Protection against direct contact

Protection against direct contact can be obtained both

by means of the assembly construction itself as well as

by means of complementary measures to be used during

installation.

The protective measures against direct contact are:

- Protection by insulation of live parts

Live parts shall be completely covered with an insulation

which can only be removed by destruction.

This insulation shall be made of suitable materials

capable of durably withstanding the mechanical,

electrical and thermal stresses to which the insulation

may be subjected in service.

Paints, varnishes, lacquers and similar products used

alone are generally not considered suitable for providing

adequate insulation for protection against direct

contact.

- Protection by barriers or enclosures

All external surfaces shall provide a degree of protection

against direct contact of at least IPXXB.

Horizontal top surfaces of accessible enclosures having

a height equal to or lower than 1.6 m shall provide

a degree of protection of at least IPXXD.

The distance between the mechanical means provided

for protection and the live parts they protect shall not

be less than the values specified for the clearances

and creepage distances.

All barriers and enclosures shall be firmly secured

in place. Taking into account their nature, size and

arrangement, they shall have sufficient stability and

durability to resist the strains and stresses likely to occur

in normal service without reducing clearances.

- Protection by obstacles

This measure applies to open-type assembly.