Electricity Regulations, 1932

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR SI 7/1932
• Year: 1932

STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS. 1932. No. 7.

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS, 1932.

FACTORY AND WORKSHOP.

DANGEROUS AND UNHEALTHY INDUSTRIES.

THE ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS, 1932, DATED 10TH FEBRUARY, 1932, MADE BY THE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE UNDER SECTION 79 OF THE FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT, 1901, FOR THE GENERATION, TRANSFORMATION, DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN PREMISES UNDER THE FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACTS, 1901 TO 1920.

In pursuance of Section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, I hereby make the following Regulations in respect of the Generation, Transformation, Distribution and Use of Electrical Energy and direct that they shall apply in any factory or workshop, or any place to which the provisions of Section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, are applied by that Act.

These Regulations shall come into force on the 1st April, 1932, except as regards such electrical installations as were not subject to the Electricity Regulations made on the 23rd December, 1908, in respect of which they shall apply as from the 1st April, 1933.

From the 1st April, 1932, the Regulations dated 23rd December, 1908,* shall be revoked.

DUTIES.

It shall be the duty of the occupier to comply with these Regulations.

And it shall be the duty of all agents, workmen, and persons employed to conduct their work in accordance with these Regulations.

DEFINITIONS.†

"Pressure" means the difference of electrical potential between any two conductors, or between a conductor and earth as measured by a suitable electrostatic volt-meter.

"Low pressure" means a pressure in a system

( a ) normally not exceeding 250 volts to earth, or

( b ) normally not exceeding 500 volts between conductors in a system that is not earthed.

"High pressure" means a pressure in a system

( a ) normally exceeding 250 volts to earth, or

( b ) normally exceeding 500 volts between conductors in a system that is not earthed.

"System" means an electrical system in which all the conductors and apparatus are electrically connected to a common source of electro-motive force.

"Conductor" means an electrical conductor arranged to be electrically connected to a system.

"Apparatus" means electrical apparatus, and includes all apparatus, machines, and fittings in which conductors are used, or of which they form a part.

"Circuit" means an electrical circuit forming a system or branch of a system.

"Insulating stand" means a floor, platform, stand or mat. "Insulating screen" means a screen "Insulating boots" means boots "Insulating gloves" means gloves of such size, quality, and construction according to the circumstances of the use thereof, that a person is thereby adequately protected from danger.

"Covered with insulating material" means adequately covered with insulating material of such quality and thickness that there is no danger.

"Bare" means not covered with insulating material.

"Live" means electrically charged.

"Dead" means at, or about, zero potential, and disconnected from any live system.

"Earthed" means connected to the general mass of earth in such manner as will ensure at all times an immediate discharge of electrical energy without danger.

"Substation" means any premises or that part of any premises in which electrical energy at high pressure is distributed, or in which electrical energy is transformed or converted to or from high pressure, except for the purpose of working instruments, relays, or similar axiliary apparatus.

"Switchboard" means the collection of switches or fuses, conductors, and other apparatus in connection therewith, used for the purpose of controlling the current or pressure in any system or part of a system.

"Switchboard passage-way" means any passage-way or compartment large enough for a person to enter, and used in connection with a switchboard when live.

"Authorised person" means (a) the occupier, or (b) a contractor for the time being under contract with the occupier, or (c) a person employed, appointed, or selected by the occupier, or by a contractor as aforesaid, to carry out certain duties incidental to the generation, transformation, distribution, or use of electrical energy, such occupier, contractor, or person being a person who is competent for the purposes of the regulation in which the term is used.

"Danger" means danger to health or danger to life or limb from shock, burn, or other injury to persons employed, or from fire attendant upon the generation, transformation, distribution, or use of electrical energy.

"Public supply" means the supply of electrical energy (a) by any local authority, company, or person authorised by Act of the Oireachtas or Provisional Order confirmed by the Oireachtas or by licence or Order of the Electricity Supply Board to give a supply of electrical energy; or (b) otherwise under Electricity Supply Board Regulations.

"The Minister" means the Minister for Industry and Commerce for the time being.

"Prescribed" means prescribed for the time being by the Minister for Industry and Commerce.

EXEMPTIONS.

1. Nothing in these Regulations shall apply to any service lines or apparatus on the supply side of the consumer's terminals, or to any chamber containing such service lines or apparatus, where the supply is given from outside under Electricity Supply Board Regulations; provided always that no live metal is exposed so that it may be touched.

2. If the occupier can show, with regard to any requirement of these Regulations, that the special conditions in his premises are such as adequately to prevent danger, that requirement shall be deemed to be satisfied; and the Minister may by Order direct that any class of special conditions defined in the Order shall be deemed for the purposes of all or any of the requirements of these Regulations adequately to prevent danger, and may revoke such Order.

3. Nothing in these Regulations shall apply to any process or apparatus used exclusively for electro-chemical or electro-thermal or testing or research purposes; provided such process be so worked and such apparatus so constructed and protected and such special precautions taken as may be necessary to prevent danger.

4. The Minister may, by Order, exempt from the operation of all or any of these Regulations any premises to which any special rules or regulations under any other Act as to the generation, transformation, distribution or use of electrical energy apply; and may revoke such Order.

5. The Minister may, if satisfied that safety is otherwise practically secured, or that exemption is necessary on the ground of emergency or special...