Title: |
Electrical Equipment Safety |
Publication date: |
1/17/2019 |
Effective date: |
12/16/2013 |
BRIEF
Policy Summary
The Berkeley Lab Electrical Equipment Safety Program (EESP) is designed to ensure safe operation and installation of electrical utilization equipment. This is achieved by purchasing equipment with a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) certification, or through a Berkeley Lab inspection and approval process, with final approval by the Berkeley Lab Electrical Safety Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Who Should Read This Policy
Any Berkeley Lab employee, subcontractor, or affiliate who purchases or builds electrical utilization equipment for use at Berkeley Lab that has a potential of 50 volts or greater anywhere in the equipment
To Read the Full Policy, Go To:
The POLICY tab on this wiki page
To Read the ES&H Program Details, Go To:
http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/CH14.html
Contact Information
Mark Scott
Electrical Safety Program Manager
EHS Division / Occupational Safety Department / Electrical Safety Group
Title: |
Electrical Equipment Safety |
Publication date: |
1/17/2019 |
Effective date: |
12/16/2013 |
POLICY
A. Purpose
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) Electrical Equipment Safety Program (EESP) is designed to ensure the safe operation and installation of electrical utilization equipment. This is achieved by purchasing equipment with a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) certification, or through a Berkeley Lab inspection and approval process, with final approval by the Berkeley Lab Electrical Safety Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
B. Persons Affected
Any Berkeley Lab employee, subcontractor, or affiliate who purchases or builds electrical utilization equipment for use at Berkeley Lab that has a potential of 50 volts or greater anywhere in the equipment.
C. Exceptions
The following types of electrical equipment do not require inspection and approval prior to use:
- Unmodified NRTL-Listed Equipment: Equipment that is listed by an NRTL and has not been modified.
- Unused Equipment: Equipment that is not being used (e.g., in storage, staged for salvage or excess, etc.). Equipment that is not being used must be labeled with the EQUIPMENT OUT OF SERVICE label (see Appendix B) so it is clear it is not in use.
- Equipment Granted Conditional Acceptance Under Work Process E: Prototype or proof-of-concept equipment (e.g., test chassis, benchtop experiment) in the process of being built to test the validity of a design and that is under the exclusive control of the designer if used for less than three months. Equipment being developed that exceeds a three-month period may be acceptable but requires Conditional Acceptance per Work Process E.
- Equipment Considered Nonhazardous: Equipment in any of the following categories is considered nonhazardous:
Note: Equipment that is connected to AC only via a step-down transformer/AC adapter with voltage output less than 50 volts is exempt, but the transformer/AC adapter must be NRTL Listed.
D. Policy Statement
- The Berkeley Lab Electrical Equipment Safety Program (EESP) is designed to ensure the safe operation and installation of electrical utilization equipment. Only electrical utilization equipment that has been approved by the AHJ may be used at Berkeley Lab. Electrical utilization equipment that has been Accepted, Certified, Labeled, or Listed by an NRTL is considered acceptable to the AHJ, and is approved for use provided the equipment is installed and used within the manufacturer's listing intent. Electrical utilization equipment that has NOT been Accepted, Certified, Labeled, or Listed by an NRTL is not acceptable to the AHJ unless it has satisfactorily passed a documented safety inspection. To meet this requirement, Berkeley Lab has established the EESP.
- Upon installation, and prior to energization, newly purchased or Berkeley Lab–built electrical utilization equipment:
-
- Must receive an initial survey (Work Process C, Equipment Surveys)
- That is not NRTL Listed must be inspected by an Electrical Equipment Inspector and approved by the AHJ (Work Process D, Inspecting and Approving Electrical Equipment)
E. Roles and Responsibilities
Role |
Responsibilities |
Engineering Division Director / AHJ |
|
EHS Electrical Safety Program Manager |
|
Berkeley Lab Electrical Safety Subcommittee (ESSC) |
|
Divisions |
|
Equipment Supervisor |
|
Inspector |
Qualified person designated by the AHJ to perform EESP inspections. Inspectors must complete training course EHS0383. |
Procurement Department |
Ensures that all written purchase orders and contracts include language requiring NRTL-Listed equipment. |
F. Definitions/Acronyms
Term |
Definition |
Approved |
Acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) |
Acceptable |
Electrical utilization equipment is "acceptable" to the Berkeley Lab AHJ and approved if it is accepted, certified, listed, labeled, or otherwise determined to be safe by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). |
Accepted |
Electrical utilization equipment is "accepted" if it has been inspected and found by an NRTL to conform to specified plans or to procedures of applicable codes. |
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) |
Generally, an organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure. At Berkeley Lab, the Electrical AHJ function is divided three ways:
|
Certified |
Electrical utilization equipment is "certified" if it bears a label, tag, or other record of certification that the equipment:
|
CE |
Conformité Européene: This is a manufacturer's self-declaration of conformity to European design standards. It is not equivalent to an NRTL listing because:
|
