What is this standard about?
BS 8546:2016 is a new British Standard providing essential requirements for the construction, rating, marking, dimensions and testing of travel adaptors, intended for the temporary connection of electrical equipment.
Who is this standard for?
- Manufacturers and suppliers of travel adaptors
- Those involved with the testing and marketing of travel adaptors
- Health and safety executives
- Designers of travel adaptors
Why should you use this standard?
Travel adaptors are now widely available on the high street and a familiar item in luggage, so a standard was needed to ensure robust manufacture and safety to the user.
BS 8546 was developed to provide specifications for the design and manufacture of travel adaptors having at least one plug or socket outlet portion and to be compatible with the various standards in the series BS 1363 (UK plugs and sockets outlets).
It should help address safety concerns over issues such as incorrect dimensions, plug pin configurations, loss of earth connection, excessive temperature rise, cross polarity and dangerous connections of incompatible systems.