What You Need to Know About CP5:1998 and Its Revisions for Electrical Installations
CP5:1998 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
Introduction
Electrical installations are essential for providing power, lighting, communication and automation services in buildings and infrastructure. However, they also pose potential hazards such as electric shock, fire, explosion, electromagnetic interference and equipment damage. Therefore, it is important to design, install, operate and maintain electrical installations in a safe, reliable, efficient and compatible manner.
CP5:1998 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS.pdf
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One of the key documents that guides the electrical industry in Singapore is the Code of Practice for Electrical Installations, commonly known as CP5. This code specifies the minimum standards and best practices for electrical installations in Singapore. It covers various aspects such as wiring systems, earthing systems, protection devices, switchgear, cables, appliances, generators, motors, transformers, batteries, solar photovoltaic systems and more.
The first edition of CP5 was published in 1977 as a modified adoption of the British Standard BS 7671. It was revised in 1988 and 1998 to incorporate changes and updates from BS 7671. The latest edition of CP5 was published in 2018 as SS 638. It is also a modified adoption of BS 7671:2008 with amendments 1, 2 and 3.
In this article, we will review the CP5:1998 edition of the code and compare it with BS 7671:2008. We will also discuss how CP5:1998 can be applied and complied with in various types of electrical installations. Finally, we will look at some future developments and trends that may affect electrical installations in Singapore and globally.
Overview of CP5:1998
CP5:1998 consists of seven sections and 17 chapters. The sections are:
Section 1: Scope, object and fundamental principles
Section 2: Definitions
Section 3: Assessment of general characteristics
Section 4: Protection for safety
Section 5: Selection and erection of equipment
Section 6: Inspection and testing
Section 7: Special installations or locations
The chapters are:
Chapter 11: Scope
Chapter 12: Definitions
Chapter 13: Fundamental principles
Chapter 41: Protection against electric shock
Chapter 42: Protection against thermal effects
Chapter 43: Protection against overcurrent
Chapter 44: Protection against undervoltage
Chapter 45: Protection against overvoltage
Chapter 46: Isolation and switching
Chapter 51: Common rules
Chapter 52: Selection and erection of wiring systems
Chapter 53: Protection devices
Chapter 54: Earthing arrangements and protective conductors
Chapter 55: Other equipment
Chapter 61: Initial verification
Chapter 62: Periodic inspection and testing
Chapter 71 to Chapter 77 (Special installations or locations)
Some of the key requirements and recommendations for electrical installations according to CP5:1998 are:
The design of electrical installations should take into account the general characteristics such as supply characteristics, external influences, compatibility, maintainability, energy efficiency and environmental impact.
undervoltage, overvoltage, isolation and switching.
The selection and erection of equipment should ensure that wiring systems, protection devices, earthing arrangements, protective conductors and other equipment are suitable for their intended purposes and comply with relevant standards.
The inspection and testing should ensure that electrical installations are verified before energizing (initial verification) and periodically checked for continued safety (periodic inspection and testing).
The special installations or locations should comply with additional requirements or deviations from the general rules due to their specific nature or conditions. These include locations containing a bath or shower; swimming pools; saunas; agricultural premises; caravan parks; marinas; medical locations; exhibitions; shows; stands; temporary installations; extra-low voltage lighting installations; highway power supplies; solar photovoltaic power supply systems.
CP5:1998 aims to address various issues related to safety, reliability, efficiency and compatibility of electrical installations. Some examples are:
Safety issues such as preventing electric shock by using appropriate protective devices (e.g., residual current devices), earthing systems (e.g., TN-S system) and wiring methods (e.g., ring final circuits); preventing fire by using suitable cables (e.g., fire-resistant cables), protection devices (e.g., circuit breakers) and wiring methods (e.g., metal conduits); preventing explosion by using suitable equipment (e.g., flameproof enclosures) in hazardous areas (e.g., Zone 0).
and protection devices (e.g., fuses), preventing undervoltage by using suitable voltage regulators (e.g., automatic voltage stabilizers), preventing overvoltage by using suitable surge protection devices (e.g., metal oxide varistors), preventing isolation and switching failures by using suitable switchgear (e.g., isolators).
Efficiency issues such as reducing energy losses by using efficient equipment (e.g., LED lamps), reducing power factor by using power factor correction devices (e.g., capacitors), reducing harmonics by using harmonic filters (e.g., passive filters), reducing voltage drop by using appropriate cable sizes and lengths.
Compatibility issues such as avoiding electromagnetic interference by using proper shielding and grounding techniques (e.g., screened cables), avoiding frequency interference by using proper frequency converters (e.g., inverters), avoiding neutral displacement by using balanced loads (e.g., three-phase loads).
Comparison with BS 7671:2008
BS 7671:2008 is the British Standard for requirements for electrical installations. It is also known as the IET Wiring Regulations or the 17th Edition. It is widely used in the UK and other countries that follow the British standards. It is also the basis for CP5:1998 and SS 638:2018.