Electrical Equipment Safety Program (EESP) |
An inspection program designed to meet the OSHA requirement for AHJ acceptance of Unlisted electrical utilization equipment |
Field evaluation |
An electrical equipment safety inspection on Unlisted equipment performed on site by a Third-Party Field Evaluating Body (FEB) |
Field Evaluating Body (FEB) |
An organization that performs electrical equipment safety inspections and that is recognized by the AHJ. It is recognized by the AHJ if it meets the requirements of NFPA 790 and NFPA 791. |
Inspection |
An equipment electrical safety inspection performed on Unlisted equipment by an authorized EESP inspector |
Legacy equipment |
Electrical utilization equipment surveyed before October 1, 2013 |
Labeled |
Electrical utilization equipment is "labeled" if there is attached to it a label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an NRTL that (1) makes periodic inspections of the production of such equipment and (2) whose labeling indicates compliance with nationally recognized standards or tests to determine safe use in a specified manner. |
Listed (NRTL Listed) |
Electrical utilization equipment is "Listed" if it is of a kind mentioned in a list that is published by an NRTL that (1) makes periodic inspection of the production of such equipment and (2) states that such equipment meets nationally recognized standards or has been tested and found safe for use in a specified manner. |
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) |
An organization that is recognized by OSHA and that tests for safety; or lists, labels, or accepts equipment based on established national standards. The NRTL is an independent third party and is not the manufacturer of the product or a government agency. A partial list of NRTL labels is provided in Appendix A. The full list of NRTL labels can be found online at: {+}http://osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/nrtlmrk.html+ |
Reputable manufacturer |
Manufacturers listed in Appendix D are considered reputable and provide adequate technical support and technical documentation, and follow standard accepted safe designs even though they do not always obtain NRTL listing for their products. |
Survey |
The process of identifying and indexing Unlisted electrical utilization equipment that will later be inspected by a designated EESP Equipment Inspector. |
Surveyor |
Personnel identified by their division to conduct the NRTL survey for their organization are referred to as Electrical Equipment Surveyors. Before conducting the survey, Electrical Equipment Surveyors must complete training course EHS0381. |
Unlisted |
Electrical utilization equipment is "Unlisted" if it is not listed. |
Utilization equipment |
Equipment that utilizes electric energy for electronic, electromechanical, chemical, heating, lighting, or similar purposes |
G. Recordkeeping Requirements
Electrical utilization equipment surveys, inspections, status, and approvals are maintained on the EESP database.
H. Implementing Documents
Document number |
Title |
Type |
07.07.034.001 |
Program |
|
07.07.034.002 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.003 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.004 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.005 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.006 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.007 |
Work Process F, Inspecting and Approving Electrical Equipment |
Process |
07.07.034.008 |
Work Process G. Repair, Salvage, and Out-of-Service Equipment |
Process |
07.07.034.009 |
Work Process H. Training Requirements for EESP Surveyors and Inspectors |
Process |
07.07.011.001 |
ES&H Manual Electrical Safety |
Program |
07.07.020.001 |
ES&H Manual Lockout/Tagout Program |
Program |
I. Contact Information
Mark Scott
Electrical Safety Program Manager
EHS Division / Occupational Safety Department / Electrical Safety Group
J. Revision History
Date |
Revision |
By whom |
Revision Description |
Section(s) affected |
Change Type |
12/16/2013 |
0 |
M. Scott |
New policy |
All |
Major |
1/17/19 |
0 |
M. Scott |
Updated NEC reference to 2017 |
Source Requirement Documents |
Minor |
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
Title: |
Electrical Equipment Safety |
Document number |
07.07.034.000 |
Revision number |
0 |
Publication date: |
1/17/2019 |
Effective date: |
1/17/2019 |
Next review date: |
1/17/2022 |
Policy Area: |
Industrial Hygiene and Safety |
RPM Section (home) |
ESH |
RPM Section (cross-reference) |
|
Functional Division |
EHS |
Prior reference information (optional) |
Source Requirements Documents
The 10 CFR 851 DOE Worker Safety and Health Program rule includes the following relevant standards by reference and must be complied with as law:
- Title 29 CFR, Part 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards. The relevant parts for this program are 1910.303(a) and 1910.399.
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, National Electrical Code, (2017). The relevant articles for this program are 90.7, 110.2 and 110.3.
Implementing Documents
Document number |
Title |
Type |
07.07.034.001 |
Program |
|
07.07.034.002 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.003 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.004 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.005 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.006 |
Process |
|
07.07.034.007 |
Work Process F, Inspecting and Approving Electrical Equipment |
Process |
07.07.034.008 |
Work Process G. Repair, Salvage, and Out-of-Service Equipment |
Process |
07.07.034.009 |
Work Process H. Training Requirements for EESP Surveyors and Inspectors |
Process |
07.07.011.001 |
ES&H Manual Electrical Safety |
Program |
07.07.020.001 |
ES&H Manual Lockout/Tagout Program |
Program |