GPS has completed all the necessary testing-verification required under BS EN 61439, the new standard for ‘low voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies’ which came in to force in November.
Taking a ‘verification max’ approach the company has set up an in-house 61439 test unit to carry out temperature rise testing, reflecting the biggest single change under the new rules.
Located in the recently opened Factory Acceptance Test Facility, purpose built in June 2014 to improve the utility and environment for customers at FAT testing, the temperature rise unit is fitted with a test rig that can apply currents of up to 4000A to MCCs in a controlled environment to meet the maximum and on-going requirements for verification.
GPS is one of the few manufacturers to have built its own facilities for temperature rise testing, allowing the company to test busbars, incomers and functional units in any combination, build its test library, and avoid any reliance on calculation and de-rating methods to be able to guarantee that all its assemblies are 61439 compliant.