Electrical insulating mats or rubber mats requirement as per electrical Standard.

As per international standards for safe workplace with electrical system and equipment, the use of electrical insulating mats or rubber mats is mandatory. There is a updated directed code standard for rubber mats size, material for different grade of voltage, this code is called IEC 61111:2009.

About international standards on electrical insulating mats or rubber mats in brief

The use of electrical insulating mats or rubber mats are mandatory to use as per NFPA-70( National Fire Protection Association) and in also other regional country based electrical standards. Below you will find the NFPA-70 clause number related to rubber mats.

The size and material for insulating mats or rubber mats are described in IEC BS EN61111:2009. In fact this international code is solely for insulating mats or rubber mats.

What is BS EN61111:2009

BS921 was a British Standard Specification for rubber mats for electrical purposes; it is now recognized within the trade as having been superseded by BS EN61111:2009. The BS921:1976 specification dealt with insulating mats made of solid natural or synthetic rubber used as floor coverings near electrical apparatus where circumstances involve the possibility of direct contact with conductors whose voltage does not exceed 650 V r.m.s. to earth

The IEC61111 standard categorises product by working voltage, and allocates a Class of protection against these. Each meter of matting is colour-coded on the reverse to highlight what level of protection it offers. The classes, and corresponding colour codes, are as follows:

Width, length and thickness of the rubber mat as per standard

I don’t have direct access to the standard IEC 61111:2009. So no way to define the thickness. But the width and length can be define which is stated in no 3 & 4 in below stated code.

The minimum width of the insulating mats or rubber mats in front of panel will be 1000mm or 1 meter. If the panel length is large so will be the length of the mat. So we can conclude that the mat will cover the whole length of the panel, with a minimum length defined. A 5 meter length panel must have at least 5 meter long rubber mat with the width minimum 1 meter .

The thickness of the rubber mat I found in a rubber mats producing company website, it cannot be verified as the standard is expensive to get.

Insulating mats or rubber mats requirements stated in international standard

As per NFPA70, 250.174 Cases of Instruments, Meters, and Relays Operating at Less Than 1000 Volts

(C) On Live-Front Switchboards. Instruments, meters, and relays  (whether operated from current and potential transformers or  connected directly in the circuit) on switchboards having exposed live parts on the front of panels shall not have their cases connected to the equipment grounding conductor. Mats of insulating rubber or other suitable floor insulation shall be provided for the operator where the voltage to ground exceeds 150.

NFPA 430.233 Guards for Attendants

Where live parts of motors or controllers operating at over 150 volts to ground are guarded against accidental contact only by location as specified in 430.232, and where adjustment or other attendance may be necessary during the operation of the apparatus, suitable insulating mats or platforms
shall be provided so that the attendant cannot readily touch live parts unless standing on the mats or platforms.

THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, 2012 EDITION. GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

C13.3.17 Ancillary Equipment :The Switchboard shall be provided with two rubber mats of ribbed surface, complying with BS 921:1976 or IEC 61111:2009, laid in front of and at the rear of the Switchboard. The rubber mats shall be continuous sheets of minimum thickness of 10 mm, each of same length as the Switchboard and minimum
width of not less than 1000 mm or the width of the space between the front or back of the Switchboard to the adjacent wall.

THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, 2012 EDITION. GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

C12.2.12 The cubicle shall be provided with two rubber mats of ribbed surface,
complying to BS 921:1976 or IEC 61111:2009 , laid in front of and at the rear of the cubicle. The rubber mats shall be continuous sheets of minimum thickness of 10mm, each of same length as the cubicle and minimum width of not less than 1000mm or the width of the space between the front or back of the cubicle to the adjacent wall.

Electrical graded rubber mats