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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 1
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F550e E-learning course
Residual current devices basics
The hazards of electric shock
Welcome to the training course about the basics of the residual current
devices.
This first training module will introduce you to the hazards of electric
shock.
Please, if you need help navigating this module, click the Help button in
the top right corner.
To view the presenter notes as text, click the Notes button in the bottom
right corner.
Attention: in the Attachment button, in the top corner near the Exit
button, this e-learning presentation can be downloaded in two different
formats, with or without notes.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 2
After completing this module, you will be able to
Objectives
gain a deeper knowledge of the general
effects of current on human beings;
understand how the human body behaves in case
of an electrical contact;
have a clear idea regarding the dangerous current
thresholds and their effects;
continue the basic RCDs course with the other modules.
have a solid base of definitions and concepts;
After completing this module, you will be able to:
gain a deeper knowledge of the general effects of current on human
beings;
understand how the human body behaves in case of an electrical
contact;
have a clear idea regarding the dangerous current thresholds and their
effects;
have a solid base of definitions and concepts; which will permit you to
continue the basic residual current devices course with the other
modules.
Remember that, after completing the module, you will be asked to
complete a short test module to check your own learning.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 3
IEC 60364 Low voltage electrical installations
Part 4-41: Protection for safety Protection against electric shock
Reference Standards panorama
IEC/TS 60479 - Effects of current
on human beings and livestock
Part 1: general aspects
Part 2: special aspects
Part 3: effects of currents passing through
the body of livestock
Part 4: effects of lightning strokes on human
beings and livestock
Part 5: touch voltage threshold values for
physiological effects
Standards overview
Here is the reference Standards panorama concerning the hazards of
electric shock on human beings. Precisely, the Technical Specification
IEC/TS 60479 - Effects of current on human beings and livestock
provides guidance on the effects of shock currents on body, for use in
the establishment of electrical safety requirements.
The Technical Specification is divided into 5 parts, dealing respectively:
part 1: the general aspects,
part 2: the special aspects,
part 3: the effects of currents passing through the body of livestock,
part 4: the effects of lightning strokes on human beings and livestock,
and part 5: the touch voltage threshold values for physiological effects.
The contents of all these Technical Specification parts are being used
as a basis for fixing requirements for protection against shock, typically
in the Standard IEC 60364 Low voltage electrical installations.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 4
Introduction
Z
i
internal impedance
Z
s1
, Z
s2
impedances of the skin
Z
T
total impedance
The danger depends mainly on the
magnitude and duration of the current flow
The human body can be
considered an impedance
The hazards of electric shock
This value of impedance
depends on many factors
Lets see now a brief introduction regarding the hazards of electric
shock. For a given current path through the human body, the danger to
people depends mainly on the magnitude and the duration of the
current. From the electrical point of view, the human body can be
considered an impedance, because the different parts of the human
body (such as the skin, blood, muscles, other tissues and joints)
present to the electric current a certain impedance composed of
resistive and capacitive components.
This value of impedance depends on many factors and, in particular, on
current path, touch voltage, duration of current flow, frequency, degree
of moisture of the skin, surface area and pressure of the contact and
temperature.
A schematic diagram for the impedance of the human body is shown
here, where the internal impedance of the human body Z
i
can be
considered as mostly resistive, the two impedances of the skin Z
S
can
be considered as a network of resistances and capacitances and their
sum Z
T
is the total impedance of the human body.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 5
Z
ip
Z
ip
= internal partial impedance of one extremity
The impedance of the human body
Z
ip
Z
ip
Z
ip
Z
ip
Impedance hand to hand is 2 Z
ip
Impedance hand to foot is 2 Z
ip
Impedance from one hand to both feet is 3/2 Z
ip
Impedance from both hands to both feet is Z
ip
The human body
In this figure there is a simplified schematic diagram for the internal
impedances of the human body. In order to simplify the circuit diagram,
the impedance of the trunk of the body is considered neglected and the
Z
ip
is the internal partial impedance of one extremity (arm or leg),
assumed to have the same value of impedance.
And the following can be a scheme of the electrical system (the head is
not here considered). Obviously the kinds of the contacts can be
different and as a consequence also the offered internal impedances
change: for example the internal impedance for a contact hand to hand
is 2 Z
ip
, the internal impedance from one hand to foot is again 2 Z
ip
, the
internal impedance for a contact hand to both feet is 3/2 Z
ip
and the
internal impedance from both hands to both feet is Z
ip
.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 6
The impedance of the human body
Partial impedances
Internal partial
impedances
The sum of the internal partial impedances
Z
ip
as well as the impedances of the skin
give as a result the total body impedance Z
T
for the given current path.
Also the internal partial impedances of the human body Z
ip
are given by
the Standard IEC 60479-1: the numbers express the percentage of the
internal impedance of the human body for the part of the body
concerned, in relation to the path hand to foot.
