BOTSWANA STANDARD BOS 495-0:2012
16 A Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and
similar purposes for use in Botswana — Part 0: General and
safety requirements
BOS 495-0:2012
BOTSWANA BUREAU OF STANDARDS
BOS 495-0:2012
Foreword
This Botswana standard was approved by the Technical Advisory Committee of the Standards Council on
2012-05-10.
The Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) was established under the Standards Act No. 16 of 1995, with
primary responsibility of preparing Botswana Standards.
During the preparation of this standard assistance was derived from the South African National Standard
SANS 164-0:2007, Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and similar purposes for use in South
Africa – Part 0: General and safety requirements, published by the South African Bureau of Standards.
During the preparation of the standard, the following member organizations were directly represented in the
Technical Committee EED2 - Electrical Installations and Accessories:
Mascot Engineering Mr N Desai (Chairperson)
Botswana Bureau of Standards Mr M Setlalekgosi (Technical Secretary)
Botswana Bureau of Standards Mr K Tsamaase
Fastbel Electrical Mr E Cairns
M & P Cables Mr P Stephenson
Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Mr V Selema
Department of Vocational Education
and Training
Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Mr B Lekgowe
Department of Energy
Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Ms M Keitseope
Department of Energy
Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Mr T Kentse
Department of Energy
Scales Associates Mr J Cunliffe
Sharps Electrical Mr C Parker
Sunita Cables Mr R Chandra
Published by:
Botswana Bureau of Standards
Private Bag BO 48
Gaborone
Botswana
Telephone: +267 3903200
Fax: +267 3903120
E-mail: infoc@hq.bobstandards.bw
Website: www.bobstandards.bw
ICS: 29.120.30
© Botswana Bureau of Standards, 2012
i
BOS 495-0:2012
16 A Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and similar
purposes for use in Botswana — Part 0: General and safety
requirements
1 Scope
This part of BOS 495 covers the specific requirements for plugs, fixed or portable socket-outlets and socket-
outlet adaptors, with or without earthing contact, with a rated current not exceeding 16 A and a rated voltage
not exceeding 250 V and intended for household and similar purposes either indoors or outdoors in
Botswana.
NOTE This part of BOS 495 does not cover 13 A 250 V a.c. plug and socket-outlet systems which are covered in
BOS 41 series.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
documents (including any amendments) applies. Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) maintains registers
of currently valid standards.
BOS 495-1, Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and similar purposes for use in Botswana – Part
1: Conventional system, 16 A 250 V a.c.
BOS 495-2, Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and similar purposes for use in Botswana – Part
2: IEC system, 16 A 250 V a.c.
BOS 495-4, Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and similar purposes for use in Botswana – Part
4: Dedicated system, 16 A 250 V a.c.
IEC 60884-1, Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes – Part 1: General requirements.
IEC 60884-2-2, Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes – Part 2-2: Particular
requirements for socket-outlets for appliances.
IEC 60884-2-3, Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes – Part 2-3: Particular
requirements for switched socket-outlets without interlock for fixed installations.
IEC 60884-2-4, Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes – Part 2-4: Particular
requirements for plugs and socket-outlets for SELV.
IEC 60884-2-5, Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes – Part 2-5: Particular
requirements for adaptors.
IEC 60884-2-6, Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes – Part 2-6: Particular
requirements for switched socket-outlets with interlock for fixed electrical installations.
IEC 60906-3, IEC system of plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes – Part 3: SELV
plugs and socket-outlets, 16 A 6 V, 12 V, 24 V, 48 V, a.c. and d.c.
SANS 164-3, Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and similar purposes for use in South Africa –
Part 3: Conventional system, 6 A 250 V a.c.
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BOS 495-0:2012
SANS 164-5, Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and similar purposes for use in South Africa –
Part 5: Two-pole, non-rewirable plugs, 2.5 A 250 V a.c., with cord, for connection of Class II equipment.
SANS 164-6, Plug and socket-outlet systems for household and similar purposes for use in South Africa –
Part 6: Two-pole system, 10 A 250 V a.c. and 16 A 250 V a.c., for connection of Class II equipment.
