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Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC (2006/87/EC) (repealed)

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CHAPTER 9ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Article 9.01General

1.Where there are no specific requirements concerning certain parts of an installation the safety level shall be considered satisfactory where those parts have been produced in accordance with a European standard in force or in accordance with the requirements of an approved classification society.

The relevant documents shall be submitted to the inspection body.

2.Documents containing the following, and duly stamped by the inspection body, shall be kept on board:

(a)general drawings concerning the entire electrical installation;

(b)switching diagrams for the main switchboard, the emergency switchboard and the distribution switchboard, together with the most important technical data such as the amperage and rated current of the protection and control devices;

(c)power data concerning the electrical machinery and equipment;

(d)types of cable and information on conductor cross-sections.

It is not necessary to keep such documents on board unmanned craft, but they shall be available at all times with the owner.

3.The equipment shall be designed for permanent lists of up to 15° and ambient inside temperatures of between 0 and + 40 °C, and on the deck between - 20 °C and + 40 °C. It shall function perfectly within those limits.

4.The electrical and electronic equipment and appliances shall be fully accessible and easy to maintain.

Article 9.02Electricity supply systems

1.Where craft are fitted with an electrical system, that system shall in principle have at least two power sources in such a way that where one power source fails the remaining source is able to supply the power consumers needed for safe navigation for at least 30 minutes.

2.Adequate rating of the power supply shall be demonstrated by means of a power balance. An appropriate simultaneity factor may be taken into account.

3.Independently of paragraph 1, Article 6.04 shall apply to the power source for the steering system (rudder installations).

Article 9.03Protection against physical contact, intrusion of solid objects and the ingress of water

The type of minimum protection for permanently installed parts of an installation shall be as set out in the following table:

a

Where appliances release large amounts of heat: IP 12.

b

Where appliances or panels do not have this type of protection their location shall meet the conditions applying to that type of protection.

c

Electrical equipment of the certified safety type as in accordance with

(a)

European standards EN 50014: 1997; 50015: 1998; 50016: 2002; 50017: 1998; 50018: 2000; 50019: 2000 and 50020: 2002;

or

(b)

IEC publication 60079 as of 1 October 2003.

LocationType of minimum protection(in accordance with IEC publ. 60529: 1992)
GeneratorsMotorsTrans-formersPanelsDistributorsSwitchesFittingsLighting equipment
Operation rooms, engine rooms, steering-gear compartmentsIP 22IP 22IPb 22IPa b 22IP 44IP 22
HoldsIP 55IP 55
Battery and paint lockers

IP 44

u. (Ex)c

Free decks and open steering positionsIP 55IP 55IP 55IP 55
WheelhouseIP 22IP 22IP 22IP 22IP 22
Accommodation apart from sanitary facilities and washroomsIP 22IP 20IP 20
Sanitary facilities and washroomsIP 44IP 44IP 44IP 55IP 44

Article 9.04Protection from explosion

Only explosion-proof electrical equipment (certified safety) may be installed in spaces where potentially explosive gases or mixtures of gases are likely to accumulate, such as compartments dedicated for accumulators or the storage of highly inflammable products. No light switches or switches for other electrical appliances shall be installed in these spaces. The protection from explosion shall take account of the characteristics of the potentially explosive gases or mixtures of gases that are likely to arise (explosion-potential group, temperature class).

Article 9.05Earthing

1.Systems under a voltage of more than 50 V need to be earthed.

2.Metal parts that are open to physical contact and which, during normal operation, are not electrically live, such as engine frames and casings, appliances and lighting equipment, shall be earthed separately where they are not in electrical contact with the hull as a result of their installation.

3.The casings of mobile power consumers and portable devices shall, during normal use, be earthed by means of an additional earthing conductor that is incorporated into the power cable.

That provision shall not apply where a protective circuit-separation transformer is used, nor to appliances fitted with protective insulation (double insulation).

4.The cross-sections of the earthing conductors shall be not less than given in the following table:

Cross-section of outside conductors(mm2)Minimum cross-section of earthing conductors
within insulated cables(mm2)fitted separately(mm2)
from 0,5 to 4same cross-section as that of the outside conductor4
more than 4 to 16same cross-section as that of the outside conductorsame cross-section as that of the outside conductor
more than 16 to 351616
more than 35 to 120half of the cross-section of the outside conductorhalf of the cross-section of the outside conductor
more than 1207070

Article 9.06Maximum permissible voltages

1.The following voltages shall not be exceeded:

a

Where that voltage comes from higher-voltage networks galvanic separation shall be used (safety transformer).

b

All of the poles of the secondary circuit shall be insulated from the earth.

