S.I. No. 526/1997 - National Standards Authority Of Ireland (Section 28) (Electrical Plugs, Plug Similar Devices and Sockets For Domestic Use) Regulations, 1997.

1. Any plug, socket or adaptor which incorporates any other electrical device (other than a fuse link, switch or indicator light).

2. Any plug or socket forming part of a ceiling-rose connector (that is to say a connector designed to hold up over-head electric lighting fittings).

3. Any plug or socket forming part of a luminaire comprising a track system for electric lights and their fittings.

4. Any non-I.S. 401:1997 plug supplied loose which is manufactured to comply with the safety provisions of IEC 884-1 and which is marked with or accompanied by a warning that it is not suitable for connections to a mains socket in the State or the United Kingdom.

5. Any non-rewirable or any moulded-on Europlug (that is to say any plug conforming with IS EN 50075) which is designed for the purpose of connecting to a shaver supply unit conforming to IS/EN 60742:1990, Isolating Transformers and Safety Isolating Transformers Requirements.

6. Any travel adaptor (that is to say any adaptor which enables a plug designed for use in the State or the United Kingdom to be connected to a socket used outside the State and the United Kingdom).

SECOND SCHEDULE

Regulation 4

SAFETY OBJECTIVES FOR ELECTRICAL SOCKET-OUTLETS, PLUGS AND PLUG SIMILAR-DEVICES

1.

General Conditions

(

a

) The manufacturer's name or brand name or trade mark or that of any person responsible for placing them on the market shall be clearly indicated on socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices.

(

b

) Socket-outlets which conform to sub-clause 4.1 and 4.2 of I.S. 180:1973 and plugs intended for insertion into such socket-outlets shall have their live, neutral and earth contacts marked L, N and E, respectively, according to the following practice

(i) when viewed from the front of a socket-outlet the positions of the contacts shall be

top

—

earth

lower right

—

live

lower left

—

neutral

(ii) when viewed from the pin side of a plug the positions of the contacts shall be

top

—

earth

lower right

—

neutral

lower left

—

live

(

c

) The rating of plugs intended for insertions into socket-outlets which comply with the provisions of the Industrial Research and Standards Act (Section 44) (Electrical Mains Socket-Outlet) Order, 1973 (

S.I. No. 322 of 1973

) shall be the same as the rating of the corresponding socket-outlets specified in Clause 3 of I.S. 180:1973.

(

d

) Socket-outlets, plugs and plug-similar devices shall be so designed, manufactured and constructed as to ensure that protection against the hazards specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Schedule is assured provided that such socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices are used for purposes for which they were intended by the manufacturer thereof and are adequately maintained.

2.

Protection against hazards arising from socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices

For the purposes of complying with the provisions of paragraph 1(

d

) of this Schedule, socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices shall be designed, manufactured and constructed so that

(

a

) persons are adequately protected against danger or physical injury or other harm which might be caused by electrical contact direct or indirect,

(

b

) temperatures or arcs which would cause a danger to persons or property are not produced,

(

c

) foreseeable non-electrical dangers are not caused by socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices to persons or property, and

(

d

) the electrical insulation is adequate.

3.

Protection against hazards which may be caused by external influences on socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices

For the purposes of complying with the provisions of paragraph 1(

d

) of this Schedule, socket-outlets, plugs or plug-similar devices shall be be so designed, manufactured and constructed that they are capaple of withstanding such rough handling as could reasonably be expected in normal use, so that persons and property are not endangered.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 18th day of December, 1997.

MARY HARNEY,

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Regulations and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The purpose of these Regulations is to cater for new Irish and British Standards relating to these products and to allow for equivalent European standards where applicable. The regulations also provide for future amendments to Irish Standard Marks. These Regulations revoke the existing regulations, S.I. 172 of 1987. However, the main purpose of the Regulations remain unchanged in ensuring that non 13 Amp plugs, plug similar devices and socket outlets are manufactured and conform to particular standards before being sold to the consumer.

I, MARY HARNEY, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by

section 28

of

National Standards Authority of Ireland Act 1996

, (No. 28 of 1996) (as adapted by the Enterprise and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 (

S.I. No. 305 of 1997

)), hereby make the following regulations