than 0.5 seconds. Standby generator(s) (see
Chapter 8) may be considered as a method of
limiting the interruption of electrical supply
between 0.5 seconds and 15 seconds. In
Category 4 or Category 5 areas, a patient may be
at risk from both a general loss of supply and a
local final subcircuit fault. In Category 5 areas,
enhanced levels of resilience for the provision of
patient therapies may be required. This may be
provided by interleaved circuits at the bed-head
or pendant. Such arrangements will assist in the
ability to perform maintenance with minimal
disruption.

Non-clinical and business continuity

risk
4.25 While clinical risk is the important factor in the

design of PEI in healthcare premises, it does not

just relate to the criticality of patients. There are
numerous supporting elements and departments
essential to continuity of care and business
continuity.

4.26 The failure of these services should be assessed on

the same basis as the clinical risk. The increasing

reliance on information technology and electronic
medical records is an obvious example of this,

4 Understanding risk and ownership

where the loss of electrical power could affect

essential diagnosis of a patient or the ability to
operate a clinic. Essential items of building services
and plant may also necessitate the closure of
departments in the event of a power failure where
these services are not adequately protected by a
resilient electrical system.

on the SPS, where the sum of their respective

loads would only represent a very small percentage
of the SPS. An understanding of the need for
maintenance and the capacities of any such battery
packs employed on these facilities will be required
(notwithstanding the requirements of the escape
lighting etc that may be provided from a local
tertiary power source).

4.27 Consideration of the categories in Figure 7 should

establish a minimum acceptable risk option at the

point of treatment or care. For the purpose of this
guidance, the non-clinical and business continuity
described is not intended to be exhaustive, but an
aid to consider the issues.

Category 3 Building services environmental

control
4.30 The building services environmental control

systems will include HVAC systems, hot water

services, energy centres and building energy
management systems. In general, an interruption of
the electrical supply could represent a compromise
to the treatment or welfare of patients. A singleconversion UPS should be provided to allow
certain systems such as computer applications to
be shut down safely. Electrical load management
systems should be considered where the
interruption to the electrical supply (to, say, chilled
water systems) gives an unacceptable rise in the
internal space temperature by internal heat gains
(see paragraphs 8.178.19; notwithstanding the
requirements of the escape lighting etc that may be
provided from a local tertiary power source).

Category 1 Business support services

4.28 The business support areas are departments such

as finance, stores, laundries and workshop areas.

In general, an interruption of the electrical supply
may not compromise the treatment or welfare of
patients. It may be appropriate to provide a singleconversion UPS (see paragraphs 16.316.19) to
Figureallow
8 certain systems such as computer applications
to shut down safely. Electrical load management
systems may prove useful where the interruption to
the electrical supply (for these areas) is for more
than four hours (see paragraphs 8.178.19;
notwithstanding non-patient safety measures with
the provision of a tertiary power source).
Category 4 Medical support services
PATIENT CLINICAL RISK CATEGORY
Category 2 Building services safety and security
4.31 The medical support areas are departments such
1
2
3
4
5 units, laboratories, medical records,
as disinfection
4.29 The requirements for these facilities are covered by
Support service
Ambulant care
Emergency care Special medical
Life support/ An interruption of the electrical
and physiotherapy.
variouscirculation
British and European
legislative
documents, locations
and diagnostics
and diagnostics
complex surgery
supply
may represent a slight disruption to the
for example BS 5839-1:2002. Typically, battery
treatment or welfare of patients. A singlepacks or single-conversion UPS systems will
conversion UPS (see paragraphs 16.316.19)
support such requirements. An interruption of the
should be provided to allow certain systems such as
electrical supply could compromise the safety and
computer applications to be shut down safely.
welfare of patients. These facilities may be included
Figure 97 Non-clinical and business continuity risks
Figure
NON-CLINICAL AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY RISK CATEGORY
1

Business support
services

Building services
safety and security

Building services
environmental
control

Medical support
services

Figure 10
RISK OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE BY INFRASTRUCTURE
Distribution strategy (refer to Chapter 6)

21

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Electrical load management systems may prove

useful where the interruption to the electrical
supply (for these areas) is for long periods, say
more than two hours (see paragraphs 8.178.20;
the requirements of the escape
Figurenotwithstanding
8
lighting etc that may be provided from a local
tertiary power source).

4.34 Cause-and-effect risk models are used to analyse

the global electrical infrastructure from intake to

point-of-use equipment. The risk evaluation should
consider single electrical faults that cascade into
multiple electrical faults and unrelated
simultaneous multiple faults (see Chapters 6
and 9).

4.35 A distribution strategy should be developed that

Electrical infrastructure

drives the risk of failure of an electrical supply (at

the point of use) to a low or residual risk (Figure 8).
4.32 This Health Technical Memorandum divides
A lower distribution strategy with increased
electrical infrastructure into
two
core
sections:
PATIENT CLINICAL RISK CATEGORY
redundancy of primary and/or secondary power
primary and secondary (see Chapter 6):
supply plant
2
3
4
5 which still achieves the same risk
the two1 types of distribution
may share
the
level indicated
above should be adopted. Further
Support
servicewhich
Ambulant
Emergency
care Special medical
Life support/
same
cables,
definescare
a unified
electrical
may be given to accepting a slightly
circulation
and diagnostics and diagnostics
locations consideration
complex surgery
infrastructure;
higher risk factor than the indicated lowest possible
for a particular clinical area.
where there are two sets of cables common to
the primary and secondary distribution, the
network is said to be a dual-unified distribution; Resilience
where the primary and secondary distribution
4.36 Overall, the PEI can be considered in three main
has entirely separate cables, the distribution
sections:
strategy is said to be a segregated distribution.
Figure 9
supply;
The most resilient distribution strategy will have
distribution;
both dual-unified distribution and primary and
secondary
power sources.
CATEGORY
point of use.
NON-CLINICAL
AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY RISK
4.33 Business continuity
risk assessments
evaluated by 3
1
2

4.37 The essential

elements of a resilient infrastructure
4

cause-and-effect
models
may be used to analyse
Business support
Building services
Building services
the impact
of electrical safety
failures
departments
services
andon
security
environmental
control
which are reliant on the services provided. Within
the integrated departmental model, consideration
should be given to the cause and effect of electrical
failures which escalate exponentially with time.

are:
Medical support

services
redundancy;

moving the first single points of failure as near

to the point of use as possible;

Figure 10
Figure 8 Electrical failure risks evaluation to clinical categories
RISK OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE BY INFRASTRUCTURE
Risk by clinical category
(refer to Chapter 4 under Clinical risk)

Distribution strategy (refer to Chapter 6)

22

Life support complex

surgery
Special medical locations

Dual supply
unified and
dual unified
distribution

Dual primary
and secondary
supply unified
and dual unified
distribution

Unified
distribution

Unified and
segregated
distribution

Dual supply
unified and
dual unified
distribution

HIGH

HIGH

SIGNIFICANT

MODERATE

LOW

SIGNIFICANT

SIGNIFICANT

MODERATE

MODERATE

LOW

Emergency care and

diagnostic

MODERATE

MODERATE

MODERATE

LOW

RESIDUAL

Ambulant care and

diagnostic

MODERATE

MODERATE

LOW

LOW

RESIDUAL

LOW

LOW

RESIDUAL

RESIDUAL

RESIDUAL

Support services and

circulation

4 Understanding risk and ownership

appropriate access for practical maintenance and

testing procedures.
4.38 The resilience required to maintain essential supply

in the event of not only primary failures but also

secondary failures should be considered. A suitable
assessment of the likelihood of concurrent failures
occurring within a foreseeable period should be
made, and therefore the operation and interrelationship of the system and its component parts
should be fully understood. With regard to the
consequence and risk, any reasonably foreseeable
secondary failures should be appropriately
protected against. An example here may be a
standby generator failing to start (second-line fault)
on a supply blackout (first-line fault).

4.39 Incoming electrical supplies may be constrained by

what the DNO is able to provide, or what has been

assessed as cost-effective for the type of healthcare
facility. The distribution strategy should maintain
the minimum acceptable resilience level throughout
the internal electrical system.

4.40 An iterative design process will help stakeholders to

assess the distribution strategy. The process may be

used to determine the location of the first single
point of failure in addition to the method used to
mitigate the risks on the distribution downstream
of that point. The provision of tertiary supplies
(UPS) on final distribution boards or the ability to
manually reconfigure the distribution may be
suitable risk mitigation.

4.41 The effects of electrical power failures due to

faults at any level within the infrastructure can be

designed out by the robustness of the network

resilience. The distribution strategy should include

adequate resilience and access space so that routine
testing and maintenance can be carried out safely,
without placing patients, staff and users at
unnecessary risk. Such strategies may call for a
redundancy in certain electrical equipment, for
example generators, UPSs and IPSs. The provision
of resilience for maintenance is considered best
practice.

Electrical infrastructure system selection

4.42 A number of different elements link together to

form the primary and secondary infrastructure

system (see Figure 9). Some of the elements will
be optional dependent on design strategy (see
Chapter6) and required resilience issues based on
assessed risk from power failures. All possible
configurations of the electrical infrastructure
elements will have risk-mitigation strategies
associated with the possibility of power failures
occurring. Similarly, each element will link to other
elements, and the links and interactions between
them will present additional risk minimisation. The
overall risk of a power failure occurring can be
mitigated by the correct selection of element
configurations and interconnections. Standard
system and component configurations at
appropriate infrastructure sections can be broadly
categorised in terms of their resilience and therefore
residual risks. Evaluating the cause and effect can
make selection of the appropriate configurations
apparent at the point of use (deepest part) of the
infrastructure.

23

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Figure 11
Figure 9 Electrical infrastructure generic flow diagram
SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
PRIMARY SOURCE

SECONDARY SOURCE

PUBLIC ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

(PES) DISTRIBUTION
NETWORK OPERATOR (DNO)

HEALTHCARE PREMISES
INTERNAL ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

HV (11 kV)

HIGH
VOLTAGE
NETWORK(S)

LV (400 V)

Alternative
Energy
Plant

Combined
Heat and
Power (CHP)

Standby
Power Plant

High Voltage
Substation

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Unified) Distribution
Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Segregated)
Distribution Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Dual Unified)
Distribution Board
TERTIARY POWER
SUPPLY
UNINTERRUPTIBLE
POWER SUPPLY
ISOLATED
POWER SUPPLY

FINAL CIRCUITS
CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 1

24

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 2

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 3

CLINICAL RISK
CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 4
CATEGORY 1

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 5

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LOW VOLTAGE NETWORK(S)

Low Voltage
Distribution Switch Panel

Power quality

5.1

The quality of the electrical supply is the

responsibility of the DNO, which will comply with
the requirements of the Electrical Safety, Quality
and Continuity Regulations. However, the use of
the electrical energy within healthcare premises can
affect the quality of the internal distribution in
terms of power factor and harmonics.

5.2

Healthcare premises have numerous switch mode

power supplies and inherently high inductive
electrical loads and unless corrected, the power
factor will be poor, requiring large transformers,
cables and high-energy cost. Improving a typical
poor power factor from say 0.75 lagging to an
appropriate power factor of say 0.95 lagging will
reduce the kVA demand by 20% and will be
reflected as a utility cost savings. The actual
inductive load will vary throughout the day and
year. The inductive load will also vary across the
site according to the location of mechanical plant,
lifts and to some extent the clinical departments.

5.3

The normal supply frequency is 50 Hz with a

tolerance of 1%. The nature of the electrical
equipment used throughout the site can inject
secondary frequencies that cause significant
disturbances to the internal distribution and the
supply. The majority of secondary frequencies,
known as harmonics, are generated from switchmode power supplies found in a wide range of
electrical and electronic equipment.

electrical system will be corrected. The power factor

correction equipment should be automatically
disconnected if the primary supply is interrupted,
and if used in conjunction with the standby
generator plant (or CHP plant) adjusted to suit
the generator (or CHP plant) manufacturers
recommendations. Where the only power factor
correction equipment is located at the intake, the
appropriate cable sizes for the higher currents
should be used.
Located at sub-main distribution boards
5.6

Located on the electrical equipment

5.7

Where individual pieces of equipment generate a

high inductive reactance such as large motors, it
is advisable to install the power factor correction
direct to the motor. This arrangement has the
advantage of reducing the voltage drop on the
motor supply cable(s) and hence smaller
distribution cables can be used.

5.8

Power factor correction equipment may generate

harmonic currents as well as allowing the
downstream harmonics to pass through. Therefore
consideration should be given to the use of
detuning inductors within the power factor
correction equipment.

5.9

Power factor correction equipment can be installed

as an integral part of a switchboard, or as a

Power factor correction

5.4

The usual method of correcting a low power factor

uses capacitive reactance to oppose the inductive
reactance. Using capacitor banks with automatic
step changes will ensure that the net reactance does
not produce a leading power factor. There are three
basic locations for power factor correction
equipment.

Located at the intake point

5.5

Power factor correction can be installed at the main

distribution intake point, in which case the entire

Power factor correction can be installed at the submain distribution board, in which case only the
outgoing circuits will be corrected. The advantage
of power factor correction units installed at submain distribution boards is that several inductive
loads can be corrected with one common unit. This
will save on the capital cost and space required.
Where the power factor correction equipment is
located at the intake and sub-main distribution
boards, the appropriate subcircuit cable sizes for the
higher currents should be used. Similarly, the rating
of the sub-main distribution board and protective
equipment may need oversizing.

25

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

freestanding unit. Where a cubicle of the

switchboard is used to house the power factor
correction equipment, consideration should be
given to the effect this will have on future flexibility
and remodelling of the power factor correction
equipment and/or the switchboard circuits.
5.10 Power factor correction equipment requires natural

ventilation to remove the small amount of heat it

generates. Further information on the amount of
natural ventilation should be available from the
manufacturer.

Harmonics
5.11 The normal supply frequency is 50 Hz with a

tolerance of 1%. The nature of the electrical

equipment used throughout the site can create
secondary frequencies that cause significant
disturbances to the internal distribution and the
supply. The majority of the secondary frequencies,
known as harmonics, are generated from short
surge currents and transient currents arising from
non-linear electrical loads such as switch-mode
power supplies and rotating machinery, variable
speed drives and so on found in a wide range of
electrical and electronic equipment.

5.12 Surge transient currents are also caused by lightning

strikes. Further details on the lightning strikes and

surge arrestors can be found in paragraphs 13.39
13.49.

5.13 Even-order harmonic frequencies are self-negating

and do not cause a real disturbance to the electrical

distribution. Odd-order harmonics with zero
rotation effect, known as Triplen harmonic
frequencies (3rd-, 9th- and 15th-order), and oddorder harmonics (5th, 7th and 11th) can cause
significant disturbances leading to high currents
and voltages, and overheating of cables and
equipment, particularly transformers.

5.14 Electrical systems must comply with the

Energy Networks Associations Engineering

Recommendations G.5/4, which limits the
reflected total harmonic distortion (THD) at point
of common coupling. For voltages up to 0.4 kV,
the THD is 5%, whereas at 11 kV the THD is 4%.
Designers should evaluate the sources of harmonic
disturbances within the healthcare sites electrical
network and the methods to mitigate the effects.
Harmonics can be controlled by the use of
harmonic filters (active or passive). The use of
oversized neutral conductors (200% to 300%) will
carry the harmonic current back to the transformer,

26

which then should be sized for such currents and

heat. Consideration should also be given to the use
of clean-earth conductors for power supplies to
items such as IM&T computer server and hub
rooms. A single-phase third-harmonic current on a
balanced three-phase circuit can produce currents
at 70% of the fundamental current and flow within
the neutral conductor. If the harmonic currents
reach the distribution transformer they will be
reflected into the primary delta winding and
circulate. The unchecked harmonic current in the
primary winding of a distribution transformer will
be dissipated as unwanted heat and noise.
5.15 The network analysis of harmonic currents

propagated within the electrical systems should be

made and communicated to the supplier of any
standby generator. The generator design will need
to reflect the anticipated harmonic currents.
Harmonic currents not allowed for within the
generator design may cause excessive heating, high
torque loads and consequently vibration within the
generator while running. Only active harmonic
filters or isolating passive harmonic filters should be
used while the generator is online (see paragraph
5.18).

5.16 The electrical load of a typical healthcare facility

with many modern medical facilities and support

services may have non-linear loads (propagating
harmonic disturbances) at 40% of the overall load.
Unless the harmonics are controlled and eliminated
downstream from the transformer primary
winding, the transformer may need to be derated
by the factor-K method (as defined in BS 7821),
which may typically be 70% of the transformer
nameplate kVA rating to avoid transformer
damage.

5.17 Alternative methods may include using oversized

neutral conductors, using separate transformers

for linear circuits and using inductive loads or
preferably harmonic filters. Active or passive
harmonic filters should be used, which can be
located in one of three locations depending on the
source and severity of the disturbance.

Located at the intake point

5.18 Harmonic filters can be installed at the main

distribution intake point, in which case the entire

electrical system will be corrected. Any passive
harmonic filters should be automatically
disconnected when any standby generator plant is
supplying the load. Harmonic filters should not be

5 Power quality

located here, as large harmonic currents may

require neutrals oversized by as much as 300%.
5.19 Note for the purpose of this section of the

guidelines, the intake point means the HV/LV

substation, LV switchboard. Alternatively, where
the site has an internal HV network, the intake
point means each such substation LV distribution
board.

Located on the electrical equipment

5.21 Where an individual piece of equipment generates

a high transient current or voltage from a switchmode power supply, it is advisable to install active
harmonic filters direct to the equipment. This
arrangement has the advantage of reducing the
harmonic disturbances on the final subcircuit
cables.

Located at sub-main distribution boards

Voltage surge protection

5.20 Harmonic filters may be installed at the sub-main

5.22 Consideration should be given to the provision

distribution board, in which case only the outgoing

circuits will be corrected. The advantage of
harmonic filters installed at sub-main distribution
boards is that several sources of harmonic inductive
loads can be corrected with one common unit. This
will minimise the harmonic disturbance reflected
on the sub-main and main distribution cables and
save on the capital cost and space required.

of voltage surge protection at the LV intake point,

where equipment which may be sensitive to such
voltage surges is connected to the distributed
installation from the intake.

27

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

6.1

Distribution strategy

For the purpose of this Health Technical

Memorandum, it is assumed that the highest
distributed voltage in any healthcare facility will be
11 kV. DNO connections to healthcare facilities
may be at elevated voltages such as 33 kV, but it is
considered that such voltages are not distributed
within the healthcare site. Where healthcare
facilities do have a DNO connection at voltages
above 11 kV, the strategy for such connections
(and if appropriate, distribution) should follow the
distribution philosophy described in this chapter.
This Health Technical Memorandum only
considers any electrical energy used at low voltage
as a three-phase or single-phase connection. This
Health Technical Memorandum does recognise that
some electrical energy used in healthcare premises
will be at SELV or PELV, but is only concerned
with the fixed wiring at low voltage. In a similar
way, electrical energy used at high voltage, for some
large vapour compression chillers for example, is
acknowledged, but again this Health Technical
Memorandum only addresses the fixed wiring at
HV.

6.2

When designing the strategy for the electrical

network(s), it is essential to take a holistic
approach. The electrical system may include
HV and LV distribution networks, or just LV
distribution networks, depending on the size of the
site.

6.3

The topology of the LV network(s) can provide the

most resilient service at the point of use. The cost
of such security of supply may be compromised if
the HV system is not equally resilient. Best practice
is achieved when the distribution strategy places
the first single point of failure as close to the final
subcircuits as practical to satisfy the critical nature
of the healthcare facility while remaining financially
viable.

6.4

28

The required system resilience can be achieved in

two basic ways, first by having dual circuits and
secondly by having an alternative power supply.
Standby generators can be connected at the intake
point or may be connected at specific LV

switchboards. While this chapter describes the

resilience provided by generators, it does not
describe the starting or control methods, which
can be found in Chapter 8.
6.5

The resilience can be enhanced at the final

distribution board with the use of tertiary power
supplies such as UPS (see paragraphs 16.316.19).
Alternatively, the resilience can be enhanced with
battery packs fitted to medical equipment such as
intravenous (IV) pumps. Further guidance on
alternative supplies can be found in Chapter 8.
This section deals with the strategy and design of
the fixed wiring network to achieve the desired
resilience.

6.6

To achieve this resilience, all stakeholders and

designers should contribute to the risk assessment
debate (see Chapter 4).

6.7

The available electrical supply rating should be

verified with the DNO. Most DNOs will provide
between 500 kVA and 800 kVA as a single LV
(0.4kV) connection. Supply ratings between
750kVA and 12 MVA should be supplied at high
voltage (11 kV). Where a healthcare facility has an
assumed maximum demand (AMD) greater than
12 MVA, the DNO connection should be at 33 kV
or above. Clearly, where the healthcare facility has
an AMD no more than 500 kVA, the internal
electrical infrastructure will only be at low voltage;
other AMDs will require an HV and LV internal
infrastructure.

Design for resilience

6.8

Throughout this Health Technical Memorandum

(and in common parlance) resilience is expressed
in terms of N+1. This Health Technical
Memorandum considers N+1 to mean the normal
total requirement plus one resilient unit. For
example, where the electrical demand is 1000kVA,
two transformers at 1000kVA would satisfy the
N+1 definition. However, three 500kVA
transformers would also be defined as N+1, as the
normal element comprises two units. When

6 Distribution strategy

calculating the resilience of a system it is important

to consider elements that are mutually inclusive
and not mutually exclusive. For example, the
standby generator complement (with a common
point of coupling) would be a mutually inclusive
system. The standby generator complement and
primary electrical infrastructure at a common point
of coupling are mutually exclusive. Best-practice
electrical distribution strategy solutions provide
resilience to the first-fault conditions at a common
point of coupling. Distribution strategies that
provide resilience above the first-fault condition
(at a common point of coupling) are unlikely to
be economically viable. Distribution strategies that
provide N+1 resilience at several different points of
common coupling are more robust and
economically viable.
Supply connections
6.9

In electrical supplies to large healthcare premises

(in electrical terms this means greater than
2MVA), a general arrangement with a dual-PES
connection should be adopted, arranged with either
an auto-changeover or a manual-selection switch.
Dual supplies with diverse routes may be
considered an economic strategy to maximise the
resilience and minimise the actual single point of
failure. They should originate, if possible, from
separate DNO substations, ideally fed from
separate parts of the National Grid, with
independent cable routes to the healthcare sites
substations. However, the origin and nature of the
PES supply routes will largely be beyond the
control of the designer or stakeholders.

6.10 Two separate HV supply feeders (or LV if

appropriate) may provide an additional safeguard

(for the healthcare site) against a PES connection
failure. Whether this is practicable largely depends
on the local distribution system and the DNO. The
healthcare organisation will not be in control of the
PES network and therefore cannot influence the
value of a second diverse routed connection. The
healthcare organisation has more control over any
embedded resilience and internal backup power
sources, which may provide more robust security
of electrical power.

Risk of transformer failures

6.11 The only moving part of a transformer is the tap-

changing mechanism, which may be discounted

when considering transformer reliability. As a
result, transformer reliability can be as high as

99.999% (or 0.001% unreliable), which could

mean 5.25 minutes unavailability per year.
However, the issue is the time to repair or replace a
faulty transformer, which may be at least one week.
Distribution strategies that have two transformers
with a common primary supply but have their
secondary linked by a normally open bus coupler
would provide a transformer system resilience of
N+1. While both transformers are on duty, they
would share the instantaneous load at 50% each.
Opportunities for transformer and busbar
maintenance are improved, as well as improved
continuity of supply following a transformer
outage. Such arrangements are shown for the
intake substation (ISS) in Figure 13. Transformers
connected in parallel or operating transformers on
no load are not recommended.
Risk of generator failures
6.12 Generators have many moving parts requiring

lubrication, cooling and control. The standby

generator controls are electronic and
electromechanical devices used to modulate the
output in response to the demand inputs. Standby
generators should be maintained in an operational
readiness state in order to provide their principal
function of standby supply. Generator reliability
may be of the order of 99.95% (or 0.05%
unreliable), which equates to 4.5 hours
unavailability per year. The majority of generator
failures are a result of the generator not starting or
occur during the first five minutes after starting.

6.13 Distribution strategies that have two standby

generators (each rated at full load) with a common

point of coupling with the distribution network
would provide generator system resilience of N+1.
Three standby generators, similarly connected, all
rated at 50% of the connected design load, would
also provide a generator system resilience of N+1.
Three generators each rated at 100% of the
connected design load would provide N+2, but
may be difficult to justify economically.
Opportunities for standby generator and busbar
maintenance are improved, as well as improved
continuity of supply following a generator outage
(while the sets are on line). Such arrangements are
shown in Figure 17.

Other reasons for failure of electricity supply

6.14 The following list provides further reasons for

failure of the main internal electrical distribution

systems, all of which are minimised by adopting
29

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

the guidance within this Health Technical

Memorandum (Parts A and B) and the guidance
given in Health Technical Memorandum 06-02
Electrical safety systems:

6.17 A single HV supply from the DNO feeds onto

cable faults within the private network;

6.18 This type of distribution strategy is appropriate for

inappropriate grading of protection devices;

poorly designed network with common points
of failure;
reliance on one form of standby protection;
accidental isolation.

Distribution system high voltage

6.15 Healthcare premises with an AMD greater than

800kVA will require an internal HV network.

There are two basic forms, radial networks (for
AMDs up to say 3.5MVA) and ring networks (for
AMDs above 3.5MVA).

6.16 The following simplified schematics are provided to

show the main HV supply arrangements. They are

arranged generally in order of resilience from low to
high, but their selection as a design solution will be
dependent on the supply arrangement available
from the DNO, the type of healthcare facility, and
the level of assessed risk with regard to end-users.
Where typical HV distribution arrangements are
shown connected to the LV distribution, these are
included only to assist in the understanding of the
LV arrangements. LV distribution arrangements are
considered more fully in paragraphs 6.316.59.
This section does not describe the control of any
standby generator system (see Chapter 8 for
details).

HV network one radial circuit with one

substation only
Figure 10 H
 V network one radial circuit, one
substation
DNO or healthcare premises
connection

Substation ISS

30

the healthcare sites HV-switchboard part of the

substation. This would typically be up to, say,
1500kVA.
a small to medium-sized acute hospital. As there is
only a primary source of supply, this system creates
a single point of failure right through to the LV
distribution switchboard(s). Designers and
stakeholders should consider the benefits afforded
by the additional resilience that may be required,
dependent on the clinical risks (see Chapter 4).

6.19 The resilience of the HV supply of Figure 10 may

be enhanced by including a secondary source of

supply at the intake, as a second DNO connection,
or an LV standby generator at the LV switchpanel.
Clearly, generators at the LV switchpanels would
add resilience to the internal distribution. Having
multiple LV standby generators is unlikely to
provide any economic benefit.

HV network one radial circuit with three

substations
6.20 In Figure 11, a single HV supply from the DNO

feeds onto the healthcare sites HV-switchboard

part of the substation. From the intake substation,
a single HV radial circuit connects up to two more
HV substations. Each of the substations would
typically be up to say 1500kVA; however, the
AMD for the healthcare site would be between
800kVA and 3.5MVA.

6.21 This type of distribution strategy may be

appropriate for a healthcare site with many

detached buildings. The areas served by any single
substation do not exceed a clinical risk assessment
of Category 2. As there is only a primary source
of supply, this system creates a single point of
failure right through to the LV distribution
switchboard(s). The benefits afforded by additional
resilience that may be required are dependent on
the clinical risks (see paragraphs 4.124.24).

6.22 The resilience of the HV supply may be enhanced

by including a secondary source of supply at the

intake as a second DNO connection. Additional
transformers at each substation (all 100% rated
and not connected in parallel), or LV generator(s)
connected at the LV switchpanels, may also
enhance the infrastructure resilience. The second
transformers at each substation will provide
additional resilience and reduce the impact of
transformer failure and maintenance. Standby

6 Distribution strategy

Figure 11 HV network one radial circuit, three substations

DNO connection

Substation 1

Substation 2

Substation 3

The healthcare site

generators could be local to each substation or in a

common central facility, depending on the spread
of the site. Clearly, the generator at LV switchpanels
would add resilience to the internal distribution.
Having multiple LV generators at a common
central facility may provide economic benefit to the
healthcare facility during maintenance periods.

HV network three radial circuits each with one

substation
6.23 In Figure 12, a single HV supply from the DNO

feeds onto the healthcare sites HV-switchboard

part of the substation. From the intake substation,
three HV radial circuits, each with one substation,
are connected. Each of the substations would
typically be up to 1500kVA; however, the AMD
for the healthcare site would be between 800kVA

Figure 12 HV network three radial circuits each with one substation

DNO or site connection

Substation ISS

Substation 3

Substation 1

Substation 2
The healthcare site

31

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

and 3.5MVA. This distribution network is

an enhancement of that in Figure 11 above, as
failure of any part of the internal HV electrical
infrastructure will affect a smaller area. The dual
100%-rated transformers (not operated in parallel)
of substation 2 will provide improved transformer
and switchgear maintenance opportunities for that
area.
6.24 This type of distribution strategy may be

appropriate for a healthcare premises with many

detached buildings. The areas served by any one
substation do not exceed a clinical risk assessment
of Category 3. As there is only a primary source
of supply, this system creates a single point of
failure right through to the LV distribution
switchboard(s).

6.25 The resilience of the HV supply of Figure 12 may

be enhanced by including a secondary source of

supply at the intake as a second DNO connection.
Standby LV generator(s) connected at the LV
switchpanels will enhance the infrastructure
resilience and facilitate improved transformer
maintenance opportunities. Standby generators
could be local to each substation or in a common
central facility, depending on the spread of the site.
Clearly, the standby generator at LV switchpanels
would add resilience to the internal distribution.
Having multiple LV generators at a common
central facility may provide economic benefit to the
healthcare facility during maintenance periods.

HV ring network ring with four substations

6.26 In Figure 13, a single HV supply from the DNO

feeds onto the healthcare sites HV-switchboard

part of the substation. From the intake substation
one HV ring-circuit connects to all other internal
HV substations (which may be more than the four
shown here). Each of the substations would
typically be up to say 1500kVA; however, the
AMD for the healthcare site would be greater
than, say, 3.5MVA. This distribution network is an
enhancement of that in paragraphs 6.236.25, as
failure of any part of the internal HV ring electrical
infrastructure will affect a smaller area. Following a
ring distribution fault, the manual or automatic
operation (where the switchgear has suitable
controls) of network ring switch positions will
restore the inherent resilience.

6.27 The HV ring network of Figure 13 indicates the

four basic types of HV substation: single and dual

ring main units, single or dual circuit breakers. The

32

intake substation should consist of circuit breakers,

and all field substations should have a common
switch type. See Chapter 9 for additional details of
HV protection and switchgear details.
6.28 This type of distribution strategy may be

appropriate for a large acute hospital with several

other support facilities on the same site. The areas
served by the ISS substation and substation 3 may
include clinical risk assessments of Category 4 or
Category 5. The areas served by substation 2 and
substation 4 may include clinical risk assessments
of Category 3. As there is only a primary source
of supply, this system creates a single point of
failure right through to the LV distribution
switchboard(s).

6.29 The resilience of the HV supply of Figure 13 may

be enhanced by including a secondary source of

supply at the intake, as a second DNO connection.
Additional transformers at each substation (all
100% rated and not connected in parallel), or
standby LV generator(s) connected
at the LV switchpanels, may also enhance the
infrastructure resilience. The transformers at each
substation may provide resilience and assist in
transformer failure and/or maintenance. Standby
generators could be local to each substation or in a
common central facility, depending on the spread
of the site. Clearly, the generator at LV switchpanels
would add resilience to the internal distribution.
Having multiple LV standby generators at a
common central facility may provide economic
benefit to the healthcare facility during
maintenance periods.

6.30 The resilience of the HV ring network can also be

enhanced if the ring normally operates in a closed

ring control. Electrical faults may then be isolated
to a discrete section of the ring (typically one
substation leg or between two substations) and
hence not affect the supply to any part of the
healthcare site. An alternative level of resilience may
be available by the introduction of a switch control
monitoring and management system to the HV
ring switch. Such a system can automatically
reconfigure the HV network open position of the
closed ring, and hence restore power to all areas,
well within in a few minutes (see Chapter 9).

Primary and secondary distribution

systems
6.31 All LV distributions should be configured as

TN-S systems as defined by the IEE Regulations

6 Distribution strategy

Figure 13 HV ring network ring with four substations

PES
DNO connection

Substation ISS

Substation 2

Substation 3

Substation 4

The healthcare site

BS7671:2001. Within special areas, medical

risk Categories 4 and 5 and wet areas such as
post-mortem rooms, the wiring system would
be configured as a medical IT system with
non-tripping earth fault for patient areas and
tripping for wet areas by insulation monitors to
IEC 61557-8 (see paragraphs 13.613.14 for more
details). Consideration may be given to the use of a
protected extra LV (PELV) system or a separated
extra LV (SELV) system.
6.32 The following simplified schematics are provided to

show the main LV supply arrangements. They are

arranged in order of resilience from low to high,
but their selection as a design solution will be
dependent on the supply arrangement available
from the DNO, the type of healthcare facility, and
the level of assessed risk with regard to end-users.

6.33 The method of fire protection should be considered

for essential distribution circuits, and the

opportunities for flexible remodelling. For
compliance with BS 5588, essential circuits
associated with life-support services should be
either fire-rated or fire-protected.

6.34 Single line representation is used in the diagrams

for single- and three-phase distribution. Where

typical HV distribution arrangements are shown
connected to the LV distribution, these are
included only to assist in the understanding of the
LV arrangements. HV distribution arrangements
are considered more fully in paragraphs 6.156.30.

33

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Primary supply unified infrastructure

Figure 14 P
 rimary supply unified distribution
system
Substation ISS

6.39 This simple arrangement may be appropriate

for GP practices, health centres and office

accommodation, dependent on the assessed level
of risk posed by a failure.

Primary and secondary supply unified and

segregated infrastructure
6.40 This form of LV infrastructure has a primary

Risk
category 1

Risk
category 1

Risk
category 2

6.35 This is the simplest form of LV infrastructure with

a primary supply only, direct either from the DNO

or from a single HV transformer arrangement,
feeding a unified LV distribution network. The
transformer switchgear and main cables should be
rated to take the AMD and an allowance for
growth (see paragraphs 3.283.33).

6.36 The first single point of failure will be the

connection point (to the DNO healthcare sites

transformer). A LV infrastructure of this kind is
appropriate for clinical risk Categories 1 or 2 (see
paragraphs 4.124.24). This infrastructure does
not provide for inconvenience-free maintenance
opportunities. Therefore, the infrastructure lends
itself to healthcare premises that do not operate
24hours a day/7 days a week (24/7) facilities, and
hence give rise to operational windows in business
continuity.

6.37 Enhancing the infrastructure resilience and adding

a facility to connect a mobile generator plant at the

intake may improve the maintenance opportunities
and business continuity. Alternatively, a tertiary
power source, single-conversion UPS (see
paragraphs 6.36.19) may be connected to
dedicated equipment such as computer systems.

6.38 An assessment of the potential for expansion and/or

remodelling of the healthcare premises should be

made, to understand how the LV distribution of
Figure 14 could accommodate such adaptations.

34

supply, connected directly to either the DNO

or the healthcare sites transformer, and a nondistributed secondary supply connected at an
internal LV switchboard. The transformer,
switchgear and main cables should be rated to
take the AMD and an allowance for growth (see
paragraphs 3.283.33). However, the standby
generator is rated only for the segregated essential
part of the healthcare sites electrical demand.

6.41 The first single point of failure will be the

connection point (to the DNO healthcare sites

transformer) for the unified non-essential circuits.
However, the segregated essential circuits have a
single point of failure much nearer the point of
use. This infrastructure does not fully provide for
inconvenience-free maintenance opportunities to
all areas. Therefore, the infrastructure lends itself to
healthcare premises that have part 24/7 facilities
and part non-24/7 facilities. Enhancing the
infrastructure resilience and adding additional
standby generator units to the essential circuits may
improve the maintenance opportunities and
business continuity. Alternatively, a manual load
management system coupled with the facility to
interconnect the essential and non-essential circuit
(via cables or a manual bus coupler) may offer a
similar increased resilience (see Chapter 9).