Type of installationMaximum permissible voltage
Direct currentSingle-phase alternating currentThree-phase alternating current
a.Power and heating installations including the sockets for general use
250 V250 V500 V
b.Lighting, communications, command and information installations including the sockets for general use
250 V250 V-
c.Sockets intended to supply portable devices used on open decks or within narrow or damp metal lockers, apart from boilers and tanks:
1.In general
50 Va50 Va-
2.Where a protective circuit-separation transformer only supplies one appliance
-250 Vb-
3.Where protective-insulation (double insulation) appliances are used
250 V250 V-
4.Where ≤ 30 mA default current circuit breakers are used.
-250 V500 V
d.Mobile power consumers such as electrical equipment for containers, motors, blowers and mobile pumps which are not normally moved during service and whose conducting parts which are open to physical contact are earthed by means of an earthing conductor that is incorporated into the connecting cable and which, in addition to that earthing conductor, are connected to the hull by their specific positioning or by an additional conductor
250 V250 V500 V
e.Sockets intended to supply portable appliances used inside boilers and tanks
50 Va50 Va-

2.By way of derogation from paragraph1, if the necessary protective measures are applied higher voltages shall be acceptable:

(a)for power installations where their power so requires;

(b)for special on-board installations such as radio and ignition systems.

Article 9.07Distribution systems

1.The following distribution systems are allowed for direct current and single-phase alternating current:

(a)two-conductor systems of which one is earthed (L1/N/PE);

(b)single-conductor systems using the hull return principle, only for local installations (for example, starting gear for combustion engines, cathodic protection) (L1/PEN);

(c)two-conductor systems that are insulated from the hull (L1/L2/PE).

2.The following distribution systems are allowed for three-phase alternating current:

(a)four-conductor systems with earthing of the neutral point, not using the hull return principle (L1/L2/L3/N/PE) = (network TN-S) or (network TT);

(b)three-conductor systems insulated from the hull (Ll/L2/L3/PE) = (network IT);

(c)three-conductor systems with earthing of the neutral point using the hull return principle, however, that shall not be allowed for terminal circuits (L1/L2/L3/PEN).

3.The inspection body may allow the use of other systems.

Article 9.08Connection to shore or other external networks

1.Incoming supply lines from shore networks or other external networks to the installations of the onboard network shall have a permanent connection on board in the form of fixed terminals or fixed plug sockets. The cable connections shall not be subjected to any pulling load.

2.The hull shall be capable of being earthed effectively when the connection voltage exceeds 50 V. The earthing connection shall be specially marked.

3.The switching devices for the connection shall be arranged such as to prevent the concurrent operation of the onboard network generators and the shore network or another external network. A brief period of concurrent operation shall be permitted when changing from one system to another without a break in voltage.

4.The connection shall be protected against short circuiting and overload.

5.The main switchboard shall indicate whether the connection is live.

6.Indicator devices shall be installed to enable comparison of polarity in the case of direct current and phase sequence in the case of three-phase alternating current, between the connection and the onboard network.

7.A panel adjacent to the connection shall indicate:

(a)the measures required to establish the connection;

(b)the type of current and the nominal voltage and, for alternating current, the frequency.

Article 9.09Power supply to other craft

1.When power is supplied to other craft, a separate connection shall be used. If power sockets rated at more than 16 A are used to supply current to other craft, devices (such as switches or interlocks) shall be provided to ensure that connection and disconnection can take place only when the line is dead.

2.Cable connections shall not be subjected to any pulling load.

3.Article 9.08, paragraphs 3 to 7, shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 9.10Generators and motors

1.Generators, motors and their terminal boxes shall be accessible for inspections, measurements and repairs. The type of protection shall correspond to their location (see Article 9.03).

2.Generators driven by the main engine, the propeller shaft or by an auxiliary set intended for other purposes shall be designed with respect to the range of rotational speeds which can occur during normal operation.

