Electricity Wiring Regulations

(EWR)
Training Course- E1

Chapter 3-General principles

3. General principles and safety requirements

3.1 Technical standards, materials and workmanship

3.2 Approval of Electrical Installations

3.3 Extensions, alterations and repairs

3.4 Licensed Contractors

3.5 Requirements for safety

3.6 Labelling and identification

3.7 Environmental conditions

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3.1.1 These Regulations provide guidelines and technical standards which are consistent
with the principles contained in BS 7671:2018 (also known as the IET Wiring
Regulations 18th Edition). Where any provision in these Regulations contradicts any
provision in BS 7671, the requirements, standards or specifications under these
Regulations shall apply. BS 7671
[Note: these Regulations are in some aspects more prescriptive than BS 7671, and take account of
the physical environment of Abu Dhabi Emirate, as well as the typical skills and language
diversity in the region.]

3.1.2 Where a provision or technical requirement is not covered by these Regulations, BS 7671
may be used as a guideline or specification, with prior approval from the Distribution
Company and the DoE.

3.1.3 All material used in Electrical Installations shall be of good quality and installed in a neat
and orderly manner.

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3.1.4 All materials and equipment used in electrical installations shall comply with relevant international
standards which shall be mainly BS (British Standards) or IEC (International Electro-technical
Commission) standards, as referenced in these Regulations. Other international standards may
be used, in particular where none are specified in these Regulations, with the prior approval of the
Distribution Company and the DoE if required. A list of BS and IEC standards applying to the main
types of equipment is given in Appendix A3.

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3.1.5 The Distribution Company may issue specifications and requirements in relation to these
Regulations, which will be endorsed or approved by the DoE, and provided to interested
parties on request. The Distribution Company shall ensure that any such specifications or
requirements are consistent with these Regulations, unless otherwise approved by the DoE.

3.1.6 Reference must be made, where relevant, to UAE or Gulf standards which may be issued
from time to time by the Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA).

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 Question 1:

Refer to Appendix A3. Cooker Control units

must comply with?
a) BS 4177
b) BS 4678
c) BS 5467
d) BS 6141
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3.2 Approval of Electrical Installations
3.2.1 Any Owner requiring a new connection or alteration to an existing connection
must make an application to the Distribution Company using the appropriate
forms and procedures published by the Company.

3.2.2 The design of an Electrical Installation must be approved by the Distribution

Company before commencement of construction. Details of the design must be
submitted, together with appropriate calculations and wiring diagrams, using
the standard symbols shown in Appendix A11. [Note: even though the relevant
Distribution Company approves the design of Electrical Installations, this does not relieve the Owner
and associated Licensed Contractor from the obligation to fully comply with these Regulations.]

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3.2.3 For large developments, the Owner may, with the prior approval of the DoE and
the Distribution Company, enter into an undertaking with the Distribution
Company to the effect that all parts of an Electrical Installation downstream from
the Connection Point shall comply with these Regulations. Any such approval,
including as to the form of undertaking, will be at the discretion of the DoE and
the Distribution Company. If given, the Owner will not be required to submit
details of the Electrical Installation design to the Distribution Company for prior
approval. A decision by the DoE and the Distribution Company to allow the
Owner to self-certify the design of an Electrical Installation shall not have any
bearing on any inspection of the Electrical Installation by the Distribution
Company, and the Owner shall rectify any non-compliance identified by the
Distribution Company (either in the pre-energisation inspection or upon any
other inspection) at its own cost and within the timeframes specified by the
Distribution Company or set out in these Regulations.

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3.2.4 Notwithstanding Clause 3.2.3, in all instances the Owner, designer and
associated Licensed Contractor are responsible for ensuring that the design,
construction and installation of Electrical Installations complies with these
Regulations.

3.2.5 New Electrical Installations must be inspected and tested by the

Distribution Company in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 8 of
these Regulations, prior to and upon energisation.

(this is in addition to inspection

and testing by the Licensed
Contractor – see chapter 8)

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3.2.6 The Distribution Company may, where appropriate, seek evidence of compliance
against relevant standards of equipment and components used in the Electrical
Installation.