The sum of the internal partial impedances Z
ip
for all parts of the body
which are interested by the current path, as well as the impedances of
the skin in the surface areas of contact give as a result the total body
impedance Z
T
for the given current path. The numbers outside the body
show internal portions of the impedance to be added to the total, when
the current enters at that point.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 7
The impedance of the human body
Values of total body impedances (IEC 60479-1)
Again, in the Standard IEC 60479-1, there are many tables showing the
values of total body impedances Z
T
for a current path hand to hand, for
a value of the alternate current at 50/60Hz, in function of the touch
voltage. In particular this table is valid by considering a large surface
areas of contact, in dry conditions, but other tables are present with
different conditions, small or medium surface areas of contact and
water-wet or saltwater-wet conditions.
The table shows the values of the total impedance of the human body
Z
T
that are not exceeded for a percentage of 5%, 50% and 95% of the
population, in dependence on a touch voltage from 25V to 1000V.
To give a reference value, it is possible to say that, for a voltage of
about 200V, almost all people offer a value of impedance of about
2000.
For lower touch voltages, there are considerable variations in the
impedance of the skin and the total impedance of the human body
similarly varies widely. For higher touch voltages, the total impedance
depends less and less on the impedance of the skin and its value
approaches that of the internal impedance Z
i
.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 8
Time - current diagram
Time - current diagram
Sinusoidal alternating current
Frequency between 15 - 100Hz
Current pathway from one
hand to feet
A: Perception threshold
B: Tetanization threshold
C: Ventricular fibrillation
thresholds.
But in the reality our real interest is surely in the behaviour of human
beings towards the currents. This is the reason why the Standard IEC
60479-1 illustrates a diagram, with the time duration on the y-axis and
the current magnitude on the x-axis, to which the physiological effects
of a sinusoidal alternating current, with a frequency between 15 and
100Hz, passing through the human body, have been related. This time-
current diagram is intended with a current pathway considered from one
hand to feet.
The thresholds here shown depend on several parameters, such as the
area of the body in contact with an electrode, the conditions of the
contact (dry, wet, pressure, temperature) and also on the physiological
characteristics of the people (adults, males and females).
Basically, four zones can be represented, AC-1, AC-2, AC-3 and AC-4,
divided by 3 main lines. The first line A is defined Perception threshold,
the second line B is defined Tetanization threshold and the last one C,
or better the last family of curves C, is related to the Ventricular
fibrillation thresholds.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 9
AC-4 zone: possibility of
irreversible effects
AC-4.1 zone: up to 5%
probability of heart fibrillation
AC-4.2 zone: up to 50%
probability of heart fibrillation
AC-4.3 zone: more than 50%
probability of heart fibrillation
No
reaction
No physiological
effects
Tetanization
Time - current diagram
Time - current diagram
The first zone, AC-1, is also called no reaction area: a value of 0.5mA,
independent on time, is assumed for the threshold of no reaction when
touching a conductive surface; usually currents below this threshold are
not perceived by people.
In zone AC-2, we find shock perceived but not dangerous and harmful
physiological effects: here usually no organic damage has to be
expected, only perception and likely involuntary muscular contractions.
In particular, a value of about 5mA can be assumed as the threshold of
let-go, the maximum value of touch current at which a person holding
electrodes can let-go of them.
In zone AC-3, there is the tetanization area, practically a strong
involuntary muscular contractions can cause difficulty in breathing and
immobilization; other effects increasing with current magnitude are
disturbances of heart function, due to the overlapping of electrical
impulses. Usually no organic irreversible damage are expected in this
zone.
The AC-4 is the most dangerous area, with the possibility of irreversible
effects: here are an high risk of cardiac arrest, breathing arrest, severe
burns due to heat dissipations and at last the death. In particular,
between the curves c1 and c2, delimiting the area AC-4.1, the
probability of ventricular fibrillation increases up to about 5%, between
the curves c2 and c3, delimiting the area AC-4.2, the probability of
ventricular fibrillation is up to about 50% and beyond curve c3,
delimiting area AC-4.3, the probability of ventricular fibrillation is above
50%.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 10
30mA
Time - current diagram
30mA threshold
Well, summarizing it is possible to state that when a current higher than
30mA passes through a part of a human body, there is serious danger
for safety if the current is not interrupted in a very short time. This is the
reason why all the international Standards and local regulations make
always reference to this value of residual current, 30mA, for the
protection of people.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 11
General effects of current
Effects of current on the human body
Principally the risk of ventricular fibrillation is considered to be the main
mechanism of death of fatal electrical accidents. Ventricular fibrillation is
fatal because it denies blood flow which transports required oxygen.
Other effects may affect respiration and might prevent the person from
shouting for help. These related mechanisms include functional
disturbance of respiratory control, paralysis of respiratory muscles,
damage to the neural activation pathways for these muscles, and
damage to the respiratory control mechanism within the brainstem.
