Hi there, this question came up in a group I belong too:
When a switchboard is manufactured by a switchboard company, they have standards they work/manufacture too eg AS/NZS 3439 which I believe is now replaced by AS/NZS 61439 (but not cited) but there is never any paperwork when the switchboard is delivered (apart from the invoice) so how does the electrician know that it has been manufactured to the appropriate standards etc?
Who takes responsibility for the construction of the switchboard?
There is nothing stopping Jo Bloggs from sourcing parts and constructing a switchboard and on selling or installing, what happens in this situation?
Cheers Peter
Switchboard construction
Re: Switchboard construction
Short answer is that responsibilty for safety of all fittings installed rests with whoever installs it (actually who certifies its installation)
There are 2 pathways to compliance for a switchboard.
One is manufacture, as you say this would normally be to a relevant Standard; and the result is an entity called "switchboard"which is then installed into an installation as PEW.
The other is assembling it as PEW; treating the enclosure(s) and each fitting within individually.
If assembling as PEW; the work is done by licenced person(s) and the work is included on a CoC.
If manufactured, there should be some sort of documentation asserting compliance.
2018 edition of "3000" provides guidance WRT compliance documentation in an Appendix.
However regardless of which of these pathways has been followed; responsibility for safety of the switchboard once installed into an installation rests with the certifier.
Important to recognise that switchboards are not required to comply with a particular Standard.
They are not DMRAs or DHEAs, so no SDoC or Approval is required by ESRs.
What they have to comply with is the relevant clauses of "3000" - most but not all of which are in subsection 2.9.
Under currently-cited edition of "3000" (2007 +A1 +A2); subsection 2.9 does call up "3439",
but this "secondary citation" is non-mandatory except for one aspect.
2.9.3 "construction (of switchboard)"; 2.9.3.2 "suitability"; says that switchboards complying with the relevant requirements of "3439" are deemed to comply with 2.9.3 . Not that construction of the switchboard must comply with the Standard; just that a switchboard that does comply with (constructional) requirements of "3439" is recognised as complying with 2.9.3.
2.9.3.3 then goes a step further, by requiring clearance & creepage distances to comply with "3439 series".
So, at minimum, you either check it yourself; or you seek documentation that satisfies you that the switchboard complies with 3439 in general,
and in particular that creepage / clearance distances comply.
Under 2018 edition; situation was similar, though also citing "61439" series as alternative.
Then Amendment 2 set a "trigger" condition such that switchboards either above a specified current rating, or above a specified PFC, must comply in full; whereas below the trigger level only some particular aspects must comply.
A3 then deletes almost all references to "3439 series; leaving "61439 as the only recognised manufacturing Standard for new switchboards
This is because "3439 series has been withdrawn; so is no longer being maintained.
This may mean that re-using an old switchboard that was built to an earlier Standard is likely to be non-compliant.
Which mostly only affects construction sites and show / carnival "temporary" installations; however in some cases such switchboards can be re-certified - by the original manufacturer - to the new Standard. Re-certification by a 3rd-party test lab could also be done ; but with significant cost.
Regardless of what documentation you may have, it's still the certifier that signs-off the safety of the switchboard.
And the documentation won't cover all aspects of switchboard compliance; it's only, or largely, about construction of the switchboard;
the installer still has to ensure other aspects as per rest of 2.9 (and any other requirements of "3000") .
That said; I'd expect a reputable manufacturer's product would comply with eg 2.9.4, 2.9.5, & 2.9.6.
There are 2 pathways to compliance for a switchboard.
One is manufacture, as you say this would normally be to a relevant Standard; and the result is an entity called "switchboard"which is then installed into an installation as PEW.
The other is assembling it as PEW; treating the enclosure(s) and each fitting within individually.
If assembling as PEW; the work is done by licenced person(s) and the work is included on a CoC.
If manufactured, there should be some sort of documentation asserting compliance.
2018 edition of "3000" provides guidance WRT compliance documentation in an Appendix.
However regardless of which of these pathways has been followed; responsibility for safety of the switchboard once installed into an installation rests with the certifier.
Important to recognise that switchboards are not required to comply with a particular Standard.
They are not DMRAs or DHEAs, so no SDoC or Approval is required by ESRs.
What they have to comply with is the relevant clauses of "3000" - most but not all of which are in subsection 2.9.
Under currently-cited edition of "3000" (2007 +A1 +A2); subsection 2.9 does call up "3439",
but this "secondary citation" is non-mandatory except for one aspect.
2.9.3 "construction (of switchboard)"; 2.9.3.2 "suitability"; says that switchboards complying with the relevant requirements of "3439" are deemed to comply with 2.9.3 . Not that construction of the switchboard must comply with the Standard; just that a switchboard that does comply with (constructional) requirements of "3439" is recognised as complying with 2.9.3.
2.9.3.3 then goes a step further, by requiring clearance & creepage distances to comply with "3439 series".
So, at minimum, you either check it yourself; or you seek documentation that satisfies you that the switchboard complies with 3439 in general,
and in particular that creepage / clearance distances comply.
Under 2018 edition; situation was similar, though also citing "61439" series as alternative.
Then Amendment 2 set a "trigger" condition such that switchboards either above a specified current rating, or above a specified PFC, must comply in full; whereas below the trigger level only some particular aspects must comply.
A3 then deletes almost all references to "3439 series; leaving "61439 as the only recognised manufacturing Standard for new switchboards
This is because "3439 series has been withdrawn; so is no longer being maintained.
This may mean that re-using an old switchboard that was built to an earlier Standard is likely to be non-compliant.
Which mostly only affects construction sites and show / carnival "temporary" installations; however in some cases such switchboards can be re-certified - by the original manufacturer - to the new Standard. Re-certification by a 3rd-party test lab could also be done ; but with significant cost.
Regardless of what documentation you may have, it's still the certifier that signs-off the safety of the switchboard.
And the documentation won't cover all aspects of switchboard compliance; it's only, or largely, about construction of the switchboard;
the installer still has to ensure other aspects as per rest of 2.9 (and any other requirements of "3000") .
That said; I'd expect a reputable manufacturer's product would comply with eg 2.9.4, 2.9.5, & 2.9.6.
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