Article 9.11Accumulators

1.Accumulators shall be accessible and so arranged as not to shift due to movements of the craft. They shall not be placed where they will be exposed to excessive heat, extreme cold, spray, steam or vapour.

They shall not be installed in the wheelhouse, accommodation or holds. This requirement shall not apply to accumulators for portable appliances, or to accumulators requiring a charging power of less than 0,2 kW.

2.Accumulators requiring a charging power of more than 2,0 kW (calculated on the basis of the maximum charging current and the nominal voltage of the accumulator and taking into account the characteristic charging curve of the charging appliance) shall be installed in a special room. If placed on deck enclosing them in a cabinet will suffice.

Accumulators requiring a charging power not exceeding 2,0 kW may be installed in a cabinet or chest not only if placed on deck but also below decks. They may also be installed in an engine room or any other well-ventilated space provided that they are protected against falling objects and dripping water.

3.The interior surfaces of all rooms, cabinets or boxes, shelving or other built-in features intended for accumulators shall be protected against the harmful effects of electrolytes.

4.Provision shall be made for effective ventilation when accumulators are installed in a closed compartment, cabinet or chest. Forced-draught ventilation shall be provided for nickel-cadmium accumulators requiring a charging power of more than 2 kW and for lead-acid accumulators requiring more than 3 kW.

The air shall enter at the bottom and be discharged at the top so as to ensure total gas extraction.

Ventilation ducts shall not include any devices which obstruct the air flow, such as stop valves.

5.The required air throughput (Q) shall be calculated using the following formula:

  • Q = 0,11 · I · n (m3/h)

where:

I

=

of the maximum current, in A, provided by the charging device;

n

=

the number of cells.

In the case of buffer accumulators within the onboard network other methods of calculation taking into account the characteristic charging curve of the charging device may be accepted by the inspection body, provided that these methods are based on the provisions of approved classification societies or on relevant standards.

6.Where natural ventilation is used the cross-section of the ducts shall be sufficient for the required air throughput on the basis of an air-flow velocity of 0,5 m/section. However, the cross-section shall be at least 80 cm2 for lead-acid accumulators and 120 cm2 for nickel-cadmium accumulators.

7.Where forced-draught ventilation is used a fan shall be provided, preferably of the suction type, whose motor shall be clear of the gas or air stream.

Fans shall be so designed as to preclude the generation of sparks through contact between a blade and the fan casing and to avoid any electrostatic charges.

8.‘Fire, naked flame and smoking prohibited’ signs according to Figure 2 of Appendix I having a minimum diameter of 10 cm shall be affixed to the doors or covers of compartments, cabinets and chests containing accumulators.

Article 9.12Switchgear installations

1.Electrical switchboards

(a)Appliances, switches, fuses and switchboard instruments shall be clearly arranged and shall be accessible for maintenance and repair.

Terminals for voltages up to 50 V, and those for voltages higher than 50 V, shall be kept separate and marked appropriately.

(b)For all switches and appliances marker plates identifying the circuit shall be affixed to the switchboards.

The nominal amperage and the circuit for fuses shall be identified.

(c)When appliances with an operating voltage greater than 50 V are installed behind doors the live components of those appliances shall be protected against accidental contact while the doors are open.

(d)The materials of switchboards shall have suitable mechanical strength and be durable, flame-retardant and self-extinguishing; they shall not be hygroscopic.

(e)If high rupture capacity (HRC)-fuses are installed in electrical switchboards, accessories and personal protective equipment shall be available for installing and removing such fuses.

2.Switches, protective devices

(a)Generator circuits and power consumer circuits shall be protected against short circuiting and overload on all non-earthed conductors. Switching devices triggered by short-circuiting and overload or fuses may be used for this purpose.

Circuits supplying electric motors of drive units (steering system) and their control circuits shall only be protected against short circuiting. Where circuits include thermal circuit-breakers these shall be neutralised or set at not less than twice the nominal amperage.

(b)Outputs from the main switchboard to power consumers operating at more than 16 A shall include a load or power switch.

(c)Power consumers for the propulsion of the craft, the steering system, the rudder position indicator, navigation or safety systems, and power consumers with a nominal amperage greater than 16 A shall be supplied by separate circuits.

(d)The circuits of power consumers required for propelling and manoeuvring the vessel shall be supplied directly by the main switchboard.

