Cut-outs have historically been used to break electrical circuits for engineers to conduct maintenance and inspection of luminaires at the top of street lighting columns. Current safety standards and practices require double-pole isolation of circuits for safe maintenance and installation. Isolators break and isolate the circuit safely. They also offer options as they can have many different combinations, such as time clocks and festive lighting. Following changes to British Standards and European Norms, isolators are now used in most streetlighting applications (see below).
The Charles Endirect team designs and manufactures innovative, practical isolators and can create bespoke isolators to fit the needs of customers. Our in-depth knowledge enables us to offer critical advice. If you haven’t already … it’s time to switch to isolators.
Why are isolators the right solution?
- Total Isolation
Isolators are specifically designed to give double-pole isolation to a circuit for safe maintenance or installation of new equipment in compliance with BS EN 61439.
Double-pole isolation involves completely disconnecting both the live and the neutral connections of a circuit. Isolators provide this important function, offering a safe working environment. The use of single-pole cut-outs to the old British Standards leaves the neutral wire connected and the circuit remains live. The removal of a fuse only interrupts a live circuit. No isolation takes place. This poses two potential safety hazards:
1. When removing or replacing a fuse, this is done directly from or to a live circuit. Isolators avoid this situation.
2. Reverse polarity typically occurs where the supply connection phases have been connected incorrectly. This situation is potentially dangerous and life-threatening and it’s difficult to diagnose when working at the base of a column. The double-pole isolation provided by a switch within an isolator assembly lowers this risk.
- Safety Standard Compliance
Both British Standard (BS) and European Norms (EN) safety requirements specify that circuits should have a safe and secure means of isolation. All isolators from Charles Endirect meet the requirements of BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations and BS EN 61439.
- Extensive Options
Charles Endirect’s extensive range of multi-way assemblies enables the safest solution to even the most complex needs. To fully comply with BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations, the circuit must be able to be completely disconnected from the power supply and locked off. Charles Endirect’s range of lockable safe isolators (LSI) offers this full compliance.
The Future is Isolators
The team will continue to focus on isolator assemblies to ensure compliance with current standards and safe working practices (alongside our other innovative products). Our FD range of cut-outs has now been withdrawn.
Up to 100 isolators can be ordered directly via our online shop.
The time to switch to isolate is now!
