Blogs

Items: 110 of 11
Sicame Group accelerates its external growth strategy and continues to grow its Services division with the acquisition of PRO-EL GmbH

Sicame Group, world leader in products & services related to transport and distribution of electrical energy, renewables, electro-mobility, safety equipment and industrial applications, confirms its ambitions to grow its Service division with the acquisition of the German company: PRO-EL GmbH.

Created in 2009 and located in Meschede, Germany (close to Düsseldorf), PRO-EL is specialized in training & consulting services for the electrical safety and electro-mobility sectors, as well as producing & distributing accessories for vehicle charging systems.

Since its foundation, this company has continually grown thanks to its recognized expertise, its broad customer base and its wide network of industrial partners. It has become a key player in Germany with a growing presence & reputation in the electro-mobility market, and recently opened new premises in Austria.

For the Group, this acquisition will not only help to set a strong foothold in the German electro- mobility market, but it will also be a valuable addition to the Service division offering. It will help increase the Group’s technical expertise and accelerate the worldwide expansion of the global portfolio of services.

For PRO-EL, joining Sicame Group is an opportunity to rely on a well-developed international network of partners and subsidiaries to secure its ambitious growth plans.

Read More...
Sicame Group continues to grow in North America with the acquisition of Power Line Sentry

Sicame Group, a world leader in products and services related to transport and distribution of electrical energy, renewables, electro-mobility, safety equipment and industrial applications, continues to grow in North America in line with its strategic growth plan, with the acquisition of the American company: Power Line Sentry.

Power Line Sentry, based in Wellington in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado (north of Denver), specializes in designing and manufacturing products that improve system reliability through wildlife and environmental protection.

Since their founding in 1998, Power Line Sentry has built a strong reputation for developing effective, sustainable and innovative solutions to help eliminate power systems outages.

For the Group, this acquisition will not only enhance development in North America, it will also enrich its worldwide wildlife protection offerings and bolster production capacities in this product line.

For Power Line Sentry, joining the Sicame Group is an opportunity to grow their product offerings and sales through the Group's global capacity and influence.

Read More...
Sicame Group continues to grow in North America with the acquisition of Circa Enterprises Inc.

Sicame Group, a world leader in products and services related to transport and distribution of electrical energy, renewables, electro-mobility, safety equipment and industrial applications, continues to grow in North America in line with its strategic growth plan, with the acquisition of the Canadian company: Circa Enterprises Inc.

Based in Vaughan, Ontario (Canada), Circa, which includes the well-known Hydel product range, is a fully integrated industrial company fabricating metallic enclosures, pole line hardware and customized cabinets for various applications. Circa has a large customer portfolio with over 50 years’ experience serving the residential, industrial, and utility market.

For the Group, this acquisition will not only enhance our presence in Canada and allow future development into the Americas, it will also enrich our offering of enclosures and pole line hardware equipment.

For Circa, joining the Sicame Group is an opportunity to grow their product offering and sales through the Group's global capacity and networks.

The telecom activity of Circa is not part of the acquisition and has been acquired by the management.
At the same time as the acquisition, the company Circa is renamed Hydel Inc.

Read More...
Types of Insulating Tools,  IEC 60900 vs VDE,  Tool Care Information
  • Insulated and Insulating 1000V (double triangle) IEC EN 60900
  • Insulated hand tools are classified into three categories
  • What is the difference between VDE and IEC 60900 Standard !
  • Tool Care Information
Read More...
PRESS RELEASE : Sicame Group acquires Boddingtons Electrical Ltd

Please click on this press release regarding the recent acquisition of Boddingtons Electrical by the Sicame Group in France.

The Boddingtons Electrical brand will remain as will the UK manufacturing facility at our current site. Being part of the Sicame group will enable us to further grow our in-house production and also provide our customers with a greater range of safety products from the group.



Read More...
NEW EUROPEAN EN 5032-1:2018 for Electrical Safety Boots

EN 50321-1:2018 was harmonised and published earlier this year and replaces EN 50321:1999. This standard is currently out for approval as an IEC standard which will make it a global standard not just European.

The standard has been split into 3 parts.

Part 1 is for live working on complete insulated boots up to 36 KV working voltages.

Part 2 which is currently being drafted is for insulated soles for step voltages. And refers mainly to Leather Footwear that must be kept dry and is not intended for “Live working” and will not carry the Live working double triangle.in it CE marking.

Part 3 is for live working at voltages above 50 KV where the footwear must be conductive. The drafting of this standard has not started.

The main changes to part one are the introduction of 4 classes ( see below) for working up to 36 KV whilst the old standard only had working up to 1000 Volts ( 1 KV). Boots are now tested by filling with water this is because steel balls always gave lower results and did not take into account water or perspiration wicking up the lining creating a flashover. There is now an electrical test after perforation of the sole by a nail, to ensure boots still give electrical protection after perforation of the sole.  Just because a perforation insert is non-metallic it does not imply it is electrically insulating most will allow water to pass through them so will allow an electrical current to pass when the sole is punctured. In the table below is listed the classes and the test requirements

Class

Maximum AC Working Voltage

Proof  test Voltage

Proof test Leakage current

Withstand Test Voltage AC

00

500 V

2.5 KV

3 m A

5 KV

0

1 KV

5 KV

5 m A        (8 m A)

10 KV

1

7.5 KV

10 KV

10 mA      (16 mA)

20 KV

2

17.5 KV

20 KV

18 m A     (18 mA)

30 KV

3

26.5 KV

30 KV

20 m A

40 KV

4

36 KV

40 KV

24 m A

50 KV

 

In the table, we have included the requirements for Knee boots the Overboot requirements are in brackets where they are different from boots. The leakage current requirements for Overboots is slightly higher due to the larger surface area.

