EGN16 - Racks and Rack or Bay Mounted Equipment - Safety Inspection and Testing

 

This Electrical Guidance Note (EGN) provides the Requirements and supporting Guidance to ensure that those who use rack/bay-mounted equipment or who are responsible for areas in which such equipment is used are aware of their responsibilities under BBC Requirements and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and work safely. The document applies to all staff, contractors and casual and part-time persons working on BBC premises or any place at which the BBC is carrying on its business.

 

Items covered by this Guidance Note include individual pieces of mains-powered equipment which are installed in a rigid framework or equipment rack/bay by screws or other devices, or which are resting on a fixed shelf in an enclosed rack or equipment bay. This includes mains supply cables/cord sets between the mains distribution unit (MDU) and the individual items of equipment in the rack/bay, together with the mains cable and connectors which supply the bay MDU, if this is terminated in a free plug which mates with a fixed outlet connected to the building wiring system. Note that it also covers equipment mounted in racks/bays in OB Units or other vehicles, Portacabins and wheeled trolleys.

 

Items of rack/bay mounted equipment powered solely by batteries need not be tested under this EGN. Dual mains/battery powered equipment, including items which have an internal UPS, but where no mains voltage output from that UPS is provided for use outside the equipment should be tested in accordance with this EGN. Stand-alone UPSs, and those contained within items of equipment where a mains voltage output from it is provided for use outside the equipment should be tested in accordance with EGN 11 (Back-up and Independent Power Supplies). In all cases, the care and handling of batteries contained within items of equipment mentioned above is covered by EGN 18 (Batteries - safe use, maintenance and disposal).

 

This EGN covers the safety aspects of use, testing and maintenance of rack/bay-mounted equipment as defined in this document. It replaces all previous safety documentation with regard to rack/bay-mounted equipment, issued by BBC Safety or by the former Engineering Management Safety Committee. 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.

 

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