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3.2.7 The Owner must provide an estimate of the Connected Load at the Premises, including at each
Distribution Board. In addition, the Diversified Load for the whole Premises and at each
Distribution Board, must be calculated by the Owner’s appointed Licensed Contractor (i.e.
design engineer or other qualified person) and submitted in the format given in Appendix A20(e),
see Guidance note G2.

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3.3 Extensions, alterations and repairs

3.3.1 No extension or alteration to an Electrical Installation may be made without

prior notification to the Distribution Company or without approval, testing
and certification in accordance with Regulation 3.2

3.3.2 All extensions or alterations to an existing Electrical Installation must

comply with the requirements of these Regulations.

3.3.3 Notwithstanding Clause 3.3.1 and 3.3.2, repairs to existing Electrical

Installations may be made using standards of equipment compliant with
the original Electrical Installation, but limited to work of an essential
nature on a like-for-like basis. Work on any part of the Electrical
Installation other than Final Circuits, including any Distribution Board and
any items at the Electricity Intake, must be notified to the Distribution
Company.

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3.4.4 Any proposed increase greater than 10% of the total Connected Load at a Premises, or
greater than 10% of the Connected Load at any Distribution Board, must be approved by
the Distribution Company.

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3.4 Licensed Contractors
3.4.1 Work on Electrical Installations may only be carried out by Licensed Contractors
who have been assessed and approved by the Distribution Company.

3.4.2 The process for approval of Licensed Contractors shall be published by the
Distribution Company as amended from time to time subject to DoE approval.

3.4.3 A register of Licensed Contractors shall be kept up-to-date by the Distribution

Company and provided on request to any person.

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Question 2: Electrical work in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi can be carried by?

a) Any electrical engineer

b) Any electrical contractor

c) A Licensed Contractor certified by the Distribution Company

d) A Licensed contractor certified in any country

Question 3: for a new Electrical Installation the Owner must provide an estimate of:

b) the total Connected Load

b) the total Diversified Load

c) both the total Connected Load and the total Diversified Load

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3.5 Requirements for safety
3.5.1 The provisions of these Regulations require that all Electrical Installations are designed and
constructed so as to ensure the safety of all persons who may operate, maintain or otherwise use or be
affected by any part of an Electrical Installation. In addition to the requirements detailed under the
relevant sections of these Regulations, the following general safety principles shall apply.

[Note: these Regulations do not include detailed requirements for the maintenance of Electrical Installations. However, the
maintainability of Electrical Installations must be adequately catered for in their design and construction. In addition, the requirements
for periodic inspection and testing, as detailed in Part 8, may give rise to the need for maintenance and repair work.]

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3.5.2 All parts of an Electrical Installation shall be designed and constructed so as to
prevent Danger.

3.5.3 All parts of an Electrical Installation shall be sufficiently sized and rated to safely
carry out the function for which they are required.

3.5.4 All parts of an Electrical Installation shall be insulated appropriately according to

the function they serve and in consideration of the expected operating
environment, so as to prevent Danger.

[Note: for areas classified as explosive or flammable, the requirements of BS EN

60079 shall be satisfied.]

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3.5.5 All Exposed-Conductive-Parts of an Electrical Installation and of
Appliances must be connected to Earth via appropriate Earth
Conductors, so as to protect against electric shock, see Regulation 6.6.

3.5.6 Except in specified circumstances, all Electrical Installations shall be

provided with Earth Leakage Protection at the source of supply, at all
Final Circuits and at other appropriate points. In addition, Earth
Equipotential Bonding shall be provided, see Clause 5.3.4.

3.5.7 All Electrical Installations must be protected against damage caused by

excess current due to a fault or overload by suitable Protective Devices,
see Regulation 5.2.

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3.5.8 All Electrical Installations must be provided with a
means of isolating the electricity supply at suitable
sections, subsections and Circuits, and at points
where Appliances are used, see Regulation 5.6.

3.5.9 All parts of an Electrical Installation must be suitably

located so as to provide safe access for operation,
maintenance and repair and must be protected
against accidental or deliberate interference or
damage.

