Outdoor working

Effective and safe operation is of prime importance in all electrical installations, but how can this be ensured in an outdoor environment? MEP Middle East investigates the issues and latest products available to prevent problems.

When installing electrical systems indoors, alongside their effective operation safety is of prime importance. In addition to the carrying out of correct wiring procedures to ensure the highest levels of safety, quality products must be chosen.

Selecting those manufactured to internationally recognised standards such as the CE mark or British Kitemark is the simplest way to ensure both compliance with regulations and high safety standards. But take the installation outdoors and there are many other issues to consider.

Local environmental conditions mean that any outdoor electrical installations in the Middle East have to be able to withstand extreme heat, humidity, sandstorms and potential rainfall.

"The Middle East area's climate is really a tough test [for electrical accessories]," stresses Scame Middle East product specialist Arrigoni Andrea. "Hot temperatures, sunshine and sand are what you have to deal with," he adds.

"The biggest issue in the Gulf area is that you need to know that the products will survive for the guaranteed time minimum and a long time in general in this very hard weather of high temperatures and high humidity; you also need products that can use the power in clever [and efficient] way," adds Steinel middle East general manager Hazaa Heraki.

"The manufacturer must also be sure about the humidity resistance of their products as in the Gulf area this is mainly between 60 - 90 % all year round," stresses Heraki.

Application considerations

In addition to climate conditions, the location and purpose of the installation will mean different levels of risk for the electrical integrity of the system. Plugs and sockets that are safe to use in gardens, may not be suitable for use around swimming pools for example; and installations in marine environments such as marinas may need further consideration to cater for the corrosive effects of salt water.

As well as the standard safety marks, contractors and installers must look out for the ingress protection (IP) rating of each product to ensure their final selection will meet the demands of the application.

The aim of the IP ratings is to provide users with detailed and specific information about the conditions in which an item of equipment can be safely and effectively used.

The ratings cover levels of water and solid ingress protection and the definitions have been standardised internationally in IEC 60,529: Degrees of protection provided by enclosures - IP Code.

"The IP rating informs users about the location that the [product] is suitable to be placed near," explains Heraki.

"For example, if a light is close to a water source and can be reached by it then it should be IP54-rated. If the light has to deal with a direct source of water like a shower, then it should be IP65-rated; if it is to be fixed underwater it must be rated to IP68," he adds.

Product availability

There are now many electrical accessories available on the markets that are suitable specifically for outdoor application.

"A highly strategic business of Scame's is watertight products for industrial and household application," states Andrea.

The firm offers several product ranges including the Eureka, Optima, Unibox and Protecta Series. The Optima series includes plugs and sockets that are rated up to IP67 in a complete range from 16A to 125A for panel and surface mounting.

The Omnia series of switched socket outlets features interlocks for surface or flush mounting as well as the Advance2 System switched socket outlet with interlock up to 125A. This is also available with fuse holder, a six-module din rail and in a heavy-duty version.

"Until recently our outdoor range for household applications was based on the Unibox series of surface or flush mounting IP55-rated enclosures. These are available either empty or, more popularly, with modular devices from our Evolution series, such as one-way or two-way switches and BSI 13 or 15A socket outlets," explains Andrea.

"This product was very well accepted by the market, but despite that we wanted to go further," he adds.

To do this the firm launched the Protecta series into the Middle East market during April. Protecta includes a complete set of BSI-approved switches and socket outlets that are IP66-rated.

This comprised single and double switches, one-way or two-way up to 20A, plus 13 and 15A socket outlets; both switches and sockets can be supplied for flush or surface mounting. These feature a tinted and polycarbonate body that ensures the products are shockproof and resistant to chemicals and ultraviolet (uv) rays.