6.42 An assessment of the potential for expansion and/or

remodelling the healthcare premises should be

made, to understand how the LV distribution of
Figure 15 could accommodate such adaptations.

Primary and secondary supply unified and dualunified infrastructure

6.43 This form of LV infrastructure (see Figure 16) has

a primary supply connected directly to either the

DNO or the healthcare sites transformer, and a
distributed SPS also connected at the intake LV
switchboard. The transformer, standby generator,
switchgear, and main cables should all be rated to
take the full assumed maximum demand and an
allowance for growth (see paragraphs 3.283.33).

6 Distribution strategy

6.44 The first single point of failure will be at the main

LV switchboard for the unified circuits, and at the

point of use for the dual-unified circuits. A LV
infrastructure of this kind is appropriate for clinical
risk categories 2, 3 or 4, where the dual-unified
circuits are used in Category 3 or 4 risk areas (see
paragraphs 4.124.24). This infrastructure may

provide for inconvenience-free maintenance

opportunities in the Category 3 or 4 risk areas.
However, the same opportunities do not exist in
the Category 1 and Category 2 risk areas, where
the infrastructure resilience is only achieved by the
standby generator subject to the operating demand.
There is no resilience with the distribution cables

Figure 15 Primary and secondary supply unified and segregated infrastructure

Substation ISS

G1

Risk
category 1

Risk
category 2

Risk category 3 or 4

Figure 16 Primary and secondary supply unified and dual-unified infrastructure

From healthcare sites network
or DNO connection

G1

Risk
category 1

Risk
category 2

Risk category 3 or 4

Substation on a healthcare site

35

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

and/or switchgear for the Category 1 and Category

2 risk areas. The unified circuit infrastructure lends
itself to that part of the healthcare premises that do
not operate 24/7, and the dual-unified circuit
infrastructure (Category 4) lends itself to those
which do operate 24/7.
6.45 Enhancing the infrastructure resilience may

be achieved by adding a tertiary power source.

A single-conversion UPS may be connected to
dedicated final circuits of the unified distribution.
Enhancing the dual-unified infrastructure resilience
and adding additional standby generator units may
improve the maintenance opportunities and
business continuity for the Category 3 or 4 risk
areas.

6.46 An assessment of the potential for expansion and/or

remodelling the healthcare premises should be

made, to understand how the LV distribution could
accommodate such adaptations. This arrangement
may be appropriate for a general acute or large
acute hospital with additional support services,
dependent on the assessed level of risk posed by a
failure.

Dual primary and dual secondary supply unified

and dual-unified infrastructure
6.47 The LV infrastructure shown in Figure 17 has a

dual-primary supply, connected directly to either

the DNO or the healthcare sites transformer, and
a dual-distributed secondary power supply also
connected at the intake LV switchboard. The
transformer, standby generator, switchgear and
main cables should all be rated to take the AMD
and an allowance for growth.

6.48 The first single point of failure will be at the main

LV switchboard for the unified circuits, or at the

point of use for the dual-unified circuits. A LV
infrastructure of this kind is appropriate for clinical
risk categories 2, 3 or 4, where the dual-unified
circuits are more appropriate for Category 4 or
5 risk areas (see paragraphs 3.283.33). This
infrastructure may provide for inconvenience-free
maintenance opportunities in the Category 3 or 4
risk areas. However, the same opportunities do not
exist in the Category 2 risk areas, where there is no
resilience with the distribution cables and/or
switchgear. Therefore, the unified circuit
infrastructure lends itself to that part of the
healthcare premises that does not operate 24/7.

6.49 Enhancing the infrastructure resilience may be

achieved by adding a tertiary power source. A

36

single-conversion UPS (see paragraphs 16.316.19)

may be connected to dedicated final circuits of the
unified distribution. Enhancing the dual-unified
infrastructure resilience and adding additional
standby generator units may improve the
maintenance opportunities and business continuity
for the Category 3 or 4 risk areas.
6.50 An assessment should be made of the potential

for expansion and/or remodelling of the healthcare

premises and how the LV distribution of Figures 16
and 17 could accommodate such adaptations. This
arrangement may be appropriate for general acute
or large acute hospitals with additional support
services, dependent on the assessed level of risk
posed by failures.

6.51 Figure 17 shows a potential connection point for

a CHP plant. The schematic only provides one of

many potential electrical connections for the CHP
plant. Designers and stakeholders should assess the
ideal CHP connection based on the opportunity to
black start the CHP sets, and to synchronise the
CHP with the PES supply and/or standby
generator supply.

6.52 In reality, the CHP location may be driven by the

thermal and environmental requirements rather

than the electrical connection. For example,
locating the CHP plant close to the boiler plant
may provide a more beneficial connection for the
reclaimed heat energy into the boiler return
pipework. In addition, the CHP engine exhaust
can be ducted alongside the boiler flues.

Dual primary and dual HV secondary supply

dual-unified infrastructure
6.53 The LV infrastructure illustrated in Figure 18 has a

dual primary supply, connected to the healthcare

sites transformer, and a dual distributed SPS
connected directly to the internal HV network.
The transformer, standby generator, switchgear,
and main cables should all be rated to take the full
assumed maximum demand and an allowance for
growth (see paragraphs 3.283.33).

6.54 The first single point of failure will be at the point

of use for all circuits. A LV infrastructure of this

kind is appropriate for clinical risk categories 4 or 5
where the dual-unified circuits are Category 5 (see
paragraphs 4.124.24). The Category 5 risk areas
have the added installed resilience of tertiary power
supplies, double-conversion UPSs and IPSs. This
infrastructure may provide for inconvenience-free
maintenance opportunities in all areas, particularly

6 Distribution strategy

when the final subcircuits are interleaved (see

paragraphs 6.606.64).
6.55 The potential for expansion and/or remodelling of

the healthcare premises should be assessed in terms

of how the LV distribution could accommodate
such adaptations. The arrangement may be
appropriate for a large acute hospital with
additional support services, dependent on the
assessed level of risk posed by a failure.

Dual primary and dual LV secondary supply dualunified infrastructure

6.56 This form of LV infrastructure is illustrated in

Figure 19 and has a dual primary supply connected

to the healthcare sites transformer, and a dual
distributed secondary power supply connected

directly to the internal HV network, via step-up

transformers. The transformer, standby generator,
switchgear and main cables should all be rated to
take the AMD and an allowance for growth (see
Chapter 3).
6.57 This form of LV infrastructure is the same as that

in paragraphs 6.536.55 except that the standby

generators are low voltage with step-up
transformers.

6.58 The IPS connection arrangement in Figures 18

and 19 is only one such possible arrangement.

Designers may wish to consider not supporting the
IPS with a UPS as per Figure 41.

6.59 Many large healthcare premises will have a mixture

of clinical risk areas (see paragraphs 4.124.24) and

consequently may require an overall distribution

Figure 17 Dual-primary and dual-secondary supply unified and dual-unified infrastructure

HV network

G1

G2

CHP

Substation on a
healthcare site

Risk
category 2

Risk category 3 or 4

Risk
category 2

Areas served from substation

37

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Figure 18 Dual primary and dual HV secondary supply dual-unified infrastructure

HV generator substation
G1

G2

DNO

DNO

The healthcare site network

Service 1

Service 2

Substation ISS

UPS

Risk
category 1

UPS

May not
always be
via UPS

IPS

IPS

Risk
category 2

Risk category 4 & 5

Risk category 3 & 4

Areas served from substation
The healthcare site

strategy based on a mixture of the above examples.

Designs with a single distribution strategy, best
suited to the highest category of clinical risk across
the whole healthcare site, are less complex and
easier to control. The design strategy principles
promoted by this Health Technical Memorandum
achieve the best opportunities for flexibility and
remodelling.

38

Final circuits
6.60 This section describes how the design strategy of

final subcircuits can assist in the security of the

supply at the point of use. The nature and type of
distribution to the final distribution boards are
described in paragraphs 6.316.59 (for low
voltage). For simplicity, it will be assumed that the
final distribution board only has one supply, but
adjacent distribution boards (where referred to) are
supplied from a different sub-distribution panel.

6 Distribution strategy

Figure 19 Dual primary dual LV secondary dual-unified infrastructure

G1

LV generator substation

DNO

Service 1

G2

DNO

Service 2

The healthcare site network

Substation ISS

UPS

Risk
category 1

UPS

May not
always be
via UPS

IPS

IPS

Risk
category 2

Risk category 4 & 5

Risk category 3 & 4

Areas served from substation
The healthcare site

Fixed equipment
6.61 Designers should carefully consider how to provide

protection of the final circuit to fixed equipment

such as fluoroscopy machines. For example, two
supplies with an auto-changeover switch could be
provided. Alternatively, a UPS could be provided
that would provide sufficient power for task
completion in the event of circuit failure.

Power outlets
6.62 Power outlets include sockets, spurs and connection

units regardless of how the circuit is wired (ring or

radial). Assessments of the advantages of arranging
circuits in an interleaved manner per room or bed

should be made. For example, if the interruption to

a socket subcircuit resulted in no available power in
a out-patient consulting room, the effect might not
be too dramatic whereas in clinical risk Category
4 and 5 areas, the patient environment should have
at least two IPS circuits at the bedhead, ideally
derived from different sides of a common
substation (see Figure 19). Electric bed motors,
patient warming systems etc, which do not require
the IPS facility, will be connected to a socket circuit
from the TN-S system. The outgoing circuits
should be interleaved between two adjoining
theatres, or for 50% of sockets at the bedhead
where an IPS monitors the outlets. Designers

39

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

should consider the advantages of providing a UPS

for each of the IPS systems in any clinical risk
Category 5 area.
Lighting circuits
6.63 The distribution strategy for final circuits supplying

luminaires need not be significantly different from

the strategy employed for the low-power outlets in
the same area. Where the secondary power plant

40

does not provide 100% cover of the lighting

circuits, lighting circuits (in one area) derived
from distribution boards can be interleaved with
secondary power supplies and those with primary
power supplies only. Alternatively, interleaving
lighting circuits from the same distribution board
may be an acceptable derogation. It may be possible
to justify only one lighting circuit in non-clinical
areas.

Primary power distribution centres

HV substations
7.1

Guidance on the number, type and location of any

HV substations incorporated within the sites
electrical distribution is given in Chapter 6. This
section provides guidance on the design of HV
substations owned by the healthcare organisation
(or nominated agent). This Health Technical
Memorandum does not govern substations that
are owned by the external DNO, usually limited
to the main intake point. However, designers and
stakeholders should liaise with the external DNO
to ensure that such substations have suitable access
and space provision. HV substations that include
an integral space for the external DNOs HV cables
and equipment may be appropriate, providing that
adequate control and areas of responsibility can be
clearly defined. For the purpose of this guidance,
HV substations are deemed to be the total area of
the HV switchgear and transformer enclosure.

Location
7.2

External and internal locations can be suitably

adapted for HV substations provided the design
adheres to the principle of the following guidance.
External substations can be located at ground or
roof level. Internal substations can be located at any
floor, including ground level.

7.3

HV substations located in close proximity to

the principal LV switchboard afford the best
opportunity to regulate earth faults between the
two items (see paragraphs 7.527.54 for the
location of LV switchrooms).

7.4

External substations should be located away from

any live vegetation by a minimum distance of 3m.
The clear zone includes above the construction and
subterranean areas. Low-maintenance grassed areas
are an acceptable derogation from this requirement.

7.5 The location of internal substations should be in

accordance with the recommendations given in

Firecode (Health Technical Memorandum 05)
and the adjacencies described therein.

7.6

HV substations should not be located under bulk

water (or any other fluid) storage areas.

Construction
7.7

External HV substations should be constructed

on well-drained surfaces (with catchments for any
spilled oil, if appropriate). The electrical equipment
should not be within reach from outside the
perimeter fence of the substation.

7.8

External HV substations can be constructed from

brick, concrete or GRP, or be of steel fabrication to
the same enclosure standard of an internal HV
substation.

7.9

Where external substations have a metallic

enclosure construction or the substation is
open and surrounded by a metallic fence, see
BS7430:1998 for earthing arrangements.

7.10 Construction of internal substations should

include adequate fire precautions to satisfy

the recommendations given in Firecode (Health
Technical Memorandum 05). The construction
of internal HV substations should be sufficiently
robust to contain the effects of an electrical
explosion emanating from within, and should
provide suitable acoustic attenuation. HV
substations should be constructed to minimise
the effect of electrical interference.

7.11 Walls and fire-resisting partitions forming the HV

substation must comply with statutory Building

Regulations Part B or be of an equivalent fireresisting steel-fabricated modular construction.
Internal walls should have a suitable finish to
reduce dust formation and facilitate cleaning.

7.12 HV substations should be constructed to prevent

the ingress of water, including from flood. Specific

precautions are required where cables enter the
substation from external areas (including
subterranean).

7.13 Floors and ceilings should be constructed from

reinforced concrete or equivalent fire-resisting

41

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

construction. Floors should have a non-slip, dustreducing finish.

7.14 HV switchroom doors should open outwards and

have a total clear opening to allow replacement

of switchgear and transformers (see paragraphs
7.177.19).

7.15 Substations should be constructed without

windows or skylights to minimise the effect of solar

heat gain.

7.16 The construction of any HV substation, including

the HV side of a transformer, should be designed so

as to prevent unauthorised access (see Health
Technical Memorandum 06-02).

Access and egress

7.17 External substations should have good access for

road vehicles to facilitate plant replacement and

maintenance. Where external substations are on
the roof, a clear method statement describing
the arrangements for plant replacement and
maintenance should be provided, without the need
to dismantle individual HV switches, circuit
breakers or transformers. External substations
should be so arranged and constructed as to
prevent unauthorised access. See Health Technical
Memorandum 06-02 Parts A and B. Gates or other
purpose-made openings should provide adequate
clearance for plant replacement, inclusive of any
manual handling equipment and personnel. There
should be a minimum of two sets of gates, on
opposite sides, to provide suitable escape routes.
For external substations, additional gates will be
required to ensure that the maximum travel
distance to a safe haven is no greater than 9m.

7.18 Internal substations should have good access for

road vehicles to facilitate plant replacement and

maintenance. This will generally mean that they are
located on the perimeter of the ground floor or in
separated dedicated buildings. Where internal
substations are not at ground-floor level, a clear
method statement describing the arrangements
for plant replacement and maintenance should be
provided, without the need to dismantle individual
HV switches, circuit breakers or transformers.
Internal substations should be so arranged and
constructed to prevent unauthorised access. See
Health Technical Memorandum 06-02 Parts A
and B. Door openings should provide adequate
clearance for plant replacement, inclusive of any
manual handling equipment and personnel. There
should be a minimum of two sets of door openings

42

connecting directly to a safe haven, on opposite

sides, to provide suitable escape routes. Additional
door openings will be required to ensure that the
maximum travel distance to a safe haven is no
greater than 9m.
7.19 The access to any HV substation, including the

HV side of a transformer, should be arranged so

as to prevent unauthorised access (see Health
Technical Memorandum 06-03).

Layout
7.20 The layout of HV substations will depend partially

on the distribution strategy employed (see

Chapter6). Internal HV substations should
have level room height of 1 m greater than the
equipment height, and a clear maintenance space
of a minimum 0.8 m on the sides and rear of
equipment and 1 m plus the equipment depth in
front of the equipment. The requirement may be
derogated where the HV equipment is combined
onto a switchboard or close-coupled with the
transformer. However, it is essential to ensure that
all cables and equipment can be serviced and
replaced without any modification to the room.
Where the distribution strategy has dual supplies
and multiple transformers per substation, a physical
fire barrier between each section may improve the
fire precautions and inherent system resilience.
Where the HV equipment includes a withdrawable
section (see Chapter 9), the depth of the equipment
should be added to the clear maintenance space.
The maintenance space will include the headroom
above all HV equipment and transformer. The
headroom should be a minimum of 1 m measured
between the soffit (and the underside of any drop
beam) and the highest point of the equipment.
Designers should liaise with the structural engineer
for the coordination of services within the HV
substation. Risk assessments should be undertaken
to determine the amount of space to be set aside for
future expansion and flexibility (see Chapter 3).

7.21 HV cables used for the supply and interconnection

of HV equipment and transformers (including the

LV secondary side cables) are best laid in a cable
trench or duct. Suitably-installed busbars would be
an acceptable derogation from this requirement.
Cable trenches or ducts should be of adequate
cross-section to facilitate the pulling-in and
replacement of additional cables. Cables should be
positively fixed to the sidewalls of cable trenches
and ducts, and so arranged as to prevent the need
for cable crossover.

7 Primary power distribution centres

7.22 HV equipment should sit partially over the cable

trench to facilitate final cable connection. Such

arrangements will require adequate sidewall
construction and edge-wall protection.

7.23 Cable trenches and ducts should have a natural

drainage fall, and be sealed to prevent the ingress

of water, where they pass through walls. Similarly,
the cable trench/duct should provide the same fire
integrity as the wall, where the trench/duct passes
under the wall, that is, preventing ingress of gas or
foam fire-extinguishing fluids.

7.24 HV substations should not be used for any purpose

other than HV equipment and cables. The room

should not be used for the storage of other items
at any time. The room should not be used as a
conduit for other engineering services, including
drainage.

Fire precautions
7.25 HV substation construction must satisfy the

requirements of the Building Regulations Part B.

Designers should comply with the medical
adjacencies as defined in the Firecode series. A full
risk assessment (in conjunction with the healthcare
premises fire officer, the local authoritys fire officer
and a specialist fire consultant) should be made, to
address the form of suitable fire-fighting equipment
and precautions.

7.26 Internal automatic fire-extinguishing equipment

of a gaseous type should be considered where the

HV equipment contains flammable material (for
example mineral oil). Specialist fire engineers
should undertake the design of such fire-fighting
equipment.

7.27 The risk of a fire should also be determined by

the effect of an electrical fault causing explosions.

Such electrical faults will include those that can be
assumed to happen and those that may arise from
unauthorised interference.

7.28 The fire-extinguishing equipment should include

an audible and visual alarm system within the

room, immediately outside the room, and to a
suitable 24-hour staffed location.

7.29 Fire-extinguishing equipment of the halon or CO2

type should be replaced and not considered for new

installations.

7.30 Where the HV substation is part of a ring network,

consideration may be given to having the two

network incomers in two rooms separated by a

four-hour fire-rated partition wall, the two sections

being linked by a fully rated cable.
Environmental requirements
7.31 External open-air HV substations do not require

any environmental requirements. Lighting should

be provided for security and possible emergency
working. Maintenance staff should be protected
from bad weather during emergency working.
External HV substations of GRP or steel
fabrications should have the same environmental
conditions as an internal HV substation (given
below). Internal HV substations should be
illuminated by maintained lighting to an average
level of 150 lux at floor level. The illumination
should not cast shadows on any instrumentation
and working surfaces of the equipment. Escape
lighting should provide an average of 5 lux at floor
level for three hours, and be supported by grade A
standby lighting. Internal HV substations should
have natural ventilation to prevent moisture and
condensation. HV switchgear would not normally
contribute to internal heat gains of the switchroom.
Transformers typically radiate between 1.5% and
2% of their rating as heat, which should be
removed by crossflow (low to high opposite sides)
natural ventilation. The supply and extract air for
an HV substation should connect directly to an
external wall and should be arranged to prevent
short-circuiting. Thermostatically-controlled lowlevel background heating should be arranged to
maintain a room temperature not less than 10C.
Consideration may be given to the provision of LV
or SELV sockets, derived from a resilient routed
secondary source (standby generator) for the use of
competent persons (see Health Technical
Memorandum 06-02).

Equipment and notices provided

7.32 HV substations should include the following

equipment as a minimum set (see Health Technical

Memorandum 06-02):
safety posters as identified by Health Technical
Memorandum 06-02, including first aid/electric
shock treatment;
single line diagrams as identified by Health
Technical Memorandum 06-02;
rubber mats;
a mimic board intake sub only (including
where appropriate key locks, keys and site
logbook);
43

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

a sign positively identifying the LV earthing as a

TN-S system;
a battery charger (for the instruments and
power-driven switches, including trip circuits);
storage space for maintenance tools, with tools;
fixed lifting equipment.

Transformer enclosures
7.33 The adopted distribution strategy (see Chapter 6)

should be used to determine the number of

transformers per substation.

Location
7.34 The potential for harmonic interference, fault level,

and zone of protection should be addressed when

locating transformers. The transformer should be
located within 1 to 3 m from the respective HV
switchgear, and as close as possible to the respective
LV switchgear. External transformers should be
located away from any live vegetation by a
minimum distance of 3 m. The clear zone includes
above the construction and subterranean areas.
Low-maintenance grassed areas are an acceptable
derogation from this requirement.

7.35 The location of internal transformer enclosures

should be in accordance with the recommendations

given in Firecode and the adjacencies described
therein.

Construction
7.36 External transformer open compounds should

be constructed on well-drained surfaces (with

catchments slightly greater than the volume of oil,
for any spilled oil, as appropriate). The electrical
equipment should be placed beyond the reach of
personnel stood external to the substation and/or
transformer.

7.37 External transformer enclosures of GRP or steel

fabrication should have the same environmental

conditions as an internal HV substation.

7.38 Construction of internal transformer rooms should

include adequate fire precautions to satisfy the

recommendations given in Firecode. Where an oilfilled transformer is installed, a bund area should be
provided sufficient to hold more than the capacity
of oil within the transformer. The transformer
enclosure should also provide suitable acoustic
attenuation and should be designed to minimise
the effect of electrical interference.

44

Access and egress

7.39 External transformers should have good access for

road vehicles to facilitate plant replacement and

maintenance. Where external transformers are
on the roof, a clear method statement describing
the arrangements for plant replacement and
maintenance should be provided, without the need
to dismantle the transformer. External transformers
should form an integral part of the HV enclosure
and do not require a dedicated access and egress
opening, provided the layout does not restrict the
plant replacement and maintenance routes.

7.40 Internal transformers should have good access for

road vehicles to facilitate plant replacement and

maintenance. This will generally mean that they are
located on the perimeter of the ground floor or in
separated dedicated buildings. Where internal
transformers are not at ground-floor level, a clear
method statement describing the arrangements for
plant replacement and maintenance should be
provided, without the need to dismantle the
transformer. Internal transformers should be
so arranged and constructed as to prevent
unauthorised access (see Health Technical
Memorandum 06-02 Parts A and B). Door
openings should provide adequate clearance
for plant replacement, inclusive of any manual
handling equipment and personnel. The footprint
of a typical single transformer enclosure (including
maintenance areas) is 4m by 4 m, and hence
consideration may be given to the provision of only
one door opening. Where the distribution strategy
requires two transformers per substation, each
transformer should be located in its own enclosure.

Fire precautions
7.41 Transformer enclosures and/or rooms must satisfy

the requirements of the Building Regulations Part

B. Transformer locations should satisfy the medical
adjacencies as defined in the Firecode series.
Designers and stakeholders should carry out a full
risk assessment (in conjunction with the healthcare
premises fire officer, the local authoritys fire officer
and a specialist fire consultant) to address the form
of suitable fire-fighting equipment and precautions.

7.42 Automatic fire-extinguishing equipment should

be provided where internally-located transformers

contain flammable material (for example mineral
oil). Specialist fire engineers should undertake the
design of such fire-fighting equipment.

7 Primary power distribution centres

7.43 The risk of a fire should also be determined by

the effect of an electrical fault causing explosions.

Such electrical faults will include those that can be
assumed to happen and those that may arise from
unauthorised interference. The fire-extinguishing
equipment should include an audible and visual
alarm system within the substation area,
immediately outside the substation, and within a
suitable 24-hour staffed location (telephonist).

7.44 Transformers suitably rated for external location

and located in the open air of a compound may

not require any specific fire precautions or
extinguishing equipment.

7.45 Fire-extinguishing equipment of the halon or CO2

type should be replaced and not considered for new

installations.

H = height difference between the centre lines of

the two openings (m).
7.47 The above formula should be corrected for ambient

room temperatures above 20C and/or altitudes

above 1000 m.

7.48 Where natural ventilation cannot be secured to

maintain a room temperature of 20C, designers

may wish to consider forced ventilation with an
airflow rate (q) calculated by:

q = 0.081P (for fluid transformers)

q = 0.05P (for dry-type cast-resin transformers)

where

P = total losses of the transformer (kW).

Figure 20 Air flow through a transformer room

Environmental requirements

S1

7.46 External open-air transformers do not require any

environmental requirements. Artificial lighting

should be provided for security and possible
emergency working. Maintenance staff should be
protected from bad weather during emergency
working. Internal transformer enclosures should be
illuminated by artificial lighting to an average level
of 150 lux at floor level. The illumination should
not cast shadows on any instrumentation and
working surfaces of the equipment. Emergency
lighting should provide an average of 5 lux at
floor level for three hours. Internal transformer
enclosures should have natural ventilation to
prevent moisture and condensation, and
overheating of the space and equipment. The
radiated heat from a transformer is a function of
the non-load losses (iron losses) and the full-load
losses (copper I2R losses). Total losses for a fluidcooled transformer will be between 1.5% and 2%
of their rating, and for dry-type (cast resin)
transformers the total losses are between 1% and
1.5%. Natural ventilation may be achieved by a
crossflow of air as illustrated in Figure 20. The total
area of an opening may be calculated from a typical
formula, for example:

0.90S1 = S = (0.18P/(H))

where

S and S1 = lower and upper total opening areas,

respectively (m2)
P = sum of the no-load and full-load losses of the
transformer (kW)

7.49 An alternative to the crossflow arrangement may

be to have the external wall fully louvred such that

there is a 40%60% free-air area. Provisions for
adequate ventilation rates of transformer rooms are
a significant factor in determining the location of
internal transformer rooms. The transformer room
should be thermostatically controlled with low-level
background heating to maintain a room
temperature above 10C.

7.50 Two 100%-rated transformers normally operating

at 50% and with a common load reduce the copper

losses to 40% of the full-load losses.

LV switchrooms
7.51 Guidance on the number, type and location of

any LV switchrooms incorporated within the

sites electrical distribution is given in paragraphs
7.527.54. This section provides guidance on the
design of LV switchrooms owned by the healthcare
organisation (or nominated agent). LV switchrooms
45

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

that are owned by the external DNO and usually

limited to the main intake point, are not governed
by Health Technical Memoranda. However, a
liaison with the external DNO will ensure that
such switchrooms have suitable access and space
provision. LV switchrooms that include an integral
space for the external DNOs LV cables and
equipment may be appropriate providing that
adequate control and areas of responsibility can be
clearly defined.
Location
7.52 External and internal locations can be suitably

adapted for LV switchrooms, provided the design

adheres to the principle of the following guidance.
External switchrooms can be located at ground
level or on the roof level. Internal LV switchrooms
can be located at each floor level.

7.53 The location of internal LV switchrooms should be

in accordance with the recommendations given in

Firecode and the adjacencies described therein.

7.54 LV substations should not be located under bulk

water (or any other fluid) storage areas.

Construction
7.55 External LV switchrooms can be constructed

from GRP or be of steel fabrication provided the

enclosure complies with the requirements of
internal LV switchrooms.

7.56 Construction of internal switchrooms should

include adequate fire precautions and satisfy

the recommendations given in Firecode. The
construction of internal LV switchrooms should
be sufficiently robust to contain the effects of an
electrical explosion emanating from within. The
construction of LV switchrooms should provide
suitable acoustic attenuation and should minimise
the effect of electrical interference.

7.57 Walls and fire-resisting partitions forming the LV

switchrooms must comply with statutory Building

Regulations Part B or be of an equivalent fireresisting, steel-fabricated modular construction.
Internal walls should have a suitable finish to
reduce dust formation and facilitate cleaning.

7.58 LV switchrooms should be constructed to prevent

the ingress of water, including from flood. Specific

precautions are required where cables enter the
substation from external areas (including
subterranean).

46

7.59 Floors and ceilings should be constructed from

reinforced concrete or equivalent fire-resisting

construction. Floors should have a non-slip, dustreducing finish.

7.60 Doors should open outwards and have a total clear

opening to allow replacement of switchgear (see

paragraphs 7.627.63 below).

7.61 LV switchrooms do not require windows or

skylights, which may otherwise increase the effect

of solar heat gain.

Access and egress

7.62 External switchrooms should have good access for

road vehicles to facilitate plant replacement and

maintenance. Where external LV switchrooms are
on the roof, a clear method statement describing
the arrangements for plant replacement and
maintenance should be provided, without the
need to dismantle the LV equipment. External
switchrooms should be so arranged and constructed
as to prevent unauthorised access. See Health
Technical Memorandum 06-02. Door openings
should provide adequate clearance for plant
replacement, inclusive of any manual handling
equipment and personnel. There should be a
minimum of two sets of doors, on opposite sides,
to provide suitable escape routes. For internal
substations, additional doors may be required to
ensure that the maximum travel distance to a safe
haven is no greater than 9 m.

7.63 Internal switchrooms should have good access for

lifting equipment to facilitate plant replacement

and maintenance. This will generally mean that
they are located on the principal circulation
corridors. Where internal switchrooms are not
at ground-floor level, a clear method statement
describing the arrangements for plant replacement
and maintenance should be provided, without the
need to dismantle the LV equipment. Internal
switchrooms should be so arranged and constructed
as to prevent unauthorised access. See Health
Technical Memorandum 06-02. Door openings
should provide adequate clearance for plant
replacement, inclusive of any manual handling
equipment and personnel. There should be a
minimum of two sets of door openings connecting
directly to a safe haven, on opposite sides, to
provide suitable escape routes. Additional door
openings will be required to ensure that the
maximum travel distance to a safe haven is no
greater than 9m.

7 Primary power distribution centres

Layout
7.64 The layout of LV switchrooms will depend

partially on the distribution strategy employed (see

Chapter6). LV switchrooms should have a clear
maintenance space of a minimum 0.8 m on all
sides of equipment contained therein. The room
height should be even, and at least 1 m greater than
the equipment height. It is essential that all cables
and equipment can be serviced and replaced
without modification to the room. Where the
distribution strategy has dual supplies and/or
interleaved sub-main distribution, a physical fire
barrier between each section may improve the fire
precautions and inherent system resilience. Where
the LV switchgear includes a withdrawable section
(see Chapter 9), the depth of the switchgear should
be added to the clear maintenance space. The
maintenance space will include the headroom
above all LV equipment. The headroom should be
a minimum of 1 m measured between the soffit
(and/or the underside of any drop beam) and the
highest point of the equipment. A risk assessment
to determine the amount of space set aside for
future expansion (see Chapter 3) should be
undertaken. LV switchrooms should not be used
for any purpose other than LV switchgear, controls
and cables. The room should not be used for the
storage of other items at any time. The room
should not be used as a conduit for other
engineering services, including drainage.

conditions as an internal LV switchroom (given

below). Internal LV switchrooms should be
illuminated by artificial lighting to an average level
of 150 lux at floor level. The illumination should
not cast shadows on any instrumentation and
working surfaces of the switchgear. Emergency
lighting should provide an average of 5 lux at floor
level for three hours. Internal LV switchrooms
should have adequate natural ventilation to prevent
build-up of moisture and condensation. LV
switchrooms should be arranged so as not to give
concern for internal heat gain. The supply and
extract air for LV switchrooms should connect
directly to an external wall and should be arranged
to prevent the air flow short-circuiting.
Thermostatically-controlled low-level background
heating should maintain a room temperature not
less than 10C. Designers should consider the
provision of LV or SELV sockets, derived from
a resilient routed secondary source (standby
generator) for the use of competent persons (see
Health Technical Memorandum 06-02).
Equipment and notices required to be provided
7.68 LV substations should include the following

equipment as a minimum set:

safety posters as identified by Health Technical

Memorandum 06-02, including first aid/electric
shock treatment;

Fire precautions

single line diagrams as identified by Health

Technical Memorandum 06-02;

7.65 LV switchroom construction must comply with the

rubber mats;

requirements of the Building Regulations Part B.

The location should comply with the medical
adjacencies as defined in the Firecode series. A full
risk assessment should be made in conjunction
with the healthcare premises fire officer, the
local authoritys fire officer and a specialist fire
consultant to address the form of suitable firefighting equipment and fire alarm and detection
systems.

7.66 The risk of a fire should also be determined by

the effect of an electrical fault causing explosions.

Such electrical faults will include those that can be
assumed to happen and those that may arise from
unauthorised interference.

Environmental requirements
7.67 External LV switchrooms of GRP or steel

a mimic board (including, where appropriate,

key locks, keys and site logbook);
a sign positively identifying that the LV earthing
is a TN-S system;
a battery charger (for the instruments and
power-driven switches including trip circuits);
storage space for maintenance tools, with tools;
fixed lifting equipment;
other equipment such as safety keys as required
by local rules.
7.69 Note that a sign positively identifying the LV

earthing as a TN-S system should also be located at

each final distribution board, motor control centre
and similar locations.

fabrication should have the same environmental

47

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Secondary power centres and plant

8.1

This chapter deals with secondary power sources

(SPSs) either directly connected to the PEI or
connected to a secondary electrical infrastructure
(segregated essential/non-essential, A and B etc).

8.2

The use and operating configurations of CHP

plant are comparable with standby generators; but
with CHP, the thermal energy produced can be
harnessed. It is for this reason that CHP plant may
be considered as an SPS but not as standby plant.
The electrical connection and operating
arrangements for CHP plant are discussed in this
Health Technical Memorandum only as a generator
operating in parallel with the PES (see paragraphs
8.78.11). Installation with photovoltaic and/or
wind turbines as an SPS is set out in the Energy
Network Associations Engineering
Recommendations G.83/1.

8.3

Opportunities exist to allow the secondary electrical

power sources, such as CHP plant, to become the
prime power source and the DNO connection
to become the SPS. Designers and stakeholders
should consider the holistic risk strategy for such
arrangements. Non-technical issues can influence
the operating viability of alternative energies such
as CHP, including reduced carbon emissions and
the rejection of excess thermal energy. The design
process should evaluate the resilience of generating
plant (such as CHP plant) with multiple sets
running at below full duty, or having spare capacity
on the DNO connection to the PES.

8.4

The chapter concentrates on standby generators

provided with unified and/or segregated electrical
infrastructures. The configurations are presented
generally in order of resilience, from low to high.
The selection of a particular configuration will be
dependent on the clinical risks and non-clinical
risks. The selected configuration should clearly be
consistent with the distribution strategy (see
Chapter 6).

8.5

The configurations presented in this chapter should

not be taken as being definitive, prescriptive or
restrictive. The selected configurations and

48

assessment are intended as a guide to best practice,

which should not restrict any design innovation.
Healthcare organisations may not have any control
over their DNO configuration, and therefore the
reliability of a duplicated DNO connection (to the
PES) as an SPS should be the subject of a risk
assessment. Areas within a healthcare facility (or the
whole healthcare facility) where the clinical risk is
equal to or greater than Category 3 will always
require some form of standby supply. The design
process should assess the benefit provided by
standby generators where the clinical risk areas are
Category 1 or Category 2.
8.6

Where permanent standby provision is installed,

the addition of strategically-located mobile
generator plug-in points may be an alternative
solution for the maintenance provision of
embedded units. Such arrangements may be
particularly useful where the electrical
infrastructure is a unified system. Where mobile
generators are considered as part of the electrical
resilience, consideration should be given to the
hook-up location and the ease of installing
potentially very long, trirated cables. Designers and
stakeholders should remain mindful of the fact that
mobile generators are in fact mobile and should
be physically secured.

Secondary power general arrangements

8.7

The use of alternative electrical energy sources has

become more widespread in the UK since the late
1990s. All forms of such energy have unique
availability and viability considerations outside the
scope of this Health Technical Memorandum. A
useful source of such data can be found on either
the CIBSE or BSRIA websites. Designers and
stakeholders may wish to consider these energy
sources as a way to reduce the carbon emissions
locally and the possible benefits available from the
renewable obligations commitment (ROCS).

8 Secondary power centres and plant

Photovoltaic power secondary power source

8.8

8.9

Photovoltaic cells may be a useful background

supplementary energy source. Over the normal
range of weather conditions, these units can
provide an average of 15% to 20% of their total
rated output. The use of photovoltaic cells is
therefore limited to smaller healthcare premises,
or dedicated small circuits of larger healthcare
premises.
CIBSE technical memorandum TM 25 provides
a useful guide to the current applications of
photovoltaic cells (PV). Any PV system that is used
on the sites electrical systems should run only in
parallel with the PES supply. There should be a
form of positive isolation between the PV output
and the incoming PES to prevent island-mode
operation and/or back-feeding into the PES via
the DNO. These requirements are set out in the
Energy Networks Associations Engineering
Recommendations G.83/1.