The new standard also includes requirements for DC.  All boots used for DC must be tested for DC according to the new standard.

Read More...
British Standards Institute withdrew the long-standing BS921:1976

Electrical safety matting is a vital part of electrical safety and is typically used for protection around areas where high voltage (HV) equipment – such as a switchboard – is being used and worked upon, but it is also available for working on low and medium voltage (LV and MV) equipment.

Typical applications include when working in front of switchboards, machine control gear, in plant rooms and lift control gear rooms, and also as portable protection for site engineers working on live equipment.

BS EN 61111:2009 v BS 921:1976

BS 921:1976 was withdrawn because it conflicted with the now current UK national standard of electrical insulating matting, which is BS EN 61111:2009. Under the auspices of BS EN 61111:2009, the matting must withstand a greatly extended testing regime compared with the old BS 921:1976 standard.

Compliance with BS EN 61111:2009 means that the matting will have a number of benefits over the BS 921: 1976 variety, as it is oil and acid resistant, flame retardant, lighter in weight, and there are a various classes for different voltage applications.

It is believed that matting manufactured to the superseded BS 921: 1976 regulation is still available, as it is suitable for its originally intended use in the UK. Now, however, it is known as ‘Electrical Safety Matting’ tested to 650V working insulation.


Boddingtons Electrical now manufacturer IEC61111 insulating matting for electrical safety, protection and working on low, medium and high voltage substations and switchgear up to 33kV – the IEC61111 standard provides a selection category for Low Voltage (1000V) to High Voltage (36kV). The selection table below informs and explains the IEC standard classification according to the maximum working voltages for rubber insulating matting.

Working Voltage, Withstand Test & Proof Test Of Electrical Safety Matting

The withstand test of insulating matting for electrical insulation is applied to each manufacturing batch of switchboard matting to ensure it does not have an electrical breakdown if exposed to high voltages – the working and withstand voltages must not be confused.

The proof test of insulating matting are dielectrical resistance tests provided by the mat manufacturer on the total running metre of the product and are used to safeguard a standard conformity of resistance throughout the entire section, roll or surface area of the electrical mat – the proof test must be applied to the insulating mats for a set time at a specified voltage level.

Insulating rubber switchgear matting in accordance with IEC 61111 or BS EN 61111 can be used to prevent earth contact with the floor however the matting will not provide any electrical shock protection if a person touches metal areas of the switchboard or control panel simultaneously with exposed live conductors which are likely to be at earth potential and readily accessible.

Class Of Insulating Matting According To IEC61111Proof TestAC Maximum Working Voltage Withstand Test Of Insulating Matting
Class 0 Matting5kV1000V – LV Low Voltage10kV
Class 1 Matting10kV7500V – MV Medium Voltage20kV
Class 2 Matting20kV17000V – MV Medium Voltage30kV
Class 3 Matting30kV26500V – MV Medium Voltage40kV
Class 4 Matting40kV36000V – HV High Voltage50kV

 

The IEC61111 matting specification covers electrical insulation and performance criterion including:

  • Mechanical Puncture Resistance
  • Oil Resistance
  • Acid Resistance
  • Slip Resistance
  • Flame Retardancy
  • Ageing
  • Marking Durability

IEC 61111 Has Replaced BS921 Electrical Rubber Matting StandardInsulating Matting Mats

Originally published in March 1976 BS921:1976 was the British Standard covering Rubber Mats for Electrical Purposes with a maximum working voltage of 650 volts for LV low voltage electrical protection – the insulating matting standard was withdrawn in January 2013 in a UK and EU initiative to provide harmonisation and improved Health & Safety and replaced by BS EN 61111. The exact replacement to BS921 mats is the Class 0 matting with a maximum working voltage of 1000 volts according to BS EN 61111 – the higher voltage rating provides enhanced insulating protection including performance improvements such as slip, puncture, acid and oil resistance. The 3mm thickness of BS EN 61111 matting is significantly less than BS921 (8.5mm) reducing environmental impact through cost reductions in storage and transportation. BS EN 61111 standard provides specifications for insulating mats for LV MV HV electrical working up to 33kV/36kV.

Read More...
Why not use Normal Safety Boots ?
  • Electric current can jump (arc) over 40mm at 5000 Volts 
  • The sole of a normal safety or boot or shoe is typically less than 10mm thick and is made of anti-static material that is not electrically insulating
  • The upper of safety boots when wet or damp will conduct electricity - This includes such materials as waterproof leather as the waterproof coating is thin and can be easily damaged
  • Perspiration can make the leather damp enough to fail an EN 50321 test
  • This is why EN 50321 specifies the height of the boot or shoe and that the foot should be enclosed by the footwear
Read More...
Understanding Arc Flash Personal Protection (PPE) Categories

Whether to wear arc-rated personal protection equipment (PPE) is not a personal decision. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) directs employers to supply PPE and for employees to wear the supplied PPE if hazards exist. An arc flash risk assessment can indicate whether such PPE is needed. The analysis also needs to be documented.

Read More...
Items: 110 of 11