Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Date June 2002

Low Voltage
Electrical
Installations

Synopsis
This document defines the
requirements for low voltage
installations on Railtrack controlled
infrastructure.

Submitted by

This document is the property of

Railway Safety. It shall not be
Anne E Blakeney reproduced in whole or in part without
Standards Project Manager the written permission of the Controller,
Railway Group Standards,
Railway Safety.
Authorised by
Published by:
Railway Safety
Evergreen House
160 Euston Road
London NW1 2DX
Brian Alston © Copyright 2002 Railway Safety
Controller, Railway Group Standards
Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

This page has been left blank intentionally

 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Low Voltage Electrical Installations Date June 2002
Page 1 of 10

Contents
Section Description Page

Part A
A1 Issue record 2
A2 Implementation of this document 2
A3 Scope of Railway Group Standards 2
A4 Responsibilities 2
A5 Health and safety responsibilities 3
A6 Technical content 3
A7 Supply 3

Part B
B1 Purpose 5
B2 Application of this document 5
B3 Definitions 6
B4 General requirements 6
B5 Protection and switching 7
B6 General earthing requirements 7
B7 Earthing requirements for LV electrical installations in AC electrified lines areas 7
B8 Earthing requirements for LV electrical installations in DC electrified lines areas 8
B9 Temporary low voltage electrical installations 9

References 10

RAILWAY SAFETY 1
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Date June 2002 Low Voltage Electrical Installations
Page 2 of 10

Part A
A1 Issue record
Issue Date Comments
One June 2002 Original Document

This document will be updated when necessary by distribution of a complete

replacement.

A2 Implementation of
this document
The publication date of this document is 1 June 2002.

This document comes into force on 3 August 2002.

The dates by which compliance with the requirements of this document is to be

achieved are set out in Part B2. Where those dates are later than the date on
which this document comes into force, this is to give Railway Group members
additional time to plan and commence implementation so as to achieve full
compliance by the dates set out in Part B2.

This document supersedes the following Railway Group Standards, either in

whole or in part as indicated:

Railway Issue Title RGS sections Date(s) as of

Group No. superseded by which sections
Standard this document are superseded

GM/RT1101 1 Low Voltage All except 3 August 2002

Electrical sections (document
Installations withdrawn as of
4.3, 4.4, 4.5 *
this date)

* Note: sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 of GM/RT1101 are superseded by GI/RT7008

which comes into force on the same date.

A3 Scope of Railway
Group Standards
The overall scope of Railway Group Standards is set out in Appendix A of
GA/RT6001. The specific scope of this document is set out in Part B2.

A4 Responsibilities
Railway Group Standards are mandatory on all members of the Railway Group*
and apply to all relevant activities that fall into the scope of each individual’s
Railway Safety Case. If any of those activities are performed by a contractor, the
contractor’s obligation in respect of Railway Group Standards is determined by
the terms of the contract between the respective parties. Where a contractor is
a duty holder of a Railway Safety Case then Railway Group Standards apply
directly to the activities described in the Safety Case.

* The Railway Group comprises Railtrack PLC, Railway Safety, and the train
and station operators who hold railway safety cases for operation on or related to
infrastructure controlled by Railtrack PLC.

Railtrack PLC is known as Railtrack.

2 RAILWAY SAFETY
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Low Voltage Electrical Installations Date June 2002
Page 3 of 10

A5 Health and safety

responsibilities
In issuing this document, Railway Safety makes no warranties, express or
implied, that compliance with all or any documents published by Railway Safety
is sufficient on its own to ensure safe systems of work or operation. Each user is
reminded of its own responsibilities to ensure health and safety at work and its
individual duties under health and safety legislation.

A6 Technical content
The technical content of this document has been approved by:

P Williment, Principal Electrification Engineer, Railway Safety

H Peers, Principal Plant Engineer, Railway Safety
J Allan, Principal Signalling and Telecoms Engineer, Railway Safety

Enquiries should be directed to Railway Safety – Tel: 020 7904 7518

A7 Supply
Controlled and uncontrolled copies of this document may be obtained from the
Industry Safety Liaison Dept, Railway Safety, Evergreen House,
160 Euston Road, London NW1 2DX.

RAILWAY SAFETY 3
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Date June 2002 Low Voltage Electrical Installations
Page 4 of 10

This page has been left blank intentionally

4 RAILWAY SAFETY
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Low Voltage Electrical Installations Date June 2002
Page 5 of 10

Part B
B1 Purpose
This document mandates the requirements for low voltage (LV) electrical
installations on Railtrack controlled infrastructure, supplementing BS 7671
‘Requirements for Electrical Installations’.

B2 Application of this
document
B2.1 To whom the requirements apply
This document contains requirements that are applicable to the duty holders of
the following categories of Railway Safety Case:

a) infrastructure controller

b) station operator.

Under the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000, the duty holder at a station
(as defined in those Regulations) is responsible for ensuring that the
requirements of Railway Group Standards are complied with. At a station,
contractual arrangements (including a lease) do not of themselves relieve the
duty holder of his obligations under those Regulations.

