Understanding REBT Regulations: Key Definitions & Requirements

Posted on Mar 28, 2025 in Electronics

Understanding REBT Regulations

REBT (Reglamento Electrotécnico de Baja Tensión): This is the primary regulation for implementing low-voltage electrical facilities. Its fundamental objective is to ensure the safety of people and the proper operation of facilities through established technical standards.

BT (Baja Tensión – Low Voltage): This refers to the set of devices and circuits designed to produce, transform, transmit, or utilize electricity at voltages not exceeding 1000V AC or 1500V DC.

Personnel Qualifications

C. Cualificación (Qualification): This refers to the required attributes and training for personnel to perform electrical activities.

I. Autorizado (Authorized): This indicates the necessary training for individuals to perform electrical activities, as authorized by companies.

Electrical Categories

Cat. Basica (Basic Category): This allows individuals to perform maintenance or repair on low-voltage electrical installations in buildings and general infrastructure related to REBT.

Cat. Especialista (Specialist Category): This denotes the capacity to handle specific and relevant situations, such as process control rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units, and distributed control systems.

Inspections

Inspections: Initial: Required for new installations, swimming pools exceeding 10kW, operating rooms, and intensive care units.

Periodical: Conducted every 5 years for all installations requiring initial inspection, and every 10 years for common areas in residential buildings with a power capacity greater than 100kW.

Technical Documentation

Planos (Plans): These are graphic documents detailing the specifics of a project, including drawings, schematics, figures, perspectives, and interpretations necessary for visual understanding. This includes site plans, facility layouts, and single-line diagrams.

Facilities Interior: This covers each of the circuits originating from the main panel and serving each area of the dwelling.

Degrees of Electrification

Degrees of Electrification: This assigns the electrical power capacity to a dwelling, determining the number and type of appliances that can be used.

  • Basico (Basic): Requires 5 independent circuits with a power capacity of 5750W.
  • High: For areas exceeding 160m2, a minimum of 11 circuits and a minimum power capacity of 9200W are required.

Circuit Protection Devices

ICP (Interruptor de Control de Potencia): A circuit breaker that controls the power demanded by the consumer, with a nominal value corresponding to the contracted power.

IgA (Interruptor General Automático): A 25A omnipolar circuit breaker that protects all circuits in the dwelling from overcurrents.

ID (Interruptor Diferencial): Ensures protection against direct and indirect contacts with a differential current of 30mA. The maximum differential current equals or exceeds the IgA.

PIA (Pequeño Interruptor Automático): An omnipolar circuit breaker with a specific intensity assigned based on its application for each independent circuit in the dwelling’s electrification.

Circuit Specifications

  • C1: 10A – Lighting circuit, intended to power lighting points or fixed power outlets with 1.5mm2 wiring.
  • C2: 16A – General-use circuit, intended to power general-use outlets and the refrigerator with 2.5mm2 wiring.
  • C3: 25A – Oven/cooking circuit, intended to power the oven and cooking appliances with 6mm2 wiring.
  • C4: 16A – Dishwasher, water heater, and washing machine circuit with 2.5mm2 wiring.
  • C5: 16A – Kitchen and bathroom circuit, intended to power outlets in the kitchen and bathroom with 2.5mm2 wiring.

Electrical Safety Volumes in Bathrooms

Volume 0: The interior of the tub or shower, unless delimited by a horizontal plane located 0.05 meters above the floor.

Volume 1: Limited by the horizontal plane of Volume 0 and a horizontal plane located 2.25m above the floor.

Volume 2: Limited by vertical planes external to Volume 1 and vertical planes located at a distance of 0.6m on one side, and the horizontal plane at the floor and 2.25m above the floor.

Volume 3: Limited by vertical planes outside the limit of Volume 2 and parallel vertical planes located at a distance of 2.4m on one side, and the floor and the horizontal plane located 2.25m above the floor.

ITC Standards

  • ITC04: Documentation and commissioning of installations.
  • ITC05: Verification and inspections.
  • ITC06: Networking for low-voltage power lines.
  • ITC25: Indoor facilities: number of circuits and housing characteristics.
  • ITC26: Indoor facilities in dwellings: general requirements of the installation.
  • ITC27: Indoor facilities in dwellings containing a bath or shower.