Protection Assessment Panel (PAP)

Contacts for this group:
Bernard Pentecost (Senior Engineer) bernard.pentecost@energynetworks.org
Chairman: John Stokoe - SP Powersystems

The electricity Iindustry is a major purchaser of electrical equipment, the safety and reliability of which is paramount in allowing it to discharge its legal and license obligations and its duties to its employees, its customers and, its shareholders. Products purchased are therefore not only expected to conform to accepted relevant standards but also to meet electricity industry requirements that contribute towards these obligations.

One way of ensuring this is for the industry to co-operate with manufacturers in assessing the testing of new products appearing on the market, and if necessary to witness tests, thus providing joint confidence that the quality of design is of the required standard and that the product will perform according to its specification. This confidence is issuing an ENA Notice of Conformity Certificate to the product.

Such arrangements have proved of benefit to manufacturers in providing a 'once and for all' conformance acceptable to electricity industry companies. However, it is stressed that participation in the assessment arrangements (the Protection Assessment Service) which the ENA operates is entirely voluntary. Equally, the fact that a product is not has not been assessed and found to be in conformity by the service does not preclude its purchase by electricity industry companies.

Assessments are managed by the 'Protection Assessment Panel' and undertaken by nominated 'Project Groups', consisting of protection experts who appraise the products on behalf of the EI. Although the procedure relies initially on self-certification by the manufacturer, site visits and witnessing of tests may be conducted if considered necessary.

The terms of reference of the Protection Assessment Panel are:

‘To assess, on behalf of the UK Electricity Industry (EI), protection products offered by manufacturers. To issue Notice of Conformity Certificates for such products found to be satisfactory. To periodically review the list of existing type assessed products giving due regard to their age, their performance in service and whether they are still in use within the EI.’

Control products are specifically excluded from the scope, but with the increasing use of protection products having other integrated functions, the following may be included:

• Auto-reclose schemes which are an integral part of a protection function
  
• Guide to the EA Protection Assessment Service
  
• Stand-alone protection products at the interface between a non-grid connected generator and the distribution network eg ‘loss-of-mains’ protection or frequency stability protection
  
• Products for the protection of a generator itself (except when part of a private scheme)

Communications facilities that are not part of the protection function are not included in the scope, but where such facilities are provided as part of the design, appropriate tests will be performed to test that there is no interference with the protection function.

The suitability of products with additional functions provided for a designated application (other than protection) will remain the responsibility of the applications engineer of the companies putting such products into service and is not guaranteed by the Panel. Neither is compliance with G59/1 (Recommendations for the connection of embedded generating plant to the Distribution Network Owners’ systems).

However, all products accepted for assessment must meet the requirements of the relevant ENA Technical Specifications, including the environmental requirements, and must also meet the functional performance as specified by the manufacturer. A major criterion for acceptance of a product for assessment is the interest and support of ENA Member Companies, which will be judged by the panel.

Assessment may encompass up to four areas of inspection/test:

• Quality of Manufacture (if appropriate)
• Type Tests to relevant Standards
• Performance or Functional Tests to agreed criteria
• Site Tests or Trials

For further information please contact bernard.pentecost@energynetworks.org

Please note, access to the password protected PAP Documents is restricted to members of the Protection Assessment Panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does ENA approve any plant and equipment?
  No, ENA only assess plant and equipment.
  
• How do I get my plant and equipment assessed?
  Engineering Recommendation G79 Part 1 is available from our Engineering Documents web site and this outlines the assessment process.
  
• How do I start the assessment process?
  You need to obtain email of support from two ENA member companies who are technically and commercially interested in your product.
  
• Who pays for the assessment process?
  Generally, the manufacturer pays any travel and subsistence, with ENA supplying the assessing engineer . Details can be found in Engineering Recommendation G79 Part 1 and is available from our engineering documents catalogue.