CP5:1998 is a modified adoption of BS 7671:2008. This means that it adopts most of the provisions of BS 7671:2008, but with some modifications to suit the local conditions and practices in Singapore. Some of the modifications are:
CP5:1998 uses different terms and definitions from BS 7671:2008. For example, CP5:1998 uses "electrical installation" instead of "electrical system", "consumer" instead of "customer", "distribution board" instead of "consumer unit".
CP5:1998 has different voltage and frequency values from BS 7671:2008. For example, CP5:1998 uses 230 V/400 V and 50 Hz as the standard supply voltage and frequency, while BS 7671:2008 uses 230 V/400 V and 50 Hz or 240 V/415 V and 60 Hz.
CP5:1998 has different cable colour codes from BS 7671:2008. For example, CP5:1998 uses red/black/green-yellow for phase/neutral/earth conductors, while BS 7671:2008 uses brown/blue/green-yellow for phase/neutral/earth conductors.
CP5:1998 has different requirements and recommendations from BS 7671:2008 for some aspects of electrical installations. For example, CP5:1998 requires ring final circuits to be used for socket outlets in domestic premises, while BS 7671:2008 allows radial circuits to be used for socket outlets in domestic premises.
CP5:1998 also incorporates some amendments from BS 7671:2008. These are changes or updates that were made to BS 7671:2008 after its publication. There are three amendments to BS 7671:2008, namely Amendment 1 (2011), Amendment 2 (2013) and Amendment 3 (2015). Some of the amendments that are incorporated in CP5:1998 are:
Amendment 1 introduces new requirements for electrical installations in medical locations, such as isolation transformers, equipotential bonding and socket outlets with shutters.
Amendment 2 introduces new requirements for electrical installations in caravan parks, such as residual current devices, protective multiple earthing and socket outlets with covers.
Amendment 3 introduces new requirements for electrical installations in domestic premises, such as consumer units with non-combustible enclosures, arc fault detection devices and additional circuits for smoke alarms.
The advantages of using CP5:1998 over BS 7671:2008 are:
CP5:1998 is more aligned with the local conditions and practices in Singapore, such as supply characteristics, external influences, wiring methods and equipment standards.
CP5:1998 is more familiar and accessible to the electrical industry in Singapore, such as contractors, consultants, suppliers and regulators.
CP5:1998 is more consistent and compatible with other Singapore standards and regulations, such as SS 531 for electrical safety management systems and SS ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection bodies.
The disadvantages of using CP5:1998 over BS 7671:2008 are:
CP5:1998 is less updated and comprehensive than BS 7671:2008, as it does not include all the amendments and revisions that were made to BS 7671:2008 after its publication.
CP5:1998 is less recognized and accepted internationally than BS 7671:2008, as it is not widely used or referenced outside Singapore.
7671:2008, as it does not allow for variations or deviations from the general rules based on engineering judgment or special circumstances.
Application and Compliance of CP5:1998
CP5:1998 is intended for use by various users and stakeholders of electrical installations in Singapore. These include:
Designers and consultants who are responsible for planning and designing electrical installations according to the code.
Contractors and installers who are responsible for installing and commissioning electrical installations according to the code.
Owners and operators who are responsible for operating and maintaining electrical installations according to the code.
Suppliers and manufacturers who are responsible for supplying and producing equipment and materials that comply with the code.
Regulators and authorities who are responsible for enforcing and auditing electrical installations according to the code.
CP5:1998 can be applied to various types of electrical installations in Singapore. These include:
Low voltage (LV) electrical installations that operate at nominal voltages up to 1000 V AC or 1500 V DC.
Extra-low voltage (ELV) electrical installations that operate at nominal voltages not exceeding 50 V AC or 120 V DC.
Special electrical installations that operate at higher voltages or frequencies, such as high voltage (HV) electrical installations, direct current (DC) electrical installations, variable frequency drive (VFD) electrical installations, etc.
Special locations or premises that have specific requirements or conditions, such as medical locations, hazardous areas, swimming pools, etc.
The methods and procedures for testing and inspection of electrical installations according to CP5:1998 are:
Initial verification: This is the process of verifying that an electrical installation is safe and complies with the code before it is energized for the first time. It involves visual inspection, testing and certification of the installation by a licensed electrical worker (LEW).
Periodic inspection and testing: This is the process of checking that an existing electrical installation continues to be safe and complies with the code at regular intervals. It involves visual inspection, testing and certification of the installation by a LEW.
Future Developments and Trends
CP5:1998 is not a static document. It is subject to revision and update to reflect new technologies and standards that may affect electrical installations. Some of the limitations and challenges of CP5:1998 are:
CP5:1998 does not cover some emerging technologies and applications that are becoming more common in electrical installations, such as smart meters, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, microgrids, etc.
CP5:1998 does not address some issues that are becoming more important in electrical installations, such as cybersecurity, sustainability, resilience, etc.