Wind turbine power source

8.10 Any wind turbine system that is used on the sites

electrical systems should run only in parallel with

the PES supply. There should be a form of positive
isolation between the wind turbine output and the
incoming PES to prevent island-mode operation
and/or back-feeding into the PES via the DNO.
These requirements are set out in the Energy
Networks Associations Engineering
Recommendations G.75/1 and G.83/1,
and the Technical Report ETR 113.

8.11 The use of wind turbines should include an

assessment of the available wind and potential

output of any wind turbine that may be on site,
including the space and access requirements.

General secondary power plant

location
8.12 An approach to the DNO should be made to

establish an indicative reliability factor for the PES.

This will place the designer team in an auditable
position when determining the standby power
plant location.

8.13 Where the distribution strategy has placed the first

single point of failure (see Chapter 6) nearer to the

point of use, the standby plant should be connected
at the intake point. Where the first single point of
failure is much nearer the intake point, distributed
secondary power centres should be provided.

8.14 The physical location of SPS plant and primary

plant (substation switchroom) should be considered

in similar ways. This should address the access for
maintenance requirements. With SPSs such as
photovoltaic cells and/or wind turbines, these may
be located on a flat roof where they may optimise
their respective prime energy source (sun or wind).

8.15 Other secondary power plant locations should be

considered by taking account of the medical

adjacencies and environmental conditions. The
medical adjacencies are identified in the Firecode
series of documents.

8.16 Where the SPS is the standby power plant, the

environmental conditions include exhaust

terminations (the Clean Air Act) and noise
emission (see paragraphs 8.918.93). Where the
healthcare site includes a CHP plant, the CHP
plant should be located close to the boiler plant
to minimise the water distribution pipework (and
hence distribution losses). Locating the CHP plant
close to the boiler plant will provide other benefits,
including a common location for boiler flue and
exhaust locations to comply with the Clean Air Act,
as well as a common location for the fuel.

Essential power capacity

8.17 An assessment of the essential power requirement

should be made from an understanding of the

clinical risk areas that require power to be restored
within 15 seconds (see Chapter 4). Further
consideration should be given to the clinical risk
areas that have certain items that should be
reconnected within 0.5 seconds. Such items may
initially remain connected to a supply, by either
internal batteries or a UPS system. Within all
clinical risk areas above Category 2, there will
inevitably be some equipment of a non-clinical and
business continuity risk category. Such risks might
compromise the provision of healthcare treatment
if they were not also connected to the standby
power source after an initial delay in excess of
15seconds, for example building services
environmental control, medical support services
etc.

8.18 Assessments for essential power requirements for

new developments should be based on the ratings

of the above equipment and the general power
density of the healthcare premises with an
acceptable allowance for growth. Actual detailed
load profiles of existing sites may be a useful audit
of the essential power capacity assessment, where

49

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

the profile covers at least one year. Camera shot

measurements should be assessed with the risk
associated with oversized plant, which may be more
flexible and accommodate the allowance of growth.
8.19 When assessing the size and type of emergency

power plant, designers and stakeholders should

be aware that electrical outages can be very short
(less than a few minutes) or for many hours.
Consequently, all emergency generating sets should
be designed and rated to provide continuous full
load for prolonged periods. Where the essential
power plant is not connected to the full electrical
load, thought should be given to the temporary
connections of plant such as the chilled water
systems. The provision may require a manual or
automatic control system with the ability to load
shed a limited number of the secondary services
such as non-essential lighting. The schedule should
be reviewed annually as part of the maintenance
regime.

Essential and emergency power

provision
8.20 Standby power systems should always be available

to provide electrical power to those areas that will

enable the healthcare facility to carry out essential
functions. The designation of these areas within the
healthcare facility should be decided at design stage
with involvement of all the stakeholders, and
particularly clinicians. The framework of such
decision-making should include the clinical risk
categories identified in paragraphs 4.124.24.
Within this general objective, the aim should be to
keep electrical installations as simple as practicable
and avoid unnecessary segregation of essential and
non-essential circuits. Consequently, the design
team should contribute towards the medical
planning process.

8.21 Developments in clear separate phases should

design in the emergency power supply for the

final steady state, as far as practicable, at the initial
design stage. This will enable the total emergency
power supply requirement to be assessed in the
planning stages and appropriate areas of
accommodation to be allocated.

8.22 For ac standby power supplies, in island mode,

required to supply only segregated essential services,

a fully-rated four-pole main auto-changeover
switch should be provided. It should be connected
to supply power to the healthcare facility from two
sources, either from the DNOs normal supply via

50

the main switchboard to the essential services

switchboard, or in an emergency, from the ac
standby power supply to only the essential services
switchboard. Thought should be given to the rating
of all associated cables with the respective loads and
mode of operating the essential power source
(island or parallel).

Standby generators
Design criteria
8.23 A range of system designs is considered below,

for both LV and HV systems. In small healthcare

premises, the most economical and convenient
arrangement may be a single diesel standby
generator set to supply power to the essential
services. However, for larger premises the better
arrangement is to share the load between two or
more machines. A system of two or more standby
generators, with interlocked and interconnected
switching, may be necessary to ensure only a single
running supply to essential loads.

8.24 The choice between LV and HV generation is

usually dependent on the nature of the total site

supplies; 11 kV generators have a higher unit cost
but can be cheaper or more convenient to
distribute electricity to the points of use.

8.25 The design criteria for the standby generator system

should consider the advantages of managing the

maximum demand profile (from the PES) by
operating the generators in parallel. This may be
achieved by running any one of the multiple sets
in parallel with the PES during high maximum
demand periods.

8.26 LV standby generators connected to the HV

network may provide a practical solution. However,

consideration needs to be given to the space
required for the additional transformer(s) and
earthing arrangements. Standby generator
arrangements including step-up transformers
should comply with the Energy Networks
Associations Engineering Recommendations G.84.
Designers and stakeholders should also consider the
capital and life-cycle costs of such transformers and
associated switchgear and equipment.

Component parts
8.27 In its basic form, the generating set configuration is

formed by an engine, alternator and control panel

with associated bed frame. Failure of any of these
items will cause the generating set to fail.

8 Secondary power centres and plant

8.28 The generating set represents a single point of

failure, and maintenance routines should be

developed to reduce the risk of failure. Some of the
commonest reasons for failure are given in Table 3.
Standby power plant should have an N+1
configuration.

Table 3 Typical causes of generator set failure

Fault

Typical cause

Overload

Inadequate testing onto actual site load

Cold engine

Engine heater turned off or heater failed

Flat batteries

Battery charger turned off, charger failed,

or batteries too cold

Cold room

Room heater turned off or when the

generating set is at standby, room air
change rate set too high

Generator configuration
8.29 Standby generators can be arranged in various ways

as described below. Each configuration provides

different opportunities for routine testing of the
generator. Full electrical system tests for a PES
failure (blackout) are described in Health Technical
Memorandum 06-01 Part B.

Mobile plug-in generator island operation

8.30 A basic LV system comprising one PPS and a

mobile secondary generator is illustrated in block

format in Figure 21. This is a simple unified
system, with standby supply provision likely
to be via a plug-in point for a mobile standby
generator. Such a simple system may provide a
Figureback-up
22
supply to healthcare premises where the

clinical risk is no greater than Category 2. Where

there is no requirement for a standby supply within
15 seconds, and essential health and safety supplies
are provided by UPS or battery units, a plug-in
point for a mobile generator may be adequate.
The benefit of having such a mobile plug-in point,
either for such a simple system, or as an addition
for any other supply configuration, is the facilities
it offers to effect planned maintenance of the fixed
wiring system or downtime of permanent standby
generators. The design process should reconcile the
availability and security of mobile generators with
the benefits of embedded distribution and standby
generator resilience. When evaluating the clinical
risks against viability of fixed generator provision,
the realistic response time to collect and connect
a mobile generator (for any scenario) should be
considered, particularly if the generator has to be
hired. Where it is considered advantageous to
provide a mobile plug-in point, managers should
consider the purchase of a mobile unit to be
kept at a central location, or make emergency
arrangements for mobile generators of suitable
rating to be obtainable elsewhere at short notice. In
planning an installation, it is desirable to reserve a
dedicated fenced-off location for mobile generators
where they may be easily connected to an allocated
switch or plug-in point.
8.31 The connecting of a mobile generator should

comply with the Energy Networks Associations

Engineering Recommendations G.84, and may be
achieved by a plug-in facility (up to 175kVA) rated
to BS EN 60309-1:1999, IEC 60309-1:1999. An
external earth lead connection to the generator star

Figure 21 Mobile generator connection

Changeover
contactor/
switch

Healthcare
site
load

BS EN 60309 socket

Isolator
(generator)

Isolator
(main)

DNO
supply

51

Figure 45

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

point and, separately, to the generator metalwork

should be provided. An earth bar connection
should be available for connection to the earth
terminal of the generator base plate, regardless of its
type and size.
8.32 The electrical supply regulations do not permit

a mobile generator to feed back into the PES, as

such connections may feed a fault into the PES.
Therefore, it is essential that positive isolation from
the PES be made before and while any healthcare
organisations mobile generator set is used to
energise any part of the electrical network.

Generator(s) in island operation

8.33 Island operation represents the simplest generator

control arrangement requirements. Each ac

generator will supply electrical power to a discrete,
segregated part of the network. There will be no
facility or opportunity to connect the generator
output to the normal DNO connection.

8.34 Where the SPS plant is connected in island mode

and the distribution strategy allows for the classic

segregated non-essential and essential circuits (see
paragraphs 6.406.42), any single room (or space)
will have only non-essential or essential circuits and
not both circuit types. Where the clinical risk
Category 3, 4 and 5 areas are dispersed or are a
small percentage of the overall electrical AMD,
the safety requirement tends to drive the standby
generator rating up. Designers and stakeholders
should consider the implications of not being able
to test the generators in parallel with the DNO
supply. This may mean that the non-essential
circuits have to be turned off when the physical
essential load is used to test the generators. The
alternative to this (preferred) strategy will be to test
the generators with a load bank. All generator
testing and power restoring (after a DNO outage)
will require a short interruption to the electrical
power. Standby generator operating in island mode
will not require compliance with the Energy
Networks Associations Engineering Requirements
G.59/1.

8.35 Operating standby generating power plant in island

mode may be considered for all clinical risk

category areas.

8.36 Figure 22 shows a classic LV system comprising a

single PPS with an SPS (the standby generator).

The generator(s) is configured to operate in island
mode only.

52

8.37 The electrical system resilience will be N+1 as

there is an embedded secondary power source (the

generator). Where the clinical risk Category 4 area
forms only a small part of the healthcare premises,
the generator control may be adjusted such that the
healthcare premises areas less than clinical risk
Category 4 are only connected to the standby
generator when the actual demand is less than
the generator rating (see Figure 22). Where a
significant percentage of floor area is used as
clinical risk Category 4 or above, more than one
generator should be provided rated so that the
full essential circuits AMD can be supported while
one standby generator is not available (due to
maintenance or faults). Under such circumstances,
the generator resilience would also be defined as
N+1.

Generator(s) operating in parallel with PES

8.38 Parallel operation represents a more refined control

arrangement in the mode of standby generator

running. Each ac generator will supply electrical
power to any part of the internal electrical
infrastructure depending on voltage and the type
of parallel operation. For parallel operation with
the PES, the generator control regime should be
compliant with the Energy Networks Associations
Engineering Requirements G.59/1 (short- or longterm).

8.39 Short-term parallel operation requirements of

G59/1 allow the embedded generators to run

(synchronised) in parallel with the PES for periods
between 1 and 5 min, subject to approval of the
local DNO. Designers and stakeholders should
consider the advantage of this arrangement as a
means of having a no-break return to normal PES
supply following an outage. The disadvantage of
such an arrangement is that the whole building
electrical load cannot be used to test the standby
generator power capacity. This may mean that the
non-essential circuits have to be turned off, when
the physical essential load is used to test the
generators. However, as the sets meet the G59/1
requirements for short-term parallel operation, the
sets can be synchronised with the PES supply and
then the non-essential circuits re-energised before
the generators are isolated from the load. The
alternative to this (preferred) strategy will be to test
the generators with a load bank.

8.40 Where the standby power plant is connected in

short-term parallel operation and the distribution

strategy allows for the classic segregated non-

8 Secondary power centres and plant

Figure 22 Generator(s) in island operation

DNO or healthcare site network connection

Generator and PES not synchronised

Generator running in island mode
Energised but
with no load
connected

G1
On line and
connected to
the load

Closed

Open

Open
Closed

Closed

Closed

Closed

Healthcare site substation

Closed
No power

Risk
category 1

Closed

Closed

No power

Risk
category 2

Closed

No power

Power and
energised

Risk category 3 or 4

The healthcare site

essential and essential circuits (see paragraphs 6.40
6.42), any single room (or space) will have only
non-essential or essential circuits and not both
circuit types. Where the clinical risk Category 3, 4
and 5 areas are dispersed or are a small percentage
of the overall electrical AMD, the safety
requirement tends to drive the standby generator
rating up. Designers and stakeholders should
consider the implications of not being able to test
the generators in parallel with the DNO supply.
8.41 The long-term parallel operation requirements

of G59/1 allow the embedded standby generators

to run (synchronised) in parallel with the PES for
any unspecified period of time. Advantages are
available with arrangements that provide a facility
to test the generators with the essential circuits of
the building load. Where the standby generator
capacity is less than 100% of the AMD, the
generators will run up and synchronise with the
PES (for the test regime), and consequently there
will not be a need to isolate any part of the
electrical system while testing the generators.

8.42 Where the standby power plant is connected in

long-term parallel operation and the distribution

strategy allows for the classic segregated nonessential and essential circuits (see paragraphs
6.406.42), any single room (or space) may have a
mixture of non-essential and essential circuit types.

8.43 Best-practice standby-generator connecting

arrangements will allow for long-term parallel

operation with the PES (that is, fully compliant
with G59/1). Assessments of the advantages for
business continuity with the additional control and
switchgear regulation should be made.

8.44 Operating standby generating power plant in short-

or long-term parallel operation may be considered

for all clinical risk categories provided that any
areas of Category 5 have an intermediate tertiary
power source UPS.

8.45 Figure 23 shows a classic LV system comprising a

single PPS with an SPS (in this case a standby

generator). The generator(s) is configured to
operate in island mode only.

53

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

8.46 The electrical system resilience will be N+1, as

there is an embedded SPS (the standby generator).

Where a significant percentage of floor area is used
as clinical risk Category 4 or above, more than one
standby generator should be provided rated so
that the full essential circuits AMD can be
supported while one generator is not available
(due to maintenance or faults). Under such
circumstances, the generator resilience would also
be defined as N+1.

generator connection). Where the site has

generators above 20 kV and/or 5MW, its design
should ensure that the generators are fully
compliant with the Energy Networks Associations
Engineering Requirements G.75/1.

LV generators feeding HV ring main

8.48 The design process might consider using LV

(0.4kV) standby generators connected to the HV

network (11 kV), via step-up transformers, where
the distribution strategy includes for an HV
network. Generators in this configuration can
operate either in parallel or in island mode as
described in paragraphs 8.298.47. When the
standby generators have a design potential to allow

8.47 This chapter has discussed the various operating

configurations for standby generators based on the

generators having a terminal voltage up to 11 kV
and/or each generator having an output of less than
5 MW (see Figures 22 and 23; also see Figure 18,
which can be used as the configuration for an HV

Figure 23 Generator(s) operating in parallel with PES

DNO or healthcare site network connection

Generator and PES are synchronised

Generator running in parallel mode

G1

Energised and
with the load
connected

On line and
connected to
the load
Closed

Closed
Closed

Closed

Closed

Closed

Closed

Healthcare site substation

Closed
Power and
energised

Risk
category 1

Closed

Closed

Power and
energised

Risk
category 2
The healthcare site

54

Power and
energised

Closed
Power and
energised

Risk category 3 or 4

8 Secondary power centres and plant

for parallel operation, the electrical system should

include neutral-switching contactors.

Generator control
Generating set management
8.49 The generating sets are defined as a standby system.

The modes of operation should be well-defined and

clearly stated.

8.50 Where the healthcare facility has SPSs including

power sources from alternative energy plant (CHP,

wind turbines, photovoltaic), designers should liaise
with the local DNO to ensure compliance with the
requirements of the Energy Networks Associations
Engineering Requirements G.83/1.

8.51 Designers are also required to prevent these power

sources feeding back into the PES at the instance of

an under-/over-voltage or an under-/over-frequency
of the SPSs in either the power source or PES.
However, such power sources may be arranged
to continue to supply the internal essential
distribution, and allow the standby generators to
synchronise to the CHP supply. (Note subject to
the rating and step load response of the CHP, such
arrangements may require the non-essential loads
to be isolated, while the standby generators are
initialised and connected.)

8.52 Detection of any under-voltage on any phase

should be made at the input terminals of the point

of common coupling of the primary supply and
secondary supply (generator).

8.53 Where the generator(s) cover the full essential load,

the phase failure detection will be at the intake

point.

8.54 Where the generator(s) provide cover to only part

of the electrical load, this will be at the respective

switchboard (point of segregation of local nonessential and essential circuits).

8.55 Detection monitoring is required on all phases

of the normal supply, such that any single-phase

voltage failure in the normal supply initiates a start
signal to the essential generator controls.

8.56 The engine-driven generator set for the supply

of essential circuit power and lighting should be

designed for automatic starting in the event of
either a total failure of supply or a prolonged
variation in supply voltage from its specified limits.
A short delay of between 0.5 and 6.0 seconds is
normally chosen at the voltage detector device to

discriminate against a fall in normal voltage due

to a voltage transient or auto-reclose switching
operation (that is, a time delay to establish that
the under-voltage is an outage rather than a
disturbance). When the chosen time delay confirms
the loss of normal supply voltage, the engine start
is initiated. A time delay of up to 15 seconds
(following the initial confirmation time) is allowed
between loss of normal supply and connection of
the standby generator to the essential circuits. The
essential circuits are defined as those which cannot
accept an interruption of electrical energy greater
that 15 seconds plus the detection time (that is,
clinical risk Category 4 and above). The ac standby
generator circuit breaker should close when the
generated voltage and frequency are at 95% of
nominal values and before the auto-changeover
load switch operates. The initial step load applied
to the generator should be less than the maximum
acceptance factor to prevent the generators
protection shutting the set down again.
8.57 The time-delayed start of the motor and high

inductive loads may be achieved by the individual

motor controls or by a centralised network control
(see Chapter 9).

8.58 Regardless of the actual duration of the outage

(PES or internal distribution), provision should

be made to ensure a minimum run-time of
20minutes to allow the generator engine
lubrications to reach operating temperatures and
fully circulate. The minimum run-time will also
facilitate the recharging of the batteries. The
minimum run-time should be exclusive of the time
required to establish a returned and stable PES
supply. Where the mains supply has been restored
prior to load transfer, this will mean the generator
may be operated off-load.. Where the mains has
been re-established within the minimum run-time,
the load will be transferred back to the DNO
supply and the generator will continue to run offload until completing the minimum run time.

8.59 The source of run/stop signals should be clear, to

ensure that the set automatically runs when mains

failures occur at points in the systems that are to be
supplied by the set. The position of any simulatemains-failure switches and mains-return pushbuttons should be decided with respect to the
system as a whole and in particular the needs of the
operator.

8.60 The opportunities to maintain and/or test will

affect the management control requirements. For

55

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

example, the maintenance requirements may

require a level of redundancy in sets, which will
then require sequencing controls (see paragraphs
8.618.64). Test regimes should facilitate the
generator(s) to run in parallel with the PES for
business continuity and clinical risk control.
Additional details are available in Health Technical
Memorandum 06-01 Part B, Operational
management.
Multi-set operation
8.61 For standby generators connected to different

points within the network, arrangements with

parallel operated sets (which have collective
redundancy) should be adopted. Where the clinical
risk areas are Category 4 or above, arrangements
with multiple generator sets that have inbuilt
redundancy should be adopted.

8.62 Where the SPS is via multiple standby generator

sets, the total run-up time (detection time of

between 0.5 and 6.0 seconds plus run-up of less
than 15seconds) should include the time it will
take to synchronise sufficient sets so that their
combined acceptance load is greater than assessed
essential load (clinical risk Category 3 and above).

8.63 In applications where the system is operating with

an N+1 capacity, it should be decided whether

the resilient set should operate continuously
throughout a mains failure or only run on the
failure of a running set. All sets should be started at
the instance of a mains failure. After the generator
operation has stabilised (normally less than five
minutes), the number of online sets is adjusted to
suit the actual demand.

8.64 If the number of sets that operate is to be varied to

match the required load, care should be exercised in

defining the power levels that disconnect a set from
load. This figure, which may vary over months or
years, should be reviewed on a regular basis. The
risk of stopping a running set due to light load
running, compared with the reduced risk of
operating with excess capacity, should be
considered.

Mains return
8.65 To return the electrical power source back to the

DNO service, a minimum delay should be agreed

to allow the DNO service to be established and
stabilised, otherwise the risk of repeated outages
(caused by the number of auto-reclose devices) may

56

follow. This should be a minimum of five minutes,

and determined by local experience.
8.66 Designers should give further consideration to how

the load is actually transferred, either manually or

under an automated control system. Where the
load is transferred manually, a key switch will be
required for this function, and the transfer can
be coordinated to the benefits of the healthcare
premises. This mode of operation may only require
a short-term (less than five minutes) parallel
operation under the G59/1 requirements. The load
transfer under an automated control system should
be gradual to minimise transient voltages, which
may otherwise cause an outage of either the DNO
supply or the running standby generators. Where
the load transfer from the generator(s) to the DNO
supply is gradual, a long-term (greater than five
minuets) parallel operation agreement under the
G59/1 Regulations will be required.

8.67 Long-term parallel operation of generators with

the PES as described by the G59/1 regulations has

clear advantages for testing generators with the
minimum inconvenience to end-users. See the
routine online testing of primary and secondary
power sources in Health Technical Memorandum
06-01 Part B.

8.68 Additional information can be found in Chapter 9

for the automated management and control of a

stage transfer system.

8.69 When all electrical loads have been transferred

back to the DNO supply, the standby generator(s)

should be allowed to run on for a period to
facilitate natural cooling of the engine. This period
can be a pre-set time of say ten minutes or at preset return temperatures of the lubricant and/or
water cooling systems.

Computerised load management of generators

8.70 The electrical infrastructure and distribution

strategy may minimise the effect of an electrical

fault to the clinical risks areas. However, the most
resilient system cannot eliminate the risk. The
highest risk of generator failure is during the first
five minutes of the set starting online. While the
standby generators are providing the only electrical
power, variation in demand may result in the
generators running on a light load. This is
particularly the case with multiple sets. Similarly,
the demand variations may cause the generator to
become overloaded.

8 Secondary power centres and plant

8.71 Where the standby generators do not provide

support for the total electrical system of the site,

problems may rise during prolonged outages (of
the PES). For example, where the chiller plant
is not supported by default, building internal
temperatures may arise above acceptable levels.

8.72 The design process may consider supervisory

control and data acquisition (SCADA) computer

systems to automatically control the generators and
switchgear status and connected load. This function
may also be provided using a PLC system.

Standards and references

8.73 Generating sets should be specified that are

compliant with the relevant parts of the following

specifications. Particular attention should be given
to the governing system of the engine and the
voltage regulation system of the alternator:
generating sets are specified in BS 7698,
ISO8528;
engines are specified in BS 5514, ISO 3046;
alternators are specified in BS 4999.

prescribed maintenance having been carried out.

This is known as a Class A rating.
8.77 Diesel or gas engines should generally be

manufactured in accordance with BS 5514,

ISO3046. Four categories of load acceptance are
available for various types of engine operation on
the basis of percentage load acceptance for the
Class A rating:
Category 1 100% load acceptance;
Category 2 80% load acceptance;
Category 3 60% load acceptance;
Category 4 25% load acceptance.

8.78 The advantages of higher acceptance factors should

be reconciled with the increased cost of larger

generator sets, and the time taken to reach
acceptance point with synchronised sets. Naturallyaspirated generators have a higher acceptance factor
for a given output rating, but are also physically
larger. Generators that can satisfy the Category 2 or
3 of a Class A specification to BS 5514, ISO 3046
may be more economic and appropriate for most
healthcare premises.

Generator engines

Batteries and battery charging

8.74 The choice of generator engine type is determined

8.79 For most generating sets, the means of starting is

by the required output and speed. For generators

up to 50kVA, the prime mover may be either a
petrol or a diesel engine with four or six cylinders.
Generators between 50kVA and up to 500 kVA
are best driven by diesel engines with six or eight
cylinders in Vformation. Generators in the range
of 500kVA to 1500kVA are best driven by diesel
engines having 12 or 16 cylinders in Vformation.
From the early 2000s some engine manufacturers
have been making 20-cylinder engines used to drive
1500kVA to 2MVA generators. The advantage
here is that with more cylinder displacement and
equal engine speed, a greater load acceptance factor
can be applied to the generator.

8.75 The larger engines should all have turbocharge

units fitted, while the smaller sets (less than

100kVA) may be more economical with natural
aspiration.

8.76 Engines should be continuously rated, as defined

in BS 5514, ISO 3046. They should be capable

of operating at the rated load for a period of
12consecutive hours inclusive of an overload of
10% for a period not exceeding one hour, the

by an electric starter motor. Air start is available,

but for economic reasons is generally restricted to
generators greater than 2MVA for sets at 0.4 kV or
greater than 3MVA for sets at 11 kV.

8.80 The reliability and maintenance of batteries is

extremely important. For a generating set to

start consistently, the batteries should be in good
condition and maintained fully charged while
the set is both running and stationary. The
maintenance procedures should include the
requirements given by the particular battery
manufacturer.

8.81 Usually, two battery-charging systems are supplied

with a generating set:

a charger for operation while the set is

stationary, usually in the control panel;
a belt-driven charge alternator that maintains
the battery when the set is running.
8.82 For both charging systems the battery should be

charged at the correct float voltage, and for

engine starting the battery should be adequately
sized for the breakaway (initial starting) voltage

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

to be acceptable to the engine manufacturer.

The use of a BMS should be considered for the
monitoring of the battery condition.
8.83 Table 4 gives a range of battery types in ascending

cost order. The type of battery to be selected should

be assessed with regard to the risk, cost and planned
maintenance. The length of battery life should be
checked with the battery manufacturer.

Table 4 Battery types

Type of battery

Typical life

Lead acid

3 to 5 years

Sealed lead acid

3 to 7 years

Plant

5 to 10 years

Ni-Cad (Nickel cadmium)

>10 years

Fuel and fuel storage

8.84 The design process should evaluate the fire and

pollution implications of storing diesel fuel (the

generators prime energy source). Further advice is
available from a guidance note for the Control of
Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations
2001 as published by Defra (Department for
Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). Designers
should see the Firecode series and medical
adjacencies when determining the location of any
bulk fuel storage. The volume of diesel fuel oil
stored within the day tank and arranged for gravity
feed of fuel oil to the engine should be no more
than the greater of 750 L or the equivalent of
10hours full-load (maximum capacity) running
of the generating set. In addition, a fuel oil main
reserve for 200 hours full-load running for each
standby generator set should be available on site.
Where the standby generators are decentralised,
fuel should be pumped from the centralised storage
area.

8.85 Where the fuel is not pumped to decentralised

standby generator(s), a hand-operated semi-rotary

oil pump should be available for transferring fuel
oil from oil drums or other vessels to the standby
generator(s) day tank. The hand pump should have
a filter fitted with screw caps to prevent ingress of
dirt when in storage. Where the oil-fired boiler
burner plant (or CHP plant) can use the same lowsulphur fuel as the generators, designers may wish
to consider sharing the bulk fuel storage. Under
such strategies, the stored fuel volume should be
assessed on the worse-case demand of 200 hours
continuous full-load generator(s) demand or 10

58

days continuous peak thermal boiler-plant

demand. Designers should give consideration to
how to minimise the effect of stratifying fuel oil
where the stored generator fuel is not shared with
the boiler plant, which may mitigate such effects.
There are ranges of systems for fuel storage and
supply that can be considered, and a brief
description of some follows.
8.86 Figure 24 shows a basic system comprising a day

tank and isolating valve with bulk fill point and

hand pump. The tank could be filled using the
bulk fill point or via the hand pump from fuel
brought to the side of the day tank. However, the
generator has no automatic means of maintaining
the fuel tank full.

8.87 The addition of bulk tank storage as well as a day

tank, as in Figure 25, allows extra capacity to be

kept on site. The day tank can now be filled either
from the bulk tank, or via the hand pump from
fuel brought to the side of the day tank. The bulk
tank can fill the day tank either by gravity feed
or as a pumped supply. Where the day tank is
automatically maintained full by the transfer
pumps, at least one pump, powered by an extra LV
source or diesel, should be provided. This may
assist when the day tank is empty, the generator has
stopped and there is no mains electrical power.

8.88 Where fuel can be dumped from day tank to bulk

tank, it is important to reduce, by design, the

chance of accidental system operation. The entire
generating set installation is at risk if the fuel dump
is accidentally released, since the day tank would
be empty, and during a mains failure there is no
supply available to operate the transfer pumps.
Where a 24 V dc supply is required to maintain the
dump valve closed, the source of that supply should
be carefully considered, as a reduction or failure of
this voltage would also cause all fuel to be dumped
from the day tank. Operation of the dump valve
should also be monitored and alarmed. The bulk
tank capacity should maintain sufficient empty
space to receive the full contents of the day tank.

8.89 The addition of the fire safety-valve feature needs

to be carefully considered and risk assessed against

the potential disruption of a premature generator
set failure. If the generator is sited away from
other buildings and provided with automatic fire
detection, the ability to maintain electrical supply
while making a managerial decision regarding the
fire condition may be preferential in terms of risk.
In addition to the guidance given by Defra,

8 Secondary power centres and plant

Figure 24 Fuel day tank with hand fill

Day tank

Isolating
valve
Bulk fill
point

Alternator

Engine

Isolating
valve

Isolating
valve

Hand pump
Feed
Return

Figure 25 Fuel day and bulk tanks with dual pumps and fire dump

Thermal link
Day tank

Engine

Fire
valve

Alternator

Isolating
valve

Fire
dump
valve

Isolating
valve

Hand pump

Feed
Return
Isolating
valve
Bulk fill
tank

Duty/standby
electric pumps
Bulk tank

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

installations must comply with local regulations

from the fire department, district surveyor and
local council. For large generating sets, the quantity
of fuel to be stored could become significant in
both the day and bulk tanks. Both the size and the
location of bulk fuel tanks should be carefully
considered. Fuel in the bulk tank can remain
unused for significant periods and may deteriorate.
It should be subject to routine testing. The risk
associated with fuel leakage should be assessed.
Containment may be required for day tank, bulk
tank and associated fuel transfer pipework, both
from the bulk tank to the day tank and from the
day tank to the engine. The use of tank bunds and
double-skinned transfer pipes should be considered.
To reduce the possibility of fuel spillage, controls
should be included to ensure that should a day tank
become overfilled, any fuel transfer systems are
automatically switched off; similarly if a bulk tank
is overfilled, visual indication is given at the fill
point.

Exhaust systems
8.90 The exhaust system associated with a generating

set should include a silencing system that reduces

the noise level to acceptable limits at the point of
discharge. Due consideration should also be given
to the position of the discharged gases with regard
to smell and gas condensation temperatures. The
engine exhaust will be the hottest part of the
generating set and will operate in the region of
450C at full load. The system should be lagged
where it is considered to present a safety hazard
or heating problem. Design of exhaust systems
should take due consideration of the possibility of
condensation from the exhaust gases at the final
exit to avoid the possibility of corrosion. Where
the discharge point of the gases is remote from the
generating set, it may be necessary to increase the
diameter of the pipework to overcome any backpressure. Exhaust gases are a fire and pollution
hazard, and are increasingly regulated, with the
need to fit catalytic converters and particulate
filters. Installations must comply with local
regulations for environmental health, fire safety
officers, district surveyors and local councils, and
must comply with the Clean Air Act. The final
termination point of the exhaust should be kept
away from any fenestration and/or air intakes.

60

Environmental considerations
8.91 A generating set should be configured to operate on

low-sulphur fuels. Noise from standby generators

can cause significant disturbance if not attenuated.
Designers should address the air intake noise by
suitable attenuation so that the sound pressure level
in the generator enclosure is less than 85dbA,
or operatives should wear personal protective
equipment (PPE). The generator enclosure and
air removal system should also be attenuated so
that the sound pressure level satisfies the local
environmental conditions. This will require an
understanding of the nighttime background noise
levels near the generator house. The need for PPE
should be assessed, and a risk assessment should be
undertaken.

8.92 The following is a list of typical conditions in

a generating set that will require operational

procedures to provide a safe environment:
hot surfaces:

a running engine operates at

approximately 90C and the exhaust at
550C, which requires guarding;
rotating parts:
all moving parts should be protected by
guards;
batteries filled with acid:
leakage, venting, filling together with
electrical connection and disconnection
should be controlled;
procedure for cleaning a spill, together
with controlled disposal of waste materials;
antifreeze that can spill:
procedure for cleaning a spill, together
with controlled disposal of waste materials;
noise levels that typically exceed 105 dbA in
close proximity to set:
the use of ear protection is essential;
electricity generation at voltages of 0.4 kV or
11kV:
all protective cover plates should be in
position.

8 Secondary power centres and plant

8.93 The maintenance of a generating set will

periodically result in batteries, lube oil and

antifreeze requiring to be replaced. Each of these
items has environmental consequences, and a safe
disposal policy should be enforced that includes an
audit trail documenting the controlled disposal.

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

9.1

Protection and switchgear

This chapter considers the various types of

switchgear at 11 kV and 0.4 kV that may be
appropriate for healthcare premises. It is important
to review the distribution strategy (see Chapter 6)
before selecting switchgear and protection types.
This is of particular importance when making
modifications to existing electrical network(s). An
understanding of the implications for maintenance
and the spare-part requirements should be ensured
before selecting different generic types of
switchgear. Detail of spatial planning for switchgear
is provided in Chapters 7 and 8.

connect between the common busbar and

cableway. Withdrawable units tend to have the
largest physical size of all switchgear for a given
rating. The units have a very safe interlock and
shutter mechanism that prevents access to live parts
when the truck is removed. The truck can be
located in the cable busbar position, cable earth
position or busbar earth position, just by the
relative position of the truck in the housing. To
replace a withdrawable unit, the unit is lowered
from its normal in-service position and wheeled
away from the chamber. Withdrawable units can
be replaced (with a spare unit) within half an hour.
With withdrawable units it is possible to prove a
circuit dead, while the truck has been removed,
with the aid of a purpose-built voltage indicating
stick. There is no equivalent method of proving a
circuit dead on the other types of HV switchgear.
Note that the oilswitch oil circuit breaker is only
available as a withdrawable unit. Where the
withdrawable unit includes electrical interlocks, the
electrical interlock integrity to other withdrawable
units should be maintained when the device has
been withdrawn.

High-voltage switchgear
9.2

The type of HV switchgear selected should be

comparable with the type of HV substation.
While this statement may seem obvious, many
manufacturers are making compact ingress
protection-rated enclosures for internal switchgear
to be used semi-externally. Similarly, some installers
are housing typical external switchgear (ring main
units) inside buildings due to the competitive
pressures for available land space and reduced
component cost.

9.3

The main forms of HV switchgear are oil, SF6

and vacuum, all of which can be used for a switch
disconnector or circuit breaker. Switchgear
assemblies (functional units) can be in the form of
a single component or multiple units, linked via a
busbar, to form a composite HV switchpanel.
Functional units can be withdrawable, semiwithdrawable or fixed-pattern. The difference
offered by each system is the compactness and
opportunities for servicing or replacing faulty
functional units. (Many devices include two
functions: for example, disconnector and circuit
breaker in one device, except the switch is often a
single-function device.)

