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REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

RWANDA UTILITIES REGULATORY AGENCY

DRAFT ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

REGULATIONS

RWANDA UTILITIES REGULATORY AGENCY-RURA

REGULATIONS/./ENERGY/RURA/2012

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Table of Contents PREAMBLE ................................................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS ...................................................................................... 3 Article 1. Citation............................................................................................................................ 3 Article 2. Scope ............................................................................................................................... 3 Article 3. Purpose............................................................................................................................ 3

Article 6. Rules and procedures .................................................................................................. 6 Article 7. Meetings of the Committee......................................................................................... 6

Article 8. Voting ............................................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERTAKING ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

AND PERMITS CLASSES ............................................................................................................ 6 Article 9. Classes of permit ......................................................................................................... 6

Article 10. Technical qualifications for permit applicants ......................................................... 7 Article 11. General requirements for undertaking electrical installations ...................................... 7 CHAPTER 4. COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS ................................................................... 8

Article 12. General Circuit arrangement .................................................................................... 8 Article 13. Conduct Size ............................................................................................................ 8

Article 14. Sockets and Switches ................................................................................................ 9 Article 15. Cable Supports, Joints and Termination ................................................................... 9 Article 16. Compatibility .......................................................................................................... 10

Article 17. Overcurrent protective devices ............................................................................... 10 Article 19. Display of labels and notices .................................................................................. 11

CHAP 5. APPLICABLE FEES, APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND PERMIT RENEWAL 11

Article 22. Application Procedures ............................................................................................... 12

CHAPTER 6. INSPECTION, TESTING AND PERMIT HOLDERS RESPONSIBILITIES .... 13 Article 23. Inspection and Testing ................................................................................................ 13

CHAPTER 7. CANCELLATION, APPEAL AND PENALTIES ............................................... 14 Article 26. Appeal ......................................................................................................................... 14 Article 27. Penalties ...................................................................................................................... 14

Article 28. Repealing provision ................................................................................................ 14 Article 29. Coming into Force .................................................................................................. 14

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PREAMBLE Pursuant to Law n39/2001 of 13/09/2001 establishing an agency for the regulation of certain public utilities; Pursuant to Organic Law n 04/2005 of 08/04/2005 determining the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of the environment in Rwanda; Pursuant to Law n21/2011 of 23/06/2011 governing Electricity in Rwanda; The Regulatory Board of the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency in exercising its powers conferred upon it by Article 13 of the Law N21/2011 of 23/06/2011 governing Electricity in Rwanda; AND AFTER its deliberations in its meeting of ; HEREBY issues the following regulations on Electricity Installation

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Citation These regulations may be cited as the Electricity Installation permit regulations, 2012.

Article 2. Scope These regulations shall apply to all premises (residential, commercial, public and industrial

premises) and all areas in Rwanda.

Article 3. Purpose The aim of these regulations is to ensure protection of people, some domestic animals and

properties from hazards that can arise from the operation of an electrical installation under

either normal and faulty conditions or both.

Article 4. Definitions

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms used in these regulations shall have the

following meaning:

Authority means Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA)

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"Breaking capacity means the value of current at which a switch, a switch-disconnector,

a circuit breaker or a fuse is capable of breaking a circuit at a voltage and under conditions

of use and behaviour specified by its manufacturer;

Class means a group into which services are categorized according to their standard;

Circuit means an assembly of electrically connected electrical equipment supplied from

the same origin and protected against overcurrent by the same protective device or

devices;

Conductor means a wire, cable or other form of metal used for conveying electric

current from one piece of electrical equipment to another or to earth;

Current- carrying conductor means the maximum current that can be carried by a

conductor as determined by using the methods in the "Regulations for Electrical

Installations" as published by The Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, England, and

as those regulations may be amended from time to time, without the conductor exceeding

the permissible limit of steady state temperature for the type of insulation concerned as

specified in those regulations;

Distribution board means an installed group of fuses, switches, circuit breakers or other

outlet points arranged for the distribution of electricity;

Electrical Contractor means any person holding an electrical installation permit issued

under these regulations to carry out any electrical installation work either individually or

as a body corporate or incorporate for business;