CP5:1998 does not harmonize with some international standards that are widely used or adopted in other countries, such as IEC 60364 series for low voltage electrical installations, IEC 61850 series for communication networks and systems in substations, etc.
To overcome these limitations and challenges, CP5:1998 is being revised and updated by the Technical Committee on Power System and Utilisation under the Electrical and Electronic Standards Committee. The revised code will be published as SS 638:2018. Some of the changes and updates that are expected in SS 638:2018 are:
SS 638:2018 will include new sections and chapters on topics such as smart metering systems; electric vehicle charging systems; energy storage systems; microgrids; low voltage direct current distribution systems; cybersecurity; sustainability; resilience; etc.
SS 638:2018 will revise some existing sections and chapters on topics such as earthing arrangements; protection devices; wiring systems; solar photovoltaic power supply systems; special installations or locations; etc.
SS 638:2018 will align with some international standards such as IEC 60364 series for low voltage electrical installations; IEC 61850 series for communication networks and systems in substations; etc.
Conclusion
application and compliance, and future developments and trends. We have learned that CP5:1998 is a valuable document that provides minimum standards and best practices for electrical installations in Singapore. We have also learned that CP5:1998 is a modified adoption of BS 7671:2008, with some modifications to suit the local conditions and practices, and some amendments to incorporate changes and updates from BS 7671:2008.
However, CP5:1998 is not without its limitations and challenges. It does not cover some emerging technologies and applications that are becoming more common in electrical installations. It does not address some issues that are becoming more important in electrical installations. It does not harmonize with some international standards that are widely used or adopted in other countries. Therefore, CP5:1998 is being revised and updated by the Technical Committee on Power System and Utilisation under the Electrical and Electronic Standards Committee. The revised code will be published as SS 638:2018.
We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of CP5:1998 and its relevance for electrical installations in Singapore. If you are interested in learning more about CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018, you can refer to the following sources:
The full text of CP5:1998 can be purchased from the Singapore Standards eShop at https://www.singaporestandardseshop.sg/.
The full text of SS 638:2018 can be purchased from the Singapore Standards eShop at https://www.singaporestandardseshop.sg/.
The supplementary guide to revised cable colour code can be downloaded for free from the Enterprise Singapore website at https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/quality-standards/standards/standards/SS-CP-5-Code-of-Practice-for-Electrical-Installations.
The IET Wiring Regulations website at https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-regulations/ provides information and resources on BS 7671:2008 and its amendments.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about CP5:1998:
What is the difference between CP5:1998 and SS 638:2018?
CP5:1998 is the previous edition of the Code of Practice for Electrical Installations, while SS 638:2018 is the latest edition of the Code of Practice for Electrical Installations. SS 638:2018 includes new sections and chapters on topics such as smart metering systems; electric vehicle charging systems; energy storage systems; microgrids; low voltage direct current distribution systems; cybersecurity; sustainability; resilience; etc. SS 638:2018 also revises some existing sections and chapters on topics such as earthing arrangements; protection devices; wiring systems; solar photovoltaic power supply systems; special installations or locations; etc. SS 638:2018 also aligns with some international standards such as IEC 60364 series for low voltage electrical installations; IEC 61850 series for communication networks and systems in substations; etc.
How can I obtain a copy of CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018?
You can purchase a copy of CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018 from the Singapore Standards eShop at https://www.singaporestandardseshop.sg/. You can also download a preview of CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018 from the same website.
Who is responsible for enforcing and auditing electrical installations according to CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018?
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is the regulator for the electricity sector in Singapore. It is responsible for enforcing and auditing electrical installations according to CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018. It also issues licenses to electrical workers who are qualified to design, install, operate and maintain electrical installations according to CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018. You can find more information about EMA at https://www.ema.gov.sg/.
What are the penalties for non-compliance with CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018?
Non-compliance with CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018 may result in fines, imprisonment, suspension or revocation of licenses, disconnection of supply, or other actions as deemed appropriate by EMA. The penalties may vary depending on the nature and severity of the offence. You can find more information about the penalties at https://www.ema.gov.sg/Legislation.aspx.
Where can I find more resources or guidance on CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018?
You can find more resources or guidance on CP5:1998 or SS 638:2018 from various sources such as:
The supplementary guide to revised cable colour code can be downloaded for free from the Enterprise Singapore website at https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/quality-standards/standards/standards/SS-CP-5-Code-of-Practice-for-Electrical-Installations.
The IET Wiring Regulations website at https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-regulations/ provides information and resources on BS 7671:2008 and its amendments.
The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) provides training courses, seminars, workshops and publications on various topics related to electrical engineering and standards. You can find more information about IES at https://www.ies.org.sg/.
The Singapore Electrical Trades Association (SETA) provides networking opportunities, technical support and industry updates for electrical contractors and licensed electrical workers. You can find more information about SETA at http://www.seta.org.sg/.