Page 8 - SPARKS APRIL 2013 1-28 LOW RES

sparks
ELECTRICAL NEWS april 2013
contractors’ corner
8
Getting to grips with SANS 10142–1 by Hannes Baard
COMPUTERS can easily‘pull a fast one’on you.
April fool or no April fool. The definition that I will
discuss later always brings a smile tomy face. It
makes me think of a time, many years ago, when
computer-assisted spell checking was in its infancy
andmy command of the English language was not
so polished.
I tried to spell check a class test I had set, using
my computer’s word processor. The question
revolved around the installation rules pertaining
to suspended luminaries…er, I mean luminaires.
Every time I ran the spell check, the word‘lumi-
naires’was changed to‘luminaries’. After a while, I
toldmyself that the SABS could not spell and left it
at that. So, when some of the‘Brits’in class started
giggling, I found out tomy embarrassment that I
had inadvertently strung up a luminary (perhaps
recently retired?) in the washroom! You’ll find the
proper reference in SANS 10142-1 6.14.3. You see,
Let your light shine …
both of these words mean something or some-
one providing light in one form or another,
except that I accidentally chose the one of the
spiritual kind.
So, let the light shine in…
3.48 – luminaire: ‘Appliance that distributes,
filters or transforms the light transmitted fromone or
more lamps and that includes all the parts necessary
for supporting, fixing and protecting the lamps but
not the lamps themselves, and, whennecessary,
circuit auxiliaries together with themeans for con-
necting themto the supply.
NOTE: Abatten lampholder or a lampholder
suspended by a flexible cord is a luminaire.’
Most important in this definition are the words
“…includes all the parts…but not the lamps
themselves…”In other words, the light fitting
(luminaire) is regarded as complete…without
the lamp! Now, this bit is crucial when it comes to
mounting a light fitting (lumi-
naire). You see, if the light fitting
is within arm’s reach, it stands to
reason that I must not be able to
touch any live conductive parts,
i.e. live or neutral – right?
So, when deciding whether
the installation is a‘go’or‘no-go’
with regards to complying, al-
ways think of the fitting without
the lamp! Tomake a non-com-
pliant fitting comply (if it was
installedwithin arm’s reach) just
use a fully enclosed fitting like
a bulkhead or ball and gallery
type. For without the lamp but
the glass protection or ball fitted
and no lamp installed, you can-
not touch any conductive parts
and voila… inmost instances, the installation now
complies.
3.23 – discharge lamp: ‘Lamp inwhich light (or ra-
diant energy at awavelengthnear that of the visible
spectrum) is produced by the passage of an electric
current througha vapour or gas.’
Now, that’s the long-windedway of describing a
fluorescent tube, CFL or mercury vapour lamp.
3.24 – discharge lighting: ‘Lighting that is
provided by luminaires inwhichdischarge lamps
are used.’
And, when you go to the wholesaler, ask for a
fluorescent fitting for the kitchen or garage if you
need decent light!
3.61 – premises: ‘Place suchas a site, building or
structure, whether stationary ormobile, that canbe
electricallywired.’
Note that a transportable site office also con-
forms to this definition and a Certificate of Com-
pliance is issued for‘premises’and not a‘building’
or‘shop’ per se.
3.66 – residential installation: ‘Electrical installa-
tion inaprivatedwellingor inan individual dwelling
unit, including installations inflats, hotels, boarding
houses or other residential institutions.’
This one is fairly self-explanatory, but don’t get
caught by amisinterpretation that sometimes
creates arguments, namely‘commercial versus
non-commercial’, for instance.
3.53 – place of assembly: ‘Theatre, cinema, church
andany other placewherepeoplegather andwhere
natural lighting is inadequate toallowfor safe evacu-
ation.
NOTE: Adjacent areas are treatedas separate
places of assembly.’ This, of course, assumes that
when the lights go out during the day, there are
so fewwindows in the place that you cannot see
anything. At night, it’s a no brainer.
3.45 – lighting system: ‘Systemthat provides
illumination.’
Again, remember that we are talking about a
large building that has various areas that need to
be lit: passages, foyers, the hall itself, ticket office,
public toilets, etc.The design of this systemdefi-
nitely needs a littlemore attention and thought
than a site office.
3.45.2 – normal lighting: ‘Systemthat provides
general illuminationbut does not necessarily provide
illuminationof exit routes.’
These lights are normally dimmed or extin-
guished during the showor service.
3.45.3 – safety lighting: ‘Systemthat provides
sufficient illumination toallowall the occupants of a
place of assembly to see clearly enoughduringaper-
formance tomove aroundor to leave. Sucha system
includes illuminatedexit signs that indicate the exit
routes for all the occupants of aplace of assembly
(includingareas suchas projector rooms, control
rooms andorchestrapits).’
This also includes the small lights on the rows
of seats and on the stairs in a buildingwhere the
seats aremounted on a slant.
3.45.1 – emergency lighting: ‘Systemthat
provides sufficient illumination to replace the existing
safety andnormal lighting system in the event of a
power failure, so that people canevacuate aplace of
assembly.’
This can be powered by generator, UPS, back-up
batteries or whatever. Also, remember that these
lights are never switched off, unless the place of as-
sembly is not occupied.These light fittings are also,
in themajority of cases, fittedwith a dual power
supply – one lampworks off the normal supply
and the other lampworks off the standby supply.
Nowgo be the light in someone’s life!
Till next time.
THE ZestWEG Group has moved
into new fit for purpose premises in
Omuramba Road, Montague Gardens,
in a move that Gary Daines, ZestWEG
Group’s sales andmarketing direc-
tor, says has positioned the group for
robust future growth as the Cape Town
team takes advantage of the many
opportunities coming to the fore in the
area.
The new ZestWest Group Cape of-
fice, not too far from its previous site
also in Montague Gardens, features
3 300m2 under roof and incorporates
a training centre/auditorium accom-
modating about 70 people, warehous-
ing, a drives and automation service
centre, administrative offices and a staff
canteen. The size and layout of the site
has greatly improved logistical flow,
with ample space for goods trucks to
park and unload.
“Customers are already benefitting
from access to an increased stockhold-
ing and a broader range of products, as
well as from the enhanced training and
meeting room facilities,”says Daines.
“Although our Cape office is geared to
serve the local drives and automation
market, it is also being strategically
prepared to contribute to the growth
of the entire group.
In addition to the new premises,
ZestWEG Group’s substantial invest-
ment into corporate growth in the
area includes the establishment a few
years ago of a dedicated generator set
manufacturing facility and the EML
warehouse, both in Epping.”
Enquiries: (011) 723-6000
Move positions
group for future
growth in Cape