Electrical Installation means the wires, machinery, apparatus, appliances, devices,

material and equipment used or intended for use by a consumer for the receipt,

distribution or use of electrical power or energy;

Electrical Installation permit means a written document issued by the Authority to an

individual or a company for electrical installation works;

Electrical Installation work means the installation, alteration or repair, wholly or

partially, of any conductor or apparatus or system of wiring in or upon premises, connected

or intended to be connected to a supply of electricity;

Earth means the conductive mass of the earth whose electric potential at any point is

conventionally taken as zero;

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Exposed conductive part means a conductive part of electrical equipment that can be

touched and that is not a live part but which may become live under faulty conditions;

Isolation means cutting off an electrical installation, a circuit or an item of electrical

equipment from every source of electricity;

Law Means the Law n 39*2001 of 13th September 2001 establishing RURA;

Licensee means a person or company in possession of a license for distribution/supply

of electricity;

Live part means a conductor that is intended to be energized in normal use, and includes

a neutral conductor;

Over head line means a conductor that is placed above ground and is suspended in the

open air;

Permit Holder means a person or company holding a valid Electrical Installation permit

issued under these regulations;

Premise means a place such as a site, building or structure, whether stationary or

mobile, that can be electrically wired;

Substation means premises or an enclosed part of premises that contains electrical

equipment for transforming or converting energy to or from high voltage (other than

transforming or converting energy solely for the operation of switching devices or

instruments) or for switching, controlling or regulating energy at high voltage and that are

large enough to admit the entrance of a person after the electrical equipment is in position;

Switching means making or breaking a current under normal circuit conditions;

Switching room means premises or an enclosed part of premises that contains electrical

equipment for switching, controlling or regulating electricity at low voltage and above and

that are large enough to admit the entrance of a person after the electrical equipment is in

position.

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CHAPTER 2: INSTALLATION PERMITS COMMITTEE

Article 5. Establishment of committee

a. There is established a committee to be known as the Installations Permits

Committee.

b. This committee is responsible for issuing installation permits

c. The Committee shall consist of the following members;

(i) Two persons representing the Authority who shall be Chair person and Secretary respectively;

(ii) A person representing the holders of a distribution and/or supply licensee; (iii) A representative of the Consumer Protection Association; (iv) One person representing the Vocational Training schools. (v) One person representing the Rwanda Bureau of Standards

Article 6. Rules and procedures

The Committee shall, with the approval of the Authority, make rules and procedures for issuing installation permits as may, in the opinion of the Committee, be necessary for the performance of the Committees functions under these Regulations. Article 7. Meetings of the Committee

a) The Committee shall meet at such times as the Committee may determine. b) At any meeting of the Committee, four members shall form a quorum.

Article 8. Voting In the event of disagreements among the members of the Committee when deciding whether to grant a permit or not, the matter shall be decided by a majority vote, the chairperson having a casting vote, taken at a meeting at which the quorum is respected.

CHAPTER 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERTAKING ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND PERMITS CLASSES

Article 9. Classes of permit

The Authority may, subject to such conditions as it may impose, issue any of the following

classes of permit-

Class A: To carry out Installation of residential premises not exceeding five bedrooms and

reparations on equipment of up to 230V

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Class B: To carry out Installation in multi- stored buildings, other big bungalows and

mansions of complex design and commercial buildings, Installation of light plants up to a

level of 400V and any work under Class A

Class C: To carry out Low voltage and medium voltage connections up to 30kV and any

work under Class B

Class D: To carry out Electrical installation systems designs and Installation in specialised

fields like switchgear, centralised heating, refrigeration, and generator sets and solar

systems

Class Z: To carry out Installation of any plants up to and including high voltage (70kv-

110kv)

Article 10. Technical qualifications for permit applicants

A person/ company shall not be granted a permit under these Regulations unless he/

she/it possesses any of the following technical qualifications-

a) a University Degree in electrical or electromechanical Engineering (A0, A1)

b) an Advanced level Technician certificate or Diploma ;(A2)

c) an Ordinary level Technicians certificate or Diploma;(A3)

d) Any other technical qualification recognized by the Authority.

