Hong Kong Regulations

ELECTRICITY (WIRING) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 2

Interpretation

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

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 telecommunications,
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; (36 of 2000 s. 28)

"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)