BRITISH STANDARD 116!

1952
rUDe 621.316.57]

OIL CIRCUIT-
BREAKERS
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FOR ALTERNATING
CURRENT SYSTEMS
Endorsement
August 1967
BRITISH STANDARD 116: 1952
is endorsed as
AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
C89-1967
subject to Australian Amendment No. 1

This end?fsemenr was recommended by Commitlee ELI!

:f~~r SAwdch~e~r, and was approved on behalf of fhA Council
fie SSOCidhon On 20 August 1967.

ST:4NDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

SCience House, 157 Gloucester Street, Sydney

BRITTSH STANDARDS INSTITUTION

 BRITISH STANDARD SPECIFICATION

OIL CIRCUIT-BREAKERS
FOR ALTERNATING

CURRENT SYSTEMS
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B.S. 116 : 1952

Incorporating amendments issued March, 1955, (PD2143)
June, 1957 (PD2832) December, 1959 (PD3585, PD3586)
and November, 1962 (PD4724)

BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION

INCORPORATED BY ROYAL CHARTER

BRITISH STANDARDS HOUSE, 2 PARK ST., LONDON, \V.l

TELEGRAMS: STANDARDS AUDLEY LONDON TELEPHONE: MAYFAIR 9000
 B.S. 116 : 1952
THIS BRITISH STANDARD, having been approved by the
Electrical Industry Standards Committee and endorsed by
the Chairman of the Engineering Divisional Council, was
published under the authority of the General Council on
31st December, 1952.
First published, August t 1923.
First revision, December, 1929.
Second revision, October, 1937 (issued in Parts 1 and 2).
Third revision, December, 1952 (complete in one volume).
The Institution desires to call attention to the fact that this
British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract.
A complete list of British Standards, numbering over 4000,
indexed and cross-indexed for reference, together with an
abstract of each standard, will be found in the Institution's
This is a free 11 page sample. Access the full version online.

Yearbook.
This standard makes reference to the following British
Standards :-
B.S. 148. Insulating oil for transformers and switchgear.
B.S. 162. Electric power switchgear for indoor and outdoor
installations up to and including 220 000 volts.
B.S. 170. The electrical performance of fractional horse
power electric motors and generators.
B.S. 223. High-voltage bushings.
B.S. 229. Flameproof enclosure of electrical apparatus.
B.S. 923. Impulse-voltage testing.
B.S. 936. Oil circuit-breakers for alternating-current circuits
up to and including 660 volts.
CP 1008. Code of practice for the maintenance of electrical
switchgear.
B.S. 2613. The electrical performance of rotating electrical
machinery.
B.S. 2631. Oil switches for alternating-current systems.
B.s. 2757. Classification of insulating materials for electrical
machinery and apparatus on the basis of thermal
stability in service.
B.S. 3078. Isolators (including selectors) for alternating-current
systems.
British Standards are revised, when necessary, by the issue
either of amendment slips or of revised editions. It is important
that users of British Standards should ascertain that they are
in possession of the latest amendments or editions.
ELE/IO/1
2
 B.S. 116 : 1952
CO-OPERATING ORGMlJZATIONS

The Electrical Industry Standards Committee, under

whose supervision this British Standard was prepared,
consists of representatives from the following Govern-
ment departments and scientific and industrial organiza-
tions :-
*Admiralty
... Air Ministry
*Association of Consulting Engineers, Incorporated
Association of Supervising Electrical Engineers
*British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association
*British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers' Association
British Electrical Development Association
"'British Electricity Authority and Area Boards
"'British Railways, The Railway Executive
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*Cable Makers' Association

·Crown Agents for the Colonies
Electric Lamp Manufacturers' Association
Electric Light Fittings Association
Electrical Contractors' Association, Incorporated
Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland
*Engineering Equipment Users' Association
"'General Post Office
Institution of Electrical Engineers
*Ministry of Fuel and Power
"'Ministry of Labour and National Service
·Ministry of Supply
·Ministry of Works
*National Physical Laboratory
*North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board
Public Transport Association, Incorporated
Radio Industry Council

The Government departments and scientific and

industrial organizations marked with an asterisk in the
above list, together with the following, were directly
represented on the Committees entrusted with the
preparation of this British Standard :-
Association of Mining, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Engineer Surveyors' Association
Lloyds Register of Shipping
London Transport Executive
National Coal Board
Office of the High Commissioner for India

3
 B.S. 116 : 1952
CONTENTS
Page
Foreword 10
Specification 11

SECI'ION ONE: GHNERAL

1. Scope 11
2. Basis of specification 11
a. General 11
b. Prospective current 11
c. MVA rating 12
d. Severity of duty 12
3. Classification of circuit-breakers 12
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a. Groups 12
b. Characteristics 12
4. Definitions 13
5. Symbols 19