The qualifications under installation regulations 6 (1) and experience shall determine the

class of permit which the Authority shall issue to each respective applicant.

Article 11. General requirements for undertaking electrical installations

(1) A person or company shall not practice as an installation person or company unless he/

she or it is in possession of a valid permit issued in that behalf by the Committee.

(2) The permit holder shall inform the committee of a newly employed person by a company or firm, notwithstanding the fact that such company or firm is in possession of its own valid permit.

(3) Every person issued with a permit under these Regulations shall exhibit such permit at

all times in his or her usual place of business.

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CHAPTER 4. COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS The aim of making electrical Installation work according to the standards is to ensure that

people, animals and property are protected from hazards that can arise from the operation

of an electrical installation under both normal and fault conditions.

All Electrical installations need to comply with standards RS 565-1 for installation of

premises on low voltage, IEC 61936-1 for Power Installations above 1kV and other East

African standards adopted by Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS).

Article 12. General Circuit arrangement

a) Installation shall be divided into sub circuits for the purpose of ensuring avoidance of

danger in the event of fault and Facilitation of safe Operation, Inspection, Testing and

Maintenance

b) The number of final circuit and number of the points where the circuit supplies shall

comply with the IEE Regulations on Over current Protection, Isolation and Switching

and Current Carrying Capacities of the Conductors.

c) Circuits shall be arranged in either ring or radial

d) For the purpose of avoiding overloading the circuit, heavy load consumers should be

supplied with separate circuits.

e) If the circuit is for the sockets then, the number of points fed by different ring circuits

should be evenly distributed.

f) If the number of sockets in each ring circuit is not limited, consideration should be on

the diversification and the loads to be connected in that ring so as not to exceed the

ratings of the protective devices and therefore overloading the circuit which will

ultimately create heat and thereafter affect the insulation of the conductor in case the

protective devices fail to operate.

g) Kitchen and utility rooms (e.g. Laundry) should be provided with their own dedicated

ring circuit, this is in regard of the magnitude of the energy that the appliances

consume.

Article 13. Conduct Size

a) Every circuit in the installation should be served by its own separate cables. b) No more than one cable shall be connected from a single over current protective

Device. c) The cables shall be of the size proportional to the magnitude and type of the load. d) Size of cables for a given circuit of a given load magnitude shall be in accordance

with the prevailing RS 565-1 standards. The sizes can be obtained by choosing from tables or through calculation.

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Article 14. Sockets and Switches

a) Sockets shall be either ring or radially connected.

b) Sockets should be earthed, single or Twin with square terminal.

c) The height at which sockets are to be mounted should not be more than 300mm

Above Floor Finish level (AFFL).

d) The Current carrying capacity of the sockets should be 16A. The BS 1363 sockets

should be used as a default, however if the situation necessitate otherwise, the one

with equivalent features and qualities should be used.

e) For safety precaution, Sockets to be used should have closing shutter to avoid

foreign from accidentally entering the socket.

f) All wall plugs shall be fused. The rating of the fuse will depend on the magnitude of

the load to be connected to that plug.

g) Both Sockets and plugs shall be provided with earth connections.

h) In normal domestic installation, all light switches and double pole switches (DP

switches) shall be mounted at 1800mm Above the Floor Finish Level.

i) Both Sockets and Switches shall be flash mounted on walls. Metal or plastic square

box shall be buried on wall and sockets shall be firmly fixed on it by the use of

screws.

j) Switches shall be easily and clearly identified by the users

k) Sockets and light switches should be arranged and marked in such a way that it

creates no doubt on whether it is on or off. The switches can be marked ON to

indicate the switching on position and OFF to indicate the switching off position.

l) Switches shall be close to the circuits which they are intended to operate.

m) Sockets and switches shall be able to switch off at full load current for the circuits to

which they are connected.

n) For the floor mounted sockets, they shall be within the floor fixed box and care shall

be taken to ensure no moisture or water enters the inside of the box and the socket

itself.

