The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994

Interpretation

3.—(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires–

“adaptor” means a device which may be engaged with a socket, being a device which is designed–

(a)to enable a plug having pins, or other forms of contact, of different dimensions or configuration to those of the socket to be engaged with the socket;

(b)to enable more than one plug to be engaged with the socket; or

(c)to be used for both of the purposes mentioned in sub–paragraphs (a) and (b) above;

“appliance” means an appliance to which Part II of these Regulations applies by virtue of regulation 11(1) below;

“appliance coupler” means a device designed to connect a flexible cable or cord to electrical equipment and consisting of—

“BS 546” means the British Standard Specification for two–pole and earthing–pin plugs, socket–outlets and socket–outlet adaptors BS 546: 1950 published by the British Standards Institution on 16th March 1950, including Supplement No. 1 (1960) published on 30th December 1960 and Supplement No. 2 (1987) published on 23rd December 1987, incorporating Amendment No. 1 issued in December 1953 and as amended by Amendment No. 2 published on 28th November 1961, Amendment Slips 3 and 4 published on 16th May 1969 and 29th July 1977 respectively, and Amendments No. 5, 6 and 7 published on 31st August 1982, 23rd December 1987 and 31st January 1989 respectively;

“BS 646” means the British Standard Specification for cartridge fuse–links (rated up to 5 amperes) for AC and DC service BS 646: 1958 published by the British Standards Institution on 31st January 1958, as amended by Amendment No. 1 published on 31st January 1991;

“BS 1362” means the British Standard Specification for general purpose fuse links for domestic and similar purposes (primarily for use in plugs) BS 1362: 1973 published on 28th February 1973, as amended by Amendments No. 1 and 2 published on 29th June 1984 and 30th April 1991 respectively(1) ;

“BS 1363” means the British Standard Specification for 13 amp fused plugs and switched and unswitched socket–outlets BS 1363: 1984 published by the British Standards Institution on 31st August 1984, as amended by Amendments No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 published on 30th April 1985, 31st December 1985, 31st July 1987, 23rd December 1987, 30th June 1989 and 28th February 1990 respectively(2) ;

“BS 3535: Part 1” means the British Standard Specification of general requirements for isolating transformers and safety isolating transformers BS 3535: Part 1: 1990 published by the British Standards Institution on 31st August 1990(3) ;

“BS 4573” means the British Standard Specification for two–pin reversible plugs and shaver socket–outlets BS 4573: 1970 published by the British Standards Institution on 19th March 1970, as amended by Amendments No. 1 and 2 published on 31st October 1983 and 29th April 1988 respectively(4) ;

“BS 5733” means the British Standard Specification of general requirements for electrical accessories BS 5733: 1979 published by the British Standards Institution on 30th April 1979, as amended by Amendments No. 1, 2 and 3 published on 31st July 1981, 29th April 1983 and 30th June 1986 respectively(5) ;

“BS EN 50075” means the British Standard Specification for flat non–wirable two–pole plugs, 2.5 amp/250 volt, with cord, for the connection of class II equipment for household and similar purposes BS EN 50075: 1991 published by the British Standards Institution on 20th December 1991(6) ;

“cable connector” means a device designed to join flexible cables or cords in such a way that the cables or cords can be joined and separated without the use of a tool;

“cartridge” means a container which totally encloses a fuse element, consists of insulating material, is tubular in form and the ends of which are enclosed by metallic caps;

“cartridge fuse link” means a cartridge containing a fuse element;

“the Commission” means the Commission of the European Communities;

“conversion plug” means a device which may be engaged with a socket conforming to BS 1363 and which is designed to enable a non–UK plug to be engaged with such a socket;

“the Low Voltage Directive” means Council Directive 73/23/EEC on the harmonisation of the laws of the member States of the European Economic Community relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits as amended by Council Directive 93/68/EEC(7)(8) ;

“electrical device” means a device to which Part I of these Regulations applies by virtue of regulation 4(1) below;

“fuse element” means that part of a fuse designed to melt when an excessive current flows into an electrical circuit;

“fuse link” means that part of a fuse including the fuse element which requires replacement by a new fuse link after the fuse element has melted and before the fuse can be put back into service;

“IEC 884–1” means the International Electrotechnical Commission standard for plugs and socket–outlets for household and similar purposes IEC 884–1 (1987) published by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1987 as amended by Amendments No. 1 and 2 published in June 1988 and November 1991 respectively;

“luminaire” means apparatus which distributes, filters or transforms the light transmitted from one or more lamps and which includes all the parts necessary for supporting, fixing and protecting the lamps, together with the means for connecting them to the supply, but not the lamps themselves;

“member State” means a member State of the European Economic Community or another State within the European Economic Area;

“non–UK plug” means any plug which is not suitable without adaptation or modification for connection to a mains socket in the United Kingdom;

“notified body” means any person notified to the Commission and member States in accordance with the procedure in Article 11 of the Low Voltage Directive in its unamended form as being competent to establish marks and certificates in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of that Directive in its unamended form and any person appointed pursuant to regulation 7 below;

“plug” means a device other than a cable connector or an appliance coupler, which may be engaged with a socket and which is designed for the purposes of connecting to a socket any electrical equipment to which the device is attached by means of a flexible cable or cord;

“plug transformer” means an electrical transformer which carries three pins substantially rectangular in form and which is designed for engagement with a socket made to the dimensions specified in BS 1363;

“portable multiple socket outlet” means electrical equipment which comprises two or more sockets designed and made to dimensions other than those specified in BS 1363, which is designed to be connected to a socket conforming to BS 1363 by means of a flexible cable or cord and a plug, and which may be used without being mounted onto a fixed surface or structure;

“rcd plug” means a plug which carries three pins substantially rectangular in form, is designed to be engaged with a socket made to the dimensions specified in BS 1363, and which incorporates an auxiliary sensing circuit which will automatically disconnect the main circuit at a predetermined current;

“round–pin plug” means a plug carrying pins substantially cylindrical in form;

“socket” means a device other than a cable connector, with which a plug may be engaged for the purpose of connecting to an electrical circuit, whether or not by means of a switch, electrical equipment to which a plug is attached;

“standard plug” means a plug which carries three pins substantially rectangular in form and is designed for engagement with a socket made to the dimensions specified in BS 1363.

(2) In these Regulations–

(a)where any standard is mentioned, that reference is a reference to that standard as it has effect on the date on which these Regulations are made (including any amendment or revision made or taking effect on or before that date), provided that where any such standard has been amended or revised after that date, whether or not such amendment or revision involves the publication of separate parts on different dates, and the amendment or revision has been approved by the Secretary of State, that reference is to be construed at any time after the amendment or revision as a reference to that standard as so amended or revised or, as appropriate, to the relevant part of that standard as so amended or revised;

(b)where any standard mentioned in these Regulations specifies relevant requirements by reference to another standard, that reference is to be construed as a reference to that other standard as it has effect on the date on which these Regulations are made (including any amendment or revision to that other standard made or taking effect on or before that date), provided that where any such other standard has been amended or revised after that date and the amendment or revision has been approved by the Secretary of State, that reference is to be construed at any time after the amendment or revision as a reference to that other standard as so amended or revised.

(3) Where there is a requirement in any provision of these Regulations that an electrical device shall conform to a British Standard, including where conformity is required for approval by a notified body, such requirement shall be satisfied if the electrical device conforms to any standard or specification recognised for use in a member State, provided that conformity to such a standard or specification provides a level of safety equivalent to that which would be provided by conformity to the relevant British Standard, and any reference to such a requirement shall be construed accordingly.