SRCI'ION TWO : RATING

6. Rating 19
7. Rated service-voltage 19
8. Rated nonnaI-current 20
9. Rated maldng-capacity 20
10. Rated breaking-capacity 20
11. Rated short-time current 21
12. Ratings of standard 3-phase circuit-breakers 21
13. Standard rated auxiliary supply voltages 26
14. Power closing devices 26
15. Shunt trip-coils 26
16. Series trip-coils, current-transfonners and
over-current releases 26
17. Inverse time lag attachments to over-current
releases 27
18. Under-voltage releases 28

SECTION THREE : MARKING

19. Marking the nameplate 28

4
 B.S. 116 : 1952
SECTION FOUR: SERVICE CONDITlONS
Page
20. System earthing 29
21. Ambient temperature 30
22. Altitude 30
23. Atmospheric conditions 30
24. Operation 30

SECTION FIVE : OPERATION IN SERVICE

25. Operation in service 30

26. Oil 31

SECTION SIX: LTh-fITS OF TEMPERATURE-RISE

27. Reference ambient temperature 32

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28. Temperature-rise of parts other than coils 32

29. Temperature-rise of coils 33
30. Temperature-rise correction for altitude 34

SECTION SEVEN: CONSTRUCTION

31. Oearances and insulator lengths 34

32. Effect of altitude on clearances and
insulation 37
33. Creepage distances for outdoor insulators 37
34. Bushing insulators 39
35. Outdoor construction 39
36. Operating-mechanism 39
37. Ventilating-outlets 39

SECfION EIGHT: TYPE-TESTS

38. General 39
39. Mechanical-endurance test 40
40. Tests of temperature-rise 40
41. Impulse-voltage tests for outdoor-type
circuit-breakers 41
42. Power-frequency voltage wet test for external
insulation of outdoor-type circuit-breakers 43
43. Making-capacity, breaking-capacity and
short-time current tests: type-test certificates. 45

5
 B.S. 116 : 1952
Page
As 44. Identification of circuit-breaker. 45
altered
Dec., a. Drawings. 45
1959
b. Operating mechanisms. 46
c. Certification of drawings and information
schedules. 47
45. Information and results to be recorded by
Testing Authority. 47
a. Oscillographic records. 47
b. Photographic records. 47
c. Other records. 48
46. Arrangement of circuit-breaker for tests. 48
a. Hand-operated circuit-breakers. 48
b. Circuit-breakers fitted with series-trip coils
or over-current release coils. 49
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c. Single and multi-tank circuit-breakers. 49

d. Representation of service conditions. 50
47. No-load operations before tests. 51
a. Making operations. 51
b. Breaking operations. 51
48. Test-circuit arrangements. 51
a. Power-factor. 51
b. Frequency. 52
c. Test-circuit earthing. 52
d. Connection of test-circuit to circuit-
breaker. 53
49. Arrangement of auxiliary supplies and
mechanisms. 53
a. Operating voltage. 53
b. Operating air pressure. 53
50. Short-circuit type tests. 54
a. D.C. component of breaking-current. 54
b. Time intervals. 54
c. Applied voltage. 54
d. Recovery-voltage. 54
51. Test quantities. 55
a. Applied voltage. 55
b. Making-current. 55
c. Making-capacity. 56
d. Breaking-current. 56
e. D.C. component. 57
f Breaking-capacity. 58
g. Recovery-voltage. 58

6
 B.S. 116 : 1952
Page
52. Test procedure. 59
a. Reconditioning during tests. 60
b. Time interval between individual tests of an
operating duty. 60
c. Application of tripping impulse. 60
d. Test-duty 4. 61
e. Making test on Group 'B' circuit-breakers 62
f Circuit-breakers fitted with making-
current releases. 63
g. Circuit-breakers fitted with three poles
m an enclosure (or In which three
separately-enclosed poles are coupled
mechanically). 63
h. Test duty 5. 63
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53. Alternative mechanisms. 63

54. Short-time current tests. 64
a. Circuit-breakers, other than those fitted
with series-trip coils or over-current release
coils. 64
b. Circuit-breakers fitted with series-trip
coils or over-current release coils. 65
55. Behaviour of circuit-breaker during test. 65
a. Emission of gases. 65
b. Emission of oil. 66
c. Failure to trip. 66
d. Intermittent earth faults. 67
e. Duration of arcing. 67
56. Condition of circuit-breaker after tests. 67
a. No-load operations after test. 67
b. Normal current-carrying capacity. 68
c. Damage to structure. 68
d. Damage to operating mechanism. 68
e. Condition of contacts. 69
f Damage to tank lining and interphase
barriers. 69
g. Damage to insulation. 69
h. Oil deterioration. 70
j. Damage to arc-control devices. 70

