14974 Fabricate and Install Busbars in Electric Switchboards

Explanatory notes

1This unit standard has been developed for learning and assessment on-job.

2References

Electricity Act 1992;

Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010;

Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and associated regulations;

Accident Compensation Act 2001;

AS/NZS 3000:2007, Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules), including Amendment 1;

AS/NZS 3439.4:2009, Low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies – Particular requirements for assemblies for construction sites (ACS);

New Zealand Electrical Codes of Practice (NZECP), ISSN 0114-0663 (available from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment);

and all subsequent amendments and replacements.

3Definitions

Industry practice – practice used and recommended by organisations involved in the electrotechnology industry.

Set – a combination of angles, bends, and distances between angles and bends on a busbar.

Switchboard – low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies, the rated voltage of which does not exceed 1000 V a.c. at frequencies not exceeding 1000 Hz, or 1500 V d.c.

4Range

aAll activities are to be conducted in accordance with applicable specifications, documented enterprise, legislative and/or regulatory requirements, and local bylaws. Activities must also meet the requirements of the above in terms of personal, product, and work site safety.

bFor purposes of this unit standard, busbars are limited to a capacity of 1000 amps.

Outcomes and evidence requirements

Outcome 1

Make single bends in busbars to a plan.

Rangebusbars – two of different profile sizes;

bends – one on each busbar, each of 90 degrees maximum;

plan – any one of profile drawing, engineer’s sketch, own sketch.

Evidence requirements

1.1Bending of busbars is achieved using bending tools in a safe manner.

1.2Bending of busbars to the required angle is achieved without loss of mechanical or electrical integrity.

1.3Busbar bending radii are consistent and show efficient use of materials and are in accordance with industry practice.

Outcome 2

Achieve specified busbar sets.

Rangetwo angles, and one distance between angles, on each of two busbars.

Evidence requirements

2.1Busbars are bent to specified sets in accordance with industry practice.

2.2Accurate bending of busbars is demonstrated by close nesting of the two busbars on first attempt.

Outcome 3

Punch or drill holes in busbars.

Evidence requirements

3.1Holes are either punched or drilled in busbars consistent with requirements of the drawing.

Rangerequirements – diameter, position.

3.2Busbar holes are created in a consistent and safe manner.

3.3Edges of holes are reamed to remove all burrs in accordance with industry practice.

Outcome 4

Install busbars and bracing systems.

Evidence requirements

4.1Busbar support systems are installed according to specification.

4.2Busbars are positioned to achieve specified clearances and creepage distance.

4.3Busbars are jointed to meet specification in accordance with industry practice.

4.4Phase rotation and colour coding of busbars complies with drawing specifications.

4.5Busbars are installed in accordance with electromagnetic field requirements.

This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.

Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions

This CMR can be accessed at

Please note

Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.