Article 15. Cable Supports, Joints and Termination

a) Cables must be supported to put them in proper position and to avoid stresses on

insulations at some parts of Insulators which will thereafter destroy the insulators.

b) The support shall be at minimum distance possible to make it properly supported

whether barely on wall or within the enclosure.

c) If there is a need for joining the cable, then the joining shall therefore be tightly

joined with good conductive material so that they are electrically and mechanically

strong, durable, and adequate for the purpose.

d) Joints shall be strong to ensure proper contact of the wires.

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e) All joints and connections shall be made in an enclosure that meets the RS 661-1

Standards.

f) Where joining by soldering is used, it shall be an endeavor to make homogeneous

connection of the two points of the conductive wires.

g) Special personnel should be employed for transmission or distribution line joinery.

This is to ensure mechanical strength to avoid cable breakdown which may cause

dangerous effects due to high voltages associated with these lines.

h) Cables to be joined shall be of the same material and cross section area.

i) All joints must be accessible for inspection.

j) Soldering connections should be done with assurance that the temperature rise

caused by sun heating or cable overloads and faults currents will not affect the

connection by melting it.

k) For a sheathed cable the licensee must ensure continuity of sheath in the joint

enclosure.

l) Termination of cables to switches and other load points, switchgears, control gears

and other termination points shall be tightly screwed to avoid energy loss heat

which will lead to destruction of insulation and finally fire hazards.

m) All unused cables and any other accessories shall be immediately removed from the

wall or floor.

Article 16. Compatibility

The Electrical contractor/ installation permit holder should satisfy himself that any

equipment within the installation comply with the mains supply standards that is voltage

of 230V single Phase and 400V three Phase at frequency of 50 Hz.

If the specifications do not comply with the local supply standards, then means of

conversion shall be applied so as to meet the required specifications before that equipment

or appliances is added to the installations.

Article 17. Overcurrent protective devices

A circuit shall be protected against overcurrent by a device that-

a) operates automatically to break the circuit before the safe current rating of the

circuit is exceeded;

b) is of adequate breaking capacity;

c) is suitably located; and

d) is properly constructed, so as to prevent danger from overheating, arcing or the

scattering of hot particles when the device comes into operation and so as to permit

restoration of the supply without danger.

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Article 18. Earthing arrangement

a) A fixed electrical installation shall have an effective earthing arrangement, including

a connection to earth electrodes, for its protection against earth fault currents and

dangerous earth leakage currents.

b) In addition to the requirement in (a) above, where the supply is taken directly from

an electricity supplier's transformer within the premises in which the fixed

electrical installation is situated, the main earthing terminal of the installation shall

be bonded to the supplier's bonding terminal that connects to the earthed point of

the transformer.

c) In addition to the requirement under (a), where the supply is taken from the

electricity supplier's underground cable that has exposed conductive parts at the

cable termination at the point of supply, the main earthing terminal of the fixed

electrical installation shall be bonded to those exposed conductive parts.

d) Where bonding referred to (b) and (c) above is used to prevent the rise of a

dangerous earth potential.

Article 19. Display of labels and notices

1) An identification label and an appropriate warning notice including the word

"Danger" shall be displayed in a conspicuous position at every entrance of a substation and switchroom.

2) A warning notice bearing the words "DO NOT REMOVE" shall be displayed in a conspicuous position at or near the point of connection of each earthing conductor to an earth electrode, and at or near each main bonding connection.

3) A warning notice bearing the words "CAUTION-EQUIPMENT UNDER REPAIR" or "CAUTION-MEN AT WORK", or bearing both warnings, shall be displayed in a conspicuous position at or near the electrical equipment and at the isolation device associated with the electrical equipment on which work is being carried out.

4) A warning notice under (3) above shall be reasonably durable and shall be placed or affixed so that it cannot be accidentally displaced.

CHAP 5. APPLICABLE FEES, APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND PERMIT RENEWAL Article 20. Applicable fees

a) The authority shall prescribe annual fees to be paid by individual holders or

company/organization of the different classes of permits and application fees to

be paid by every applicant for an installation permit under these regulations.