B2.2 Compliance requirements

B2.2.1 Infrastructure
The requirements of this document shall be complied with no later than
1 June 2002 for all new LV electrical installations within the scope of BS 7671 on
Railtrack controlled infrastructure.

Action to bring existing LV electrical installations into compliance with the

requirements of this document is not required provided that they were compliant
with the previously applicable standards.

B2.2.2 Stations
The requirements of this document shall be complied with no later than
1 June 2002 for all new LV electrical installations within the scope of BS 7671 on
stations.

Action to bring existing LV electrical installations into compliance with the

requirements of this document is not required provided that they were compliant
with the previously applicable standards.

B2.2.3 General compliance requirements

After the compliance date, or after the date by which compliance is achieved (if
earlier), Railway Group members shall not deviate from the requirements set out
in this document.

Where it is considered not practicable, or not reasonably practicable, to comply

with the requirements set out in this document, authorisation not to comply shall
be sought in accordance with GA/RT6001, GA/RT6004 or GA/RT6006.

Where LV electrical installations are being modified in the area covered by the
scope of this document, the design shall be reviewed and, where practicable,
brought into line with the requirements of this document.

B2.3 Exclusions from the application of this document

Excluded from the scope of BS 7671 (clause 110-02) and therefore from the
scope of this standard are:
a) ‘supplier’s works’ as defined in The Electricity Supply Regulations, 1988, as
amended
b) traction equipment, rolling stock and signalling equipment including
signalling power supplies

RAILWAY SAFETY 5
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Date June 2002 Low Voltage Electrical Installations
Page 6 of 10

c) point machines and level crossing equipment

d) telecommunications circuits for which the electrical safety requirements are
specified through other national standards (for example BS 6701).

B2.4 Supporting documents

GI/GN7607 Guidance for Low Voltage Electrical Installations.

B3 Definitions
Circuit protective conductor (BS 7671)
Circuit protective conductor (cpc) is a protective conductor connecting exposed-
conductive-parts of equipment to the main earth terminal.

Electrical installation (BS 7671)

An assembly of associated electrical equipment supplied from a common origin
to fulfil a specific purpose and having certain co-ordinated characteristics.

High voltage
High voltage (HV) is normally exceeding low voltage.

Low voltage
Normally not exceeding 1000 V AC or 1500 V DC between conductors, or
600 V AC or 900 V DC between conductors and earth.

Nominal voltage (BS EN 50122-1)

Voltage by which an installation or part of an installation is designated.

Temporary installation
An installation that is not intended to become a fixed installation, regardless of
the length of time.

Touch voltage (BS EN 50122-1)

Voltage under fault conditions between parts when touched simultaneously.

Traction equipment
The term traction equipment is used to mean the electrical equipment and
conductors necessary to power the trains on an electrified railway. It includes
the incoming supply feeders, switchgear and transformers which control and
provide the electrical current at the traction system’s line voltage, the distribution
network and catenary or conductor rail system including the traction return
circuit.

Traction return circuit (GL/RT1254)

The path by which the traction current returns from the traction unit to the feeder
station, or substation, incorporating the traction return rails, bonding
connections, return conductors and booster transformers as appropriate.

B4 General
requirements
B4.1 General requirements for LV electrical installations
The general requirements for LV electrical installations given in BS 7671, as
applicable to the rail industry, shall be followed.

B4.2 Cables to LV electrical equipment on or near to the running rail

Except as follows, cables that cross the track and that are energised at a
nominal voltage of more than 110 V shall not be routed on the surface. It is
permissible to route cables energised at a nominal voltage of 110 V or less, or
any cables connected to equipment attached to a running rail, on the surface
across the track formation rather than in under track crossings.

6 RAILWAY SAFETY
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Low Voltage Electrical Installations Date June 2002
Page 7 of 10

B5 Protection and
switching
B5.1 Residual current devices providing additional protection against
direct contact in DC electrified lines areas
When selecting a residual current device (RCD) to provide additional protection
against direct contact in DC electrified lines areas, consideration shall be given
to the effects of the level of DC leakage that may affect the operation of the
RCD. The infrastructure controller shall produce and maintain a list of approved
suppliers of RCDs that are immune up to declared levels of DC leakage and
shall make this list available to other Railway Group members on request.

B5.2 Fuses
Rewirable fuses shall not be used for short circuit or overcurrent protection.

B5.3 Interlocking
Interlocking shall be provided where it is necessary to prevent paralleling of
independent LV electrical power sources.

B5.4 Miniature circuit breakers

Miniature circuit breakers shall not be installed where they may be used as a
switch, for example as a light switch.

B6 General earthing
requirements
B6.1 Segregated HV and LV earth systems
Where HV and LV earth systems are segregated, Railway Group members shall
co-operate to design, install and maintain the LV electrical installation such that
the values of touch voltages specified in BS EN 50122-1 are not exceeded.

B6.2 Circuit protective conductor

Metallic conduit, trunking and cable trays shall not be used as a cpc where high
currents associated with other electrical systems would affect the integrity of the
cpc.

