S 1.2 Regulations governing access to distributors

Initiation responsibility: Building Services Manager

Implementation responsibility: Building Services

As far as possible, distributors (e.g. for power supply, data and telephone networks) should be accommodated in technical infrastructure rooms (see module S 2.6 Technical infrastructure room). The safeguards specified for such rooms are to be met.

Access to the distributing frames of all supply facilities (power, water, gas, telephone, warning system, pneumatic dispatch, etc.) within the building must be possible and regulated.

Possible means that

• distributing frames will, during painting work, not be pasted over with paint or wallpaper in such a way that they could be opened only with tools or could not be located,
• distributors must not be blocked by furniture, equipment, pallets, etc.,
• keys are available for locked distributors, and that the locks are in working order.

Regulated means that it has been determined who may open which distributor. Distributors should be locked and may be opened only by the persons responsible for the respective supply facility. Access can be regulated by various locking devices and appropriate key management schemes (see also S 2.14 Key Management and S 1.80 Access control system and authorisation management).

If melting fuses are built into distributors of the supply mains, appropriate spare fuses should be held in store (in the distributor). The documentation of the distributors should be in accordance with the provisions of S 2.19 Neutral documentation in the distributors).

All devices installed in the distributor must bear precise and intelligible legends.

Review questions:

• Is access to the distributing frames of all supply facilities within the building quickly possible in case of need?
• Is access to distributing frames restricted to a small group of authorised persons?