Hong Kong Regulations

ELECTRICITY (WIRING) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 2

Interpretation

Caution: This is a past version. See the current version here.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires- "approved
loading" (允許負載量) means the maximum current demand approved by an
electricity supplier in respect of a fixed electrical installation; "breaking
capacity" (斷流容量) means the value of current at which a switch, a
switch-disconnector, a circuit breaker or a fuse is capable of breaking a
circuit at a voltage and under conditions of use and behaviour specified by
its manufacturer; "category 1 circuit" (第1類電路) means a circuit that
operates at low voltage, but does not include a category 3 circuit; "category
2 circuit" (第2類電路) means a circuit for telecommunication, radio,
telephone, sound distribution, intruder alarm, bell and call, or data
transmission and that is supplied with electricity from a safety source, but
does not include a category 3 circuit; "category 3 circuit" (第3類電路)
means a circuit for emergency lighting, air pressurisation systems and fire
services installations including fire detection and alarm, fire pumps,
fireman's lifts and smoke extraction; "category 4 circuit" (第4類電路)
means a high voltage circuit; "circuit" (電路) means an assembly of
electrically connected electrical equipment supplied from the same origin and
protected against overcurrent by the same protective device or devices;
"conductor" (導體) means a wire, cable or other form of metal used for
conveying electric current from one piece of electrical equipment to another
or to earth; "current-carrying capacity" (載流量) means the maximum current
that can be carried by a conductor as determined by using the methods in the
"Regulations for Electrical Installations" as published by The Institution of
Electrical Engineers, London, England, and as those regulations may be amended
from time to time, without the conductor exceeding the permissible limit of
steady state temperature for the type of insulation concerned as specified in
those regulations; "distribution board" (配電箱) means an installed group
of fuses, switches, circuit breakers or other outlet points arranged for the
distribution of electricity; "earth"(地) means the conductive mass of the
earth whose electric potential at any point is conventionally taken as zero;
"earth electrode" (接地極) means a conductor or group of conductors in
intimate contact with earth and providing an electrical connection to earth;
"earth fault current" (電路的接地故障電流) of a circuit means an
unintended current that flows in a circuit when a live part of the circuit
comes into direct contact with earth; "earth leakage current"
(對地漏電電流) means a current that flows to earth, or to
extraneous conductive parts, in a circuit that is not intended to be connected
to earth during normal operation; "earthing" (接地) means connecting a
conductor with earth; "exposed conductive part" (外露非帶電金屬部分)
means a conductive part of electrical equipment that can be touched and that
is not a live part but which may become live under faulty conditions;
"extraneous conductive part" (非電氣裝置金屬部分) means a conductive
part liable to introduce a potential, generally earth potential, that does not
form part of an electrical installation; "final circuit" (最終電路) means
a circuit connected directly to current-using equipment, a socket outlet or
other outlet point; "isolation" (隔離) means cutting off an electrical
installation, a circuit or an item of electrical equipment from every source
of electricity; "linked circuit breaker"(連動斷路器), "linked
isolator"(連動隔離器) or "linked switch" (連動開關掣) means a
circuit breaker, isolator or switch the contacts of which are so arranged as
to make or break all poles simultaneously or in a definite sequence; "live
part" (帶電部分) means a conductor that is intended to be energised in
normal use, and includes a neutral conductor; "main earthing terminal"
(總接地終端) means the terminal or bar provided for the connection of
protective conductors, including equipotential bonding conductors, and
conductors for functional earthing if any, to the means of earthing; "neutral
conductor" (中性導體) means a conductor connected to the neutral point of
a system and contributing to the transmission of electricity; "overhead line"
(架空電纜) means a conductor that is placed above ground and is suspended
in the open air; "phase conductor" (相導體) means a conductor of an
alternating current circuit for the transmission of electricity, but does not
include a neutral conductor; "residual current device"
(電流式漏電斷路器) means a device or association of devices intended
to cause the opening of contacts when the residual current attains a specified
amperage under conditions specified by its manufacturer; "safety source"
(安全電源) means-

   (a)  a double-insulated safety isolating transformer with its secondary
        winding being isolated from earth, and having a nominal output voltage
        not exceeding 55V;

   (b)  a source of electricity providing a degree of safety equivalent to
        that of the safety isolating transformer referred to in paragraph (a)

(for example, a motor- generator with windings providing equivalent
isolation); or

   (c)  a source providing electricity at a voltage not exceeding extra low
        voltage and independent of a higher voltage circuit; "substation"
        (電力分站) means premises or an enclosed part of premises that
        contains electrical equipment for transforming or converting energy to
        or from high voltage (other than transforming or converting energy
        solely for the operation of switching devices or instruments) or for
        switching, controlling or regulating energy at high voltage and that
        are large enough to admit the entrance of a person after the
        electrical equipment is in position; "switching" (開關) means making
        or breaking a current under normal circuit conditions; "switchroom"
        (開關房) means premises or an enclosed part of premises that
        contains electrical equipment for switching, controlling or regulating
        electricity at low voltage and above and that are large enough to
        admit the entrance of a person after the electrical equipment is in
        position. (Enacted 1990) "approved loading" (允許負載量)
        "breaking capacity" (斷流容量) "category 1 circuit"
        (第1類電路) "category 2 circuit" (第2類電路) "category 3
        circuit" (第3類電路) "category 4 circuit" (第4類電路)
        "circuit" (電路) "conductor" (導體) "current-carrying capacity"
        (載流量) "distribution board" (配電箱) "earth"(地) "earth
        electrode" (接地極) "earth fault current"
        (電路的接地故障電流) "earth leakage current"
        (對地漏電電流) "earthing" (接地) "exposed conductive part"
        (外露非帶電金屬部分) "extraneous conductive part"
        (非電氣裝置金屬部分) "final circuit" (最終電路)
        "isolation" (隔離) "linked circuit breaker"(連動斷路器),
        "linked isolator"(連動隔離器) or "linked switch"
        (連動開關掣) "live part" (帶電部分) "main earthing terminal"
        (總接地終端) "neutral conductor" (中性導體) "overhead line"
        (架空電纜) "phase conductor" (相導體) "residual current device"
        (電流式漏電斷路器) "safety source" (安全電源) "substation"
        (電力分站) "switching" (開關) "switchroom" (開關房)