(e)Circuit-breaking equipment shall be selected on the basis of nominal amperage, thermal or dynamic strength, and breaking capacity. Switches shall simultaneously cut off all live conductors. The switching position shall be identifiable.

(f)Fuses shall be of the enclosed-melt type and be made of ceramic or an equivalent material. It shall be possible to change them without any danger of physical contact for the operator.

3.Measuring and monitoring devices

(a)Generator, accumulator and distribution circuits shall be equipped with measuring and monitoring devices where the safe operation of the installation so requires.

(b)Non-earthed networks with a voltage of more than 50 V shall be equipped with an earthing detection device capable of giving both visual and audible alarm. In secondary installations such as control circuits, this device may be dispensed with.

4.Location of electrical switchboards

(a)Switchboards shall be located in accessible and well-ventilated spaces and be protected against water and mechanical damage.

Piping and air ducts shall be so arranged that in the event of leakage the switchboards cannot be damaged. If their installation near electrical switchboards is inevitable, pipes shall not have detachable connections nearby.

(b)Cabinets and wall recesses in which unprotected switching devices are installed shall be of a flame-retardant material or be protected by a metal or other flame-retardant sheathing.

(c)When the voltage is greater than 50 V, insulating gratings or mats shall be placed at the operator's position in front of the main switchboard.

Article 9.13Emergency circuit breakers

Emergency circuit breakers for oil burners, fuel pumps, fuel separators and engine-room ventilators shall be installed centrally outside the spaces containing the equipment.

Article 9.14Installation fittings

1.Cable entries shall be sized as a function of the cables to be connected and be appropriate to the types of cable used.

2.Sockets for distribution circuits at different voltages or frequencies shall be impossible to confuse.

3.Switches shall simultaneously switch all non-earthed conductors within a circuit. However, single-pole switches within non-earthed circuitry shall be permitted in accommodation-lighting circuits apart from in laundries, bathrooms, washrooms and other rooms with wet facilities.

4.Where amperage exceeds 16 A it shall be possible to lock the sockets by means of a switch in such a way that the plug can only be inserted and withdrawn with the power switched off.

Article 9.15Cables

1.Cables shall be flame-retardant, self-extinguishing and resistant to water and oil.

In accommodation, other types of cable may be used, provided that they are effectively protected, have flame-retardant characteristics and are self-extinguishing.

Flame-retardant standards of electric cables shall be in accordance with:

(a)IEC publications 60332-1:1993, 60332-3:2000; or

(b)equivalent regulations recognised by one of the Member States.

2.Conductors of cables used for power and lighting circuits shall have a minimum cross-section of 1,5 mm2.

3.Metal armouring, shielding and sheathing of cables shall not, under normal operating conditions, be used as conductors or for earthing.

4.Metal shielding and sheathing of cables in power and lighting installations shall be earthed at least at one end.

5.The cross-section of conductors shall take account of their maximum permissible end-temperature (current-carrying capacity) and of the permissible voltage drop. The voltage drop between the main switchboard and the least favourable point of the installation shall not be more than 5 % for lighting or more than 7 % for power or heating circuits, referred to the nominal voltage.

6.Cables shall be protected against mechanical damage.

7.The means of fixing the cables shall ensure that any pulling load remains within the permissible limits.

8.When cables pass through bulkheads or decks, the mechanical strength, watertightness and fire resistance of these bulkheads and decks shall not be affected by the penetrations.

9.Terminations and joints in all conductors shall be so made as to retain the original electrical, mechanical, flame-retardant and, where necessary, fire resistant properties.

10.Cables connected to retractable wheelhouses shall be sufficiently flexible and shall have insulation with sufficient flexibility down to — 20 °C and resistance to steam and vapour, ultraviolet rays and ozone.

Article 9.16Lighting installations

1.Lighting appliances shall be so installed that the heat they emit cannot set fire to nearby inflammable objects or components.

2.Lighting appliances on open decks shall be so installed as not to impede the recognition of navigation lights.

3.When two or more lighting appliances are installed in an engine room or boiler room, they shall be supplied by at least two different circuits. This requirement shall also apply to spaces where cooling machinery, hydraulic machinery, or electric motors are installed.

Article 9.17Navigation lights

1.Switchboards for navigation lights shall be installed in the wheelhouse. They shall be supplied by a separate feeder from the main switchboard or by two independent secondary distributions.