SANS 1085, Wall outlet boxes for the enclosure of electrical accessories.
SANS 61643-1, Low-voltage surge protective devices – Part 1: Surge protective devices connected to low-
voltage power distribution systems – Requirements and tests.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the definitions given in IEC 60884-1 apply.
4 Requirements
4.1 General
4.1.1 Plugs, socket-outlets and socket-outlet adaptors shall comply with the appropriate requirements of
IEC 60884-1, and the relevant of IEC 60884-2-2, IEC 60884-2-3, IEC 60884-2-4, IEC 60884-2-5, and IEC
60884-2-6.
4.1.2 Socket-outlets shall comply with the requirements for increased protection of IEC 60884-1.
4.1.3 A socket-outlet for a fixed installation shall have an earthing contact. A multiple socket-outlet for a
fixed installation shall have at least one socket-outlet with an earthing contact.
4.1.4 A dedicated plug shall comply with all relevant requirements of all parts of IEC 60884 when used in
combination with both a dedicated socket-outlet (BOS 495-4) and a conventional socket-outlet (BOS 495-1),
and a conventional socket-outlet shall comply with all relevant requirements of all parts of IEC 60884 when
used in combination with both a conventional plug and a dedicated plug.
4.1.5 The earth contact of a dedicated socket-outlet shall withstand a torque of 2.6 Nm for one minute in a
clockwise direction and then for one minute in an anti-clockwise direction, the torque being applied using a
D-shaped earthpin.
4.1.6 A surge protection device (SPD) incorporated in a plug, in an adaptor or in a portable socket-outlet
shall comply with the requirements of IEC 61643-1, with special attention to the temporary overvoltage (TOV)
requirements. An SPD without an internal disconnecting mechanism shall only be fitted between line and
earth and between neutral and earth, and not between line and neutral. SPDs without internal disconnecting
mechanisms shall not be fitted to dedicated plug and socket-outlet systems.
NOTE Fixed socket-outlets fall within the scope of SANS 10142-1, and incorporated SPDs are covered in that
standard.
4.2 Dimensions
4.2.1 The dimensions of a plug shall comply with the plug dimensions given in one of the following:
BOS 495-1, BOS 495-2, SANS 164-3, BOS 495-4, SANS 164-5, SANS 164-6, or IEC 60906-3.
4.2.2 The dimensions of a socket-outlet shall comply with the socket-outlet dimensions of one of the
following: BOS 495-1, BOS 495-2, SANS 164-3, and BOS 495-4, SANS 164-6 or IEC 60906-3.
4.2.3 The plug of an adaptor shall comply with the dimensions of BOS 495-1 or BOS 495-2. The earthpin
of an adaptor may be of insulation material, provided the adaptor does not include a socket-outlet that will
accept a plug with an earthpin. (See also 4.2.5.)
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BOS 495-0:2012
4.2.4 The socket-outlets of an adaptor shall comply with the socket-outlet dimensions of one or more of
BOS 495-1, BOS 495-2, SANS 164-3 or SANS 164-6. (See also 4.2.5.)
4.2.5 The pins of an adaptor may comply with the dimensions of BOS 495-4, provided all the socket
contacts are of the same dedicated type, i.e. no adapting from a dedicated socket-outlet to a non-dedicated
socket-outlet, or to another type of dedicated socket-outlet, is permitted.
4.2.6 An adaptor shall not fit into a lampholder.
4.2.7 The means of mounting a fixed socket-outlet in a wall outlet box shall permit rotational adjustment of
the socket-outlet relative to the box through an angle of at least 10°.
4.2.8 A socket-outlet for fixed installation, which is not supplied with its own outlet box, shall have
mounting centres that comply with SANS 1085.
4.3 Rating
The voltage and current ratings of an accessory shall comply with the requirements of the relevant of
BOS 495-1, BOS 495-2, SANS 164-3, BOS 495-4, SANS 164-5, SANS 164-6, or IEC 60906-3.