Withdrawable units
9.4

62

Withdrawable units are generally truck-mounted

components which sit in a specific chamber and

Semi-withdrawable units
9.5

Semi-withdrawable units are generally framemounted components which sit in a specific

chamber and connect between the common busbar
and cableway. Semi-withdrawable units tend to
have the medium physical size of all switchgear for
a given rating. The units have a very safe interlock
and shutter mechanism that prevents access to live
parts when the unit is withdrawn from its frame.
The unit only has one service position and
provision for cable earthing. To replace a semiwithdrawable unit, the unit is released from its
normal in-service position; fixing bolts have to be
removed before the unit can be fully removed.
Semi-withdrawable units can be replaced (with a
spare unit) within one to two hours. In order to
prove a circuit dead, specially-connected indicating
lamps are connected between cable and busbar.

9 Protection and switchgear

However, there is not a 100% foolproof method of

proving the lamp circuit.
Fixed-pattern units
9.6

Fixed-pattern units are frame-mounted

components which sit in a specific chamber
and connect between the common busbar and
cableway. Fixed-pattern units tend to have the
smallest physical size of all switchgear for a given
rating. The units have a safe interlock and shutter
mechanism that prevent access to live parts.
However, the units cannot be withdrawn or used
for cable/busbar earthing, as the unit only has one
service position. To replace a fixed-pattern unit,
the full switchpanel has to be isolated and stripped
down. Fixed-pattern units will therefore take the
longest time of all switch assembly types to replace.
In order to prove dead, specially-connected
indicating lamps are connected between cable and
busbar. However, there is not a 100% foolproof
method of proving the lamp circuit. Consideration
should be given to the method of cable earthing
where fixed-pattern units are used. Cable earths
may be difficult when fixed-pattern units are used
at both ends of the cable. It is also recommended
that every switchpanel have a local means of
earthing the busbars.

9.7

Where the switchgear device includes a circuitbreaker function, thought should be given to
the type of arc-interrupting material (oil, SF6 or
vacuum) in terms of the environment, health and
safety, and maintenance requirements.

9.8

Oil switchgear has a good legacy and reliability;

however, any controlled or fault operation of the
switchgear creates a controlled spark interrupted
by the oil, which degrades the oil. Hence, the oil
circuit breaker device (OCB) should be serviced
after any three fault operations of the breaker.
Mineral oils are not environmentally friendly, and
special disposal requirements should be observed.
Silicon oil is a suitable replacement for mineral oil,
but the switchgear maintenance requirement
remains unchanged.

9.9

SF6 switchgear uses the properties of sulphur

hexafluoride (SF6) for arc interruption and hence is
smaller than the OCB for the same rating. Under
normal use, SF6 is a colourless, odourless, nontoxic and non-flammable gas, giving advantages for
internally located switchgear. The switchgear
maintenance requirements are related to a fault
condition or a lowering of the gas pressure

(normally held at 1 bar g). The SF6 circuit breaker

can still operate satisfactorily with a reduced gas
pressure. The disadvantage of SF6 is that the gas
can dissociate and produce an odour when exposed
to a high-energy spark of a fault condition. The
dissociated gas can produce particulate dust and
other by-products that are a skin irritant. The
health and safety aspects of SF6 have tended to
drop this form of circuit breaker from favour.
Where SF6 switchgear is used, appropriate hazard
signs should be fixed to the switchroom doors.
9.10 Vacuum switchgear uses a vacuum chamber to

interrupt the arc generated by the circuit breaker

tripping or automatically opens under fault
conditions. The disadvantage of vacuum switchgear
is the instability of the arc under fault conditions.
As the vacuum bellows opens, the spark can
collapse and remake three or four times before the
energy is sufficiently lowered to effect isolation.
The repetitive arcing may cause HV transients in
the load circuit.

9.11 The selection of any particular switchgear type

should include a review of the life-cycle costs of the

respective types. However, best-practice designs are
focused on the implications of a fire arising from
any explosion within the HV equipment. Equally
important will be the protection type that can be
used and the method of reconfiguring the HV
network following a fault. The selection of the
particular switchgear type should also consider the
means of earthing the cable (at both ends).

High-voltage busbar sections

9.12 As mentioned in the previous section, certain

switchgear types allow for earthing cables and

busbars. In addition, they provide a means to
positively prove dead. Where the selected type of
switchgear does not allow this function, the HV
switchpanel should be split into two sections
separated by a cable length. If the cable terminates
onto each section of the switchpanel via a
disconnector circuit breaker combination, it may
be possible to replicate the advantages of the
withdrawable device (except, that is, the
opportunity for fast replacement times).

9.13 One clear advantage of the cable link on the HV

bus section is the opportunity to build a fire barrier

between the two sections of the panel. Similar
facilities can be achieved with two ring main units
used on a common substation.

63

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

High-voltage protection devices

Inverse definite minimum time (IDMT) relays

9.14 On HV networks, the protective devices are fuse

9.17 The two previous devices are current-operated only.

links or relays which automatically operate local

or remote circuit breakers. At high voltage the
opportunities to grade fuse links and provide a level
of discrimination are significantly less than those
for the LV fuse link, particularly as the HV current
approaches 45 A (800kVA). Relays can have very
fast operating time compared with fuses, which
explains why relays are the preferred protective
device for voltages above low voltage, typically
50ms, 2.5 cycles (digital/numerical relays) and for
electromechanical relays 150 ms (7 cycles). Time
fuse links are used for some HV applications.

High-rupture-capacity (HRC) fuse links to

BS2692, IEC 60298
9.15 These fuse links are suitable for fitting into HV

ring main units. They are equipped with a striker

pin (actuated by a small pyrotechnic device) which
is used to operate a trip mechanism disconnecting
all phases. The speed of the device at large currents
is such that they are able to limit the current to the
fault. The size of the fuse is determined by the
transformer size and its inrush current (normally
12 times transformer full load for 0.1 s). The range
of fuses available are from 5 A to 125 A, covering
transformer sizes from 50 kVA to 1600 kVA.
To assist with network discrimination it is
recommended that HRC fuses are limited to
protection of transformers up to and including
800kVA.

Time fuse links to ESIS 12.6

9.16 Time fuse links, also known as time-lag fuses

(TLF), are designed to Electricity Supply Industry

Standard (ESIS) 12.6. The links are used in
conjunction with a current transformer (CT) to
operate an HV circuit breaker via an ac trip coil.
The range of fuses available is 3 A, 5 A, 7.5 A,
10A, 12.5 A and 15 A. When used with the
appropriate CT ratio they can be used to protect
transformers having a range from 200kVA to
2000kVA. TLFs are normally designed to protect
against overcurrent and earth faults. The yellow
phase is used for earth fault protection and the fuse
on this phase is either reduced or omitted; this
makes grading between TLFs in series with each
other very difficult.

64

The IDMT relay in its basic electro-mechanical

form is adjustable both in the current setting
known as a plug setting (PS) and a time setting
know as a time multiplier setting (TMS). The relay
is fed via CTs by varying the CT ratio. Plug and
time settings enable the relay to be used in any part
of the distribution network and in series with each
other. The modern relays are electronic; these have
the added advantage of more settings and curves,
enabling them to mimic HRC fuses, time fuse links
and LV ACBs. They can also be configured to
display HV current, removing the need for
ammeters. The latest IDMT relay can also be
connect to BMSs or connected to the Internet for
remote interrogation or operation.

Bias differential relays

9.18 Bias differential relays are used in unit protection

schemes (the trade names for these relays being

Translay and Solkor). They are configured in pairs
at either end of a feeder cable or at a transformer.
They will only operate if the fault is within their
zone of protection; all other faults will cause no
action. Unit protection schemes are used on closed
ring networks and on interconnectors, that is,
cables connecting two sources of supply (primary
and secondary).

Earth fault passage indicators

9.19 Earth fault passage indicators are devices which are

connected to cable entry points on HV switchgear.

They are used to indicate when an earth fault has
passed through the cable. Early versions dropped
a coloured disc on the unit, and the Authorised
Person (HV) would then walk the system and
disconnect the faulty section. The latest devices can
be individually connected to a central location and
used as part of an automatic restoration system.

Grading of protection systems

9.20 Grading of protection systems is carried out to

ensure, so far as is possible, that only the faulty

equipment is disconnected when a fault occurs.

9.21 Discrimination by time separation is achieved by

making the protective devices, which all detect and

respond to the fault current, progressively slower to
operate the further they are from the point of fault.
This is the normal method of ensuring grading on
open ring or radial distribution systems using HRC

9 Protection and switchgear

fuses, time fuse links and IDMT relays. In order to

ensure that grading is achieved there are typical
minimum acceptable time separations between the
various devices, and these are as shown in Table 5
and Figure 26. However, fixed grading margins are
only appropriate at high fault levels that lead to
short relay operating times. At lower fault current
levels with longer operating times, typically when
the HCP is supported using standby generators,
relays may fail to grade corrrectly.
9.22 Discrimination with stability is achieved by making

the protective devices detect, and respond to, only

faults which require their operation, thus ensuring
that only the faulty equipment is isolated. This is
the normal method of ensuring grading on closed
ring distribution systems using unit protection
relays. As the unit protection relays detect, and
respond to, only faults calling for their operation,
there is no necessity to build in time delays for time
separation purposes.

Network reconfiguration after a fault or outage

9.23 The HV protection system should be designed

to disconnect the faulty part of the system with

minimum disruption. The type of HV distribution
strategy (see paragraphs 6.266.30) and the type of
functional unit used will determine the time taken
to restore supplies to the health section of the
network.

9.24 A fault on a radial circuit will cause all users on

the circuit to be affected until the system can be

reconfigured, and any users downstream of the
fault will be disconnected until the fault has been
repaired. On ring circuits utilising ring main units
(RMUs), users on the affected parts of the ring
(depending on the position of any open point) will
be disconnected until the fault is located. Normally
all users will be restored after reconfiguration of the
system. Protection control units are now available
that will reconfigure the network automatically
using fault detection systems and powered switches
on RMUs and circuit breakers, restoring power in

Table 5 Time separation of protective systems

Smaller protective device
(nearer to fault)

Larger protective device

(further from fault)

Minimum time separation (seconds)

HRC fuse

HRC fuse

Limited options for grading using I2t

(ie let-through energy) values

HRC fuse

Time fuse links

0.2

HRC fuse

IDMT relay

0.4

Time fuse links

Time fuse links

Will not grade satisfactorily

Time fuse links

IDMT relay

0.4

IDMT relay

IDMT relay

0.250.3

Figure 26 Progressive time separation

1.0 s

0.6 s

0.4 s

0.2 s

0.4 s

0.0 s

0.2 s

65

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

minutes rather than the normal manual restoration

which can take up to an hour even longer when
staff are not in attendance.
9.25 Networks with a closed ring topology using circuit

breakers and unit protection will disconnect the

section of the ring under fault, normally leaving all
users unaffected.

9.26 The design of the HV protection should be

consistent with the distribution strategy. The

protection systems relate to the network type, and
should not be the principal selection process. The
advantage of using IDMT relays with adjustable
settings to allow for the remodelling of the HV
network is that they may also provide greater
flexibility for future developments of the healthcare
site.

9.27 Where the standby plant consists of HV generators,

it will be essential to incorporate an automatic

control system to reconfigure the network(s) after
any HV fault conditions. HV protection systems
that include facilities to reconfigure the network
automatically should be associated with the clinical
risk and business continuity assessment.

Distribution transformer types

9.28 The number and rating of transformers should

be determined by the distribution strategy (see

Chapter 6). The transformer rating should also
be selected according to the AMD, fault level, and
the prospective short-circuit current (PSCC). The
transformer rating should be limited to 2000kVA.
The parallel operation of power transformers is
not recommended by this Health Technical
Memorandum. Transformers may be operated in
parallel only with due care and consideration for
the increased fault level. Where more than one
transformer is used in a common substation
(either independent or in parallel), they should
all be of the same vector group, same voltage
transformation, and have a percentage impedance
within 10% of each other, for example 6% and
5.4% or 6.6%.

9.29 Transformers of all types are denoted by their

winding configuration, phase displacement

between primary and secondary windings, and
percentage impedance. The notations start with
the HV winding configuration, followed by the
LV winding configuration, and then phase
displacement expressed in clock-hour positions.
Capital letters are used to denote the higher
voltage. The most common type of distribution

66

transformer used in healthcare premises is a Dyn11.

This means the primary windings are deltaconnected, the secondary windings are starconnected, and the secondary windings lag the
primary windings by 30. Zigzag transformers
have a Z as the winding notation.
9.30 Transformers used in healthcare premises fall into

one of two types, defined by the method of cooling

the windings. The types are fluid cooled (either
mineral or synthetic oils), cast resin, and air-cooled
or exposed winding type.

9.31 Transformers used for IPS units are discussed in

paragraphs 16.2716.48.

Fluid-type transformers
9.32 The windings are ideally insulated to Class F (that

is, allow a 100C differential temperature between

the winding and the adjacent area). The windings
are cooled by circulating oil, usually synthetic
silicon oils. The oil transfers the winding heat to
the external face of the transformer where it is
radiated by air. This type of cooling is referred to as
oil natural circulation, air natural flow (ONAN).
Silicon oils are a dielectric fluid (K3), which are
preferred because of their high flash point (greater
than 300C).

9.33 Fluid-cooled transformers less than 1600kVA are

generally hermetically sealed. This requires the

transformer oil tank to take up any expansion in
oil volume due to the heating. Larger oil-cooled
transformers have an oil conservator located on
the top of the transformer. Expansion of the oil is
controlled by the volume of dried and filtered air
allowed into the conservator.

9.34 Designers may wish to consider a further advantage

of the oil-cooled transformer with conservator.

A gas detector can be used in the conservator to
operate a relay that disconnects the primary side
supply if the oil contains gases caused by faults or
air impurities. This type of relay is known as a
Buchholz relay. However, the conservator
and Buchholz relay tend not to be viable on
transformers less than 10MVA. For transformer
ratings less than 10MVA, alternatives such as the
distribution strategy given in Figure 17 may be
appropriate.

9.35 Where the transformer oil tank contains more

than 50 L of silicon oil, the transformer should

be enclosed in a two-hour fire-compartmented
enclosure. Where the fluid is a dielectric such as

9 Protection and switchgear

mineral oil (O1), high hydrocarbons (K1) or esters

(K2), fire compartmentation is required with fluid
capacities above 25 L.
9.36 See paragraphs 7.337.50 for details of the

transformer room location and construction.

Dry-type transformers
9.37 The windings are ideally insulated to Class F (that

is, allow a 100C differential temperature between

the winding and the adjacent area). The resin
transfers the winding heat to the transformer outer
casing where the heat is radiated in much the same
way as with the fluid-cooled transformer. This type
of cooling is referred to as no inner circulation and
air natural flow secondary (AN).

9.38 Cast-resin transformers may be totally enclosed in

their own housing, or of the open-winding type.

Clearly, the open-winding type cannot be used
externally. Further safety precautions regarding
access to the transformer room are required for
open-winding dry-type transformers. Cast-resin
transformers tend to vibrate and hum more than
fluid-cooled transformers and consequently collect
dust, which requires regular cleaning, say annually.
(See Health Technical Memorandum 06-01
PartB.)

9.39 See paragraphs 7.337.50 for details of the

transformer room location and construction.

Package substation
9.40 Package substations are composite units with the

HV switchgear close-coupled to the transformer

side. In some cases the LV switchgear is also closecoupled to the transformer. Package substations
always use dry-type cast-resin transformers.

9.41 Designers and stakeholders should consider

package substations, which offer a cost-effective

solution in terms of the requirements and access
for maintenance. Due to the close-coupled
arrangement, maintenance may take longer and
will affect larger parts of the systems. Care should
be taken to ensure that only HV Authorised
Persons (AP(HV)) have access to the HV
equipment.

9.42 Package substations may provide an effective

solution for dedicated single loads such as large

chiller stations. Package substations may also
provide effective solutions where the distribution
strategy has a high resilience, such as the dualunified network (see Chapter 6).

9.43 See Chapter 7 for details of the package substations

location and construction.

Transformer protection
9.44 For a general overview of transformer protection

systems, see paragraphs 9.149.27. HRC fuse links

are suitable for transformers rated up to 800kVA,
while TLF fuse links, which can also provide earth
fault protection, are a more appropriate protection
form for transformers in the range of 200kVA to
2MVA. Unit protection is not economic or
effective on transformers less than 10MVA.
Protection of fluid-filled transformers can be
achieved with a Buchholz relay. Dry-type cast-resin
transformers have a thermistor integral with the
windings which will isolate the transformer on high
winding temperatures caused by a fault current or
other reasons. The most common faults with
transformers used in healthcare premises are more
to do with the cables connecting the primary and
secondary windings to the network. An IDMT
relay with the sensing CTs configured to give earth
fault and protection can monitor either the HV
connecting cables or the LV connecting cables.
(Note that overcurrent/overload protection will be
provided by the LV circuit breaker.) By connecting
pilot wires between the HV and LV circuit breaker,
a system known as intertripping can be used to
ensure that no power can be supplied into the fault,
regardless of the IDMT relay being on the HV or
LV side.

Generator protection
9.45 Generators are essentially provided to maintain

a supply when part of the internal distribution

has failed, or the PES has failed. Therefore, the
protection design intent should be different, and
more tolerant of fault conditions, before operating
any generating isolating devices.

9.46 Designers and stakeholders should consult with

manufacturers regarding the generator damage

curve and short circuit decrement curve before
calibrating the protective devices.

9.47 The main fault condition to be considered in

relation to a generator is the earth fault. Generators

should be able to generate adequate fault currents
to clear a system earth fault without shutting down.
However, an earth fault on the local cable between
the generator and network should be cleared
instantly. An IDMT relay with two separate relays,
one configured for restricted earth fault (REF)
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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

and the other affording overcurrent and overload

protection and network earth fault protection, can
be considered. However, care needs to be taken
in their grading, as the generator short-circuit
decrement current may influence the operation of
any other IDMT relays on the network.

Low-voltage switchboards
9.48 The type of LV switchgear selected should be

comparable with the type of LV substation.

While this statement may seem obvious, many
manufacturers are making compact IP-rated
enclosures for internal switchboards to be used
semi-externally.

9.49 The main feature of LV switchboard switchpanels

is the form of construction (form of separation).

The forms are defined in BS EN 60439-1 and
BSEN 60439-3 for final distribution boards
(see Figure27, which illustrates the main forms).
Designers and stakeholders should assess the
opportunities for maintenance and remodelling
of the distribution when selecting the form of
separation. The selection of a switchboard
switchpanel form can be related to clinical risks
and business continuity risks. Note that any work
on a switchboard of any type should be managed
under the electrical safety regulations. See Health
Technical Memorandum 06-02 Electrical safety
guidance for low voltage systems.

9.50 Designers should select the form of separation for

switchboards, switchpanels or final distribution

boards based on the area covered and type of load
connected to the outgoing circuits. Switchboards
and switchpanels may serve more than one clinical
function, and therefore the opportunity to isolate
the switchboard switchpanel (for any form of
maintenance) is reduced. A switchboard or
switchpanel with a minimum form of separation
(Form 4) should be used. Form 2 separation may
be suitable for final distribution boards. Where
space is available, all LV switchboard switchpanels
should be located in dedicated electrical
switchrooms, electrical risers, or plantrooms with
controlled access. Where this is not achievable,
electrical switchboard switchpanels should have
lockable devices to prevent unauthorised access or
interference. See Health Technical Memorandum
06-02 Electrical safety guidance for low voltage
systems.

68

Form 2
9.51 Form 2 assemblies are enclosures that provide

protection against contact with any live parts and

provide internal separation between the busbar and
functional units, but there is no separation between
individual functional units. Compliant variations
include insulated or non-insulated busbars, cable
terminations separated or not separated from the
busbar but not from the functional units. Each
functional unit should have a facility that enables it
to be locked in the off (de-energised) position (see
Health Technical Memorandum 06-02 Electrical
safety guidance for low voltage systems). Final
distribution boards with Form 2 separation are an
acceptable standard.

Form 3
9.52 Form 3 separation units are available; however, by

considering the merits of distribution boards and

switchpanels with Form 2 and Form 4 separation
respectively, such units have little advantage within
a healthcare environment.

Form 4
9.53 Form 4 assemblies are enclosures that provide

protection against contact with any live parts and

provide internal separation between the busbar and
functional units and between functional units.
Cableways are also separated from each other.
Compliant variations include insulated or noninsulated busbars, cable terminations separated or
not separated from their respective functional unit.

9.54 The main compliant variations of Form 4

switchboards, switchpanels are how the external

cables are terminated (glanded-off ). Cables can
be glanded-off at the switchpanel frame, with
conductors terminated in a common cableway,
or separated from the cableway. Alternatively, the
cables can be brought into the switchpanel and
glanded-off at individual gland boxes associated
with one functional unit. Each functional unit
should have a facility that enables it to be locked
in the off (de-energised) position (see Health
Technical Memorandum 06-02 Electrical safety
guidance for low voltage systems).

Motor control centre (MCC)

9.55 Motor control centres tend to include an

LV protection section and a control section.

Control technology continues to advance, from

Figure 27 Forms of separation

BS EN 60439-1 Switchgear forms of separation

Form 2A
Terminals NOT separated
from Busbars

Form 2B
Terminals ARE separated
from Busbars

Form 4 Type 6. Busbars separated from functional units. Functional units separated and separated from cable terminals which are in
separate boxes. Cables glanded externally

9 Protection and switchgear

69

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

electromechanical devices to pneumatic controls to

electronic numeric controls and so on.
9.56 Designers should therefore consider the main safety

requirements and opportunities to isolate small

sections of the MCC. Best-practice solutions
separate any LV protection devices from the control
section, making the two sections a minimum of
Form 3 separation. Within the LV section, the
form of separation should be at least Form 4.
Where the protection and control sections are in
one composite panel, it should be possible to open
the control section without providing direct access
to the protection section.

Low-voltage protection devices

9.61 The type of LV switchgear selected should be

comparable with the type of LV substation.

While this statement may seem obvious, many
manufacturers are making compact IP-rated
enclosures for internal switchgear to be used semiexternally.

9.62 The main forms of LV switchgear are air circuit

breaker (ACB), high rupturing capacity (HRC)

fuse, high breaking capacity (HBC) fuse, mouldedcase circuit breaker (MCCB), miniature circuit
breaker (MCB) cartridge fuse, and rewireable fuse.
These forms of protective device can be assembled
in the moving part or fixed part of the respective
switchgear. Assemblies can be in the form of a
single component or multiple units, linked via
a busbar, to form a composite LV switchpanel.
Switchpanel components can be withdrawable,
semi-withdrawable or fixed-pattern. The difference
offered by each system is the compactness and
opportunities for servicing or replacing faulty
components. In spite of the switchgear-type name,
many devices include two functions, for example
a disconnector and circuit breaker in one device,
except that the switch is often a single-function
device.

9.57 An MCC should be located within a plantroom

(which itself has controlled access). The supply

to the MCC should be limited to 250 A, in
accordance with BS EN 60439-3.

Final distribution boards and consumer units

9.58 Consumer units and distribution units (DBUs)

do not fall into the same forms of separation

construction requirements of BS EN 60439-1.
Their requirements are identified in BS EN
60439-3.

9.59 DBUs should be located within dedicated electrical

switchrooms, risers or plantroom areas. Where this

is not practical, the DBUs should have a local
device to prevent unauthorised access, or be
surrounded by a lockable cupboard.

Switch
9.63 A switch is a mechanical device that can carry and

break a current under normal circuit conditions.

The switch may be modified to allow for
automated operation by other protective devices.
A switch may not provide adequate separation
distance between disconnected parts of a circuit
conductor.

9.60 The benefits of remodelling and design flexibility

cannot be understated when selecting switchboard

switchpanel forms. Standardising on one form,
particularly when the building is large, has
significant merits. Form 4 type 1 switchboards
which have separate compartments for insulated
busbars and each functional unit, with cables
glanded-off externally to the panel frame and
conductors terminated within the respective
functional unit, may provide best-practice solutions
for healthcare premises with clinical risk categories
1, 2 or 3. Form 4 type 6 switchboards which have
separate compartments for busbars and each
functional unit, with cables glanded-off externally
to the panel frame and conductors terminated in
termination boxes external to the respective
functional unit but in a common cableway, may
provide best-practice solutions for healthcare
premises with clinical risk categories 4 or 5.

70

Disconnector
9.64 A disconnector is a mechanical device that carries

the design current for its intended purpose. A

disconnector cannot break a normal current nor
make or break a fault current. The disconnector
will provide adequate separation distances between
disconnected parts of the circuit conductor.

Fuse
9.65 A fuse can provide the fundamental function to

rupture a fault current that may flow in a correctly

designed electrical circuit. The fuse can provide
overcurrent protection and fault current (both
short-circuit and earth fault) protection. The fuse
has different characteristics, making it suitable for a

9 Protection and switchgear

range of electrical loads, for example the general

range and motor range.
Circuit breaker
9.66 The circuit breaker is a more advanced form of

protective device than the standard fuse. The fusing

element can have a tolerance range to delay the
rupturing action. The circuit breaker is available in
five basic formats for LV circuit protection:
air circuit breaker ACB;
moulded-case circuit breaker MCCB;

9.72 Designers may wish to consider the use of RCBOs/

RCDs for areas where the natural environment may

be damp and hence the body contact resistance
may be lowered. Such areas will include
laboratories, kitchens and workshops.

9.73 Designers may wish to consider the use of RCBOs/

RCDs for dedicated cleaners sockets.

9.74 Designers should be mindful that RCBOs may

be subject to nuisance tripping caused by the

occasional high earth leakage currents that may be
generated when equipment is switched on.

miniature circuit breaker MCB;

Low-voltage busbar sections

residual current device RCD;

9.75 Where the LV distribution strategy includes for

residual current breaker with overcurrent

RCBO.
9.67 The fusing elements of all types of circuit breaker

have two parts: a current transformer providing

adjustable electromagnetic setting, and a bimetal
strip providing adjustable thermal setting. Note
that some smaller MCBs do not have an adjustable
range, but still operate with a tolerance range.

9.68 The RCD provides protection against earth

leakage, with typical ranges at 10 mA, 30 mA,

100mA, 150 mA and 300 mA.

9.69 The RCBO is a combination protective device of

the MCB and RCD functions; however, the earth

fault sensing element of 150mA and 300mA are
not normally available in this combination.

9.70 MCBs and RCBOs have a range of characteristic

curves, Type A, B, C or D (earlier devices were 1, 2

and 3). The separate RCD devices only sense an
earth leakage current. RCBOs and RCDs used in
medical locations should be type A or B and should
have a tripping current of 30 mA.

9.71 The design should consider the selected protective

device that will clear overload currents and shortcircuit faults within the prescribed disconnection
times of BS 7671:2001. Clearly, the protective
device rating and disconnection times are related
to the earth fault loop impedance. Designers
should consider the use of RCBOs or RCDs where
the earth loop impedance cannot generate sufficient
earth fault currents to operate the protective device
within the appropriate disconnection times
(5seconds for stationary equipment and
0.4seconds for portable equipment). Designers
should be mindful of the earth leakage current that
may flow in the protective conductor under normal
conditions.

dual-unified circuits supported by two 100%-rated

transformers, it may be useful to link the two
sections of the main LV switchpanel via a bus
coupler-bus-tie. However, maintenance access to
the bus coupler may require the full isolation of the
switchpanel. Although such devices have very low
maintenance requirements, it may also be useful
to consider splitting the LV switchpanel into two
sections, linked by a cableway and two ACBs.
An advantage of such an arrangement may be to
install a fire barrier wall between the two sections.
Designers and stakeholders should see this as an
expensive option and carefully assess the merits
accordingly.

Discrimination of protective devices

9.76 The IEE Regulations BS 7671:2001 require that

the characteristics and setting of a protective device

for overcurrent should provide any intended
discrimination within its operation. While the
regulations do not call for discrimination for fault
currents, by default a protective device should so
discriminate.

Discrimination with HBC/HBC fuses

9.77 HBC fuses will conform to the requirements of

BS88.

9.78 Discrimination will ensure that the total let-

through energy (I2t) of the minor (downstream)

device is not greater than the pre-arcing energy
(I2t (pa)) of the major (upstream) device. Where the
protective device has an operating range (MCB,
MCCB), it is important to check that the normal
operating current (In) of the major device is greater
than x times the prospective short-circuit current at
the downstream protective device in question

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

(where x equates to the multiplying factor applied

to the downstream device; see BS EN 60898-2).
Discrimination with MCB/MCCB
9.79 The MCB (or MCCB) device can provide

discrimination for overload and fault current

between the upstream and downstream device. In
order to provide overload protection, the nominal
current setting (In) of the upstream device should
be greater than the instantaneous rating of the
downstream device (which will be x times In
according to the MCB type). In order to provide
discrimination of fault currents (both short-circuit
and earth fault), knowledge of the prospective
short-circuit current (PSCC) and earth fault
current is required. Discrimination will occur if
these values, for the downstream device, are less
that the nominal current setting of the upstream
device. Manufacturers advice should be obtained
for the actual let-through energy (I2t) which will
also determine the discrimination of series MCBs.

9.80 The use of MCBs on some final circuits may cause

nuisance tripping; for example using MCBs (or

RCBOs) on fluorescent lighting circuits, where
the non-linear transient current of the inductive
control circuit may cause early tripping of the
protective device through its internal CT.
Consideration should therefore be given to using
an RCBO/RCD with earth leakage characteristics
of type A or B.

Discrimination with MCB/fuse

9.81 Discrimination between a fuse (as the upstream

protective device) and an MCB for the downstream

device may occur if the lower instantaneous
operating current (range) of the MCB crosses the
tripping curve of the fuse above the prospective
fault current level and earth fault current level of
the downstream device. Discrimination checks
should be made based on the manufacturers
declared let-through energy (I2t). See Table 6.

Discrimination with RCDs

9.82 RCDs will provide earth fault protection. In order

to discriminate between two RCDs as the upstream

and downstream protective devices, designers need
to use the time-delay setting on the upstream
device.

9.83 Designers may wish to consider that full

discrimination may not be required on all circuits.

Opportunities exist to take advantage of a grading
between fuse element curves. Where the
discrimination is a little uncertain and the risk of
such relative high fault currents are low, the circuit
is said to have limited discrimination and may
be acceptable. The advantage here would be the
reduced size of protective devices, especially with
the more upstream devices.

Automatic load management of

switchgear (HV, LV)
9.84 The electrical infrastructure and distribution

strategy may minimise the effect of an electrical

fault to the clinical risk areas, but the most resilient
system will not totally eliminate the risk. The
fundamental reasons electrical systems have
protective devices is to limit the effect of a fault.
Effective discrimination (see above) and correct
selection of protective devices will isolate the
smallest appropriate section of the infrastructure.
Best-practice distribution strategies may provide an
alternative supply route which could be initiated
more quickly or safely than replacement of a
protective device.

9.85 The distribution system may initiate the standby

generator plant until the fault is rectified

or isolated. The reconfiguration of an electrical
network (whether the system is a dual-unified
supply or segregated supply) may be made
manually or automatically.

9.86 Where the network is an HV ring circuit (open or

closed), the operation of a protective device may

result in the standby generators supplying some
areas.

Table 6
MCB type

Nominal Current (In)

72

All

All

All

Overload Characteristics Instantaneous Tripping range

1.45 In

1.45 In

1.45 In

3 In to 5 In

5 In to 10 In

10 In to 20 In

Instantaneous
Tripping
5 In

10 In

20 In

9 Protection and switchgear

9.87 Healthcare premises with significant sections of

clinical risk Category 3 areas and above may benefit

from quick reconfigurations of the electrical
distribution following a fault on the network.
Therefore the use of a supervisory control and
data acquisition (SCADA) computer system to
automatically control the switchgear status and
reconfigure the network(s) would be useful.

SCADA systems are modular in design and may be

added to retrospectively. The SCADA system can
be applied to any part of the HV and/or LV
networks including all power sources.
9.88 SCADA systems should be hard-wired with

monitored circuits wherever they are used.

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10

Tertiary power supplies

10.1 Tertiary power supplies (TPSs) should not be

considered as a long-term energy source in the same

way that primary power or secondary power units
are. TPSs are generally used as a back-up supply for
a given period of time (autonomy) or to start SPSs.
The batteries considered are those used for
uninterruptible power supplies, battery inverter
units and batteries used to start standby generator
engines.

10.2 Batteries used in control systems, such as motor

drives on switchgear, have been excluded from this

Health Technical Memorandum. Likewise, batteries
used for electric vehicles are also excluded from the
content of this Health Technical Memorandum.
The foregoing exclusions are justified, as their
respective systems do not form part of the fixed
wiring systems of healthcare premises.

Batteries for uninterruptible power

supplies
Battery type
10.3 There are a number of battery cell types in use

today for UPS applications. The most appropriate

are the valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery
types, which are more commonly known as sealed
lead acid cells. The VRLA battery is a near-zerogassing battery cell, and hence presents a lower
environmental hazard to the UPS or surrounding
area. With no toxic gasses emitted from the battery,
there are no special venting requirements for the
battery unit. The VRLA battery is almost
universally used for modern UPS systems, due to
their low maintenance and because of the reduced
requirements for vented gas extraction, this being a
serious consideration when using wet cells.

10.4 VRLA batteries complying with BS 6290-4:1997

with threaded insert connection posts, flameretardant case materials and a ten-year-designed
life are the minimum acceptable standard. While
BS6290-4, 10-year-designed-life batteries have the
initial penalty of higher investment costs than

74

standard five-year-life batteries, they offer

significant long-term benefits in terms of security
of function and reduced long-term costs.
Battery life
10.5 Battery life is a function not only of load cycling,

but of charging methods and the environment.

VRLA batteries will function for a short time
period over a wide range of temperature typically
from 15C to +50C. However, for normal
continuous use their ambient operating
temperature should be 20C, otherwise their life
expectancy will be reduced considerably, typically
to 50% at 30C and to 25% at 40C. Continued
operation at high temperatures also may bring fire
danger due to case splitting and resultant acid
spillage, which in turn may result in uncontrolled
battery dc earth faults. It is therefore very
important that the battery location has a suitable
environment with adequate ventilation/cooling to
maximise battery life. Note that in practical terms,
even with the recommended regular maintenance,
VRLA batteries are normally changed at 80% of
their designed life. Battery life should be in
accordance with the range given in Table 4.

10.6 Correct charging of VRLA batteries is very

important, and should be with low or minimum ac

ripple and typical charge values of 2.27V per cell.
At elevated temperatures, it is necessary to reduce
the battery charge voltage to below 2.27V per cell
to prevent over-charging.

Battery arrangements
10.7 Designers should consider the opportunities for

maintenance of the UPS battery assembly. Batteries

can be arranged as single or split banks. The use of
split battery banks allows the UPS to remain online
(at reduced battery autonomy) while half of the
battery system is being serviced.

10 Tertiary power supplies

Battery autonomy

Battery arrangements

10.8 Single-conversion UPS units are generally used

10.13 Three main types of battery inverter unit are used

for small personal computers or computerised

processors dedicated to medical/laboratory
equipment, such as blood gas analysers. Battery
autonomy is typically in minutes up to say 15
minutes, depending on the particular application.
Designers should consult with staff for the actual
requirement. Single-conversion UPS units are
most commonly used to safely shut down systems
following an outage of the PPS, or depending on
the particular need, between the period of mains
failure and SPS standby generators becoming
available. The battery autonomy for singleconversion UPS units should be less than
30minutes.

10.9 Double-conversion UPS units are most commonly

used for TPS to dedicated final circuit outlets, used

for example in clinical risk Category 4 or 5 areas.
The most usual application of a double-conversion
UPS is to provide tertiary power to IPS systems,
particular those for the IEC 60364-7-710 Group
2. The batteries maintain an electrical supply
following an outage of the PPS and prior to
the SPS standby generators becoming available.
Where the UPS battery provides TPS to nonoperating-theatre low-power applications, the
battery autonomy should provide clinical staff
with enough time to start hand bagging or
connecting supplementary equipment battery
packs. Consequently, battery autonomy of
1530minutes may be appropriate. Where the
UPS battery provides tertiary power to operating
theatre low-power applications, the battery
autonomy should provide operating theatre staff
enough time to facilitate patient closure for all
theatre cases. Consequently, battery autonomy of
60 minutes may be appropriate.

10.10 Clearly, designers should consult with stakeholders

and clinical staff to determine the most

appropriate battery autonomy.

Batteries for inverter units

Battery type
10.11 See paragraphs 10.310.4.