2.Navigation lights shall be supplied, protected and switched separately from the navigation lights switchboard.

3.No fault in the monitoring installation, as provided for in Article 7.05(2), shall affect the operation of the light which it monitors.

4.Several lights forming a functional unit and installed together at the same point may be jointly supplied, switched and monitored. The monitoring installation shall be capable of identifying the failure of any one of these lights. However, it shall not be possible to use both light sources in a double light (two lights mounted one above the other or in the same housing) simultaneously.

Article 9.18(Left void)

Article 9.19Alarm and safety systems for mechanical equipment

The alarm and safety systems for monitoring and protecting mechanical equipment shall meet the following requirements:

(a)

Alarm systems

The alarm systems shall be so designed that no failure in the alarm system can result in failure of the apparatus or installation being monitored.

Binary transmitters shall be designed on the quiescent-current principle or on the monitored load-current principle.

Visual alarms shall remain visible until the fault has been remedied; an alarm that has been acknowledged shall be distinguishable from an alarm that has not yet been acknowledged. Each alarm shall also comprise an audible warning. It shall be possible to switch off acoustic alarms. Switching off one acoustic alarm shall not prevent another signal from being set off by another cause.

Exceptions can be permitted in the case of alarm systems comprising less than five measurement points.

(b)

Safety systems

Safety systems shall be designed to halt or slow down the operation of the affected equipment, or to warn a permanently-manned station to do so before a critical state is reached.

Binary transmitters shall be designed according to the load-current principle.

If safety systems are not designed to be self-monitoring it shall be possible to check that they are operating correctly .

Safety systems shall be independent of other systems.

Article 9.20Electronic equipment

1.General

The test conditions in paragraph 2 below shall apply only to electronic devices that are necessary for the steering system and the craft's power plants, including their ancillaries.

2.Test conditions

(a)The stresses arising from the following tests shall not cause electronic devices to be damaged or to malfunction. The tests in accordance with relevant international standards, such as IEC publication 60092-504:2001, apart from the cold-condition test, shall be carried out with the device switched on. These tests shall include checking of proper operation.

(b)Variations in voltage and frequency

Variations
continuousshort-duration
GeneralFrequency± 5 %± 10 % 5 s
Voltage± 10 %± 20 % 1.5 s
Battery operationVoltage+ 30 %/- 25 %

(c)Heating test

The sample is brought up to a temperature of 55 °C within a half-hour period. After that temperature has been reached it is maintained for 16 hours. An operating test is then carried out.

(d)Cold-condition test

The sample is switched off and cooled to -25 °C and held at that temperature for two hours. The temperature is then raised to 0 °C and an operating test is carried out.

(e)Vibration test

The vibration test shall be carried out along the three axes at the resonance frequency of the devices or of components for the period of 90 minutes in each case. If no clear resonance emerges the vibration test shall be carried out at 30 Hz.

The vibration test shall be carried out by sinusoidal oscillation within the following limits:

General:

f = 2,0 to 13,2 Hz; a = ± 1 mm

(amplitude a = the vibration width)

f = 13,2 Hz to 100 Hz: acceleration ± 0,7 g.

Equipment intended to be fitted to diesel engines or steering apparatus shall be tested as follows:

f = 2,0 to 25 Hz; a = ± 1,6 mm

(amplitude a = the vibration width)

f = 25 Hz to 100 Hz; acceleration ± 4 g.

The sensors intended to be installed in diesel-engine exhaust pipes may be exposed to considerably higher stresses. Account shall be taken of this during the tests.

(f)The electromagnetic compatibility test shall be carried out on the basis of IEC publications 61000-4-2:1995, 61000-4-3:2002, 61000-4-4:1995, at test degree number 3.

(g)Proof that the electronic equipment is adequate for these test conditions shall be provided by their manufacturer. A certificate by an approved classification society shall likewise be considered to be proof.

Article 9.21Electromagnetic compatibility

The operation of the electric and electronic systems shall not be impaired by electromagnetic interference. General measures shall, with equal importance, extend to:

(a)

disconnection of the transmission paths between the source of interference and affected devices;

(b)

reducing the causes of disturbance at their source;

(c)

reducing the sensitivity of affected devices to interference.

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