These effects, if permanent, lead inevitably to death. If a person is to
recover from a reversible respiratory effect, prompt artificial respiration
is mandatory. Nonetheless, the person may still die. If current flows
through critical parts such as the spinal cord or the respiratory control
centre, death can occur.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 12
Ventricular fibrillation
F
I
I
ref
h
=
4 . 0
mA 90
mA 225 =
Effects of current on the human body
For other current paths, the probability of ventricular fibrillation can be different
As said before, the time-current diagram is stated for an hand to both
feet current pathway. For other current paths, the probability of
ventricular fibrillation can be different, according to the following heart-
current factors.
The heart-current factor F permits the calculation of a current I
h
, through
paths other than left hand to feet, which represents the same danger of
ventricular fibrillation as that corresponding I
ref
given in the time-current
diagram, according to this formula comprising the F value as the heart-
current factor given in the table.
For example, a current of 225mA, left hand to right hand, has the same
likelihood of producing ventricular fibrillation as a current of 90mA, left
hand to feet, due to an heart-current factor of 0.4..
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 13
Influence of current frequency
The influence of frequency
Total impedance of the human body
decreases in a way inversely
proportional to the frequency.
The physiological effects
of current decrease when
the frequency increases.
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As regards the influence of frequency, generally the total impedance of
the human body decreases approximately in a way inversely
proportional to the frequency, mainly for touch voltages in the order of
some tens of volts. In the graph, the total body impedance Z
T
, for the
50% of the population, is shown for a frequency range from 50Hz to
2kHz, by considering touch voltages from 10V to 1000V (current path
hand to hand, large surface areas of contact in dry conditions).
If the total impedance of the human body decreases it means that more
current passes through the human body, at constant voltage; but, on
the contrary, the physiological effects of current decrease when the
frequency increases, mainly concerning the risk of ventricular fibrillation.
The figure shows the variation of the threshold of ventricular fibrillation
within the frequency range 50/60Hz to 1000Hz (shock durations is
longer than one heart period and current paths are longitudinal through
the trunk of the body); the frequency factor, on the y-axis, is ratio of the
threshold current for the relevant physiological effects at the frequency
f, in comparison to the threshold current at 50/60Hz. Practically, the risk
of ventricular fibrillation decreases 14 times at 1000Hz in comparison to
50/60Hz: therefore higher frequency currents are less dangerous.
Shock perception ultimately disappears at frequencies above 15/20kHz,
because nerve receptors does not respond to high frequencies and also
due to the well known skin effect (in a uniform conductor, the current
density near the surface of the conductor is greater than that at its
core). However, the human body is not a uniform conductor and the
current may take any number of paths through the body, also causing
damage without any discomfort.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 14
Direct current
Direct current effects
Electrical accidents with direct current are much less fatal:
the let go of parts gripped is less difficult;
the threshold of ventricular fibrillation is higher than for alternating current;
the total resistance R
T
is higher for direct current than for alternate current.
Electrical accidents with direct current are much less fatal, occurring
only under very unfavourable conditions, for example, in mines. This is
partly due to the fact that with direct current, the let go of parts gripped
is less difficult and that for shock durations longer than the period of the
cardiac cycle, the threshold of ventricular fibrillation is considerably and
several times higher than for alternating current.
Furthermore, the total impedance, or better the total resistance R
T
of
the human body, is higher for direct current than for alternating current
(due to the blocking effect of the capacitances of the human skin).
A time-current diagram for direct current exists, concerning an hand to
feet current pathway; as an example, under conditions comparable to
those applied in studies with alternate current, the threshold of reaction
was found to be about 2mA, in comparison to 0.5mA in alternating
current.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 15
Time - voltage safety curve
It results that:
for all the voltage values below 50V,
the tolerance time is indefinite;
at 50V the tolerance time is 5s.
Time - voltage safety curve
The voltage of 50V is reduced
to 25V in special locations.
In direct current, the reference is
120V.
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At the end of this presentation, after all these explications, it is possible
to draw a time-voltage safety curve.
For alternating current, this time-voltage safety curve can be generally
considered, as a result of many simplifications always in favour of the
safety of people: this diagram puts in relation the tolerance time, on the
y-axis, with the touch voltage, on the x-axis.
It results that for all voltage values below 50V, the tolerance time of a
human being is indefinite; at a voltage of 50V, the tolerance time is 5s.
The touch voltage of 50V is reduced to 25V for electrical installations in
special locations or where an increased shock risk is present, because
of humidity, critical external condition or restricted movements of
people; such as places containing a bath tub or shower basin,
swimming pools, rooms and cabins containing sauna heaters,
installations of agricultural and horticultural premises, restrictive
conducting locations and so on.
In case of direct current, the tolerance time a human being is indefinite
for a touch voltage below 120V.
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ABB Group
March 27, 2009 | Slide 16
Thank you for your attention. You may now go ahead and move on to
the next unit.