Battery life

in healthcare premises. Batteries within the selfcontained emergency escape lighting and signage
are generally in small packs with cells connected in
series or parallel series groups. Their physical size
allows these battery packs to be replaced in a single
step, taking only minutes. Batteries for either the
central emergency escape lighting signage or
operating theatre operating lamps are housed in
cabinets and connected in parallel-series cell
groups. Battery maintenance is achieved by
disconnection of any one parallel group. Designers
should consult with manufacturers to ensure that
the optimum number of parallel cell groups are
provided to minimise the reduction of battery
autonomy during replacement.

10.14 Designers should consider the opportunities for

maintenance of the inverter units battery pack.

Batteries can be arranged as a single or split bank.
The use of split battery banks allows the inverter
units to remain online (at reduced battery
autonomy) while half of the battery system is
being serviced.

Battery autonomy
10.15 Four main types of inverter unit are used in

healthcare premises. Battery inverter units used

for self-contained emergency escape lighting and
signage have a three-hour battery autonomy as
required by BS EN 1838, BS 5266-7. Central
battery units for emergency escape lighting should
also have a three-hour battery autonomy.

10.16 Battery inverter units for theatre lamps should

have a minimum of three hours battery autonomy.

10.17 Battery inverters used for fire alarm and detection

systems, or other alarm systems, should have

sufficient autonomy to drive the systems (in
quiescent mode) for 24 hours, followed by a
30-minute period where all sounders, indicators
and communications are operated with the normal
sound pressure level outputs. For a healthcare
facility that may be closed over a weekend and
bank-holiday period, an autonomy of 100 hours
may be more appropriate. This requirement is
independent of any secondary power supply (SPS)
that may be available.

10.12 See paragraphs 10.510.6.

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Generator batteries
Battery type
10.18 See paragraphs 10.310.4.

Battery life
10.19 See paragraphs 10.510.6.

Battery autonomy
10.20 Generator batteries are normally specified for

xAmpere Hours (AHr), where the battery capacity

x should be able to provide sufficient power when
discharged by 25% to attempt three successive
starts each of ten-second duration with a threesecond interval, while the ambient temperature is

76

0C. Generator battery systems should be capable

of turning the generator engine continuously for
60 seconds at an ambient temperature of 0C.
10.21 Usually two battery-charging systems are supplied

with a generating set: the constant charger is a

charger for operation while the set is stationary,
usually in the control panel; and a belt-driven
charge alternator maintains the battery when the
set is running.

10.22 For both charging systems the battery should be

charged at the correct float voltage, and for engine

starting the battery should be adequately sized for
the breakaway (initial starting) voltage to be
acceptable to the engine manufacturer.

11

Electromagnetic compatibility

Standards

Procurement requirements

11.1 The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

11.4 Problems from electromagnetic interference (EMI)

Regulations enact the requirements of the EMC

Directive for the UK. From the UK Regulations,
regulations 28 and 30 require that those who
supply relevant equipment should show that:
it conforms to the protection requirements;
it meets the conformity assessment
requirements;
the CE marking is properly applied;
it has an IEC declaration of conformity
certificate.

11.2 Regulation 29 requires that no person should take

into service relevant equipment unless it conforms

to the protection requirements. For example,
equipment covered by the EMC directive is taken
into service when the end-user that operates the
equipment, for example a building management
system, first uses it. Taking into service does
not include the area of energising, testing and
commissioning of the equipment by the
manufacturer before handover to the end-user.
The equipment manufacturer will be in a position
of overall control in ensuring that the essential
protection requirements are satisfied, and assumes
legal responsibility for compliance. Data should
also be provided for the end-user to ensure that
these requirements are satisfied throughout the
operational life of the equipment.

11.3 From the point of view of the legislation, it is not

sufficient to integrate CE-marked equipment and

claim that the large system hence complies
because compliant equipment has been used.
Compliance of the large system should be
demonstrated either by testing and/or by
presentation of a rationale as to why the system
complies.

will be minimised by procuring equipment that

complies with relevant standards, is supplied with
a relevant EMC declaration of conformity (DOC),
and is installed and maintained using good EMC
practices.

11.5 It is essential that those designing and specifying

equipment for use in the NHS environment must

give their relevant purchase departments an EMC
specification that is sufficiently detailed that
suppliers are made aware of their contractual
obligations with respect to EMC.

11.6 Procurers, system integrators and designers should

be knowledgeable about the EMC performance

levels that equipment is expected to meet when
correctly installed and operated. To be able to
distinguish between the requirements and
declarations of compliance statements for the
various directives, a procurement document should
be written that covers the various directives.

11.7 As a first step, EMC requirements should consider

appropriate standards; a selection is provided in

Tables 7 and 8. The standards are a selection for
equipment that may be expected to be present in
healthcare premises. This is not an exclusive list,
and as standards evolve over time, the relevant
websites should be consulted for changes. A
complete list of all regulations quoted in this
Health Technical Memorandum can be found at
the end of the document.

11.8 As well as helping to set the environment, standards

are used to show compliance with the EMC

Directive and with UK regulations. For equipment
to be legally sold within Europe, the equipment
must comply with harmonised standards, reference
to which has been published in the Official Journal
of the European Union (OJEU). Again, reference
to the European Unions website will help identify
those standards that have been referenced in the
OJEU.

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Table 7 EMC standards

BS EN 12015:2004

Product family standard for lifts, escalators and passenger conveyors emissions

BS EN 12016:2004

Product family standard for lifts, escalators and passenger conveyors immunity

BS EN 45502-2-1:2003

Active implantable medical devices. Particular requirements for active implantable medical
devices intended to treat bradyarrhythmia (cardiac pacemakers)

BS EN 62040-2:2006

Uninterruptible power systems (UPS). Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements

BS EN 50098:1999

Customer premises cabling for information technology; Part 1: 1999: ISDN basic access; Part 2:
1996: 2048 kbps ISDN primary access and leased line network interface

BS EN 50130-4:1996

Product family standard Immunity requirements for components of fire, intruder and social
alarm systems

BS EN 50173-1:2002

Information technology. Generic cabling systems. General requirements and office areas

BS EN 50174:2001

Information technology. Cabling installation; Part 1: 2001: Specification and quality assurance;
Part 2: 2001: Installation planning and practices inside buildings; Part 3 (draft for comment):
2002: Installation planning and practices outside buildings

BS EN 50310 2000

Application of equipotential bonding and earthing in buildings with information technology

equipment

BS EN 55015:2001

Limits and methods of measurement of radio disturbance characteristics of electrical lighting and
similar equipment

BS EN 55022: 1998

Information technology equipment Radio disturbance characteristics Limits and methods of

measurements

BS EN 55024: 1998

Information technology equipment Immunity characteristics Limits and methods of

measurements

BS EN 60947 (19962003) BS EN 60947: Specification for LV switchgear and control gear (8 parts)
BS EN 61000-3-2: 2006

BS EN 61000-3-2:2006. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Limits. Limits for harmonic

current emissions (equipment input current 16 A per phase)

BS EN 61000-3-3:1995,
IEC 61000-3-3:1994

Electromagnetic compatibility. Limits. Limitation of voltage fluctuations and flicker in LV supply

systems for equipment with rated current 16 A

BS IEC 61000-3-4: 1998

Electromagnetic compatibility. Limits. Limitation of emission of harmonic currents in LV power

supply systems for equipment with rated current greater than 16 A

BS EN 61000-3-11:2001,
IEC 61000-3-11:2000

Electromagnetic compatibility. Limits. Limitation of voltage changes, voltage fluctuations and

flicker in public LV supply systems Equipment with rated current 75 A and subject to
conditional connection

BS EN 61000-6-1: 2001

Generic Standards Immunity for Residential, Commercial and Light Industrial Environments

BS EN 61000-6-2:2005

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generic standards. Immunity for industrial environments

BS EN 61000-6-3: 2001

Generic Standards Emission for Residential, Commercial and Light Industrial Environments

BS EN 61000-6-4: 2001

Generic Standards Emission for Industrial Environments

BS EN 61547:1996, IEC
61547:1995

Equipment for general lighting purposes. EMC immunity requirements

BS EN 61800-3: 2004

Adjustable speed electrical power drive systems EMC product standard including specific test
methods

78

11 Electromagnetic compatibility

Table 8 EMC standard by equipment type

Type of equipment

Applicable standard(s)

Access control units

Generic for emissions BS EN 50130-4:1996

Air handling units

Generic

Audio amplifiers

Generic

Battery charger

Generic

Boilers

Generic

CCTV control panels

Generic but not BS EN 55022/BS EN 55024

Chillers

Generic

DRUPS

BS EN 62040-2

EDS

BS EN 61000-6-2
BS EN 61000-6-4

Extract fans

Generic

Fire detection and voice alarm system

BS EN 50130-4:1996
BS EN 50270

HV switchgear

Generic

HVAC control system

BS EN 60730-2

ISM equipment

BS EN 55011
BS EN 55014-1
BS EN 55014-2

IT equipment used in BMS/EMS, CCTV, access control,

intruder alarm, and fire detection systems

BS EN 55022
BS EN 55024

Lifts

BS EN 12015:2004 (emission)
BS EN 12016:2004 (immunity)

Lighting equipment

BS EN 55015:2001
BS EN 61547:1996, IEC 61547:1995

LV switchgear

BS EN 60947

Power distribution units

Generic

Water pumps (for either potable or fire water)

Generic

EMC phenomena
11.9 EMC phenomena are divided into radiated

and conducted aspects, and a special case for

electrostatic discharge (ESD), that is, radiated
emissions, conducted emissions, radiated
immunity and conducted immunity.

Standards and levels

11.10 In any analysis of the healthcare environment

or for setting procurement requirements for

equipment to be installed in those environments,

the first reference is to EMC standards. Those

standards that are specific to the health
environment will have included in them the
relevant phenomena that the equipment can be
expected to operate to.
11.11 Given the information in Tables 911, the system

designer who is advising on the type of equipment

for procurement and/or installation should advise
the suppliers of the relevant standards for any
compliant equipment.
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Table 9 Radiated emissions: levels for some typical equipment standards

Specification

Frequency (MHz)

Limit (dB(V/m))

Comments

BS EN 61000-6-3

30230/
2301000

30/37

BS EN 61000-6-4

30230/
2301000

40/47

BS EN 12015

30230/
2301000

40/47

BS EN 50130-4

30230/
2301000

30/37

BS EN 55015(1)

0.0090.07
0.070.15
0.152.2
2.23
330

88(1)
8858(1) (2)
5826(1) (2)
58(1)
22(1)

Measured in a 2m diameter loop

BS EN 55022

30230/2301000

30/37
40/47

Class B
Class A

BS EN 62040-2:2006

30230/2301000

30/37
40/47

Class B
Class A

BS EN 61800-3

30230/
2301000

30/37
40/47
40/47
40/47

First environment
Unrestricted <25 A
Restricted <25 A
Unrestricted >25 A
Restricted >25 A

Notes:
(1) conducted emissions on AC port
(2) conductor disturbances

Table 10 Conducted immunity levels for some typical equipment standards

Specification

Frequency
(MHz)

Modulation
(% AM)

Applied test level (V)

Comments

BS EN 61000-6-1

0.1580

80% 1 kHz

BS EN 61000-6-2

0.1580

80% 1 kHz

10

10

10

Power port Signal port Functional

earth

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

BS EN 50130-4

0.15100

80% 1 kHz

10

10

N/A

BS EN 55024

0.1580

80% 1 kHz

N/A

BS EN 62040-2:2006

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

BS EN 61800-3

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

0.1580

80% 1 kHz

N/A

N/A

BS EN 12016

BS EN 61547:1996,
IEC 61547:1995

ITU bands: 3 V
CCTV: 3 V

Table 11 Electrostatic discharge (ESD) test levels for some typical equipment standards
Specification

Discharge (kV)
Air

Contact

BS EN 61000-6-1

BS EN 61000-6-2

BS EN 12016

BS EN 50130-4

BS EN 55024

BS EN 62040-2:2006

BS EN 61800-3

BS EN 61547:1996, IEC 61547:1995

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11 Electromagnetic compatibility

Electromagnetic environment
11.12 The environment within a building is made up of

sources that are located within the building (that

is, equipment that is the source of electromagnetic
radiation, for example transformers, MRI suites)
and sources that are generated externally to the
building. The external sources will usually be
intentional transmitters, together with strong
radiating unintentional transmitters such as
railways (see Table 12).

Table 12 Electromagnetic sources

Frequency (MHz)

Description

7085

Fire and rescue radio

122.15

Air band communications

153.675

Pagers

170.65

PMR mobiles

197.325

PMR mobiles

427.7

PMR base station

461.65

PMR mobiles

380420
450

TETRA
Police radio

486606

TV broadcasting band

903951

GSM

1812.75

DCS base station

2144.25

3G UMTS base station

11.13 Emergency services mobile units (PMR and

TETRA) will also be present, as these operate

at much higher transmission levels than GSM
mobiles and can be expected to be present in the
non-specialist areas of healthcare premises, that is,
clinical risk categories 13 inclusive. Building and
system control panels located in corridors will be
subject to these higher levels.

11.14 In hospitals particularly, cable lengths in excess of

30 m, running either horizontally or vertically, will

be encountered. These lengths are ideal for picking
up and conducting frequencies up to around
400MHz. System designers should always
consider the use of screened cables, metal trunking
and cable ladders to minimise interference into
plant or building systems equipment.

Designing systems for EMI control

11.15 Electromagnetic interference (EMI) does not

stop at interfaces, either conducted on cables

or radiated. The positioning of M&E systems

within the building has the potential to affect the

performance of other installed systems.
11.16 The electromagnetic environment should be

divided into zones where equipment will be

compatible for both emissions and immunity. At
boundaries, a risk assessment will be required to
determine whether mitigation measures need to be
implemented to reduce the potential crossboundary interference.

EMC control for power systems

11.17 Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and battery

rectifiers are a source of mains-injected harmonic

interference. For this reason, they should be
located in zones away from equipment which may
be affected by their emissions, for example IT
systems.

11.18 Power transformers are a concentrated source of

low-frequency magnetic interference. For each

type, their location and cubicle screening should
be considered in relation to sensitive equipment
(that is, those likely to be affected by radiated
magnetic fields). This particularly applies to
theatres where cathode ray tube systems are used,
as on-screen distortion effects will occur.

11.19 The influence of the transformer and the route of

unscreened or single-core main LV cables should

not be ignored. There may be magnetic coupling
with the steel and reinforcement bars of the
building structure, thus inducing a network
of currents flowing in the steel to earth with
associated localised secondary magnetic fields.

EMC control for cables and cable-containment

systems
11.20 Single-phase power cables, including power feeds

and lighting circuits, carrying up to 250 V should

not be grouped with sensitive cables (that is, data
cables).

11.21 No data, telecommunications or any other

sensitive cabling should be placed near three-phase

cables, as these are normally used for heavy
electrical inductive loads, for example airconditioning, welding equipment and motors.

11.22 All cabling should avoid any close proximity to

radio or television transmitters, beacons and

overhead transmission lines.

11.23 Cables carrying high-level impulse energy produce

a large frequency distribution of disturbances due

to their fast rise times. Special precautions need to

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

be taken with these types of cabling: efficient

screening, clean earthing at both ends, and an
increase in the separation with adjacent cables
would need to be implemented.
11.24 All cables should be terminated whenever possible

in accordance with their intended terminating

impedance.

11.25 The characteristic impedance of cables should be

selected to match closely the impedance of the

terminating equipment. This reduces the
amplitude of standing waves created by reflections
due to mismatches in impedance transition.

11.32 If a large aperture is unavoidable, the principle of

using a waveguide beyond cut-off can be used

(see Figure 28). Using this type of aperture will
enable cables etc to pass through, although
attenuation performance is reduced. Multiple
waveguides should be used (see Figure 29) where
many services need to pass through a screening
shield.

Figure 28 Single waveguide

11.26 All power-cable screens or armour should be

bonded at both ends of the run to an earth plate

using 360 peripheral glands.

EMC control for general systems

11.27 Personal transmitters/receivers, main transmitters

and local radar devices should be evaluated to

ensure that they do not cause random operations
or failure of electronically controlled equipment.
Personal transmitter/receivers are particularly likely
to cause this problem.

For f << fc
AdB = 27 L/W

Figure 29 Waveguide array

11.28 Checks should be made with these devices on all

new plant installed, at a convenient time, to ensure

there is no susceptibility.

Intentional apertures
11.29 Apertures are always required in rooms to allow

services to enter and leave. Rooms that are

required to have a screen to prevent
electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the
healthcare environment, rarely require the same
performance as a screened room used for EMC
measurements. However, the same techniques for
screening apertures can be used to allow services to
enter.

11.30 Where holes in the shield are essential for such

items as ducting, pipework or cables, the hole

should be filled by placing a mesh screen over the
hole and ensuring that the duct, pipework or
cables are electrically connected to the mesh
screen.

11.31 A mesh screen has an attenuation determined by

the size of the largest hole in the mesh. It is better

to use a number of similar size apertures to run
multiple items through the mesh, than one large
aperture that takes all the items required to go
through the screen.

82

11.33 Where screened cables need to penetrate through

a screen, conductive cable penetration blocks (see

Figure 30) should be considered to maintain the
continuity of the cable screens and screened room.

Figure 30 EMC compliance measures

11 Electromagnetic compatibility

Cable segregation and separation

11.38 Using trays or racks of sufficient wall thickness

to separate cables can provide both PEC and

reduction in crosstalk. They can often be laid next
to each other. Another solution is to keep some
distance between shallow conduits for the different
types of cable, for example by stacking them (see
Figure 31).

11.34 To reduce the possibility of power-cable to signal-

cable coupling and the associated EMC risks, the

best approach is to use separation between power
and sensitive service cables. It is advised to run
fire alarm cables in a separate conduit from other
service types. Signal and telecommunications
cables should not be run in the same tray as power
cables. Table 13 indicates the separation distances
between power and signal cables, where the cables
are not screened or screened at their respective
voltage level.

Figure 31 Stacking cable trays to avoid crosstalk

Control

11.35 Note the screening should be bonded to an earth

Measurement

return at both ends of the cable.

Auxiliary

Cable screening, trunking and trays

11.36 Various types of cable tray or conduit may be used

Power low voltage

and run in parallel over an appreciable distance.

The crosstalk between the cables they contain
may be important. The recommended separation
distance between the cables in the trays depends
on two parameters:

the quality of the cable tray as protective earth

conductor (PEC);

Power high voltage

11.39 Cable-tray stacking achieves a combination of

separation of segregated cable types with the

additional benefit of screening introduced by the
trays themselves. Solid trays with no gaps are the
ideal tray type for this application. Trays often
have slots for easy attachment of cables; the most
beneficial of these are those with a short slot
parallel to the axis of the tray. Those with slots
perpendicular to the tray axis should not be used.

low transfer impedance (high shielding

effectiveness).
Crosstalk characteristics
11.37 Cables with a low crosstalk may require shielding

against the (magnetic) fields causing the crosstalk

currents.

11.40 Caged trays constructed with large gaps in the

screen should certainly not be used where

Table 13 Recommended minimum separation distance between power and signal cables
Not enclosed environment
for example on tray/basket
Signal cable

Minimum separation distances for various power cables (mm)

No metallic sheath or screen for example twin
and earth or singles

Steel wire armoured

MICC

Plain

150

125

Touching

UTP

75 below 100 MHz

125 above 100 MHz

50

Touching

Touching

Touching

Touching

Metal separator

Plastic separator

Screened
Enclosed environment for example trunking

Unscreened power lines, or electrical equipment and unscreened data IT lines

150

300

Unscreened power lines, or electrical equipment and screened data IT lines

30

70

Screened power lines, or electrical equipment and unscreened data IT lines

Screened power lines, or electrical equipment and screened data IT lines

2
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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

electromagnetic screening is an issue, as they offer

no screening benefits and are generally insufficient
as parallel earthing conductors.
Trunking and tray interconnection and termination
11.41 When a metallic cable tray or trunking system is

implemented, inevitably sections will need to be

interconnected for extended runs. Particular care
will be necessary in order to maintain electrical
continuity between the various sections. Ideally,
the parts should be welded over their full
perimeter, although it is recognised that this is not
always achievable in practice. Riveted, bolted or
screwed joints are adequate if the contact surfaces
are good conductors (there should be no insulating
coating or paint). Ensure that they are safeguarded
against corrosion and that good electrical contact
between the separate sections can be maintained.

11.42 It is important that the shape of the metallic

section should be maintained over the full

length of the run. Bonding via a short earth wire
connection between two sections of the tray or
trunking system may have a low dc resistance, but
will have high impedance to high-frequency (a few
MHz upwards) currents.

11.43 This means that for extended runs the centremost

sections are effectively floating at high frequencies,

thus reducing performance. This has both
personnel safety and EMC implications.
Figure 32 shows the recommended practice for
interconnecting cable trays and trunking systems.

11.44 For right-angle and corner interfaces, the same

principles should be applied with L-shaped joints

attaching interconnecting sections.

Using conductive structural supports as runs for

cables
11.45 Metallic structural support elements in buildings

can also serve EMC objectives where room for

cable trays or trunking is limited. Steel beams of
L-, H-, U- or T-section can form a continuous
earthed structure that offers relatively large crosssections and therefore low impedance and large
surfaces with many potential intermediate
connections to earth. Cables can be laid against
such beams as shown in Figure 33.

Identification of critical systems

11.46 Mechanical and electrical equipment being

procured currently will have been designed to

comply with either the light or heavy industrial
generic or product-specific standards. Such
equipment will be generally immune when located
in its intended environment. Designers should
identify environments where levels higher than
those specified in standards will be encountered,
and apply mitigating measures, for example
prevention of the use of mobile phones close to
control systems while screening enclosure doors
are open. Many M&E systems not normally
considered critical are critical when their
misoperation causes reduced operational efficiency,

Figure 32 Recommended interconnection of cable trays and trunking

Unacceptable: earth wire
connection between sections

Not recommended: plate

connection between sections

Best practice: plate connection

on three sides (for trunking 360)
termination recommended

84

11 Electromagnetic compatibility

Figure 33 Location of cables inside metallic structural supports

Recommended

Acceptable

for example heating and ventilation systems, fire

alarm systems.

Earthing and bonding

11.47 Earthing and bonding (or equipotential bonding)

is often confused. The terms are defined in the

following way. Earthing is the connection of the
exposed conductive parts of an installation to
the main earthing terminal of that installation.
Bonding is an electrical connection maintaining
various exposed conductive parts and extraneous
conductive parts at substantially the same
potential. Earthing arrangements are described in
detail in Chapter 13.

11.48 Earthing is also used to contribute to the

mitigation of disturbances for installations with

sensitive and interconnected electronic and
electrical systems. These requirements, that is,
shunting of unwanted power-frequency and highfrequency currents and lowering the voltage
difference between two points of the system,
are the same for lightning, personnel safety,
installation protection and EMC. Each one of
these considerations places constraints on the
design, since lightning and personnel safety dictate
the design of the earth electrode; safety and
installation protection dictate the size for the
earthing conductors; and EMC behaviour
requirements determine the layout of the earthing
network.

11.49 Given the above, the following EMC

implementation rules are recommended.

11.50 Wherever possible, the TN-S system should be

used. Exceptions exist with IT configured systems,

Not recommended

or where a high continuity of supply is required by

the application (for example in hospitals) or by
national regulations.
11.51 Non-linear loads (fluorescent lamps, switched-

mode power supplies etc) on distribution networks

can generate harmonic currents which may
overload the neutral conductor. Correction
methods for such systems are provided in
Chapter5. The controlled earth return current
of a TN-S system is shown in Figure 34.

11.52 A clean earth will utilise dedicated earth

conductors, which are fed back to the main earth

terminal (MET).

11.53 The intent for any earthing system should be to

maintain a low impedance at most harmonic

frequencies. This means maintaining an
equipotential between all the cabinets in the data
centre. The likelihood that this can be achieved is
increased by a localised connection to the mesh
bonding network of the room.

11.54 The mesh bonding network is intended to be

created by the use of interbonding sections of the

1.2 m2 earth mesh (25 mm2 copper straps) in the
raised flooring using bonding straps between 50%
of the pedestal supports for each floor panel. At
least a 16 mm2 earthing conductor should be
connected to the nearest point on the mesh
bonding network from the local distribution
boards earth bar. All underfloor cable trays and
risers which pass through the raised floor should
be bonded to the earth mesh using an earth strap.
All surrounding metallic cable trays, conduits,
pipework, risers and ducts in the roof void should
be interbonded using earth straps or preferably

85

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

solid metal strips which are galvanically compatible

with the contact metal. Galvanic potentials should
not exceed 300 mV otherwise there is a potential
risk of long-term degradation of the bonds.
Figure 34 Controlled returned current flow in a TN-S installation
L
N
PE
TN-S earthing network

Controlled flow of
return currents

Cabinet frame
ground

Main distribution board

earth bar
Main building
earth mat

Common bonding network

including trays, pipes and ducts.
Connection via PE

86

12

Wiring systems

12.1 All wiring systems will be of a form defined in

the IEE Regulations BS 7671:2001. Where

appropriate, the primary internal distribution will
be a three-phase HV network. The next tier of
distribution will be a mixture of three-phase and
single-phase LV systems.

High voltage
12.2 HV wiring systems will, in general, be used only

for distributing high power around the site. This

Health Technical Memorandum does not promote
the use of HV equipment. However, consideration
may be given to the use of HV chiller plant where
the chillers have a high mechanical duty and hence
electrical load requirement. The manufacturers
advice should be used.

12.3 Certain radiographic and diagnostic equipment

generates a high voltage as part of the equipment

process. Such applications are not part of the fixed
wiring systems and are therefore not covered by this
Health Technical Memorandum.

Low voltage
12.4 All LV systems will be installed as TN-S systems

as defined by the IEE Regulations BS 7671:2001,

unless the wiring is of a type defined below.

Medical IT
12.5 The system may also be known as an isolated power

supply (IPS; see Definitions). The system will

include a monitoring device with an alarm for
disconnection, insulation failure, overload and high
temperature. Medical IT wiring systems will in
general be limited to a medical location of Group 1
or Group2 areas (see Definitions) and postmortem facilities.

Protected extra low voltage systems

12.6 In general, PELV systems as described by the IEE

Regulations BS 7671:2001 are not covered by this

Health Technical Memorandum. PELV systems
may be used within medical locations Group 1
or 2. PELV systems may also be considered
appropriate for wet areas such as kitchens, trolley
wash-down areas or mortuaries.

12.7 The nominal limit for PELV is 50V ac or 120V

ripple-free dc. However, as prescribed by BS EN

60601-1, IEC 60601-1, this limit is reduced to
25V ac and 60 V ripple-free dc when these systems
are used in medical locations of Group 1 and
Group 2.

Separated extra low voltage systems

12.8 The nominal limit for SELV is 50V ac and 120V

ripple-free dc. However, as prescribed by BS EN

60601-1, IEC 60601-1, this limit is reduced to
25V ac and 60 V ripple-free dc when these systems
are used in medical locations of Group 1 and
Group 2.

12.9 Normally, protection by insulation of live parts

and by barriers or enclosures applies only to SELV

systems where the nominal voltage exceeds 25V ac
or 60 V ripple-free dc. Where the SELV system is
within a medical location Group 1 or 2, protection
by insulation of live parts and by barriers or
enclosures should always be provided. Placing live
parts out of reach, only, is not acceptable within
medical locations Group 1 or Group 2.

87

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

13

Earthing

13.1 The earthing arrangements for the full electrical

system should comply with the requirements of

BS7430:1998 and BS 7671:2001. In general
terms, the earthing arrangements will take the
form of a TN-S system. The exception to this
fundamental requirement will be that certain areas,
defined in this chapter, will meet the earthing
requirements of an IT-earthed system.

High-voltage earthing methods

13.2 Where the PES is rated at high voltage (11 kV) and

the termination point is at low voltage (0.4 kV),

the responsibility of the HV earthing will lie with
the DNO. Where the healthcare organisation
meters and purchases electricity at a high voltage,
but has no internal HV network, the DNO will
remain responsible for the earthing provision of
the HV earthing. Designers will need to liaise
with the DNO whenever any new development or
significant internal remodelling of the healthcare
facilitys electrical services is undertaken. Managers
of healthcare premises will be required to provide
the DNO with full access rights to any part of the
facility that they may require to access in order to
maintain the HV earthing systems. Where the
electrical distribution strategy includes an HV
network, the designer of the electrical system
should ensure that the electrical systems are
adequately earthed. Where the healthcare facility
includes more than one HV substation, each
substation should be linked by an HV earth
conductor. This will be particularly important
where a single building is served from more than
one HV substation.

13.3 A suitably-sized copper conductor will collectively

bond all exposed metalwork associated with HV

equipment at an HV substation. The cross-bonding
conductor should have a green-yellow sheath and
be buried at a depth of 600 mm within the
substation area. Where the substation is not

88

at ground or at subterrain level, the substation

exposed metalwork will be earthed via a copper
drain wire of the HV network cable.
High-voltage network cables
13.4 All HV cables forming part of the HV distribution

network should have a copper wire as part of the

armouring of the cable. HV cable glands should be
rated above the prospective fault current of the
system to which they are assembled. The glands
should have integral earth lugs from which
equipotential bonding copper strip connects to
the main copper earth bar. Consideration may be
given, if required, to the cable armour secured at
the cable gland being isolated or separated from the
equipment by an island-type insulating gland. In
order to prevent dangerous high earth fault currents
circulating within the structure of the healthcare
facility, the HV cable earths should not come into
direct contact with any exposed conductive part of
the facility.

High-voltage generator earths

13.5 All HV generators will be earthed. Designers

should evaluate the earthing by a neutral earthing

reactor or an earthing transformer. Thought should
be given to the potential for circulating neutral
currents and/or harmonic currents in the deltawound generator stator, and how these may
be negated with the addition of an earthing
transformer. The generator earthing arrangements
should ensure that an adequate fault current can be
developed to operate any protective device within
the electrical network. Figures 35 and 36 show
typical high-voltage generator earthing
configurations.

13 Earthing

Figure 35 HV generator earths island mode

Interlock

11 kV generator
PES
11 kV
supply

Site
11 kV
network

Earth
resistor
if required

Low-voltage main earthing methods

13.6 Where the PES is rated at low voltage (0.4 kV),

designers will liaise with the DNO to determine

the responsibility of earthing the PES supply cable,
which will usually be with the healthcare
organisation.

13.7 A suitable supplementary equipotential bonding

copper conductor will collectively bond all exposed

metalwork and conductive parts associated with
the LV switchpanels in the switchroom to the local
ERB. The cross-bonding conductor will be a bare
hard-drawn copper tape of a minimum crosssectional area of 50 mm by 6 mm and in
accordance with BS 7671 IEE Regulation 543.
A suitable copper earth cable or tape will bond
each ERB to the respective LV substation main
earthing terminal (MET). A suitable
supplementary equipotential bonding copper
conductor will collectively bond all exposed
metalwork and conductive parts associated with
the LV substation to the local MET. All extraneous
metalwork will be cross-bonded and either directly
or indirectly connected to the MET. The MET
will be directly connected to the star point of the
respective distribution transformer secondary
winding. All transformers associated with the

primary and secondary electrical distribution (see

Chapters 7 and 8) should have a dedicated MET
directly connected to the earth electrode with the
earthing conductor. The earthing conductor will
be sized to carry, without risk of danger, the
greatest earth fault current and earth leakage
currents likely to occur, having due regard for the
thermal and electromechanical stresses. An
earthing conductor and demountable link will
interconnect each MET where the substation has
multiple distribution transformers.
13.8 Where appropriate, any fixed equipment clean

earths will be bonded to the MET of the respective

LV substation either directly or via an ERB in the
LV switchroom.

13.9 Where appropriate, any information management

and technology clean earths will be bonded to the

MET of the respective LV substation.

13.10 Where the LV and HV system earths are separated,

the resistance of the LV earth electrode should be

less than 20 .

13.11 Where the electrical system includes both HV and

LV networks, designers may wish to interconnect

the earths from the two earthing systems. Subject
to approval of the DNO, this may be achievable if

89

When the bus tie is closed, only one neutral earthing transformer will be connected to the LV system

IL

Site
11 kV
network
Neutral
earthing
transformer

11 kV
generator

Earthing contactor interlock so that

the contactor cannot be closed
during parallel operation with
the incoming mains supply
PES
PES
11 kV
11 kV
supply
supply

Site
11 kV
network
Neutral
earthing
transformer

11 kV
generator

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

90

Figure 36 HV generator earths parallel operation (TN-S)

13 Earthing

the combined earth resistance is less than 1 ,

and any earth fault current does not give a rise of
a 430V potential in the parallel earth circuits.
Where the combined earth resistance cannot be
reduced to 1 , the LV earth electrode should be
at least 3 m from the HV earth electrode and/or
any HV extraneous conductive metalwork.
Low-voltage generator earths
13.12 It should be ensured that an adequate fault current

can be developed to operate any protective device

within the electrical network. The earthing
arrangement may require an earthing reactor or
earthing transformer.

13.13 The resistance of the generator star-point-

connected earth electrode should be less than

20.

13.14 Figure 37 shows a typical earthing configuration.

Switchroom earths
13.15 All LV distribution switchrooms should have a

visible earth reference terminal made from harddrawn bare copper.

13.16 A suitably-sized copper conductor will collectively

bond all extraneous and exposed conductive parts

associated with the switchroom LV switchgear to
the local ERB. The circuit protective conductor
(CPC) from each final distribution board should
be bonded to the local ERB, and covered by a
green-yellow sheath. All extraneous metalwork will
be cross-bonded and either directly or indirectly
connected to the ERB.

13.17 Where appropriate, any fixed equipment clean

earths will be bonded to the ERB of the respective

LV switchroom.

Earths for radiographic rooms

13.18 In general terms the designer of the electrical

hard-wired system will have a responsibility for

the earthing system to the ERB within each
radiographic room (see also paragraph 13.23).

13.19 In all radiographic rooms an ERB will be provided.

Designers should liaise with the radiographic

equipment manufacturer to establish the size of
the earthing conductor and associated ERB. An
individual earthing conductor will be directly
connected to the ERB (of each radiographic room)
and the MET at the respective distribution board.

13.20 Where the radiographic room has high

electromagnetic field radiation, such as in a

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) room, the
room will be provided with a Faraday cage to
isolate any such magnetic fields from the building
structure and surrounding rooms. The ERB in
these rooms will be made of a non-magnetic
material and housed in a non-magnetic enclosure
(usually clean ABS). The ERB will be directly
bonded to the room side of the Faraday cage.
An earthing conductor will be directly connected
between the Faraday cage and the MET of the
respective substation.

13.21 The Faraday cage will have suitable apertures for

the provision of any EMC filter equipment for

conductors of any electrical or communication
system. The radiographic equipment
manufacturer/supplier should specify the detail of
the filter equipment.

13.22 All fixed electrical equipment connection points

will be positively bonded to the ERB with a

resistance no greater than 0.1 .

13.23 The electrical installation for radiographic

diagnostic and imaging facilities should comply

with the Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency (MHRA) document Medical
Electrical Installation Guidance Notes
(MEIGaN).

Medical IT or isolated power supply

earths
13.24 Isolated power supply (IPS) circuits should have an

IT earthing system as defined by BS 7430:1998

and BS 7671:2001.

13.25 In all areas defined as a clinical risk Category 4 or

5, an ERB will be provided adjacent to the local

final distribution board of the IPS.

13.26 The IPS circuits will be bonded to a protective

earth terminal (PET), which should be easily

accessible from the IPS distribution board and
IPS isolation transformer housing. An earthing
conductor will be directly bonded between the
PET and a local ERB. Both the PET and ERB will
be visible and accessible by authorised people only.
See Health Technical Memorandum 06-02
Electrical safety guidance for low voltage systems.

13.27 Where the IPS serves a diagnostic room, the PET/

ERB should be located within the room (see the

MEIGaN).

