BEAMA LSBS Group launches new guide to strengthen low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assembly specification
Posted by: electime 22nd July 2026
Low-voltage electrical distribution systems are becoming more demanding, making accurate assembly specification increasingly important. BEAMA’s Low Voltage Switchboard and Busbar Systems (LSBS) Group has published a new guide for professionals involved in specifying and procuring electrical assemblies.
The new publication, Specifying a Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assembly, helps specifiers and procurement teams check two things: that electrical assemblies meet the relevant standards and that they are suitable for their intended operating conditions.
The Guide has been designed to sit alongside and support the understanding of existing standards, including the BS EN IEC 61439 series. It sets out the safety and performance points to consider when specifying low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies, including conformance, design verification, environmental conditions and marking requirements.
The Specifying a Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assembly guide is intended to help specifiers make decisions that support safety, efficiency and reliability across electrical installations. It builds on the BEAMA LSBS Group’s work to promote best practice across the low-voltage switchboard industry. It also follows last year’s ‘Consequence of Non-Compliance’ campaign, which raised awareness of BS EN IEC 61439-2 conformity throughout the switchboard lifecycle.
Nick Hayler
Nick Hayler, CEng MIET, Head of Building Electrical Systems at BEAMA, comments: “Correct specification is critical to the safety, performance and efficiency of low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. Developed in close collaboration with technical experts from our Low Voltage Switchboard and Busbar Systems Group membership, the new Specifying a Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assembly guide sets out practical and safety-critical considerations to consider before selecting an assembly.
“Too often, assembly specification is treated as a box-ticking exercise and there is a tendency for selections to be driven by price considerations rather than a full assessment of the appropriate specification, when it should be based on a clear understanding of conformance, design verification and the environmental conditions an assembly will face in service. Getting this wrong can have serious consequences. It can affect assembly performance and the safety of everyone who installs, operates and maintains it.
“Giving specifiers and procurement teams practical information to help them ask the right questions and identify suitable solutions from the outset. By addressing marking requirements and other details that can be missed, we want to support the specification of robust, fit-for-purpose electrical distribution networks.”
Find out more about the work of the BEAMA Low Voltage Switchboard and Busbar Systems (LSBS) Group here. Download the new Specifying a Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assembly guide here or scan the QR code:
BEAMA is the UK’s national trade association for energy systems and infrastructure. Its Low Voltage Switchboard and Busbar Systems (LSBS) Group consists of leading companies that manufacture low-voltage, factory-built switchboard assemblies and busbar systems. Its members provide quality assemblies and components, backed by specialist technical knowledge and support. Visit https://www.beama.org.uk/ to learn more and contact BEAMA Low Voltage Switchboard and Busbar Systems (LSBS) Group members.