B6.3 Earth monitoring or earth proving device

Where appliances are used in hazardous situations the use of an earth
monitoring device, in addition to an RCD, shall be considered as part of the risk
assessment required by the Management of Health and Safety Regulations.

B6.4 Touch potentials

Where it is possible for a person simultaneously to touch exposed conductive
parts that are connected to the equipotential bonding system of the LV electrical
installation and the exposed conductive parts of the equipotential bonding
system of a rail mounted vehicle, touch voltage values shall not exceed those
specified in BS EN 50122-1.

B6.5 LV electrical equipment on or near to the running rail

Except where agreed by the infrastructure controller, all electrical equipment
attached to a running rail shall be energised from an earth-free, isolated power
supply, operated at a nominal voltage less than or equal to 110 V.

B7 Earthing
requirements for LV
electrical installations in
AC electrified lines areas
B7.1 Earthing and bonding
The requirements for AC electrified lines traction bonding are contained in
GL/RT1254.

RAILWAY SAFETY 7
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Date June 2002 Low Voltage Electrical Installations
Page 8 of 10

B7.2 LV electrical equipment within the LV electrical installations directly

bonded to the traction return circuit
The LV electrical equipment cpc shall not be connected to the LV electrical
equipment when the LV electrical equipment is either:

a) directly bonded to the traction return circuit or

b) is in contact with a conductive structure having a direct bond to the traction
return circuit.

B7.3 LV electrical equipment within the LV electrical installations

indirectly bonded to the traction return circuit
In each of the following circumstances the LV electrical equipment cpc shall be
connected to the LV electrical equipment and be rated to carry the prospective
traction fault current when the LV electrical equipment requires to be bonded and
either:

a) the LV electrical equipment is not in contact with any metalwork which itself
is connected to the traction return circuit or
b) a direct bond as in section B7.2 is not selected.

Where indirect bonding is used the fault path shall be completed by an

equipotential bond between the LV electrical installation supply main earth and
the traction return circuit.

B7.4 Telecommunications equipment within the LV electrical installations

that is not allowed to be bonded to the traction return circuit
Where the LV electrical installation feeds active telecommunications equipment
which requires a ‘noise free’ earth to operate reliably, the LV electrical
installation cpc shall not be bonded to the traction return circuit, either directly or
indirectly.

Where the structure of the building that houses the telecommunications

equipment room is metallic so that section B7.1 would apply, the
telecommunications equipment room must be segregated from the remainder of
the building and provided with an isolated electrical supply, which shall be
independently earthed and bonded to equipment within the segregated room.

B8 Earthing
requirements for LV
electrical installations in
DC electrified lines areas
B8.1 General
The requirements for DC electrified lines traction bonding are contained in
GL/RT1254.

B8.2 Non-electrified sidings in an electrified area

Non-electrified sidings in an electrified area shall be treated as electrified lines
unless fitted with insulated block joints.

B8.3 Protection against DC leakage

The LV electrical installation shall prevent the adverse effects of DC leakage in
the earth wire of any socket outlet, which may provide power to an electrical
appliance that will be used on or near an object in contact with the running rail or
other exposed conductive parts of the traction return circuit.

B8.4 Protection against DC leakage entering the neutral conductor

The LV electrical installation shall also prevent adverse effects from DC leakage
which may enter the neutral of any other equipment or electrical distribution
system because of earth faults.

8 RAILWAY SAFETY
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Low Voltage Electrical Installations Date June 2002
Page 9 of 10

B8.5 Earth monitoring or earth proving devices

The detection system of earth monitoring or earth proving devices shall be
protected against the effects of DC leakage.

B9 Temporary low
voltage electrical
installations
B9.1 Temporary LV electrical installations
All temporary LV electrical installations, including construction and non
construction sites, shall comply with clause 604 of BS 7671 and with HSG 141.

B9.2 Temporary supply

Where an LV electrical installation is to provide a temporary supply to a rail
mounted vehicle the Railway Group members shall co-operate to ensure
compliance with this standard.

RAILWAY SAFETY 9
 Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GI/RT7007
Issue One
Date June 2002 Low Voltage Electrical Installations
Page 10 of 10

References
Railway Group Standards and other Railway Group Documents
GA/RT6001 Railway Group Standards Change Procedures
GA/RT6004 Temporary Non-Compliance With Railway Group Standards
GA/RT6006 Derogations from Railway Group Standards
GI/GN7607 Guidance for Low Voltage Electrical Installations
GL/RT1254 Electrified Lines Traction Bonding

The Catalogue of Railway Group Standards and the Railway Group Standards
CD-ROM give the current issue number and status of documents published by
Railway Safety.

Other References
Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999
BS 6701 Code of practice for installation of apparatus intended for connection to certain
telecommunication systems
BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations
BS EN 50122-1 Railway applications – Fixed installations
Part 1. Protective provisions relating to electrical safety and earthing
HSG 141 Electrical Safety on Construction Sites

Further Reference Material

Railway Group Standards
GI/RT7008 Pipelines, Buried Services and Undertrack Crossings

10 RAILWAY SAFETY