91

When the bus tie is closed, only one neutral earthing transformer will be connected to the LV system

IL

Site
0.4 kV
network
Neutral
earthing
transformer

0.4 kV
generator

PES
0.4 kV
supply

Site
0.4 kV
network
Neutral
earthing
transformer

0.4 kV
generator

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

92

Figure 37 LV generator earths (TN-S)

13 Earthing

Microshock
13.28 Microshock is the passage of a low level of

electricity through the body which causes no

perceptible sensation. The threshold of sensation is
at about the 1mA level. The subject cannot detect
currents below this level. These low-level events
are of no consequence unless the current passes
through the cardiac muscle, in which case
ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation
may be triggered. Currents of the order of 10 A
can be enough to initiate ventricular fibrillation.

13.29 A patient undergoing any procedure which

involves the placing of an electrical conductor in

the central circulatory system is particularly at risk.
In this context, an electrical conductor includes
insulated wires such as cardiac pacing electrodes or
intracardiac ECG electrodes, or an insulated tube
(catheter) filled with conducting fluid inserted into
the central circulatory system.

13.30 In order to limit any potential rise due to the

effects of leakage current, the voltage between the

hard-wired system and the ERB should not be
greater than 20 mV. A further voltage of 30 mV
is allowed between the exposed conductive parts
of the medical equipment and its supply cord
(BSEN 60601-1, IEC 60601-1). This means
that the maximum obtainable voltage between
the exposed conductive parts of the medical
equipment and the ERB should not exceed 50 mV.
To achieve this low voltage the maximum
resistance between the socket-outlet terminals,
fixed equipment terminal or extraneous metalwork
should be 0.2 (0.1 from any point to the
ERB).

13.31 Figure 38 shows a typical earthing arrangement.

Circuit protective conductors

13.32 All parts of the LV distribution including final

circuits will have a separate circuit protective

conductor (CPC). The size of the conductor will
be assessed from the prospective short-circuit
current (PSCC) and the current-carrying capacity
of the conductor. The assessment will take the
form of the calculation:
2

S=I t
k

(given in BS 7671:2001)

where

S = the nominal cross-section area of the conductor

in mm2;

I = fault current;

t = the operating time of the disconnecting device

in seconds corresponding to the fault current;

k = a factor taking account of the resistivity,

temperature coefficient and heat capacity of the
conductor material, and the appropriate initial
and final temperatures.

13.33 Where circuit cables or conductors have an

integral metallic sheath, the sheath will not be used

as the sole earth return path. Designers should
consider the use of multicore cables with an earth
conductor, or where this is not possible, installing
a separate CPC.

Functional earth
13.34 Functional earthing systems are a method used to

provide a zero reference point or a signalling path

for communications equipment. A functional
earth does not strictly provide any protection
against electric shock or danger. Functional
earths should comply with the requirements of
Chapter47 of the IEE Regulations BS 7671:2001.

13.35 The functional earth conductor may be connected

directly or indirectly to the main earthing terminal

(MET) in an installation where earth currents flow
due to the normal function of load equipment.

13.36 Functional earths for telecommunication systems

should be installed with a cream-coloured sheath.

The telecommunications engineer should
determine the functional earth conductor size and
install it in accordance with BS 6701.

Monitored earthing systems

13.37 Where it is assessed that a high degree of earth

integrity is required, an earth monitoring system

provides a means of maintaining a high degree of
confidence in the impedance level of the protective
conductor from the monitoring unit to the remote
protected equipment. The monitoring unit may be
connected between the source of energy (if
accessible) and the equipment to be protected. The
source of energy may be, for example, a generator
or a transformer. It is therefore essential that any
plug, socket and flexible cable provide not only the
main protective path but also a return path, which
is usually known as the pilot conductor.

93

Insulation
monitor
TEMP
SENSE
PTC

LOAD
CT

Isolation
transformer
To Local
Distribution
Board or UPS
Medical IT (IPS)
Earth Bar

Alarm panel
Medical gases & boom

Earth
Reference
Bar (ERB)

**
Antistatic grids
Taps & pipes

** Note if no IPS installed the ERB should then

be connected to the local distribution board PET

* If installed

* If required

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

94

Figure 38 IPS theatre earthing arrangement

13 Earthing

13.38 The system proves or monitors the protective

conductor and pilot conductor loop in a flexible

trailing cable supplying transportable or mobile
equipment, the proving or monitoring unit
being arranged to disconnect the supply to the
equipment at the point of connection of the
trailing cable to the wiring installation. A wallmounted protective-conductor proving or
monitoring unit is directly connected to a section
of the fixed electrical installation and is arranged to
feed the flexible trailing cable, which may be
connected to the unit either by means of a plug
and socket or by a permanent connection. When
connected in this manner, both the trailing cable
and the equipment will be disconnected when the
unit operates in the event of failure of the
monitored loop.

Lightning protection
13.39 The energy of a lightning flash can be very high,

with typical strikes currents in excess of 20 kA

within the UK. The damage from lightning strikes
can be very significant and blow electrical
components off the wall in the worst case. The
damage may not be limited to items that have
direct contact to the conducting path of the
lightning protection system (LPS). Air (or other
conducting materials) are locally ionised around
a lightning flash or conducting path, which can
induce damaging currents in electrical equipment
not directly connected to the LPS. In poorly
designed or installed LPSs, flashover of high
currents can occur between the LPS conducting
path and items not bonded to the LPS. Flashover
and/or ionised fields can cause damage to
communications systems and electromagnetically
stored data.

13.40 BS 6651:1999 provides maps with the statistical

frequency of lightning strikes and their energy

values throughout the UK.

13.41 Designers should carry out a risk assessment

based on the approach given in BS 6651:1999 to

determine the need (or otherwise) of an LPS. The
risk assessment should consider the location of the
healthcare premises (urban/rural, high/low), and
the value of the equipment and data stored, as well
as any protection afforded by the proximity of
taller buildings.

Lightning protection system components

13.42 The LPS consist of three principal components as

listed below.

Air terminals finials

13.43 The air terminals consist of a copper or aluminium

tape installed around the roof, and cross-bonded to

all exposed metalwork and plant. The air terminals
can be insulated with a PVC sheath, or bare. Metal
roofs can be used as the air terminals providing
that the conductivity and thickness of metal does
not impede the discharge of the lightning strike.
Air terminals can be laid under a slate roof subject
to building regulations and approval of the
building control officer.

Down conductors
13.44 The down conductors consist of aluminium or

copper tapes clipped down the exterior faade of

the healthcare premises at a maximum spacing of
20 m. Each down conductor should be crossbonded to any exposed metalwork within 1 m of
the conductor and installed at least 1 m from any
entrance way. Where the down conductor cannot
be installed on the external faade, a segregated
internal duct (conforming to the requirements of
BS 6651:1999) may be utilised. Designers should
consider the location of data communications and
electromagnetic storage systems before using the
steel structure of any healthcare building.

Earth electrodes
13.45 The earth electrode consists of a high-conductive

metal rod connecting the down conductor to the

mass of earth. The resistance to earth of an LPS
network should not be greater than 10 , with the
resistance of each individual electrode less than ten
times the number of earth electrodes in the LPS.
Where the soil resistivity is high, the earth
electrode can consist of a high-conductive metal
plate or mesh. In very poor soil resistivity areas,
the local resistance can be improved by the use of
high-conductive concrete, such as bentonite, to
provide a bond between the electrode and mass of
earth. Each earth electrode should have a test point
close to ground level to aid the routine testing of
the LPS. See Health Technical Memorandum
06-01, Part B Operational management.

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Ionised fields

Type B on each main distribution switchboard;

13.46 The effect of a lightning flash can ionise the air

Type C on the equipment itself (or the

equipments supply lead).

surrounding the flash up to several metres. The

ionised air can give rise to high transient currents
in cables and equipment. Designers should
consider the use of surge arrestors to mitigate the
effects of such transient currents.

13.47 Surge arrestors can be located in one of three

locations:

Type A on all cables as they enter/leave a

building;

96

13.48 Surge arrestors should be capable of attenuating

the induced ionised current such that the transient

current is no greater than twice the steady-state
normal supply current.

13.49 Further details on the design and installation of an

LPS can be found in BS 6651:1999 and BS EN

50164-2:2002.

14

Containment

14.1 Due diligence should be given to the protection of

all cable routes throughout the healthcare premises.

The various types of cable and busbar system are
described in Chapter 15. This section addresses
the method of installation. Where the primary
distribution cables etc are installed external to any
building, the cables should be direct-buried. Where
the cable route passes under roadways etc, the
cables should be installed in ducts of not less
than 100 mm diameter. Appropriate inspection
chambers should also be provided. Main cables,
where direct buried in open ground, should be
initially laid in, covered by sifted soil or sand, and
over-covered with reinforced interlocking fibre
boards or concrete tiles to BS 2484:1995. Boards or
tiles afford protection against hand tools but not
against mechanical excavators. Red warning tapes
for HV cable routes and yellow warning tapes for
LV cable routes should be provided, and placed
300mm above the tile or cable. Accurately located
concrete surface markers should be provided
at intervals of approximately 6.5 m (where
practicable) in open ground, road crossings etc
along the cable route, and at any change of
direction or entry to buildings. For information on
preventing damage to buried cables, see Appendix
5 in BS 7671:2001.

14.2 Electrical services of any type and/or voltage band

installed on or in any containment type should

have a current-carrying capacity for the grouping of
cables and local environment of the containment
system. Advice for de-rating a cables currentcarrying capacity from the nominal values is given
in BS 7671 IEE Wiring Regulations. Additional
information can be obtained from the cable
manufacturer.

14.3 Where single-core cables are used for heavy-current

three-phase circuits, the cables of the three phases

should be laid in close proximity in trefoil or flat
formation, mechanically braced, and tied along
the route. Eddy currents should be reduced, for
example by the use of non-ferrous clamps, fittings,
spacers, non-ferrous gland plates and cable
terminations.

14.4 The routing of any containment system should

preserve the recommended segregation distances

from other services, including other electrical
services. General containment routes should not be
installed in lift shafts including dumb waiters (see
BS EN 81 for more information). Containments
should not be routed in laundry shafts.

14.5 Where cable containments pass through a fire

compartment wall, a fire-stopping material will

be used to make good the opening. A fire barrier
should be installed within the containment
(close to the fire compartment wall), where the
containment has an internal air space (for example
trunking systems).

Trenches, service tunnels and ducts

14.6 Where cables of any type and/or voltage band are

installed in a trench, service tunnel or duct, they

should be installed on other containment types
such as ladder rack or tray work. The arrangement
of the secondary containment should keep the
cables out of any accumulated water and not
impede access along the trench/tunnel/duct.
Trenches, service tunnels and ducts should be
self-draining.

14.7 Where the containment system is used for other

services, the space should have natural ventilation.

The effect that other services, such as heating
pipes, in the same trench or duct may have on the
local environment should be taken into account.

14.8 Chapter 11 gives details on how cables should be

arranged in voltage-band groups and the respective

separation distances to achieve EMC.

14.9 HV cables should not be routed in enclosed areas

close to flammable gases such as piped medical

oxygen.

14.10 When sizing a trench/tunnel/duct, consideration

for maintenance access should be assessed. The

recommended minimum clearances are given in
Defence Works Functional Standard DMG 08:
Space requirements for plant access operation and
maintenance. Manholes or access holes should be
97

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

provided for entry into cable tunnels and ducts.

SELV lighting and a power supply at entrances to
trenches and service tunnels should be provided.
The provision for portable forced ventilation
systems for use of maintenance staff may be
required under the Health and Safety at Work etc
Regulations.
14.11 On main cable routes where additional cables

may subsequently be required, spare cable ducts,

trenches or service tunnel space should be
provided.

14.12 Where HV cables are installed, they should be

identified with DANGER 11,000 Volts notices

provided at points where access to HV cables can
be obtained.

14.13 Open trenches (ha-has) are not a recommended

containment system for electrical services. Where

such trenches are used, the cables should have
additional mechanical protection. Additional
safety precautions for the public should also be
reviewed.

Ladder rack tray basketry

14.14 Steel cable trays and aluminium or steel ladder-

rack can simplify installation where several cables

are to be installed in close proximity. In damp
areas and in order to reduce the risk of corrosion
by electrolytic or water action, the containment
should have a galvanised finish.

14.15 Such containments should only carry cables of

one voltage band. Basketry can be considered for a

mixture of cables at low voltage and voltage bands
below, provided all such cables are insulated to LV
grades.

14.16 Where these types of containment are installed in a

common service route, each containment system

should preserve the segregation of the various
voltage bands. The highest voltage band should
be installed on the lowest containment rail. The
containments should not be used to support any
other services.

14.17 Manufacturers data should be used to assess

the maximum mechanical loading and fixing

arrangements of each containment system.

14.18 Such fixings should not be connected to any

demountable building element (for example

ceiling tiles, wall partitions) or other engineering
services.

14.19 Metallic ladder-rack, tray or basketry should

be electrically continuous and may be used as a

supplementary earth return path. Each length of
the containment should be mechanically joined
with overlapping fillets on all three sides, and it is
recommended that these are supplemented with
copper links to ensure earth continuity. Where
the installation topology prohibits the mechanical
jointing of the containment system, an earth cable
(of 6 mm2 minimum size) should be used to
provide the earth continuity.

14.20 In order to limit the effect of electromagnetic

radiation and reduce high fault currents, the

containment system should not form the only
earth return path of any circuit on the
containment.

Trunking conduits
14.21 Steel trunking for cables represents the most

satisfactory type of installation where a number

of circuits can conveniently follow the same path.
Cable trunking is suitable for use in voids, above
suspended ceilings, in surface applications and
in service risers. Trunking layouts should be
predetermined and be dimensionally coordinated
with other building components to enable
standard prefabricated lengths to be used whenever
practicable.

14.22 In installations with segregated essential and non-

essential circuits, complete segregation of nonessential and essential subcircuit wiring is

desirable, but may not be possible in all instances.
Where either the essential or the non-essential
wiring is less than, say, 30% of the total wiring,
separate containment systems may not be practical
or justified. See Chapter 6 for more information.

14.23 Circuits for emergency and escape lighting from a

central battery system should always be segregated

from both essential and non-essential circuits
(guidance is given in BS 5266), and those circuits
should be wired in an appropriate fire-resistant
cable (see Chapter 15).

14.24 Extra-LV circuits can be installed with LV circuits

operating at the mains potential providing that the

insulation is equally rated to the maximum circuit
voltage present. Wires of mixed service should be
suitably screened to reduce inter-circuit
electromagnetic interference.

14.25 Small TP & N cables installed in trunking should

be tied or clipped together in small convenient

98

14 Containment

bunches. Groups of four single-core larger cables,

comprising a three-phase supply and neutral,
should be laid in trefoil, interleaved at suitable
intervals and labelled to assist identification of
circuits. The number and size of any cable bunch
in any trunking should not exceed that allowed in
the IEE Wiring Regulations Guidance Note 1
Selection, Appendix A.
14.26 Metal trunking should have a suitable anti-rust

finish (for example zinc-coated steel). For damp

environments, galvanised trunking will provide
suitable protection.

14.27 All equipotential contact surfaces should be free

of rust or corrosion or have an anodised finish to

ensure electrical continuity to earth and between
trunking sections. Tinned copper bonding links
should be used across all trunking section joints
to complete the equipotential bond and earth
connection. The metallic trunking or metal
conduits should not be used as the sole earth
return path of the circuits within the containment.

14.28 All conduits and trunking systems should be

solidly fixed. Such fixings should exclude the use

of demountable building elements (for example
ceiling tiles, wall partitions) or other engineering
services. All fixing systems should be suitable for
the mass of the containment and wiring systems.

14.29 Approved non-flammable fire barriers and

penetration seals should be inserted in cable

trunking where it penetrates floors and partitions
which are intended to form fire barriers (that is,
fire compartment walls). The outside of the
trunking should also be locally fire-insulated on
both sides for 500 mm to prevent heat transfer by
conduction along the metal trunking and the
passage of smoke. Unenclosed cables entering/
leaving barriers or seals should also be fireprotected with ready-mixed inert material or
fire-resistant paint.

14.30 Fire barriers and penetration seals should be

provided for all cable installations entering/leaving

switchrooms and plant cubicles where gland plate
sealing is not provided. Underfloor trunkings or
flush lay-in trunkings are a useful containment
system for services to island (mid-floor area)
equipment such as radiography units and theatre
tables, computer hub rooms and laboratory
benches. In such locations, it is essential that the
manufacturer, structural engineer and architect all
be consulted.

14.31 Where large quantities of data and computer

equipment are installed, such as hub room and

floor-distribution patch cupboards, raised floors
with removable square sections to permit sub-floor
access for any later cable works are recommended.

14.32 Cables bunched in steel conduit of 20 mm,

25mm or 32 mm diameter are economical.

Conduits less than 20 mm in diameter are not
recommended.

14.33 The number and sizes of cables pulled into any

trunking and/or conduit should not exceed the

circuit-loading guidance in the IEE Wiring
Regulations Guidance 1 Selection Appendix A and
BS 7671 Chapter 52. The conduit system for each
distribution board should be kept separate, and
cables from different distribution boards should
not be enclosed in the same conduit.

14.34 Conduit should be heavy-gauge quality to BS 31.

Enamel finish is satisfactory for indoor dry

locations. A passivated, galvanised, Class 4 finish
should be specified where damp conditions are
likely. The use of only passivated, galvanised,
Class4 finishes may be more cost-effective, as it
will negate the need of any retrospective touch-up
painting of installed metallic conduits and
trunking.

14.35 The effect of electromagnetic interference from

non-metallic trunking and conduits should be

evaluated before they are used. Electromagnetic
energy can be radiated from or absorbed by wiring
systems unless they are adequately screened and
earthed (see Chapter 11). Electrical containments
should be resilient to effects from thermal and/or
mechanical impact. The risks may be acceptable in
clinical risk category 2 and 3 areas, but is unlikely
to be acceptable in clinical risk category 4 and 5
areas (see paragraphs 4.124.34 for more
information). It is best practice to use metallic
trunking and/or conduits.

Preformed wiring containment

14.36 Preformed wiring consists of wiring systems that

are manufactured off-site, and the individual

circuit conductors are installed in a form of
containment. The containment in this case is
generally a spiral metallic sheath or interweaved
metal-and-paper spiral wrap. The system is
delivered with pre-made terminations and in
standard lengths (primary runs are 4050 m while
final circuits are 3 m, 4 m and 5 m). Most systems
have a range of distribution boxes and fuse boxes
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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

and therefore the installed system becomes a

spiders web of cables. The systems allow for
lighting and low power. Lighting circuits can have
additional control wires for switching and lighting
control systems. Low-power circuits can be wired
as radial or ring circuits. Preformed wiring systems
tend to be sized at 50 mm diameter, while the final
runs are typical 20 mm diameter. The number of
multi-circuits in any one length of preformed
system may be dependent on the installation.
However, all conductors of any one circuit should
be installed in the same wiring lengths. The system
sheath should not be relied on for any part of the
earth loop impedance.
Layout considerations
14.37 Designers should consider how to provide for any

flexibility and/or spare capacity within the system.

As the systems are preformed, it is not possible to
cut into an existing length, and the installed routes
follow the building room layouts. Designers
should therefore consider providing the spare
capacity at local distribution points or at the fuse
box. A spare capacity of 25% should be made
available, partly at the distribution boards and
partly at the ends of the primary routes.
Alternatively, consideration can be given to all
spare capacity being available at one location only.

Fire precautions
14.38 Where preformed wiring systems penetrate floors

and partitions which are themselves intended to

form fire barriers (that is, fire compartment walls),
the outside of the trunking should also be locally
fire-insulated on both sides for 500 mm to prevent
heat transfer by conduction along the metal
trunking, and the passage of smoke. Containments
should be treated in such a way as to prevent
any smoke that may travel on the inside of
containments from linking separate fire
compartments.

Remodelling and extensions

14.39 Preformed wiring systems do not provide an

easy way for additional circuits to be pulled into

existing wiring systems. Hence, any circuits to
be added retrospectively will require additional
preformed lengths, which in turn erodes the spare

100

capacity. Consideration can be given to providing

facilities for re-modelling by allowing other cabling
systems to be installed (retrospectively) from a
common distribution board used for preformed
wiring systems.
Circuit segregation
14.40 Designers should consider the holistic, coordinated

installation with all other electrical and nonelectrical services within the installation area.
Designers should obtain the manufacturers data
on the systems compliance with electromagnetic
radiation and absorption, which will need to be
specific for the particular environment (see
Chapter 11 for additional information).

14.41 All primary preformed wiring systems that may be

used should be secured on secondary containments

such as tray work. Similarly, all final runs of
preformed wiring system should be solidly
fixed. Such fixings should exclude the use of
demountable building elements (for example
ceiling tiles, wall partitions) or other engineering
services. Clearly, all fixing systems should be
suitable for the mass of the preformed wiring
system, and not leave any catenary effect.

14.42 Wiring systems installed within a clinical risk

Category 5 area should be exclusive to the use

of equipment and fittings in that location.

Access for maintenance

14.43 Designers and stakeholders should consider

the risks associated with the installed routes for

preformed wiring and the need to provide suitable
access for maintenance. (See Health Technical
Memorandum 00 and Defence Works Functional
Standard DMG 08 Space Requirements for Plant
Access for additional information).

Suitable locations
14.44 Designers and stakeholders should consider the

risk associated with installing the systems in

certain locations. Clinical risk Category 1 areas
should not be adversely affected by preformed
wiring systems. The risks may be acceptable in
clinical risk category 2 and 3 areas, but may
present a higher risk in clinical risk category 4
and 5 areas.

15

Cable and busbar types

15.1 All current-carrying conductors (cables, busbars

etc) should be suitably sized to carry their design

load after the application of any de-rating factors
generated by their installation environment and
in accordance with manufacturers data. All cables
should be of an approved type tested by an external
body such as the British Approvals Services for
Electrical Cables (BASEC) or CBS ENELEC. The
conductor size should limit the volt drop between
the network origin and point of use to the values
given in BS 7671 IEE Wiring Regulations.
Designers may optimise the conductor power
dissipation (I2R losses) by designing the final
circuits to carry the majority of the permissible volt
drop.

15.2 The environmental protection grades can be found

in BS 7671 Chapter 52 and Appendix 5. The

electrical properties can be found in BS 7671
Appendix 4.

15.3 Each condition of external influence is designated

by a code comprising a group of two capital letters

and a number, as follows. The first letter relates to
the general category of external influence:

Environment

Utilisation

Construction of buildings

The second letter relates to the nature of the

external influence:

...A

...B

...C

The number relates to the class within each external

influence:

......1

......2

......3

15.4 For example, the code AA4 signifies:

A =

AA =

Environment
Environment Ambient temperature

AA4 = Environment Ambient temperature

range 5C to +40C.

15.5 Further advice should be obtained from cable

manufacturers data sheets to validate the

appropriateness of the cable for the intended
application.

15.6 Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is well

established at higher voltages and is the preferred

type of cable construction. XLPE cables have an
improved operating temperature (90C) over PVC,
which means that XLPE cables do not require derating (for temperature) as much as an equivalent
PVC cable. This can be a particular advantage
in plantroom and energy-centre locations.
Significantly higher symmetrical short-circuit
ratings are also possible, corresponding to a
conductor temperature of 250C during fault
conditions. This is compared to 150C for PVC
cables. XLPE will ignite and burn readily, but has
low smoke and fume-emission characteristics.

15.7 Elastomeric (or thermoset) materials return to their

original shape and dimensions after deformation.

They tend to have a wider operational temperature
range and superior mechanical properties compared
with general-purpose thermoplastic materials. This
makes them particularly suited to cable sheathing
applications, especially in harsh environments.
Elastomeric materials are suitable for all cable
applications. Ethylene vinyl acetate forms the basis
of most modern low-smoke zero-halogen cable
sheaths.

15.8 Designers should evaluate whether the cable will be

suitable for all normal and fault conditions. The

fault calculations should include both overload and
short-circuit condition (between live conductors
and/or live conductor phase to earth). The fault
conditions should be modelled for all circuit
conditions, which will vary according to the

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

number of motors etc running. Cables should be

suitable for power supplies from the DNO as well
as any secondary power supplies (SPS).
15.9 Where the primary power is supported by parallel-

running CHP plant, the fault calculations should

reflect various power supply ratios of no CHP,
25% CHP and say 50% CHP.

15.10 Designers should consider the use of computer

software applications to simulate all scenarios for

fault calculation and cable selection. Any software
used for such purposes should have an auditable
quality control system such as ISO 9001.

15.11 Where there is large radiographic equipment

which derives radiation from short-impulse high

voltages, the distribution cables may not be
required to be rated at the full load. Designers
should liaise with the radiographic equipment
suppliers to determine any opportunity to use
under-sized cables.

15.12 This chapter addresses the various cable types

available for each system within the electrical

network of healthcare premises.

High-voltage distribution
15.13 HV cables have a higher power density than the

equivalent-sized LV cable; therefore, where an

electrical network includes an HV system, the HV
system should be made to cover as large an area as
is practical (see Chapter 6).

15.14 The grades of cable insulation normally used are

XLPE cables complying with BS 6346:1997.

15.15 HV cables may be direct-buried, laid in a trench

or, where practical, installed on heavy-duty cable

trays.

15.16 HV cable boxes should be made of fabricated steel,

and terminations should be air insulated up to

11kV. Spacing between the terminals must
conform to BS 4999-145 or IEC standards
requirements for the rated voltage.

15.17 All HV terminations and terminating cable tails

should also be encapsulated in heat-shrinkable,

voltage-graded plastic insulation, approved and
guaranteed by a reputable manufacturer for the
rated voltage.

15.18 Steel cable boxes for the HV terminations of

rotating machines should be provided with an

aluminium foil explosion diaphragm and, as a
safety precaution, the boxes should preferably be

102

orientated to face a nearby reinforced concrete

vertical surface or 200 mm brick wall. A splashprotected breather hole with an external
replaceable silica gel dryer with screwed insert
should be provided to prevent the accumulation of
condensed water vapour within the cable box.
15.19 All cables should be marked and terminated in an

approved manner to indicate phases. The far and

near phase cable ends should be checked by a
continuity meter to confirm identical phase
markings.

Low-voltage distribution
15.20 Multi-core LV distribution cables should have a

black outer sheath to denote their voltage rating.

15.21 The core colours should be defined by

BS7671:2001.

15.22 LV distribution conductors are made from copper

or aluminium. Aluminium cables as rated are

larger, require greater space, are difficult to lay,
and require larger glands and cable lugs for
terminations. Copper conductors have a better
thermal and mechanical impact resistance and are
more durable.

Cable identification
15.23 The colour of the conductor sheath of multi-core

LV three-phase distribution cables should be as

illustrated in Figure 39.

15.24 Where single-core LV distribution cables are

installed, the phase colour should be brown with a

blue neutral conductor as in Figure 40.

15.25 Note: where single-core cables are installed for

LV distribution, all conductors of a common

circuit should be enclosed in the same metallic
containment such as trunking. In accordance with
IEC 60364-7-710 any wiring system within
Group 2 locations should be exclusive to the use
of equipment and fittings in that location (see
BS7671:2001). The terminations of single-core
LV conductors should be identified by the
appropriate colour or notation, which may include
IPS circuit identification.

15.26 Existing installations may continue to use the

pre-April 2004 BS 7671 conductor sheath phase

colours (red, yellow and blue), black neutral and
yellow-green protective conductors. However,
these should be replaced when modifications are
undertaken to the electrical system.

15 Cable and busbar types

Figure 39 LV three-phase multi-core cable identification

L1

Brown

L1

Brown

L2

Black

L2

Brown

L3

Grey

L3

Brown

Blue

Blue

Or

Figure 40 LV single-core cable identification

Busbar distribution
L1
N

Brown
Blue

15.27 Note: where the conductors form an IPS circuit,

both conductors should be coloured brown and

identified as L1 and L2. In composite cables,
conductors can be sleeved brown.

15.28 The LV distribution strategy should focus on the

cable size with a view to installing the cable and

giving access for maintenance. Designers should
allow adequate space for the bending radius of
cables (including the respective containment
system see Chapter 14).

15.29 Distribution and sub-main cables above 240 mm2

are difficult to install, which means either having

smaller distribution circuits (which in turn means
more switchgear) or installing single-core cables.
Where the distribution uses single-core cables,
each core should be laid in a trefoil arrangement.
In order to limit electromagnetic radiation (see
Chapter 11), the group should be 0.75 diameters
from a wall or any other distribution cable (cable
group), and generally means more space.

15.30 LV busbar distribution systems are becoming a

cost-effective solution for high-current circuits.

LV busbar systems with current ratings from 63 A
to 2.5 kA (depending on type) are available, with
the insulation being air or cast-resin encapsulation.
Some systems provide insulated bars only. The
main advantages of LV busbar distribution are the
reduced space, and the standard tap-off facility to
add additional outgoing circuits later (via fused
switches).

Control alarm and communication

cables
15.31 There are many types of alarm and

communications system in a healthcare facility.

This section identifies some of the more common
wiring systems used for such circuits. Since the
mid 1980s, many communication and alarm
systems have moved to digital networks and data
highways. As such systems have expanded and
their relative speed and bandwidths increased,
many data highways are being used to carry a
multitude of systems ranging from information
technology systems, BEMS, nurse call, blood bank
alarms, security and fire alarm signals. Since the
mid-1990s, some of the communication and alarm
systems have moved to wireless systems.

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

15.32 This Health Technical Memorandum is only

concerned with fixed wiring. However, designers

and stakeholders should consider the effects of
wireless systems and electromagnetic compatibility
(see Chapter 11). The use of any wireless systems
in clinical risk Category 3 and above areas should
be the subject of a risk assessment. Although the
wireless signals may not have any common
frequency or side-frequency with electrobiomedical equipment etc, the clinical risk may
be high.

Control communication and non-fire-alarm cables

15.33 Designers should liaise with system suppliers

before selecting the type of cabling used for general

communication and alarm systems.

15.34 The distribution and installation of alarm and

communication systems should follow (as far as

practical) the general route of containment used
for power systems, provided a suitable segregation
distance (100 mm to 300 mm depending on
voltage screening bands) is maintained.

Information technology cables

15.35 The construction and type of cable used for

IT systems fall outside the scope of this Health

Technical Memorandum. Designers should liaise
with the IT staff at an early stage to coordinate

104

the containment routing for such systems. IT

containments should be in separate vertical risers
to any other building services containment route.
Horizontal containment used for IT should be
at least 300 mm to 600 mm from other building
services containment, subject to the voltage band
of any distributed power cabling system. The IT
distribution strategy and separation distance are
exclusive of any maintenance access requirements
that should also be considered.
Fire alarm cables
15.36 Cables used for any part of a fire alarm system

should be an enhanced grade cable as defined by

BS 5839-1:2002.

15.37 All fire alarm cables should also satisfy the CWZ

rating of BS 6387:1994; that is, the cable should

be able to withstand water and impact and be
subjected to a temperature of 950C for three
hours.

15.38 Cable systems may be derogated from their

respective mechanical cable impact requirements

of BS 6387:1994 by installing enhanced-grade fire
alarm cable in a continuous containment, which
then satisfies the impact requirement of
BS6387:1994.

16

Final circuits

16.1 This section deals with final circuits and point-

of-use connections of the PEI that present bestpractice configurations for final circuits, UPS and
IPS for the emergency protection of final outlets,
circuits and equipment. The configurations are
presented generally in order of resilience from low
to high. The selection of a particular configuration
will be dependent on the specific factors of each
individual design. The selected configuration
should be based on a risk analysis to determine the
appropriate level of resilience.

Uninterruptible power supplies

Standards
16.3 UPS systems should be to, but not be limited to,

16.2 The configurations presented in this section should

not be taken as being definitive, prescriptive, or

restrictive of innovation. They are intended as a
guide to best practice (see Figure 41).

the following design and manufacturing standards:

BS EN 62040-1-1:2003. Uninterruptible
power systems (UPS). General and safety
requirements for UPS used in operator access
areas;
BS EN 62040-2:2006. Uninterruptible power
systems (UPS). Electromagnetic compatibility
(EMC) requirements;
BS EN 60146, IEC 60146. Semiconductor
convertors. General requirements and line
commutated convertors;
BS EN 60439-2, IEC 60439-2. LV switchgear
and control gear assemblies;
VDE 0510-2 paragraph 6.5, Ripple current for
battery charging systems.

Figure 41
Figure 41 Final circuit connectivity
Low Voltage
Sub Main (Unified) Distribution
Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Segregated)
Distribution Board

Low Voltage
Sub Main (Dual Unified)
Distribution Board
TERTIARY POWER
SUPPLY
UNINTERRUPTIBLE
POWER SUPPLY
ISOLATED
POWER SUPPLY

FINAL CIRCUITS
CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 1

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 2

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 3

CLINICAL RISK
CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 4
CATEGORY 1

CLINICAL RISK
CATEGORY 5

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Rating
16.4 UPS system ratings range from 250VA up to

several hundred kVA; the small units may be singlephase units used to support a single circuit, and the
larger UPS systems may be single- or three-phase
units for supporting a complete department.

16.5 Central UPS systems may be considered where the

need covers several small distributed areas. Where

centralised UPS systems are considered, a diesel
rotary UPS (DRUPS) may provide an economic
solution. The location of DRUPSs should be based
on the same environmental criteria used for the
standby generators and/or CHP plant.

16.6 Other types of rotary UPS, which use the stored

energy of a flywheel under full torque connected to

a motor, may also be used. The autonomy of these
UPS devices are essentially time-based and largely
independent from the actual load. These so-called
silent rotary UPSs currently have high kVA
ratings and are more suited to a centralised system.

UPS environment
16.7 Designers should consider the local space of the

UPS, in terms of its access for maintenance and

heat generated. Depending on the UPS type, single
or double conversion, a UPS will radiate about 3%
to 8% of its input power, which will need to be
vented. Ideally, the ventilation should be natural.
The environmental conditions should control the
room space to the limits recommended by the
battery manufacture.

UPS description and configurations

16.8 A UPS consists of three principal parts: a rectifier,

a battery unit and an inverter. The rectifier converts

the ac power supply (single- or three-phase) to a
dc supply. The rectifier output maintains the
battery in a fully-charged condition. The inverter
reconverts the rectifier output (or battery output)
to a synthetic sinusoidal waveform output (again
either single- or three-phase according to the
input). The UPS should include a static bypass, a
manual internal bypass and an external bypass; all
three bypass switches should be installed. The static
bypass will electronically divert the normal supply
from the rectifier inverter line through the static
switch whenever a fault in the UPS conversion
occurs. The static bypass operates at such a high
speed that it is considered as a no-break supply
switch.

106

16.9 Single-conversion UPS units are configured so that

the supply is normally via the static switch and, on

loss of supply or when the supply quality falls, the
static switch instantaneously connects the battery
output to the load. The battery is held fully
charged by a trickle charger supplied from the
normal supply. The battery autonomy (see
Chapter10) of single-conversion UPSs working
offline is typically up to 15 minutes.

16.10 Double-conversion UPS units are configured so

that the supply is normally via the rectifier and

inverter line and, on loss of supply (or poor supply
quality), the battery output supplies the load via
the inverter. The static switch will also bypass the
rectifier inverter if the UPS circuit develops a fault.
The battery is held fully charged by a trickle
charger supplied from the normal supply. The
battery autonomy (see Chapter 10) of doubleconversion UPSs working online is typically up to
1 hour. The battery autonomy should be assessed
to ensure that adequate power can be provided to
allow the medical therapies to be concluded safely
(within the area of concern). Usually 1 hour will
facilitate the closure of any patient in an operating
theatre. However, on the most complex of
surgeries or medical therapies, periods of up to
three hours may be required. Designers and
stakeholders should liaise with surgical staff to
understand the most appropriate cost-effective
strategy.

16.11 The rectifier and bypass may have a common

supply connection. The ideal connection should

provide separate connections for the rectifier and
bypass line (see Figure 42a/b).

