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Chapters 55, 56 and 57 — equipment, safety services, batteriesWhat does Chapter 56 cover?
Free from the notes: the section word for word as members see it, and a PDF to keep.
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Exactly as they are on the site.
Part 5 is everything you physically bring along and install. These three chapters are where that finishes, and they are almost pure lookup — know what lives where and you'll never hunt.
Chapter 55 — other equipment
| Section | Covers |
|---|---|
| 551 | Low voltage generating sets — including where the protective measure is SELV or PELV (both also appear in Part 4) |
| 552 | Rotating machines — anything with a motor, and generators |
| 553 | Accessories — plugs and socket outlets |
| 554 | Specific current-using equipment — water heaters with immersed heating elements, electrode water heaters and boilers, heating conductors |
| 555 | Transformers |
| 557 | Auxiliary circuits — the control circuit inside a motor circuit, e.g. the controller in a direct-on-line starter |
| 559 | Luminaires and lighting installations |
Inside 559 — lighting details that get asked
- Track systems are covered as a type of lighting installation.
- It tells you how luminaires connect to the fixed wiring. At each fixed lighting point one of the accessories listed in Reg 559.5.1 shall be used — for example a ceiling rose to BS 67, a luminaire supporting coupler, or a DCL. Note the "shall" — that's a requirement, not a recommendation.
- A luminaire may be supplied from a socket-outlet circuit: fit a fused connection unit on the ring or radial, drop the fuse rating down and run a lighting circuit from it. Ugly, but permitted.
Chapter 56 — safety services
A safety service is something that has to keep working when things go wrong. The list in the chapter includes:
| Fire alarm and smoke alarm systems | CO (carbon monoxide) alarms |
| Fire pumps | Emergency lighting |
| Essential medical systems | UPS — uninterruptible power supply |
| Lifts for the fire and rescue service |
Chapter 57 — stationary batteries
Recent material, brought in by amendment — the change bars in the margin mark it.
- Section 578 carries the list of factors to be taken into account when selecting the battery type and capacity. Classic "which of these is not a consideration" question — go to the list and find the answer that isn't on it.
- Protection by automatic disconnection of supply shall be provided by an RCD.
- "Stationary battery" means the sort of home battery storage you'd have going partly or fully off grid — typically paired with a solar PV system.
551 · low voltage generating sets 552 · rotating machines 553 · accessories · plugs and socket outlets 554 · specific current-using equipment 555 · transformers 557 · auxiliary circuits 559.5.1 · accessories at a fixed lighting point (e.g. BS 67 ceiling rose) ★ Chapter 56 · safety services ★ 560.4.1 · changeover times Chapter 57 · 578 · stationary batteries ★
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