New CSA Standard for Machinery Electrical Equipment

Last updated on August 25th, 2022 at 04:54 pm

Electrical Equipment of Machinery

Most modern machinery is controlled electrically or electronically. There are several standards that apply to the design of control systems for machinery, with IEC 60204-1 and its EN equivalent, along with IEC 61439-1 and IEC 61439-2 as the predominant standards internationally, and NFPA 79 as the predominant standard in the US and Canada. Until now.

CSA C22.2 No. 301, Industrial Electrical Machinery

In 2014, a project was started to develop a new Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) Part 2 standard focused on the electrical equipment of machines. There were already two CEC Part 2 standards that covered Industrial Control panels but not specifically controls associated with machinery: CSA C22.2 No. 14, Industrial Control Equipment, and CSA C22.2 No. 286, Industrial control panels and assemblies.

This new standard, entitled “Industrial Electrical Machinery,” aims at the same equipment types covered by NFPA 79 and IEC 60204-1. Here’s the scope of the new standard:

1 Scope

1.1

This standard applies to interconnected mechanical systems of industrial electrical and electronic equipment operating in a coordinated manner.

1.2

This standard applies to equipment rated at not more than 1000 V intended to be installed and used in non-hazardous locations in accordance with the rules of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I.

1.3

This standard applies to equipment that is:

• permanently installed
• mobile
• relocatable, or
• self powered.

1.4

The industrial equipment covered by this Standard is intended for use in an ambient temperature of 0 ?C to 40 ?C.

1.5

This standard does not specify additional and special requirements that can apply to electrical equipment that:

• is intended for use in open air (i.e. outside buildings or other protective structures);
• will use, process, or produce potentially explosive material (for example paint or sawdust);
• is intended for use in potentially explosive and/or flammable atmospheres;
• has special risks when producing or using certain materials;
• is intended for use in mines

1.6

This standard does not apply to equipment portable by hand while working

1.7

This standard does not apply to self-propelled work platforms

1.8

This standard does not specify additional and special requirements that can apply to electrical welding equipment within the scope of CSA C22.2 No. 60 or CSA/CAN E60974-1

1.9

This standard may be used to supplement but does not replace requirements that already exist in a published CSA component standard

If you are interested in seeing the rest of this standard before it’s published, you’re in luck! It’s available on CSA’s Public Review site until 6-Aug-16. You can read and comment on the document using that system, and your comments will be reviewed and dealt with by the task group that created the document. If you are not already registered there, you will have to set up a free account, but that only takes a couple of minutes to do. That also gives you access to all of the other standards that are out for public review, so if your interests are broader than just electrical or machinery, you can look at any of the others.

Is No. 301 needed?

I question the need for this standard, as I believe that the existing standards already cover this type of machinery more than adequately and that all CSA needed to do was adopt IEC 60204-1 and IEC 61439; however, at this point, I am one lone voice.

If you agree with me, please make your voice heard through CSA’s Public Review system. On the other hand, if you like what the document is about, then please support it.

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