The following fees shall apply to each of the permit Classes:

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Application fee: 25,000 Rwf Permit fees/Annual permit fees :

CLASSES INDIVIDUALS ( Rwf) COMPANIES (Rwf)

Class A 30,000 100,000

Class B 100,000 300,000

Class C 180,000 500,000

Class D 100,000 300,000

Class Z 250,000 800,000

b) All fees are payable to the Authority bank Account No.

Article 21. Permit renewal

c) A permit issued under these installation regulations may be renewed but shall

not be transferable without approval of the Authority.

d) A permit issued under these installation Regulations shall expire after Twelve

(12) months from the date it was issued.

Article 22. Application Procedures

a. Applicants shall submit a filled and signed application form obtained at the

Authority headquarter, or from its website (www.rura.gov.rw ) upon payments of

the application fee.

b. Applicants shall submit the trade register

c. Applicants shall also submit notified copies of all required documents: O- level and

A-level certificates, diploma certificates, detailed CV or career report and any other

academic qualification that the applicant(s) may possess.

d. Applicants whose diploma, certificates, and other qualifications obtained outside

Rwanda should be from the recognized university or Institution.

e. An employee of a company or organization may apply for a permit on his or her own

or on behalf of the company or organization if such company or organization

authorizes him or her in writing.

f. Where an employee of a company or organization applies for an individual permit

and another for his or her company or organization, each permit shall be paid for

separately in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Authority.

http://www.rura.gov.rw/

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g. Every company or organization applying for a permit under these regulations shall

have amongst its staff persons qualified to be issued the permit of the class the

company is applying for as well as staff persons qualified to be issued with class A or

B categories of permit.

h. A permit shall be issued in a prescribed form and subject to such conditions as the

Committee may determine.

CHAPTER 6. INSPECTION, TESTING AND PERMIT HOLDERS RESPONSIBILITIES

Article 23. Inspection and Testing (1) The licensee shall inspect and connect installations which have been wired by persons

or organization with a valid installation permit.

(2) An electrical installation shall, after completion (including any work completed after

repair, alteration or addition) and before it is energised for use, be inspected, tested and

certified by a licensee to confirm that the requirements of the regulations have been

met.

(3) In the case of a repair, alteration or addition to an electrical installation, only the

affected parts of the installation need to be inspected and tested under these

regulations.

(4) In order to obtain any information and to carry out any inspection as provided under

these Regulations the licensee may, at its direction, request any person to carry out any

such inspection or tests as it may require and to furnish a report of such inspection to

the licensee.

(5) The licensee will monitor the professional performance of the permit holders and will

report any mal- practices to the Authority. The Authority shall examine such cases and

any others arising from the public. Depending on the gravity of the case, the concerned

will have his/her permit either suspended for a certain period or completely

withdrawn.

Article 24. Permit holder responsibilities

(1) Any electrical contractor or permit holder who completes or directs the completion of

any electrical installation work, shall provide a Completion of Installation report

including a summary of work carried out, schematic diagram and an copy of the permit

to the Building owner or occupant.

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(2) Every person issued with a permit under these Regulations shall reveal a high degree of

discipline in the performance of his or her work.

CHAPTER 7. CANCELLATION, APPEAL AND PENALTIES

Article 25. Refusal or Cancellation of Permit

The Authority shall at any time refuse to grant or renew a permit, or cancel a permit if it is

proved that the permit holder(s)/applicant(s) has failed to comply with any conditions

contained in these Installation Regulations.

In case of refusal to grant a permit or cancellation of a permit, the Authority shall call upon

the concerned in writing.

Article 26. Appeal

A person aggrieved by any action of the Authority in issues concerning refusal or

cancellation of permit may appeal in writing within one month from the date of refusal or

cancellation and seek arbitration from a relevant authority.

Article 27. Penalties

An owner or occupier of any premises shall not allow any electrical installation work to be

carried out on his or her premises in contravention of the provisions of these regulations.

Failure to comply with this provision is an offence punishable in accordance with the

provision hereunder set in these Regulations.

Any person who contravenes the provisions of these regulations commits an offence and is

liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Rwf 500,000.

CHAPTER 8. FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 28. Repealing provision

All prior provisions contrary to these regulations are hereby repealed.

Article 29. Coming into Force

These regulations shall come into force on the date of approval and signature by the Regulatory Board.