UPS fault condition design

16.12 UPS protective devices should be capable of

clearing downstream circuit faults in similar

fashion to other distribution boards. UPS outputcircuit protective devices should discriminate from
upstream devices. Designers should consider the
effect of overload and short-circuit fault condition.
Short-circuits in the UPS load are isolated either
by a downstream protective device, or by the
insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) control
circuit of the inverter. UPS units may tolerate
overloads of 125% for 10 minutes, 150% for
1minute, or 200% for 100 milliseconds
(depending on the manufacturers selected
internal protective device). The actual overload
characteristics vary from manufacturer to
manufacturer. Designers should verify the

16 Final circuits

Figure 42a UPS resilient arrangements

Secondary Power Source SPS
Rectifier
Rectifier
Input 1
Input 2

Primary Power Source PPS

By-Pass
Input

RCB

SBCB

MBCB

BCB
UPS Unit 2
Normally Off-Line

OCB

Electrical Interlock

RCB

SBCB

MBCB

BCB
UPS Unit 1
Normally On-Line

OCB

Electrical Interlock

UPS Basic Cascade Arrangement

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Figure 42b UPS resilient arrangements

Secondary Power Source SPS

Primary Power Source PPS

LV Panel

NOTES
Switches A & B should
be separate in case it
becomes necessary to
totally isolate input SWBD
to work on switches or
busbars etc

Isolator

........A
MCCB

........A
MCCB

Input Switch Panel

........A
MCCB

........A
MCCB

Input & output SWBDs

should be separate as
input SWBD only has
mains whereas output
has UPS power
SBCB

RCB

SBCB

BCB

Remote
Status
Panel

RCB

BCB

Remote
Status
Panel

Static Switch

Static Switch

OCB

OCB

........A
ROCB
Switch

Switch X is essential
to fully isolate total
system, electrical
interlocking with
switch Y should
be fitted as
standard

........A
ROCB
Switch
........A
SOCB X
MCCB

External System
Output/Bypass
Cabinet

Electrical Aux for Safety Interlock

........A
Y SOCB
MCCB

To Load Distribution

UPS Basic Parallel Arrangement

coordination of fault conditions when selecting the

UPS type.
16.13 Designers need to consider carefully the protection

systems used by the UPS. The UPS subcircuit

protective devices should provide adequate
discrimination with the inverter/static switch
protection. If the inverter/static switch protection
operates before the subcircuit protection, the UPS
may shut down. Clearly, this would then isolate all
the subcircuits and not just the faulty circuit.

108

16.14 With three-phase UPS units, designers may wish to

consider the use of a zig-zag transformer on the

UPS bypass lines. Such transformers provide a
local earth point, may help to ensure that an
adequate fault current is developed, and assist in
harmonic control.

16.15 Where the UPS is supported by the secondary

power supply, a transformer with a double-wound

secondary may assist with the limiting of the initial

16 Final circuits

acceptance load as the harmonic currents have

been reduced.
UPS power quality
16.16 UPS systems are a significant non-linear supply.

The rectification stage provides a pulsed ripple dc

circuit, and the inversion stage provides a synthetic
sinusoidal ac circuit. Thought should be given to
UPS units which use IGBTs and to the duration
and value of any inrush currents.

16.17 The output of the rectifier will be a ripple dc

voltage. The ripple effect is normally smoothed

by the use of IGBT devices. However, the IGBT
circuitry will reflect a harmonic current into the
supply line. The level of harmonic currents should
be controlled such that the net harmonic current
reflected to the DNO connection is in accordance
with the Energy Networks Associations
Engineering Recommendations G.5/4. See also
paragraphs 5.115.17.

UPS resilience
16.18 UPS units can be grouped as multiple units

connected either in cascade (redundant) or in

parallel (see Figure 42a/b). Either arrangement
provides N+1 resilience, as described in paragraphs
6.86.30. UPSs connected in cascade provide a
redundant arrangement. With redundant UPS
arrangements, each UPS should be able to fully
support the full load, that is, be 100% rated. The
output of the first cascade-connected UPS should
supply the bypass of the second UPS. UPS units
connected in parallel are normally all online, but a
standby unit (in parallel) may be provided. UPS
units connected in parallel may be rated at a
percentage of the full load, provided that when
one unit is not available, the remaining units can
provide the full load. The common point of
coupling for parallel UPS units should be
downstream of the external bypass of each unit.

16.19 The selected arrangement for UPS resilience

should ensure that the internal and external bypass

switches provide a safe maintenance strategy.

Inverter units
16.20 The inverter units considered in this Health

Technical Memorandum relate to central battery

units and stand-alone units used for theatre
operating lamps. Inverters used as a self-contained
power pack for emergency escape lighting and
signage are excluded, as they do not connect to

the fixed wiring. However, designers should be

mindful of such units when assessing the overall
electromagnetic characteristics of the wiring system
(see Chapter 11).
Central battery units
16.21 The wiring used in central battery units should be

of an enhanced grade as defined by BS 5839-1:

2002.

16.23 Central battery inverter units should be directly

connected to the secondary power supply and

be so arranged that the output can energise all
connected emergency escape lighting and signage
within five seconds as required by BS 5266.

16.24 Central battery inverter units should be

constructed with maintenance bypass switches.

The switch should isolate the battery charging unit
and the batteries from the output, but maintain a
normal supply to the output. Note: if there were
to be an outage of the primary supply during the
maintenance of a central battery inverter unit,
there would be no output supply until the
secondary power supply was available. This
period of circa 15 seconds is beyond the
5-second requirement of BS 5266. See paragraphs
10.1410.16 for details of the battery capacity
relating to central battery inverter units.

Rectifier units for theatre operating lamps

16.25 Each separate operating theatre should have its

own rectifier battery unit, external to the theatre,

exclusively for the operating lamp(s).

16.26 See paragraphs 10.1410.16 for details of the

battery capacity relating to inverter units for

theatre operating lamps.

Isolated power supplies (IPS)

16.27 Medical IT systems are IT electrical systems having

specified requirements for medical applications.

Medical IT systems are commonly termed
isolated power systems, and have monitored
circuits. A medical IT system should comply with
the following standards:
IEC 60364-7-710;

BS 7671 Special Guidance Note 7, Chapter 10;

BS EN 61558-2;
BS EN 61557-8.

109

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

16.28 It is a basic requirement that an IPS system should

be able to sustain power on its subcircuits during

and following a first earth fault on the system. This
requirement differentiates an IPS from a UPS: the
IPS maintains power when an earth fault occurs
on the transformer output circuits, while a UPS
maintains power output when its source of supply
is interrupted. Therefore, these systems may be
used to full advantage to complement each other
in critical medical locations to improve patient
safety.

16.29 For the purpose of this Health Technical

Memorandum it may be assumed that any electromedical equipment used in either a Group 1 or
Group 2 location (as defined in the above
standards) should be compliant with the
requirements of BS EN 60601-1, IEC 60601-1
(as required by the Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency, MHRA).

16.30 In medical locations, the distribution strategy

should be designed to facilitate the automatic

changeover from the primary distribution network
to the SPS (standby generator feeding essential
circuits) when and if the primary supply voltage
drops by more than 10%. The LV distribution
circuitry, up to the sub-distribution board used to
connect the IPS and UPS systems, should be
deemed an essential circuit.

16.31 The medical IT system provides a monitored,

isolated, floating power supply, which will sustain

the first single earth fault. Consequently, IPS
systems do not require any overload protection on
isolating transformer input or output circuits. An
advance warning of potential faults on the medical
IT system, which includes the final subcircuitry, is
raised by the monitoring of insulation, transformer
overcurrent and temperature. The medical staff
can unplug medical equipment from the affected
circuit and replace or reconnect to a healthy
circuit. To enable the transfer of equipment in this
manner, sockets at patient locations should be
from two interleaved IPS systems. Automatic earth
fault location systems (EDS) may be used to
advantage in interleaved IPS systems areas and
especially in wards, to provide rapid, detailed earth
fault location information to clinical staff at the
staff base; generally this should be in the form of a
simple text message, which for example would
state IPS 1 Earth (Insulation) Fault, ITU bed 4,
left side. In addition to the requirements of
IEC60364-7-710 for these locations and
BSEN61557-8 (insulation monitor standards),

110

insulation monitors installed in IPS systems should

be capable of correct function (that is, no nuisance
alarms) when dc levels (of either polarity) are
present on the monitored medical IT systems.
Furthermore, insulation monitors should be able
to function correctly in systems with capacitive
filters such as MRI installations.
16.32 The construction and design of the IPS units

should provide adequate access for maintenance.

This is especially important in multiple channel
IPS panels, where it should be possible to safely
isolate and maintain each individual IPS channel,
without detriment to the operation of the other
IPS channels. Where the multi-channel IPS
panels also include EDS systems, each channel
should be suitable for full EDS function either
simultaneously with other IPS channels, or
independently, when other IPS channels are
isolated for maintenance.

16.33 The installation of IPS systems, together with

additional equipotential bonding and other

measures described in the standards/guidance
referred to above, are necessary to ensure the safety
of patients and medical staff in medical locations.
However, the increased use of electrical equipment
for the purpose of life support and/or complex
surgery used in special medical locations requires
enhanced reliability and safety of the electrical
installation in hospitals to ensure the security of
supplies and to minimise incidents of microshock.

16.34 The earth leakage current from the secondary

winding of the isolation transformer, when

measured in no load condition and in single earth
fault condition, should not exceed 0.5 mA. It is
essential that this requirement for leakage currents
is specified as an additional requirement to
IEC61558-2-15. As it stands, IEC 61558-2-15
specifies these leakage currents to a limit of
3.5mA; however, there are moves in hand to
modify IEC 61558-2-15 to reduce the leakage
currents specified to 0.5 mA. This requirement
enhances the safety applications of the transformer
and brings it in line with BS EN 60601-1,
IEC60601-1.

IPS environment
16.35 Designers should consider the local space of the

IPS in terms of its access for maintenance and heat

generated. The IPS unit should be located on
the same floor and just outside the medical
department clinical risk category area it serves.
Where this is not practical, derogation may be

16 Final circuits

given to locating the equipment on the floor

immediately above or below, or within 30 m on
the same floor as the clinical risk category area.
The IPS unit includes an isolating transformer,
typically 3.5kVA10kVA radiating about 25%
of its output power as heat, which should be
ventilated. Ideally the ventilation should be
natural, unless the forced ventilation power is
derived from a standby generator.
IPS communication
16.36 Each IPS system will have audible and visual alarm

indication of any first fault in accordance with the

requirements of BSEN 61557-8 and IEC 603647-710 insulation monitoring devices. Remote
indication, where required, will be at the nurse/
management station for the medical area covered
by the IPS system. Connecting the remote alarm
indication to a networked BEMS communication
system and terminals within the estates office will
have added advantages.

Resilience
16.37 IEC 60364-7-710 and BS 7671 require Group 2

areas to have at least two separate socket-outlet

subcircuits at each patient treatment location (for
example bedhead or theatre pendant). This applies
to Group 1 areas also. This can be achieved from
a single IPS unit with an integral single-phase
distribution board. The resilience would be further
enhanced if the IPS had dual 100%-rated isolation
transformers serving different integral distribution
boards. Such arrangements would provide an N+1
resilient IPS isolation transformer as defined in
paragraphs 6.86.14.

16.38 IEC 60364-7-710 and BS 7671 require luminaires

and life support equipment used in Group 2 (or

occasionally Group 1) locations which need power
supply within 0.5 seconds or less, to be restored
within 0.5 seconds of a supply failure and other
equipment to be restored within 15 seconds. To
achieve the safety requirements, IPS units serving
life-support equipment should be connected to a
UPS supply which has a derived power supply,
supported by the standby generator. However,
other equipment may not require the same level of
UPS/generator support. In order to ensure that the
appropriate support is always available to cover a
range of treatment options, any IPS used should
be supported by a UPS and standby generators.
This arrangement will provide greater flexibility in

any future remodelling of the clinical risk category

4 and 5 areas.
16.39 Figure 43 shows an IPS arrangement suitable for

Group 1 or Group 2 Locations. Figure 38 shows

the earthing arrangement for a typical theatre.
(Other IPS arrangements that satisfy the
requirements of IEC 60364-7-710 and BS 7671
may also be possible.)

The patient environment

16.40 Figure 44 relates to the patient treatment location,

where all sockets associated with medical

equipment should be connected to the IPS and
any other socket (or fixed equipment) connected
to the TN-S supply with an RCD/RCBO
protective device. Although the figure relates
essentially to a theatre location, it should be
reasonably clear how the zone would be modified
(at the patient head) when used to illustrate an
area such as a high-dependency unit (HDU).

16.41 Theatre operating lamps do not require an isolated

power supply and should not be connected to IPS

circuits.

16.42 In Figure 44 the dark grey area represents the

theatre table/bed, while the light grey shows the

patient treatment area (exclusion zone). Any
exposed or extraneous conductive parts within the
exclusion zone, or that could be reached from
within the exclusion zone, should be connected
to the ERB with an impedance less than 0.1 .
The theatre table (or bed) could be moved as
illustrated, in which case the exclusion zone would
also move. Therefore, any exposed or extraneous
conductive parts within the outer boundary
(above) should be bonded to the ERB with
impedance less than 0.1 . All exposed or
extraneous conductive parts within the theatre
(or ward) should be bonded as described above.
Theatre operating lamps, pendants, beams,
equipment gantries etc should be considered as
extraneous metalwork and therefore should be
bonded to the ERB (see Figure 38).

IPS low-power circuits

16.43 This section refers to sockets in Group 1 or 2

areas as defined by IEC 60364-7-710 (the IEE

Guidance Note No 7) and mortuary post-mortem
rooms.

16.44 Activity Database (ADB) and the Department of

Healths Health Building Notes (HBNs) provide

111

Secondary power
source (SPS)

Primary power
source (PPS)

Secondary power
source
single phase
AC 230V

UPS

Typical clinical risk

area category 5
TN-S system
to IEC60364-7-710

Typical clinical risk area

category 5 medical IT
system
to IEC60364-7-710

Medical isolation
transformer
IEC61558.2.15,
IEC60364-7-710
typically 8 kVA

PE

ICU remote alarm

IEC60364-7-710

Protective
earth

Insulation/load/
temperature monitor
En61557-8, IEC60364-7-710

Link

Supplementary
equipotential earth bar

B20 double pole

MCBs
Medical IT system
radial 13 Amp
socket-outlet
sub-circuit
distribution
max 24 sockets per
sub-circuit
Bed 1 Bed 2 Bed 3 Bed 4 Bed 5
Bed 1
13A
13A
13A
13A
13A
13A
sockets sockets sockets sockets sockets
sockets
(50%) (50%) (50%) (50%) (50%)
(50%)

Extraneous
metalwork
Taps &
pipes

Bed 2
13A
sockets
(50%)

Bed 3
13A
sockets
(50%)

Bed 4
13A
sockets
(50%)

Bed 5
13A
sockets
(50%)

Protective
earth

Standard TN-S
13A socketoutlet
sub-circuits

Pendant 6
Pendant 5
Bed 1 Bed 2 Bed 3
Medical IT system
Pendant 4
13A
13A
13A
socket-outlet
Pendant 3
sockets sockets sockets
Pendant 2
circuit PE
Pendant 1
connections

Socket-outlet distribution circuits for the supply of medical electrical equipment, medical systems intended
for life support, complex surgical applications and patient monitoring and other electrical equipment in the
patient environment, excluding that listed under TN-S socket-outlet circuits

TN-S system
socket-outlet circuit
PE connections

Socket-outlets for X-ray, electric

bed and all other non-critical
electrical equipment
(non-life support)

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

112

Figure 43 IPS/UPS high-security supply arrangements

DNO
supply

16 Final circuits

Figure
Figure 45
44 The patient environment

2.5 m

1.5 m

1.5 m

1.5 m

Exclusion zone

The patient environment must take into account all possible exclusion
zones when the patient position is not fixed

advice on the number of sockets. The number

of sockets at the patient location of clinical risk
Category 4 and 5 areas will be significantly large.
IEC 60364-7-710 recommends that each patient
location has two IPS socket circuits and one TN-S
circuit. Final circuits of an IPS system may have up
to 24 sockets per circuit.
16.45 Socket-outlets in clinical risk category 4 and 5

areas and connected to the medical IT system (IPS

circuits) will be connected in a radial format. The
protective device for such circuits should be a 20 A
MCB with a Type B characteristic. Socket-outlets
within clinical risk category 4 and 5 areas not
connected to the medical IT supply should be
protected by an RCD/RCBO protective device.
The RCD/RCBO may be incorporated within the
distribution board. The RCD/RCBO will be
30mA and Type A or B characteristic.

(IPS circuits) may be supplied as unswitched items

to prevent accidental switch-off. Where such
sockets are supplied as switched items, the switch
will be double-pole. A means of identifying
individual medical IT circuits should be provided
at each socket-outlet. Medical IT socket-outlets
should be blue in colour to distinguish them from
any TN-S earthed socket within the same vicinity.
16.47 Initial concepts and remodelling of clinical

departments will always require an understanding

of the intended use of each medical location prior
to designing the IPS-UPS configuration.

16.48 Some of the sockets in these areas will be earthed

as part of the TN-S system, while others are part

of a medical IT system. Sockets earthed by the
medical IT method will be connected via the IPS
distribution board.

16.46 Sockets-outlets in clinical risk category 4 and 5

areas, and connected to the medical IT system

113

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

General low-power circuits

16.49 In general, socket-outlets (as defined by BS 7671)

will conform to BS 1363 or IEC harmonised

standards and be connected to a ring or radial
circuit. The protective device for a single-phase
socket circuit should be rated no higher than 32 A
for a ring circuit and 20 A for a radial circuit.

16.50 All sockets should be suitable for the local

environment. While this may appear obvious,

it ensures that suitable precautions (IP ratings)
are made for sockets in kitchens, laboratories,
plantrooms and general circulation spaces. Metalfinished sockets should be installed within a
clinical risk Category 3 area and above in order to
limit the effect of electromagnetic interference and
the increased mechanical protection.

16.51 Socket-outlets and switches, regardless of the

location, should be installed at a distance of at least

0.2 m horizontally (centre to centre) from any
medical gas outlets. This requirement is specified
in BS EN ISO 11197:2004.

Socket-outlets/connection units
16.52 Designers should assess the maximum number

of socket-outlets on a final circuit by calculation

of the minimum disconnection times given in
BS7671, and the likely simultaneous connected
power on the circuit. Designers should consider
the distribution strategy and risk ownership when
determining whether the socket-outlet circuit
should be supported by the SPS. However, for
some areas in clinical risk categories 1, 2 or 3,
stakeholders may wish to have a different
approach. In such areas, consideration can be given
to socket-outlets connected to the SPS where the
area has standby lighting of Grade B or above. In
such cases, designers and stakeholders should be
mindful of the implications for the capacity of the
essential SPS.

16.53 Socket-outlets (in any location) connected to the

essential SPS should be positively identifiable from

any non-essential sockets in the same area.

Sockets for special locations

16.54 There may be areas that require special electrical

installations, providing safety measures for specific

purposes. In general, post-mortem rooms will have
medical IT circuits having an earth fault trip for
enhanced safety in a wet environment. However,
other rooms within the mortuary should be

114

supplied with final circuits protected by RCD/

RCBO protective devices. Consideration may be
given to the provision of a PELV system within
post-mortem rooms.
16.55 Other wet areas, such as hydrotherapy pools, will

require all final circuits to be equally protected by

RCD/RCBO protective devices. See the IEE
Regulations BS 7671 for more details.

16.56 Healthcare premises include engineering

workshops for mechanical, electrical and

biomedical repairs. The maintenance of electrical
equipment and biomedical equipment may require
testing with the supply connected, that is, working
live. Great care for such working arrangements
must be observed for compliance with the
Electricity at Work Regulations (regulation 14)
and HSE guidelines etc.

16.57 Designers should consider providing a special test

room or test bay within the engineering workshops

and biomedical workshops. The low-power circuits
within the test room and/or test bay should be
from an isolating transformer, providing an earthfree environment. These circuits should be very
clearly identified, and labels should be provided to
alert the occupier to the earth-free environment.
The circuits within this area should be protected
by a 20 A MCB Type A or B, and require a
monitoring system.

Sockets for operating theatre suites

16.58 The patient environment of an operating theatre is

a clinical risk Category 5, and hence the sockets

may be served from a UPS or IPS circuit.
Consideration may be given to connecting the full
theatre suite from a UPS supported by the SPS
standby generator, or just the SPS standby
generator. Other socket-outlets within the
operating theatre should be connected to the TN-S
wiring system and have an RCBO or RCD with a
30mA trip.

Socket for mobile X-ray units

16.59 Mobile X-ray units supplied since the mid-1980s

do not present any real disturbance to the electrical

distribution. However, designers should enquire
whether any provision should be made for mobile
X-ray units which derive their high ionisation
voltage by inductive means, and provide dedicated
sockets circuits accordingly.

16 Final circuits

Spark-proof sockets
16.60 The use of anaesthetic gases with a very low flash

point has virtually been eliminated from UK NHS

hospitals (see College of Anaesthetic Consultants
and the Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency). However, an assessment by
enquiry should evaluate the likelihood of such
anaesthetic gases being used, and provide mercuryoperated switched sockets (and light switches)
accordingly.

Number of outlets per final circuit

16.61 Designers need to consider the potential earth

leakage current that may flow on the protective

conductor under normal conditions, which should
be minimal. For clinical risk categories 4 and 5,
the earth leakage current is regulated by cable
leakage capacitance, the design of the IPS isolating
transformer and associated medical equipment.
In other clinical risk areas, the potential earth
leakage current will be determined by the medical
equipment (assumed to be compliant with BS EN
60601-1, IEC 60601-1), other equipment loads,
and cable leakage capacitance.

16.62 The steady-state earth leakage current expected on

a TN-S final-circuit protective conductor should

not exceed 50% of the sensing element of any
RCD or RCBO used as the protective device on
the circuit. Designers may therefore wish to
consider this statement when designing final
circuits as ring mains or radial circuits.

Fixed equipment
16.63 Large fixed equipment such as lifts, compressors,

air-handling units, laundries, engineering

workshops and radiographic imaging equipment is
addressed here. Such items of plant include heavy
inductive loads, which may cause disturbances to
the distribution network.

16.64 Where the electrical supplies are for high-inductive

motors, soft-start or inverter speed drives

should be used. All such inductive loads should
have local power factor correction and harmonic
filtering. Dedicated earth cables should be
provided between the MCC and LV switchpanel
ERB, or the main earthing terminal (MET) at the
transformer.

16.65 Where the electrical supplies are for radiographic

imaging diagnostic and treatment facilities,

designers and stakeholders should liaise with the

equipment manufacturer/provider and MEIGaN

before designing the electrical services to these
areas. Dedicated sub-main circuits should be
used for these areas. However, the use of dedicated
earth cables between the radiography sub-main
switchboard and the LV switchpanel ERB or the
MET at the transformer is strongly encouraged.
16.66 Designers may wish to consider using a dedicated

transformer for the sub-main supplies to large

fixed equipment. There are strong positive
advantages of such an infrastructure strategy,
particularly where the fixed equipment has a very
high inductive load, such as vapour compression
chillers or radiography departments.

Supplies to external buildings

16.67 Some healthcare premises have small annexes used

as stores and/or plantrooms not intended to be

occupied for long periods. The standard of
electrical installation for these buildings should
be the same as for the main healthcare building.
Electrical installation standards should reflect the
nature of the stores, which may contain medical
gases or flammable material. In such cases the
electrical equipment, including containments,
cabling, luminaires and accessories, may require to
be intrinsically safe.

Temporary supplies
16.68 Designs that comply with the guidance given in

this Health Technical Memorandum should avoid

the need of temporary supplies. Where they are
needed, the electrical standards should be as high
as for the permanent supply. Derogation may be
given on the containment requirement, when a
clear understanding of the intended temporary
period has been given.

16.69 Designers attention is drawn to the application

to connect (see paragraphs 3.603.62). The site

engineer will reserve the right not to connect a
temporary installation where the installation does
not comply with the guidance given in the Health
Technical Memorandums and local electrical safety
rules.

Connections for mobile trailer units

16.70 Where mobile Treatment Centre (TC) units

(for example MRI scanners), or similar units,

are connected to the electrical distribution of the
healthcare facility, it is important to maintain a

115

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

high degree of electrical safety. This will include

suitable protection to any cables and switchgear
that might be more readily accessible to
unauthorised persons. Suitable solid earthing
between the healthcare premises building earth
and the mobile unit should be provided.
16.71 Stakeholders should ensure that the internal

electrical systems of any mobile TC unit used on

healthcare premises could not compromise the
safety of patients and/or the electrical system of the
healthcare premises.

16.72 The mobile unit should be earthed as a TN-S

system, and where the clinical risks are of Category

4 or 5, a suitable IPS system (with medical IT
earthing) should be used (see MEIGaN and IEE
Guidance Note 7).

16.73 Designers and stakeholders should ensure that the

final supply/connection cable to any mobile unit

includes a monitored earth as described in
BS4444.

General lighting
16.74 The design of the lighting systems and lighting

levels are outside the scope of this Health Technical

Memorandum.

16.75 Lighting circuits used should be wired as a radial

circuit with a maximum protective device rating of

10 A.

16.76 In any room of clinical risk Category 3 and above,

at least two lighting circuits should be provided.

16.77 Lighting circuits within the patient environment

should be supported by the standby generator to

ensure that Grade A standby lighting is achieved.
Consideration may be given to connecting such
lighting circuits to a UPS. Connecting lighting
circuits to any IPS circuit is not encouraged by this
Health Technical Memorandum.

Theatre operating lamps

16.78 All fixed theatre operating lamps, including

the main unit and any satellite units, should be

connected to a battery inverter unit providing
3-hour autonomy. The connection of the theatre
operating lamp (including its battery inverter) to
the output of any IPS circuit is not encouraged by
this Health Technical Memorandum. However,
any exposed conductive part of the operating lamp
should be bonded to the ERB.

116

Examination lamps lighting

16.79 Final circuits used for any fixed examination lamps

located within a clinical risk Category 4 or 5 area

should be protected by RCD/RCBO protective
devices. The connection of the examination lamp
to the output of any IPS circuit is not encouraged
by this Health Technical Memorandum. However,
any exposed conductive part of the examination
lamp should be bonded to the ERB.

Emergency escape lighting

16.80 The emergency escape lighting circuits should be

designed in accordance with BS 5266 and BS EN

1838. This Health Technical Memorandum
considers emergency escape lighting to consist only
of escape-route emergency lighting. Emergency
lighting circuits should be so arranged as to
provide escape-route lighting throughout the
healthcare facility. Where the facility has muster
points for progressive horizontal evacuation
(as defined in the Firecode series), at least two
circuits should be provided. Emergency lighting
emergency power should be derived from integral
battery packs (tertiary power). Consideration can
be given to central emergency battery units, but
the additional fire-rated cabling cost may make
this uneconomic.

Standby lighting
16.81 This Health Technical Memorandum considers

standby lighting as a secondary form of emergency

lighting (defined by BS 5266 and BS EN 1838).
All areas that require standby lighting should also
have emergency lighting.

16.82 Standby lighting will derive its power from the

SPS. There are two grades of standby lighting:

Grade A and Grade B. Grade B standby lighting
provides lighting at a reduced level compared to
the normal lighting level. Standby lighting to
Grade B is best provided by an increased number
of emergency light fittings with integral tertiary
power battery packs. Grade A standby lighting
provides lighting at the same level as normal
lighting. Standby lighting to Grade A is best
provided by the SPS standby plant.

16.83 Clinical risk Category 3 areas should be provided

with Grade B standby lighting, and clinical risk

Category 4 and 5 areas with Grade A standby
lighting.

16 Final circuits

16.84 Designers and stakeholders may wish to consider

the implication of any additional circuitry required

to provide a mixed standby-lighting facility.
Consideration may be given to all lighting circuits
being connected to the SPS.

16.85 Designers should be mindful that operating

theatres, which by definition are clinical risk

Category 5, should have an independent tertiary
power source (battery inverter unit) for the theatre
operating lamp(s) and satellite lamps. The battery
autonomy should be at least three hours. In
addition to the inverter unit, the electrical
distribution supply to the theatre operating
lamp(s) should be derived from the secondary
emergency power source (SPS).

Fire alarm, security circuits and critical

alarms
16.86 Designers should provide an independent tertiary

power source (battery inverter unit) for the fire

alarm system. The battery autonomy should be
compliant with the requirements of BS 5839-1:
2002. The fire alarm systems should be connected
to the SPS, where appropriate to the distribution
strategy. Consideration may be given to connecting
any fire-door detents to the SPS.

16.87 See paragraphs 10.1110.16 for details of battery

inverter capacity.

16.88 All cables associated with the fire alarm system

should be of an enhanced grade as defined by

BS5839-1:2002, and should be installed as a
Category 3 cable as defined by BS 7671.

16.89 Cables used for security and other alarm systems

should be installed as per the manufacturers

requirements.

16.90 Designers should provide an independent tertiary

power source (battery inverter unit) for the central

head-end of a security system. The system
suppliers should specify the battery autonomy.
Designers and stakeholders should liaise with all
staff, especially security staff, when determining
which, if any, security detection and alarm
component parts are supported by the SPS. As
a minimum, if there is a pharmacy on site with
controlled and/or dangerous drugs, the security
system should be connected to the standby
generators.

16.91 Designers should provide an independent tertiary

power source (battery inverter unit) to any bloodbank alarm system. The system suppliers should
specify the battery autonomy.

BEMS communication and control

wiring systems
16.92 Designers should provide an independent tertiary

power source (battery inverter unit) for the central

head-end of any system used for these facilities.
BEMS outstations should have an integral battery
unit to maintain internal software parameters. The
BEMS equipment etc should at least operate in the
fail-safe position. More critical plant and service
(controlled through the BEMS) should be
connected to the SPS standby emergency
generator.

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

17

Validation and commissioning

17.1 This chapter describes the recommended level of

validation and commissioning required for all new

and modified fixed wiring systems. The chapter
does not provide a fully comprehensive scope of
works, but gives a general overview. Designers
and stakeholders may wish to consider acceptance
of standard equipment factory or type test
certificate items, rather than repeat the test after
installation, which in certain circumstances may be
difficult to perform.

17.2 Procurement of projects, which includes electrical

installations (and others), should include adequate

time and organisation to perform the required
validation and commissioning programme for any
works associated with the fixed wiring of the site.
Clearly, for the range of fixed wiring schemes
within healthcare premises, it is not possible to
provide a general rule of thumb. Design teams
should consult with the contractor and planners
when allocating resources to the validation and
commissioning process. Inappropriate validation
and commissioning may lead to failure of the fixed
wiring system.

17.3 The CIBSE Commissioning Manual (CCM),

which contains very useful data and commissioning

techniques for building services in the construction
industry, provides valuable guidance in general
commissioning strategies. The CCM also describes
the design considerations for the construction
industry in a similar manner to Chapter 3.

Validation of specific plant

Generators and CHP plant
17.4 Generating plant, including wind turbines, PV cells

and CHP, should be tested as a complete system,

including the actual equipment control panel and
functionality of the controls. Plant should be tested
in accordance with the relevant British Standards;
see:
BS 5514;
BS 4999;

118

BS EN 60034-2;
BS 5000-50:1982, IEC 60681-1:1980; and
BS 7698.
Factory testing
17.5 The manufacturer should conduct a full set of tests

as described for site and dynamic tests below. For

verification of dynamic load tests, a reactive and
resistive load bank should be used. The project
engineer should witness all factory testing. The
generator should be located in an environment
similar to that of the main site during any factory
test.

Site testing
17.6 Before any dynamic tests are carried out on a new

engine, the following procedures and static tests

should be carried out: all generator lubrication and
cooling circulation systems should be fully filtered;
after descaling the circulation, systems should be
sealed; the oil circulation systems should be filtered;
and the filters should be replaced after all tests have
been completed and prior to handover. Checks on
the engine crankshaft deflection (at the bearings)
should be made and recorded for operational
maintenance records. Verification of the stator
insulation resistance with the manufacturers
type test records should be made. The ratio of
the one-minute reading and ten-minute reading
(Polarisation Index PI) should be at least 2.
The installation resistance of all control circuits
should be measured. Verification of the contract
documents with installed plant should be made,
with all appropriate indications, including fault and
control indication lamps and alarms.

Dynamic tests
17.7 The dynamic tests on site should include the

following witnessed observations:

a. lubricating oil pressure and pressure trip;

17 Validation and commissioning

b. lubricating oil and jacket water bypass

automatic valves opening during engine warmup including a series of test starts and checks, as
follows:
the ability to start up within the specified
time;
overspeed trip;
speed variation within specified limits;
voltage regulation and open-circuit
characteristic;
electrical trips of generator by overcurrent,
reverse power protection relays at
minimum plug settings with generator
below 25% FL (or primary injection);
a full-load run of not less than four hours,
followed by a one-hour, 10% overload test
and full-load protection trip the test full
load should be obtained by either a ballast
load bank, or synchronised to the normal
supply;
fuel-oil inlet pressure;
fuel-oil injector settings;
temperature rise of jacket cooling water;
temperature rise of lubricating oil;
temperature rise of charge air across
turbocharger, if fitted;
temperature of exhaust gases at each
cylinder head;

terminal voltage should not vary by more than

15% following a step load increase from no load to
60% load, and then return to within 3% of the
rated voltage within 0.5 seconds.
Multiple generators
17.9 It should be verified that multiple generators,

running in parallel (whether with the PES supply

or not, G59/1 regulation), share the connected
load in equal proportions. The connected load
should be varied and a measure of each generator
terminal voltage made. The generator engine
speeds should also be equal. Excessive differences
in generator field currents may lead to the
generators drifting out of synchronisation.

Parallel operation with the PES

17.10 Where generators are intended to operate in

parallel with the PES, tests to verify that the

generator speed varies in conjunction with any
change in the PES frequency should be made.
When the supply frequency varies, the generators
fuel governor should modulate similarly and adjust
the fuel input accordingly. The governor speed
characteristic over a speed range of 100%105%
should be at synchronous speed, given a load
change from full load to no load respectively. From
no load to 110%, the governor should be stable
and sensitive, and should respond to prevent
overspeed excursions reaching 110%. If a speed
of 110% is reached, the governor overspeed
protection should close the engine fuel rack,
cutting off the fuel supply to the engine.

240V stator winding heater disconnects

when circuit breaker closes;

Power factor correction

ambient conditions;

17.11 Any installed power factor correction (PFC) units

noise acoustic levels, engine/background;

verification of the generator voltage rise.
Voltage regulation
17.8 The generator terminal voltage should be verified

to be within 2.5% from no load to 110% load

conditions. The voltage regulation should be
checked with the applied load varied up and down
in the range from no load to 110% load several
times, hence simulating actual conditions. The
generator terminal voltage on starting should not
overshoot the nominal terminal voltage by more
than 15%, and return to within 3% of the rated
voltage within 0.15 seconds. The generator

connected to any part of the generator-supplied

network should be able to be isolated when the
generator is supplying the load. Verification of this
control should be demonstrated at commissioning.
Where the PFC units continue to be connected
across the generator output, a reduced field
excitation current may result, making the
generator output become unstable. PFC units may
be fitted with enhanced modulation control such
that the PFC does not produce a leading power
factor while the generators are connected to any
part of the network.

Operational tests
17.12 After the generator has been fully tested as

identified above, an assessment of the actual fuel

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Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

consumption should be made, and checks to verify

that there is adequate fuel storage (on site) for
200hours of continuous full-load operation. The
manufacturer should hand over all test records and
insurance certificates, which should be held in the
building logbook and operational maintenance
manuals. The generator should be run against the
building load, and verification of all phase failure
and control devices established. Where the
generator is arranged to synchronise with other
generators, this should be demonstrated within the
required time, voltage and frequency tolerances.
Where the generator is designed to operate in
parallel with the DNO connection, verification
of the G59/1 relay should be established. The
commissioning and operational testing of
generators will require the DNOs engineer to
witness and authorise.
Uninterruptible power supplies
17.13 The uninterruptible power supply (UPS) should

provide a no-break supply rated to the load

equipment for the required endurance period. The
equipment should continue to function normally
when the normal supply is disconnected. The
battery endurance capacity in ampre-hours should
be verified under load conditions.

17.14 Typical commissioning tasks should include:

a. the supply (a UPS) should include a test to

verify that the supply changeover occurs within
0.5 seconds;
b. verifications to ensure that the UPS synthetic
sinusoidal output is within specification
tolerance of the normal mains sinusoidal ac
waveform;
c. verification of the total harmonic distortion
(THD) should be within the tolerance given in
the design specification;
d. the UPS should be operated at a load greater
than 50% on battery duty to establish the true
battery autonomy.
Environment
17.15 The commissioning of the environment systems

of the UPS room should be coordinated with all

parties to establish that design conditions have
been satisfied. Deviations from the design
conditions may be best achieved by changes to the
ventilation system, rather than replacing a UPS.

