The Department of Electromechanical Services (EMS Department), as the department responsible for implementing the provisions of the Electricity Legislation, informs the owners and users of electrical installations of substations which have as a central protective device at the starting point of the electrical installation of the substation an automatic Voltage Operated Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker, that these devices are of a very old type and are not considered today as the devices that provide maximum protection against electric shock and protection against fires caused by damage to the earth.
Those electrical installations of substations which have installed at their starting point as central protective devices the automatic voltmeter type, do not provide an equivalent degree of safety to an ammeter type device to the users of the electrical installations and also to their property. In order to reduce the increased degree of risk in relation to electrocution of users and to protect their property from fire in the electrical installations in question, as well as to comply with the existing legislative provisions, the H.M.Y. Department considers it imperative to urge all affected owners and/or users who have installed in their premises the central protective devices in question, to proceed to their replacement with other amperometric-type protective devices. It is noted that in cases where there is more than one such automatic device installed in the electricity meter room, e.g. apartment buildings, the replacement should be done in total.
The Department of Electricity, in order to reduce the overall cost for the replacement of the mentioned automatic devices for the benefit of the affected citizens, has agreed with the Cyprus Electricity Authority (CEC) to provide the required services and facilities, without imposing any charge. Further, any services that may be required to be provided by the Department of Electricity for this purpose will also be free of charge. It is emphasized, however, that the free contribution of both the A.H.C. and the H.M.Y. Department will be applicable to those who replace their voltmeter type automatics within 18 months from the date of this notice.
It is noted that, for the replacement of the automata referred to, the H.M.Y. Department. in cooperation and consultation with the AEC has established a specific procedure to be followed by licensed electricians for Electrical Contractors.
Below are indicative photographs for convenience and easy identification of voltmeter type automata.
(MB/SX)
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