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Brian Campbell  
#1 Posted : 26 January 2018 10:12:12(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Brian Campbell

Morning folks, Had a conversation with a client yesterday and they asked me is there any concerns of using rooms with wall mounted electrical control panels (like ones used for AHU's) in them, if the room is being converted into an office space and someone is going to be sitting close to a panel for exposed periods of time (8hrs a day).  Ive had a look online and cant see anything myself!  Any advise would be much appreciated.

A Kurdziel  
#2 Posted : 26 January 2018 10:27:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

As long as the panels are locked off they should be ok. I am assuming that these are normal electrical panels not some sort of high voltage circuitry.

Brian Campbell  
#3 Posted : 26 January 2018 11:12:26(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Brian Campbell

Yes just your normal run of the mill low voltage panels.  Someone seems to think theres Microwaves ommitted from these and they can be harmful!!!

A Kurdziel  
#4 Posted : 26 January 2018 11:38:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Microwaves are generated at a frequency between 300 MHz (100 cm) and 300 GHz (0.1 cm). Normal AC is 50000 Hz, so no microwaves there.

thanks 1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
Brian Campbell on 26/01/2018(UTC)
paul.skyrme  
#5 Posted : 26 January 2018 11:49:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
paul.skyrme

OK, lets get a few things straight here.

UK 230/400V AC main suplies are 50Hz, so no chance of microwave energy.

You may, may, if the current is high enough fall foul of the EMF regulations, but, that is doubtful, however, it would need to be assessed.

Next, if there is need to lock the panels off when people are near them, then you have a MUCH bigger problem to worry about.

A correctly designed and installed distribution board / control panel under BS7671, or control panel under SMSR (EN 60204) must be ihnerantly safe to be around.

These will have their own product stanadards potentially, but I would guess that if I start throwing those around no one will know what they relate to, where as most H&S people in commerce & indusry should be aware that BS7671 the IET wiring regulations relate to the fixed wiring in buildings.

They may not be aware that it does not apply to machinery, but then, that's not unususal, even amongst those "in" the electrical and machinery industry that should know that it doesn't apply, if, they are competent in their post.

If there was a stud partition wall and the DB was the other side the office user would be none the wiser, so apart from there being adequate access to the board maintained at ALL times for safe work, and so long as the office occupants can't walk into them, the boards should be safe at all times in normal use and fault condition.

If they are not correctly specified, designed, implemented and maintained though, that's another ball game.

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