120

This part of commissioning is essential to protect

the operational life of the batteries.
Indications and alarms
17.16 All local and remote indications and associated

alarm combinations for normal use or failure in

operation should be demonstrated and recorded.

Isolated power supplies

17.17 IPSs should be commissioned and validated in

accordance with the requirements of IEC 603647-710 and manufacturers recommendations.

17.18 Designs should ensure that the IPS integral

distribution board has the correct protective

devices and is correctly labelled.

17.19 Verification of alarm indicators, local and remote,

should be demonstrated.

17.20 Measurements of all individual circuit insulation

resistances should be made as part of the general

testing and commissioning stage carried out by the
electrical installations contractor and as required
by the IEE Regulations. The results should be
compared with the reading indicated on the
insulation monitoring device (IMD). The
IMD should be tested by decreasing the circuit
insulation resistance to prove the alarm system.

17.21 The leakage current of the isolation transformer

should be tested when the transformer is energised

and with the secondary open circuit. The value
should be <0.5mA.

17.22 Where the IPS is connected to a primary supply

and secondary supply (generator), a test should

verify that the supply changeover (at the point
of common coupling) occurs within 0.5 seconds
or 15 seconds (depending on the actual circuit
intention). This test will require the input of the
main electrical contractor and IPS contractor.

Fixed wiring distribution, switchgear

and protection
17.23 The fixed wiring system should be verified and

commissioned in accordance with BS 7671.

17.24 All testing, verification and commissioning

will only be undertaken by suitably competent

personnel (that is, having obtained a qualification
compatible with the City and Guilds Certificate
C&G 2391; see Health Technical Memorandum
06-02).

17 Validation and commissioning

17.25 The recommended initial test and verification

for the fixed wiring systems is given in the IEE

Guidance Note No 3 Inspection and Testing
Sections 1 to 3 inclusive.

17.26 Verification and commissioning of the fixed

wiring system should demonstrate that the

earthing systems employed comply with the TN-S
system as defined in BS 7671. The only exception
to such earthing methods will be any IT earthing
systems associated with the ISS employed in the
patient environment Groups 1 and 2.

17.27 Verification and commissioning should

demonstrate that a consistent voltage rise (phase

rotation) is employed throughout the electrical
infrastructure, including the connection to the
PES and any secondary or tertiary power sources.

Records to be kept
17.28 All tests and inspections should be recorded.

A collection of sample record sheets covering the

more common elements of the fixed wiring is
provided in Appendix 2. Designers may wish to
adopt other forms put forward by manufacturers
or from software design programs. These will be
accepted if they cover the minimum information
provided on the sample forms.

17.29 The records should include all test certificates

relating to electrical test and pressure test as

appropriate. Records for all (off-site) manufactured
items demonstrating conformity to the European
Community legislation (CE marking) should be
provided.

17.30 As appropriate, a comprehensive operational

maintenance manual for all plant and accessories,

including protection and switchgear items, should
be provided at project handover or during the
validation and commissioning period. The
operational maintenance manual should describe
how the design satisfies the design strategy and
should indicate the intended mode of operation.
The operational and maintenance manual should
include a section to describe any action required to
change the distribution for power supplied from
the PES, and/or generator-supplied power.

17.31 The operational maintenance manual should

include a full single-line diagram to show all points

of isolation (with room name/number references).

As-installed drawings
17.32 The following list provides a minimum acceptable

level for the as-installed drawings. Project contract

documentation should be written and agreed with
the healthcare organisation, and should clearly
indicate which drawings are relevant to the
particular project and any additional drawings that
may be required:

a. HV network layout and single-line schematic

to cover the whole site:
(i) the drawings should include substation
and equipment references;
b. HV switching and transformer schedule to
cover the whole site on one drawing:
(ii) comprehensive equipment details with CT
and VT relay ratings settings etc;
c. principal earthing drawing layout and singleline schematic to cover the whole site on one
drawing:
(i) the layout drawings should use the site
general arrangement as a background and
show all main earthing points, regardless
of being an HV earth, LV earth, generator
earth or form the lightning protection
systems;
(ii) the schematic drawing should clearly
show the interconnectivity of all earthing
systems, and the measured resistances of
each earth electrode;
d. LV main distribution layout and single-line
schematic one drawing per substation:
(i) the layout drawings should use the
building general arrangement as
background. The layout drawing should
show all containment sizes;
(ii) the schematic drawing should indicate all
cable sizes, protective device rating and
setting, switchgear and fault levels at
switchboards;
e. LV sub-main distribution layout and single
line schematic per switchroom:
(i) the layout drawings should use the
building general arrangement as
background. The layout drawing should
show all containment sizes;

121

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

(ii) the schematic drawing should indicate all

cable sizes, protective device ratings and
settings, switchgear and fault levels at
switchboards;
f. LV final circuit distribution layout and single
line schematic per distribution board:
(i) the layout drawings should use the
building general arrangement as
background. The layout drawing should
show all containment sizes;
(ii) the schematic drawing should indicate all
cable sizes, protective device ratings and
settings, switchgear and fault levels at
distribution boards;
g. general arrangement drawings of 1:20:

(i) all substation HV rooms;

(ii) all substation transformer rooms;

(iii) all substation LV rooms;

(iv) all generator house/enclosures;

(v) all rooms with CHP or other alternative

power sources;

(vi) all LV main distribution switchrooms or

rooms with LV distribution equipment;

(vii) all LV sub-distribution switchrooms;

(viii) all electrical risers;

(ix) typical cross-section ceiling voids showing

principal routes and areas of high service
density;
h. system and control wiring:
(i) where the project includes any associated
electrical services (for example fire alarms,
nurse-call systems), layout drawings (using
the building general arrangement drawing
as a background) to show the location of
any associated devices and a single-line
schematic of the system should be
provided, including any associated panel
wiring diagrams.

122

Building logbook
17.33 The building logbook is now a standard

requirement for all new buildings throughout the

construction industry, and is referenced in the
Building Regulations. The items identified
throughout Chapter 17 fulfil the requirements of
the building logbook. Where the capital project
relates to only part of the site or adaptations of
existing electrical circuits, the existing building
logbook should be updated.

17.34 The purpose of the building logbook is to provide

a single collection of all relevant information

relating to the architecture and building services at
the site. The information should facilitate a source
of all data to enable modifications to any part of
the building services, and to operate the plant and
services in an energy-efficient way homogeneous to
the design intent.

17.35 The CIBSE technical memorandum TM31

Building Logbook provides a validated guide

template for small businesses. The CIBSE Building
Logbook, CD-ROM, Logbook Template Standard
(LBTS) or Logbook Template Customisable
(LBTC) may prove more useful when the project
relates to a new build. The CD-ROMs contain
electronic templates. LBTSs are the standard
templates, which may or may not dovetail into
the project, while LBTC contains customisable
templates that may be user-adjusted to suit the
specific job.

17.36 The building logbook will fulfil some of the

designers duties for compliance with the CDM

Regulations.

Appendix 1 Maximum interruption times to

the primary supply

Figure 45 Maximum interruption times primary supply

Clinical
Risk
Category

Medical Equipment with IPS

General Medical Equipment

01

General Electrical Circuits

Fixed Medical Lighting and Escape Lighting

General Lighting

Mechanical Services

Medical Equipment with IPS

General Medical Equipment

01

General Electrical Circuits

Fixed Medical Lighting and Escape Lighting

General Lighting

Mechanical Services

Medical Equipment with IPS

01

General Medical Equipment

General Electrical Circuits

Fixed Medical Lighting and Escape Lighting

General Lighting

Mechanical Services

Medical Equipment with IPS

General Medical Equipment

General Electrical Circuits

Fixed Medical Lighting and Escape Lighting

General Lighting

Mechanical Services

Medical Equipment with IPS

General Medical Equipment

General Electrical Circuits

Fixed Medical Lighting and Escape Lighting

General Lighting

Mechanical Services
NOTES

IEC 603647-710
Group

Service

Maximum Electrical Supply Interruptions Times (Seconds)

< 0 to 0.5 >

< 0.5 seconds to 15 seconds >

< 15 to 10800 >

C
A

C
A

C
B

C
B

C
B

0
A Standby Lighting Grade A (Lighting provided to the same, or nearly the same, lighting levels, achieved
at normal electrical supply)
B Standby Lighting Grade B (Lighting provided at a reduced lighting level, 33%, of that achieved at
normal electrical supply)
C Battery Inverter Unit provided for items such as fire alarms, security, computer network servers, and
local computer systems as appropriate.
When the alternative power source has been connected, it should remain connected until the primary
power source has been restored and stabilised.
Tertiary power sources (UPS) will be required for periods less than 0.5 seconds (refer to Chapter 14)
Secondary power sources (generators) will be required for periods greater than 0.5 seconds (refer to
Chapter 8)
Indicates that an electrical supply must be available within the specified timeband
Indicates that an electrical supply must be available where equipment requires

123

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Appendix 2 Sample test record sheets

Figure 46 Test sheet fixed panels
Plant Item Fixed Panels and Switchboards Inspection

Completed

Identification/Location

Incomplete
PC Address File

Contractor
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Witness Print Name and Sign

Date

Healthcare Premises Engineer

Sheet
1 of

Project Engineer
No Activity

Witness
Healthcare
Premises Engineer

1 Check switchboard for damage or incomplete work

2 Check all labels warning symbols, switchboard circuit identification labels
are correct
3 Check switch is fixed and mounted correctly
4 Check switchboard protective earth conductor are connected to the main
earth terminal (MET)
5 Check termination lugs and bolts for tightness
6 Check VT & CT compartment assembled correctly
7 Check shutter linkage and the locking facilities
8 Rack all devices into service position
Note: all shutters should have a smooth movement
9 Check all busbar joints with torque spanner and inspection contact spaces
Bolt size
Specified torque setting
10 Isolate VT, remove fuselinks of Voltmeter and CTs
Measure (i) IR py/Sy (iii) IR CT Sy
(iii) IR busbar and circuit bar phases
11 Measure total conductance of HV busbar phases along the switchboard
by ohmmeter measurement
a) between adjoin cubicle busbar phase spouts (BS)
b) between circuit spouts (CS) and cable box (BX)
Note: Estimate Resistance from 1.0 m of conductor
Between Ph1 Ph2 Ph3 Res
Spouts
BS1 and 2 s
BS2 and 3 s
BS3 and 4 s
1CS and 1 BX s
2CS and 2 BX s
3CS and 3 BX s
4CS and 4 BX s

124

Date
Project Engineer

Appendix 2 Sample test record sheets

Figure 47 Test sheet HV switchgear pressure test

Plant Item HV Pressure Test Switchboards

Completed

Identification/Location

Incomplete
PC Address File

Contractor
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Witness Print Name and Sign

Date

Healthcare Premises Engineer

Sheet
1 of

Project Engineer
No Activity

Witness
Healthcare
Premises Engineer

Date
Project Engineer

1 Before HV test ensure all covers and fittings are replaced and secure
2 Check components correctly assembled and fitted
3 Check free operation of all switch movement etc
4 Check all earthing facilities and switch positions
5 Check
(i) all instrument fuselinks removed
(ii) VT isolated and CT fuselinks removed
(iii) IR test busbar before and after pressure test
Meg Values
Ph1-Ph2/Ph2-Ph3/Ph3-Ph1
Ph1-N/Ph2-N/Ph3-N
Ph1-E/Ph2-E/Ph3-N
6 Adhere to the Electrical Safety Rules Health Technical Memorandum
06-02
7 Pressure test busbars as
0.4 kV system @ 2 kV for one minute
11 kV system @2 kV for one minute
Voltage .. kV
Humidity ... %
Temperature .. C
Phase Ph1-Ph2/Ph2-PH3/Ph3-Ph1
Leakage Current
Phase Ph1-N/Ph2-N/Ph3-N
Leakage Current
Phase Ph1-E/Ph2-E/Ph3-E
Leakage Current
8 Check IR of close, open and control circuits
Note: HV Equipment should be energised as soon as practical after test,
to ensure faults are checked
9 Verify switch labels with circuits and record drawings

125

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Figure 48 Test sheet Switchboard devices electrical test

Plant Item Switchboard Devices Electrical Test

Completed

Identification/Location

Incomplete
PC Address File

Contractor
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Witness Print Name and Sign

Date

Healthcare Premises Engineer

Sheet
1 of

Project Engineer
No Activity

Witness
Healthcare
Premises Engineer

1 Ensure cubicle busbar/circuit shutter door mechanisms are locked shut, if

board energised
2 Carry out IR test between devices open contacts and when open, closed
between phases and frame earth
Values Ph1/Ph2/Ph3
3 Pressure test busbars as
0.4 kV system @ 2 kV for one minute
11 kV system @ 2 kV for one minute
Voltage .. kV
Humidity ... %
Temperature ...... C
Phase Ph1-Ph2/Ph2 -PH3/Ph3-Ph1
Leakage Current
Phase Ph1-N/Ph2-N/Ph3-N
Leakage Current
Phase Ph1-E/Ph2-E/Ph3-E
Leakage Current
4 Rack devices into cubicle isolated position for the close open operational
test
5 Check local control, close and trip of device at the rated battery voltage,
minimum of ten operations.
Check the operation of the close and trip at 80% of the rated applied
close battery voltage
6 Check the trip mechanism at 50% of the rated applied trip battery
voltage
7 Check time of closing mechanism operating spring to recharge, at 80% of
rated applied voltage
8 Check operation of auto-change devices used for Emergency Generators
and normal DNO supply as appropriate for the distribution strategy

126

Date
Project Engineer

Appendix 2 Sample test record sheets

Figure 49 Test sheet Transformer mechanical test

Plant Item Transformer Mechanical Test

Completed

Identification/Location

Incomplete
PC Address File

Contractor
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Witness Print Name and Sign

Date

Healthcare Premises Engineer

Sheet
1 of

Project Engineer
No Activity

Witness
Healthcare
Premises Engineer

Date
Project Engineer

1 Check drawing, general inspection for damage and completeness

2 Check all components fitted to general arrangement
3 Prove tightness of all fastenings
4 Check all labelling to transformer schedule
5 Check transformer correctly positioned in bay for cable box entries/
bushing connections
6 Check colour of desiccant crystals (as supplied)
7 State type of coolant in tank
8 Check if transformers filled with oil/fluid to operating level yes/no
9 Check for any coolant leaks
10 Check cable box details agree with cable details and requirements
11 Check location of loose CTs, if provided, and method of connection in
cable box or to star point neutral
12 Check position of transformer earth lug and connection to main earth
system

127

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Figure 50 Test sheet Transformer electrical test part A

Plant Item Transformer Electrical Test Part A

Completed

Identification/Location

Incomplete
PC Address File

Contractor
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Witness Print Name and Sign

Date

Healthcare Premises Engineer

Sheet
1 of 2

Project Engineer
No Activity

Witness
Healthcare
Premises Engineer

1 Check IR of transformer cooling fan motors, and cable terminations

(where appropriate)
2 Check transformer cooling fan motor electrical function in local and
remote modes
3 Check transformer cooling fan motor overload/time by three-phase and
single-phase injection
4 Analyse the tank and Buchholz relay oil for clarity and resistance
5 Take IR readings of HV and LV windings
6 Check operation of all protection trips and alarms at initiating and
control sections
7 Check fan controls are operational
8 Check cable box and bushing connections tight, oil tank free and secure
9 Transformer enclosure locked and secure
10 Check marshalling box wiring connections at termination blocks for
tightness and correct labelling
11 Check IR of control wiring using megger
(i) Marshalling box control wiring
(ii) Buchholz relay (if fitted)
(iii) Temperature indicators Coolant Core
12 Fill transformer with coolant to operational level with new oil complying
with BS 148
13 Check IR of Core insulation to earth before link is covered with coolant,
during the fill operation
14 Check IR when transformer filled with coolant
HV LV
PPh1PPh2 /
PPh2PPh3 /
PPh3PPh1 /
Sph1Sph2 /
Sph2Sph3 /
Sph3Sph1 /
Ph1Ph1 /
Ph2Ph2 /
Ph3Ph3 /
NE /
All Primary Phases to Earth
All Secondary Phases to Earth
128

Date
Project Engineer

Appendix 2 Sample test record sheets

Figure 51 Test sheet Transformer electrical test Part B

Plant Item Transformer Electrical Test Part B

Completed

Identification/Location

Incomplete
PC Address File

Contractor
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Witness Print Name and Sign

Date

Healthcare Premises Engineer

Sheet
2 of 2

Project Engineer
No Activity

Witness
Healthcare
Premises Engineer

Date
Project Engineer

15 Winding ratios at each off-load tap position and the transformer vector
group
(i) apply 0.4 kV 3-phase ac to HV winding terminals and interconnected
Ph1 HV to Ph1 LV
(ii) Winding ratio
HV Ph1Ph2, Ph2Ph3, Ph3Ph1
LV Ph1Ph2, Ph2Ph3, Ph3Ph1
Tap
10%
5%
2.5%
0%
2.5%
5%
10%
(iii) Vector Group
Ph1Ph2
Ph2Ph3
Ph3Ph1
Ph1Ph2
Ph2Ph3
Ph3Ph1
PPh2Sph3
PPh3Sph2
16 Check trip/alarm supplies voltages
(i) At circuit breaker
(ii) At transformer
(a) Buchholz
(b) coolant temperature
(c) Tank pressure
(d) cooling fans running
17 Check IR of Tap changer control pane (if fitted)

129

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Figure 52 Test sheet Secondary injection IDMT relay

Plant Item Secondary Injection Test (IDMT Relay)

Completed

Identifications/Location

Incomplete
PC Address File

Contractor
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Witness Print Name and Sign

Date

Healthcare Premises Engineer

Sheet
1 of

Project Engineer
Manufacturers Description

Setting for Test

Test

General Inspection

Check Contacts close at zero Tm time and follow through

Check Flag operation

Measure time to reset from contacts

Y or N

Close at 1.0 Tm
5

Check trip isolation contacts

Set 100% Pm, check no creep at 1.0 Psm, and creep

commences at/or before 1.25 Psm current values

Check Plug bridge continuity, max Pm setting and with

plug out

Check relay, T shorts removed

CT ratio / type

Relay Controls

Time/current characteristic at 100%

Pm

Pm and at applied setting

Relay Operating Times

Tm

Psm

1.0

1.3

Amps R

Y or N

2
100%
Applied setting
Fag Setting

0.5

4
2

Final setting applied

Remarks

Note: Settings for electronic IDMT relays are generally software set. Therefore the maintenance test of electronic IDMT relays
may be reduced to a check that the commissioning settings have not been changed, or the network (protected by the
IDMT relay) has not changed, which would require a re-commissioning of the IDMT relay. The manufacturers data sheet
should be used in all circumstances

130

Appendix 2 Sample test record sheets

Figure 53 Test sheet secondary injection instantaneous relay

Plant Item Secondary Injection Test Instantaneous Relay

Completed

Identification/Location

Incomplete
PC Address File

Contractor
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Witness Print Name and Sign

Date

Sheet 1 of

Healthcare Premises Engineer

Project Engineer
Witness

Test

Date

Healthcare
Premises Engineer

Project Engineer

Y or N

General Inspection
Check Trip isolation contacts
Check Flag operation
Check CT shorts
Plug bridge continuity (Inst o/c relays)
R
Plug setting

Y or N
Op Amps

Plug out

Plug setting

B
Op Amps

Plug out

Op Amps

Plug out
R

With stabilising resistor series and CT in

shunt

Plug setting

Y or N

Stab resistor value

Applied setting
Operating volts
Operating current

Flag reset

Final setting applied

131

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Figure 54 Test sheet LV final distribution board test results

Description of Works
Over- current
device

Wiring
conductor

Test Results
Continuity

Insulation resistance

Earth loop
Impedance

Functional
Testing

Live/Earth

Zs

RCD
Time

Short circuit
capacity

Polarity

Circuit
Description

kA
Type

Rating Live
in A
mm2

cpc

mm2

R1 + R2
R2

Ring Live/
Live

M
9

10

11

12

Deviations from the Wiring Regulations and Special Notes

Note the test sheet shown here is a much reduced format of the form provided by the IEE Regulations

132

Other

mS
13

14

Appendix 2 Sample test record sheets

Figure 55 Lighting commissioning certificate

LIGHTING COMMISSIONING DETAILS
Location
Building
Areas Covered
Relevant Distribution Board
Relevant Controls
Test Engineer
Approved Engineer
Test Date
Test Commissioning

Test Result

Follow Up
Complete

Groups of luminaires are assigned to the correct positions in grid switch or grid
single circuit dimmer
Emergency lighting complies with recommendations of BS 5266/BS 12464-1
Luminaires and remote control gear are of the correct make and type
Fixed luminaires have been installed at the correct orientation
Fluorescent lamps have the correct phosphor
Lamps are of the correct colour temperature (Rendering Index Ra **)
All lamps are the correct wattage and voltage ratings
Exterior floodlights have been aimed to drawing and according to terms of planning
permission
Horizontal illuminance on horizontal tasks(s) is at specified level
Vertical illuminance on vertical tasks(s) is at specified level
PIR detector systems are programmed and operate correctly
Lighting levels associated with control signals have been chosen

When commissioning lighting installations, grouping rooms with similar functions and lighting designs, for example toilet areas
may reduce the number of repeated tests.
A more comprehensive lighting commissioning schedule is available from CIBSE

133

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

Appendix 3 Drawing symbols

Figure 56 Drawing symbols used in this Health Technical Memorandum

The symbols below are all generic versions of the British Standard symbols. In some case where the device type is not
specific to the figure in the Health Technical Memorandum text, a symbol representing more than one device type is
indicated.
High voltage isolator or disconnector

Bus coupler with dual supply

and changeover arrangement
and control wires

Transformer

High voltage generator

Low voltage generator

CHP Combined heat and power plant

Circuit breaker no control implied

Fused switch or switch fuse

Low voltage isolator or disconnector

Non-specific load

Typical substation

134

High voltage ring main unit

with two ring switches and
tee circuit breaker
(no implied control or protection)

References

Acts and Regulations

Note
Only the primary Acts and main Regulations are cited
here. Most of these Acts and Regulations have been
subjected to amendment subsequent to the date of first
becoming law. These amending Acts or Regulations are
not included in this list.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2005.

SI 2005 No 281. HMSO, 2005.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050281.htm#2
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals)
Regulations 1996. SI 1996 No 341. HMSO, 1996.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1996/Uksi_19960341_en_
1.htm
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. HMSO,
1974.

BS 7671:2001. Requirements for electrical installations.

IEE Wiring Regulations. Sixteenth edition. British
Standards Institution, 2001.

Health and Safety (First-aid) Regulations 1981.

HMSO, 1981.

The Building Regulations 2000. SI 2000 No 2531.

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002531.htm

Management of Health and Safety at Work

Regulations 1999. SI 1999 No 3242. HMSO, 1999.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/19993242.htm

The Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations

2000. SI 2000 No 2532.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002532.htm
Clean Air Act 1993. HMSO, 1993.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1993/Ukpga_
19930011_en_1.htm
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
1994. SI 1994 No 3140. HMSO, 1995.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19943140_en_
1.htm
Construction (Design and Management)
(Amendment) Regulations 2000. SI 2000 No 2380.
HMSO, 2000.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002380.htm
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England)
Regulations 2001. SI 2001 No 2954. HMSO, 2001.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/20012954.htm
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. SI 1989 No 635.
HMSO, 1989.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19890635_en_
1.htm
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations
2002. SI 2002 No 2665. HMSO, 2002.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/20022665.htm

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.

SI 1992 No 2793. HMSO, 1992.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19922793_en_
1.htm
Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002.
SI 2002 No 1144. HMSO, 2002.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/20021144.htm
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
1998. SI 1998 No 2306. HMSO, 1998.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19982306.htm
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations 1995. SI 1995 No 3163.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19953163_en_
1.htm
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations
1992. SI 1992 No 3004. HMSO, 1992.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19923004_en_
1.htm
Registered Homes Act 1984. HMSO, 1994.

British, European and International

Standards
BS 31:1940. Specification. Steel conduit and fittings for
electrical wiring. British Standards Institution, 1940.

135

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

BS 88. Cartridge fuses for voltages up to and

including 1000 V ac and 1500 V dc. Specification of
supplementary requirements for fuse-links for use in ac
electricity supply networks. British Standards Institution,
1988.
BS 1363:1995. 13A plugs, socket-outlets and adaptors.
British Standards Institution, 1995.

BS 6701:2004. Telecommunications equipment and

telecommunications cabling. Specification for
installation, operation and maintenance. British
Standards Institution, 2004.
BS 7430:1998. Code of practice for earthing. British
Standards Institution, 1998.

BS 2484:1995. Specification for straight concrete and

clayware cable covers. British Standards Institution, 1995.

BS 7698, ISO 8528. Reciprocating internal combustion

engine driven alternating current generating sets. British
Standards Institution, 19961999.

BS 2692-3:1990, IEC 60282-3:1976. Fuses for voltages

exceeding 1000 V ac. Guide to the determination of
short circuit power factor. British Standards Institution,
1990.

BS 7821. Three-phase oil-immersed distribution

transformers, 50 Hz, from 50 to 2500 kVA with highest
voltage for equipment not exceeding 36 kV. British
Standards Institution, 19952002.

BS 4444:1989. Guide to electrical earth monitoring

and protective conductor proving. British Standards
Institution, 1989.

BS EN 81. Safety rules for the construction and

installation of lifts. British Standards Institution, 1998
2003.

BS 4999-145:1987. General requirements for

rotating electrical machines. Specification for winding
terminations. British Standards Institution, 1987.

BS EN 1838:1999, BS 5266-7:1999. Lighting

applications. Emergency lighting. British Standards
Institution, 1999.

BS 5000-50:1982, IEC 60681-1:1980. Specification

for rotating electrical machines of particular types or
for particular applications. Dimensions for oil burner
motors. British Standards Institution, 1982.

BS EN 12015:2004. Electromagnetic compatibility.

Product family standard for lifts, escalators and moving
walks. Emission. British Standards Institution, 2004.

BS 5266. Emergency lighting. British Standards

Institution, 19812005.
BS 5514, ISO 3046. Reciprocating internal combustion
engines. British Standards Institution, 19901997.
BS 5588. Fire precautions in the design, construction
and use of buildings. British Standards Institution, 1990
2004.
BS 5839-1:2002. Fire detection and fire alarm systems
for buildings. Code of practice for system design,
installation, commissioning and maintenance. British
Standards Institution, 2002.
BS 6290-4:1997. Lead-acid stationary cells and batteries.
Specification for classifying valve regulated types. British
Standards Institution, 1997.
BS 6346:1997. Electric cables. PVC insulated, armoured
cables for voltages of 600/1000V and 1900/3300 V.
British Standards Institution, 1997.
BS 6387:1994. Specification for performance
requirements for cables required to maintain circuit
integrity under fire conditions. British Standards
Institution, 1994.
BS 6651:1999. Code of practice for protection of
structures against lightning. British Standards Institution,
1999.
136

BS EN 12016:2004. Electromagnetic compatibility.

Product family standard for lifts, escalators and moving
walks. Immunity. British Standards Institution, 2004.
BS EN 12464-1:2002. Light and lighting. Lighting of
work places. Indoor work places. British Standards
Institution, 2002.
BS EN 45502-2-1:2003. Active implantable medical
devices. Particular requirements for active implantable
medical devices intended to treat bradyarrhythmia
(cardiac pacemakers). British Standards Institution, 2003.
BS EN 50098-1:1999. Customer premises cabling for
information technology. ISDN basic access. British
Standards Institution, 1999.
BS EN 50098-2:1996. Customer premises cabling for
information technology. 2048 kbit/s ISDN primary
access and leased line network interface. British Standards
Institution, 1996.
BS EN 50130-4:1996. Alarm systems. Electromagnetic
compatibility. Product family standard: Immunity
requirements for components of fire, intruder and social
alarm systems. British Standards Institution, 1996.
BS EN 50164-2:2002. Lightning protection
components (LPC). Requirements for conductors and
earth electrodes. British Standards Institution, 2002.

References

BS EN 50173-1:2002. Information technology. Generic

cabling systems. General requirements and office areas.
British Standards Institution, 2002.

BS EN 60146, IEC 60146. Semiconductor convertors.

General requirements and line commutated convertors.
British Standards Institution.

BS EN 50174-1:2001. Information technology. Cabling

installation. Specification and quality assurance. British
Standards Institution, 2001.

BS EN 60309-1:1999, IEC 60309-1:1999. Plugs,

socket-outlets and couplers for industrial purposes.
General requirements. British Standards Institution,
1999.

BS EN 50174-2:2001. Information technology. Cabling

installation. Installation planning and practices inside
buildings. British Standards Institution, 2001.
BS EN 50174-3:2003. Information technology. Cabling
installation. Installation planning and practices outside
buildings. British Standards Institution, 2003.
BS EN 50270:1999. Electromagnetic compatibility.
Electrical apparatus for the detection and measurement of
combustible gases, toxic gases or oxygen. British
Standards Institution, 1999.
BS EN 50310:2006. Application of equipotential
bonding and earthing in buildings with information
technology equipment. British Standards Institution,
2006.
BS EN 55011:1998. Limits and methods of
measurement of radio disturbance characteristics of
industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio-frequency
equipment. British Standards Institution, 1998.
BS EN 55014-1:2001. Electromagnetic compatibility.
Requirements for household appliances, electric tools and
similar apparatus. Emission. British Standards Institution,
2001.
BS EN 55014-2:1997. Electromagnetic compatibility.
Requirements for household appliances, electric tools and
similar apparatus. Immunity. Product family standard.
British Standards Institution, 1997.

BS EN 60439-1:1999. Low-voltage switchgear and

control gear assemblies. Type-tested and partially typetested assemblies. British Standards Institution, 1999.
BS EN 60439-2:2000, IEC 60439-2:2000. Low
voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies. Particular
requirements for busbar trunking systems (busways)
BS EN 60439-3:1991. Low-voltage switchgear and
control gear assemblies. Particular requirements for lowvoltage switchgear and control gear assemblies intended
to be installed in places where unskilled persons have
access to their use. Distribution boards. British Standards
Institution, 1991.
BS EN 60601-1, IEC 60601-1. Medical electrical
equipment. General requirements for safety. British
Standards Institution.
BS EN 60730-2:19932002. Specification for automatic
electrical controls for household and similar use. British
Standards Institution, 19932002.
BS EN 60898-2:2001. Circuit-breakers for overcurrent
protection for household and similar installations.
Circuit-breakers for a.c. and d.c. operation. British
Standards Institution, 2001.
BS EN 60947:19962003. Specification for LV
switchgear and control gear. British Standards Institution,
19962003.

BS EN 55015:2001. Limits and methods of

measurement of radio disturbance characteristics of
electrical lighting and similar equipment. British
Standards Institution, 2001.

BS EN 61000-3-2:2006. Electromagnetic compatibility

(EMC). Limits. Limits for harmonic current emissions
(equipment input current 16 A per phase). British
Standards Institution, 2006.

BS EN 55022:1998. Information technology

equipment. Radio disturbance characteristics. Limits and
methods of measurement. British Standards Institution,
1998.

BS EN 61000-3-3:1995, IEC 61000-3-3:1994.

Electromagnetic compatibility. Limits. Limitation of
voltage fluctuations and flicker in LV supply systems for
equipment with rated current 16 A. British Standards
Institution, 1995.

BS EN 55024:1998. Information technology

equipment: Immunity characteristics: Limits and
methods of measurements. British Standards Institution,
1998.
BS EN 60034-2:1999. Rotating electrical machines.
Methods for determining losses and efficiency of rotating
electrical machinery from tests (excluding machines for
traction vehicles). British Standards Institution, 1999.

BS IEC 61000-3-4:1998. Electromagnetic compatibility

(EMC). Limits. Limitation of emission of harmonic
currents in low-voltage power supply systems for
equipment with rated current greater than 16 A.
BS EN 61000-3-11:2001, IEC 61000-3-11:2000.
Electromagnetic compatibility. Limits. Limitation of
voltage changes, voltage fluctuations and flicker in public
137

Electrical services HTM 06-01 Electrical services supply and distribution: Part A Design considerations

LV supply systems. Equipment with rated current 75 A

and subject to conditional connection. British Standards
Institution, 2001.
BS EN 61000-6-1:2001. Generic Standards: Immunity
for Residential, Commercial and Light Industrial
Environments. British Standards Institution, 2001.
BS EN 61000-6-2:2005. Electromagnetic compatibility
(EMC). Generic standards. Immunity for industrial
environments. British Standards Institution, 2005.
BS EN 61000-6-3:2001. Generic Standards: Emission
for Residential, Commercial and Light Industrial
Environments. British Standards Institution, 2001.
BS EN 61000-6-4:2001. Electromagnetic compatibility
(EMC). Generic standards. Emission standard for
industrial environments. British Standards Institution,
2001.
BS EN 61547:1996, IEC 61547:1995. Equipment
for general lighting purposes EMC immunity
requirements. British Standards Institution, 1996.
BS EN 61557-8:1997, IEC 61557-8:1997. Electrical
safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V
a.c. and 1500 V d.c. Equipment for testing, measuring or
monitoring of protective measures. Insulation monitoring
devices for IT systems.
BS EN 61558-1:1998. Safety of power transformers,
power supply units and similar. General requirements
and tests. British Standards Institution, 1998.
BS EN 61558-2:19982003. Safety of power
transformers, power supply units and similar. British
Standards Institution, 19982003.
BS EN 61800-3:2004. Adjustable speed electrical power
drive systems EMC product standard including specific
test methods. British Standards Institution, 2004.
BS EN 62040-1-1:2003. Uninterruptible power systems
(UPS). General and safety requirements for UPS used in
operator access areas. British Standards Institution, 2003.
BS EN 62040-2:2006. Uninterruptible power systems
(UPS). Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
requirements. British Standards Institution, 2006.
BS EN ISO 11197:2004. Medical supply units. British
Standards Institution, 2004.
IEC 60364-7-710. Electrical installations of buildings.
Requirements for special installations or locations
Medical locations. International Electrotechnical
Commission, 2002.

138

Department of Health publications

Health Technical Memorandum 00 Policies and
principles. The Stationery Office, 2006.
Health Technical Memorandum 06-02 Electrical
safety guidance for low voltage systems. The Stationery
Office, 2006.
Health Technical Memorandum 06-03 Electrical
safety guidance for high voltage systems. The
Stationery Office, 2006.
DH Emergency Planning Guidance, 2005.
http://www.dh.gov.uk

Note on Firecode
The Firecode series is being restructured and revised.
For further information, please refer to Health
Technical Memorandum 00 Policies and principles,
which gives details on the new structure.

Miscellaneous publications
CIBSE (2005). Guide K: Electricity in buildings.
CIBSE (2000). Technical memorandum 25:
Understanding building photovoltaics.
CIBSE (2006). Technical memorandum TM31:
Building log book toolkit.
Energy Networks Association (2005). Engineering
Recommendations G.5/4: Planning levels for
harmonic voltage distortion and connection of nonlinear equipment to transmission and distribution
networks in the UK. ENA, 2005.
Energy Networks Association (1991). Engineering
Recommendation G.59/1: Recommendations for the
connection of embedded generating plant to the
public electricity suppliers distribution systems. ENA,
1991.
Energy Networks Association (2002). Engineering
Recommendation G.75/1: Recommendations for the
connection embedded generation plant to public
distribution networks above 20kV or with outputs
over 5MW. ENA, 2002.
Energy Networks Association (2003). Engineering
Recommendation G.83/1: Recommendations for the
connection of small-scale embedded generators (up to
16A per phase) in parallel with public low-voltage
distribution networks. ENA, 2003
Energy Networks Association (2005). Engineering
Recommendation G.84: Recommendations for the

References

connection of mobile generating sets to public

distribution networks. ENA, 2005.
Energy Networks Association (1995). Engineering
Technical Report 113: Notes of guidance for the
protection of embedded generating plant up to 5MW
for operation in parallel with Public Electricity
Suppliers Distribution Systems (Revision 1). ENA,
1995.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA) (2005). Medical Electrical Installation
Guidance Notes MEIGaN. MHRA, 2005.
Ministry of Defence (1996). Defence Works Functional
Standard DMG 08 Space requirements for plant
access, operation and maintenance. The Stationery
Office, 1996.

139