Preface
This is the second edition of CSA Z463, Maintenance of electrical systems. It supersedes the first edition, published in 2013 as a guideline.
This Standard specifies basic requirements on maintenance of electrical systems based on principles of loss control and safety management systems. It also provides guidance on the selection of reference standards, equipment-specific maintenance procedures, and the assessment of electrical equipment to verify correct function.
In addition to converting many previous advisory criteria into mandatory requirements, the following is an overview of the major revisions from the 2013 edition:
a) The Scope has been modified to indicate that the Standard does not currently apply to telecommunication networks and electrical utility generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
b) Definitions have been updated in accordance with the 2018 edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, as well as other CSA Group, IEEE, NEMA, and NETA standards.
c) Clause 4 (Electrical maintenance program) has been revised to include prevention of equipment damage and property loss as objectives (in addition to personnel safety).
d) The order of Clauses 5 and 6 have been reversed placing risk assessment and reduction ahead of development of a maintenance program.
e) Requirements for hazard identification and risk assessment (Clauses 5.2 and 5.3) have been expanded and made consistent with other CSA Group standards.
f) Several helpful figures have been added to Clause 6 – program organization, breakdown curves, and age-related failure modes.
g) Clause 7 (General maintenance practices) has been consolidated and reorganized into an order more in line with typical consideration of these practices within a maintenance program.
h) Some of the maintenance advice for special equipment has been integrated into Clause 8 (Equipment-specific maintenance practices).
i) Clause 9 (Specialized equipment maintenance) has been expanded with the addition of maintenance advice for equipment that had not been included in the 2013 edition.
j) Annex C has been completely revised to provide an example approach for risk evaluation and assessment (rather than examples of maintenance practices).
k) Definitions and abbreviations of terms related to electrical maintenance, but not specifically used in this Standard have been added in a new Annex O.
This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.
Scope
1.1 General
This Standard specifies requirements for the maintenance of electrical equipment and systems.
This Standard applies to new and existing electrical equipment. For new installations of electrical equipment, this Standard can be applied during the early design stages to allow for the implementation of proactive electrical maintenance practices and maintenance safety.
1.2 Purpose
The purpose of this Standard is to facilitate the safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of electrical equipment and systems through the application of consistent maintenance practices.
The requirements of this Standard are intended to address worker and public safety as a primary objective and the protection of property and the environment as secondary objectives.
1.3 Application
While it can be applied by organizations of any type or size, at this time this Standard does not cover
a) installations of communications equipment under the exclusive control of communications utilities located outdoors or in building spaces used exclusively for such installations; and
b) installations under the exclusive control of an electric utility when such installations
i) consist of service drops or service laterals, and associated metering;
ii) are located in legally established easements or rights-of-way designated or recognized by public service commissions, utility commissions, or other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction for such installations; or
iii) are on property owned or leased by the electric utility for communications or for metering, generation, control, transformation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy.
Note: The term electrical utility is defined by the authority having jurisdiction.
1.4 Measurements
The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.
1.5 Terminology
In this Standard, shall is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; should is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.
Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.
Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.
Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.
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