The purpose of EGN 3 is to set safety standards and ensure that those who select, use and maintain residual current devices (RCDs) in broadcasting environments are aware of their responsibilities under BBC Requirements and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. It is intended to cover the selection, maintenance and use of RCDs in all areas and in particular will apply to Resources, N&R, DEC, F&L, Sport, News, World Service, Radio & Music, Technology, Broadcast and CBBC.

The RCDs covered by this Guidance Note will be various types and will be found:

Bay mounted
In workshop power cabinets or on bench supplies
In tape areas where there is movable trolley equipment
In Radio or TV Studios and within OB Units and for their external power outlets
In use with Performers' equipment in studios
On location, in both News, PSC (portable single camera) work and Radio Cars

Note that the correct name for the RCDs usually provided in BBC use should be RCCB (residual current operated circuit-breaker) as this is the name for a device without integral overload protection. Other devices are available with integral overload protection and are known as RCBOs.

This EGN replaces all previous safety documentation with regard to the selection, use and maintenance of RCDs, issued by BBC Safety or by the former Engineering Management Safety Committee (e.g. EMSC guidance Paper No. 3). It does not however, replace documents issued at Divisional or Departmental level, although such documents must neither conflict with nor set standards which are not as rigorous as those given here.

Download the full document here.