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3.5.10 Electrical Installations must be designed and
constructed with particular consideration given to the
risk of fire due to electrical faults and the
propagation of fire through parts of the Electrical
Installation. See Clauses 6.1.1(c), 7.2.4, 7.4.5,
7.4.15, 7.5.3, 7.5.4, 8.2.1(g) and 11.2.1.

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3.5.11 All Electrical Installations must be inspected and tested at the time of first
commissioning and at regular intervals thereafter to ensure ongoing safety,
as detailed under Part 8 of these Regulations.

Table 8.1.5
[Note:

(a) see Clause 8.1.2 for the required tests.

(b)Table 8.1.5 suggests the recommended periodic

frequency to be followed, another periodic frequency
in line with best practices can be adopted based on
the premises type.

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3.5.12 Inspection and testing of Electrical Installations must be carried out by suitably
qualified and competent persons with due skill and care to avoid Danger to
persons, property and installed equipment.

3.5.13 Additional requirements for safety in special locations are covered in Part 9.

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3.6 Labelling and identification
3.6.1 Electrical Installations at the Electricity Intake room must be suitably labelled so as to give
information on the electricity supply parameters, the source of supply, location in relation to
other Electrical Installations, assets ownership, authorised personnel contact details and any
special precautions to be taken. See example in Appendix A12(a).

[Note: special precautions would include information on other sources of electricity such as local generation or
interconnection with other Premises.]

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3.6.2 The means of isolation from all sources of electricity must be clearly labelled and
accessible to authorised persons, see Regulation 5.6.

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3.6.3 The provision of Earth Leakage Protection (as required under Clause 5.3.4) must be
clearly indicated at appropriate isolation points, including a notice informing Owners
of the need for regular testing of RCD devices, see Appendix A12(c).

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 3.6.4 Individual Circuits (including neutral and Earth Conductors) must be identified by
numbering at the source end and where appropriate, at intervals along the route,
see Guidance note G7(f).

3.6.5 For non-domestic Electrical Installations, all Accessories and fittings must be marked
with Circuit identification numbers.
[Note: Circuit identification numbers must indicate the Distribution Board from which an Accessory or fitting is
supplied, and may be fixed externally or internally, i.e. either outside or inside cover plates.]

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3.6.6 Load distribution schedules, as shown in Appendix A20(e), must be provided
at each Distribution Board. An overall wiring diagram showing the
Connection Point(s), the location and interconnection of Distribution Boards
must be provided at the Electricity Intake.

3.6.7 Where parts of an Electrical Installation are accessible or visible to the

general public they must be labelled with a warning: “LIVE – 230/400
VOLTS – DANGER OF DEATH” or similar wording. This warning must be
written in English and Arabic, see example in Appendix A12(a). However,
parts of Final Circuits and other points of normal use may be excluded from
this requirement.

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3.7.1 All parts of an Electrical Installation must be suitably designed,
constructed and maintained so as to operate safely and carry out their
designed function in the expected operating environment. The following
environmental conditions may be used as a guide if no other special
factors apply:
(a) maximum ground temperature (at 1m depth): 35˚C;
(b) soil resistivity: according to local conditions;
(c) weather: mainly sunny, occasional fog (causing condensation on
outdoor equipment), and occasional sandstorms;
(d) air quality: frequently dusty, corrosive in coastal areas;
(e) maximum humidity: 100%; and
(f) maximum ambient (air) temperatures:
- outdoor (shaded): 50˚C
- outdoor (unshaded): temperature rise due to solar gain must be
calculated for the relevant equipment or the maximum ‘black bulb’
temperature may be used (typically 10 ˚C above ambient temperature)
- indoor (not air conditioned): 40˚C
- indoor (air conditioned): 30˚C
[Note: in some situations, the ambient temperature for indoor non-air-conditioned
situations may reach the outdoor shaded temperature e.g. a small prefabricated
building with little ventilation, or a garage which is open to the atmosphere.]

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Question 4: what information does the RCD Customer Notice label provide:

a) the cable size of each circuit

b) how to locate a tripped MCB

c) how many RCDs are on the Distribution Board

Question 5: temperature rating of equipment at 40 degrees is suitable for:

a) indoor non air conditioned

b) indoor air conditioned

c) outdoor shaded

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 Thank you
www.doe.gov.ae

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