SECTION NINE: ROUTINE TESTS

59. General 70
60. Operation tests 70

7
 B.S. 116: 1952
61. Millivolt drop test 71
62. Power-frequency voltage tests at
manufacturer's premises 7]
63. Power frequency voltage tests after ereetion
, .
73
V~tY~.qQ·'iQS;{~ ~v .Q.vllGi\6n &A
Sli1L·
TABLES
1 Standard 3-phase oil circuit-breakers:
preferred ratings 22
2. Standard 3-phase oil circuit-breakers:
standard ratings 23
3. Standard rated normal-current of series
trip-coils 27
4. Temperature-rises of coils 33
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5. Clearances for indoor-type oil circuit-

breakers 35
6. Basis of clearances for indoor-type neutral-
earthing oil circuit-breakers 36
7. Clearances for outdoor-type oil circuit-
breakers 36
8. Basis of clearances for outdoor-type neutral~
earthing oil circuit-breakers 37
9. Creepage distances for outdoor insulators 38
10. Impulse-voltage test values for outdoor-type
oil circuit-breakers 42
11. Power-frequency voltage values for wet tests
on the external insulation of outdoor-type
oil circuit-breakers 44
12. Power-frequency test-voltages on apparatus
at manufacturer's premises 72
13. Power-frequency test-voltages on apparatus
after erection on site 74
14. Power-frequency voltage tests for durations
exceeding one minute (after erection on site) 75
15 . D, C· Ii'@ ~li9€. {Q.si
vo Hu.q as. '
APPENDICES
A. Information to be given with enquiry and
order 76
B. Standard information for tenders 77

8
 B.S. 116 : 1952
C. Calculation of short-circuit fault-currents 79
D. Selection of standard oil circuit-breakers 86
E. Care and maintenance of oil circuit-breakers 94
F. Information to be included in reports of type-
tests for making-capacity and breaking-
capacity ratings, and for short-time current
ratings 96
G. Measurement of power-factor 98
H. Measurement of recovery voltage 100
J. Determination of short-time current 100
K. Measurement of temperature 101
L. Correction factors for atmospheric conditions
during impulse voltage tests, and for air
density during wet withstand voltage tests 103
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9
 B.S. 116 : 1952
BRITISH STANDARD SPECIFICATION FOR

OIL CIRCUIT-BREAKERS
FOR ALTERNATING-CURRENT SYSTEMS

FOREWORD
The previous edition of this British Standard, issued in 1937, as B.S. 116
Parts 1 and 2, confonned to the rules for short-circuit conditions in the
tirst edition of Publication No. 56 on Altemating-current Circuit-
Breakers issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission, except
for some deviations in Part 2 in connection with the larger circuit-breakers.
This revision applies to oil circuit-breakers only and continues to be
based on the I.E.C. Publication No. 56, but as the result of progress in
the art of circuit-breaking, and of experience with B.S. 116 : 1937, it
contains some modifications and additions to that standard. In order to
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avoid unnecessary complication and repetition it has been considered

desirable to issue the present British Standard in one volume which
supersedes B.S. 116 : 1937, Parts 1 and 2, so far as the provisions of oil
circuit-breakers are concerned.
The present standard is one of a series of British Standards relating
to switchgear equipment, during the preparation of which it has been
found that a large amount of research wiI] be necessary before all the
conditions of short-circuit can be laid down with certainty. Research
is still being conducted by the British Electrical and Allied Industries
Research Association, by supply-undertakings, and by switchgear
manufacturers. It is expected that in due course additions will be made to
the specification, based, for example, on further investigation of the
performance of circuit-breakers, and the numerical values of the rate-of-rise
of restriking-voltage likely to exist at typical points in a supply-network
and their influence on the selection of suitably rated circuit-breakers.
As some time mllst elapse before every circuit-breaker supplied can
be certified to comply in all respects with this revision of the standard,
its application should be subject to mutual agreement between contracting
parties. Additional testing may be necessary, but circuit-breakers cornplying
with B.S. 116: 1937 are not necessarily inadequate.
As The revision of the provisions concerning making-capacity, breaking-
added
Dec_, capacity and short-time current tests contained in the amendment, does
1959
not amount to a basic change in the existing test requirements. Rather,
it has the object of formulating what has, through many years' experience,
become established as good practice in the technique of performing these
tests and in assessing and certifying their results, so that the greatest possible
degree of uniformity may be achieved in these matters. In particular, points
are clarified and amplified which may arise through the individual charac-
teristics of the circuit-breaker tested, through characteristics or limitations
of the testing plants, or through unusual incidents occurring during testing.

10
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AS C89-1967 Oil circuit-breakers for alternating

current systems
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