Fixed Appliance Isolation

[onslow]

Hi Guys, I'm new to this forum so I hope I'm posting in the right place

I am a fire and security engineer and have a few issues on safety with the company I'm working for and want some confirmation before I bring the matters up with management.

I'm coming across external CCTV camera's with mains present within the housings for the 12/24V PSU's but the spur units are inside the building, it is my understanding that such a camera is a fixed appliance and should have a means of isolation within 1 metre of the device?

Also I am finding that this company use through crimp connectors to join mains flex's, (again without isolation beeing in sight) though the connectors are insulated they tend to join the cable just using 1 end, the other end of the connector is open and the live connector is exposed at about 3mm inside.

Just need someone to confirm before refusing to work on this stuff.

Thanks

Steve

 

[ses]

The crimping is poor is it in any enclosure or heat shrink?

 

[somersetsparks]

If the fused spur units are inside and lockable, this is ok IMO, MK switched fused and fused spur units are. Crimping sounds OK if its enclosed in a suitable enclosure, I certainly wouldn't refuse to work on it.

 

[onslow]

Thanks for the replies, the Camera spurs are not lockable but on the other hand they are not reachable without access. If the crimps were in in a control cabinet or such like I wouldn't have a problem but these are in suspended ceilings and in desk cabinets that can be accessed by shop staff.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Octopus]

I would recomment that all fixed equipment, which is both inside and out, have double pole isolation which is accessible.

 

[telectrix]

the cameras themselves do not require local isolation as they are ELV. the PSUs should have the LV supply fed via a FCU, fused at 3A or 5A. where T/E cable is jointed, the joints should be in a suitable enclosure, with none of the conductor insulation ( brown/blue or red/black) exposed outside the encloosure. i.e. the grey outer sheath should end within the enclosure. said enclosure should be only accessible to open by means of a tool.

- - - Updated - - -

the cameras themselves do not require local isolation as they are ELV. the PSUs should have the LV supply fed via a FCU, fused at 3A or 5A. where T/E cable is jointed, the joints should be in a suitable enclosure, with none of the conductor insulation ( brown/blue or red/black) exposed outside the encloosure. i.e. the grey outer sheath should end within the enclosure. said enclosure should be only accessible to open by means of a tool.

 

[onslow]

the cameras themselves do not require local isolation as they are ELV. the PSUs should have the LV supply fed via a FCU, fused at 3A or 5A. where T/E cable is jointed, the joints should be in a suitable enclosure, with none of the conductor insulation ( brown/blue or red/black) exposed outside the encloosure. i.e. the grey outer sheath should end within the enclosure. said enclosure should be only accessible to open by means of a tool.

Hi, thanks for the reply. In this instance the mains has been brought into the external camera housing to the ELV PSU, bizzarly there is actually a fused mains block in the housing but this is used for the 12V?? the mains flex is joined to the flex on the 12V inline PSU in block, the spur for this is at high level internaly.

Thanks

 

[shocking_eg]

why not use external mounted PSU's and fit a MK IP rated spur next to it ?

 

[onslow]

why not use external mounted PSU's and fit a MK IP rated spur next to it ?

If the job was done properly in the 1st place it would have an IP rated adaptable box adjacent to the camera with the ELV PSU and a spur in it, unfortunately this is stuff that I have to service.

 

[shocking_eg]

If the job was done properly in the 1st place it would have an IP rated adaptable box adjacent to the camera with the ELV PSU and a spur in it, unfortunately this is stuff that I have to service.

how long are your cable runs ?

i often use cat 6 cabling and run remote power up to some distances with no issues.

 

[londonlec]

If the job was done properly in the 1st place it would have an IP rated adaptable box adjacent to the camera with the ELV PSU and a spur in it, unfortunately this is stuff that I have to service.

Surely that makes it easier for 'undesirables' to turn the cameras off?!

 

[shocking_eg]

If they can get close enough to open the box and turn it off don't you think they would have ripped it off the wall by then ?

Obviously these things are mounted out of normal reach !

 

[onslow]

how long are your cable runs ?

i often use cat 6 cabling and run remote power up to some distances with no issues.

Yep we use Cat 5 & Baluns/Hubs on huge installs, but the issue I have is already fitted and I need to service/repair safely so I was looking at advice to take to my manager as to where the isolation should be. Thanks for the input though