NF C18-510 standard: electrical safety and accreditation

Electrical risk prevention is a major challenge for all organisations operating electrical installations or equipment. To regulate these operations and reduce accidents, the french NF C18-510 standard is the benchmark for safety. It defines the rules, roles and procedures to be followed when working on or near electrical installations. 

This article presents its origin, its essential content, its direct link to electrical accreditation, and the obligations for remaining compliant. It will also discuss Altsis’ Pégase solution, which enables the implementation of processes that comply with this standard.

Origin and status of standard NF C18-510

NF C18-510 is a French standard approved by AFNOR, applicable to all work and operations carried out on electrical installations, whether low or high voltage. It forms the methodological and organisational basis for electrical risk prevention.
Although it belongs to the normative framework and not to the regulations in the strict sense, its application is made mandatory by the french Labour Code when an electrical licence is to be issued to a worker.

As such, it applies to all organisations involved in managing, operating or carrying out electrical operations in a professional environment. The application of standard NF C18-510 is particularly important for electricity distribution network operators (GRDs) such as Enedis or ELDs (local distribution companies).

Objectives and main content of standard NF C18-510

The NF C18-510 standard aims above all to guarantee the safety of people and property during electrical work. To this end, it provides a detailed description of the organisational, technical and human requirements associated with these operations.

Roles and responsibilities defined by standard NF C18-510

The standard clearly identifies the parties involved:

• The employer: They are responsible for the general organisation of prevention and the choice of authorisations.
• The electrical operations manager: Responsible for ensuring the safety of electrical installations.
• The site manager: Responsible for organising and supervising a construction site.
• Operators and contributors: They carry out the operations and must be authorised.

This hierarchical structure helps to avoid ambiguities and ensure a clear chain of responsibility.

Classification of work situations

NF C18-510 distinguishes between three main types of operations:

• Work requiring power to be switched off: This work requires lockout (different stages of lockout: separation, locking, verification of absence of voltage);
• Live working: This is strictly regulated and reserved for specially authorised and equipped professionals.
• Work in the vicinity: Work where the risk arises from proximity to exposed live parts, even without direct intervention.

Each of these situations is subject to specific rules, safety distances and procedures.

Documents, protective equipment and training required by standard NF C18-510

The standard requires the use of traceable documents and the formalisation of an electrical lockout procedure, including lockout certificates, prevention documents and safety instructions. It also requires the visual identification of personnel and electrical installations (authorisations, identification, signage).
It specifies the personal protective equipment (PPE) and collective protective equipment (CPE) to be used : insulating gloves, mats, screens, insulated tools, etc.
Finally, it defines the training framework required to obtain and maintain a compliant authorisation.

 Link between standard NF C18-510 and electrical accreditation

The NF C18-510 standard is the exclusive reference document on which the entire electrical accreditation system in France is based. Without this standard, there would be no official definition of accreditation symbols or criteria for assessing a worker’s ability to carry out electrical operations safely. It sets out the conditions, requirements and skill levels that enable an employer to issue a qualification in accordance with the Labour Code.

Specifically, the standard describes:

• The areas and levels of authorisation (e.g. B0, B1, BR, H1, HC, etc.),

• The knowledge and practical requirements associated with each symbol,

• Limits of intervention depending on the situation (off-power, on-power, neighbourhood),

• The responsibilities specific to each role (works manager, lockout manager, operator, etc.).

It also serves as the basis for the development of theoretical and practical training programmes in electrical accreditation. Training organisations must align their teaching content with it.
The NF C18-510 standard and electrical accreditation are therefore closely linked: one explains the rules, the other the qualifications required to apply them.

Who is affected by standard NF C18-510?

The NF C18-510 standard applies to all organisations whose teams, service providers or subcontractors operate on or near electrical installations. This includes:

• Industrial companies and technical sites;
• Local authorities and municipal technical services, particularly distribution network operators.
• Principals operating commercial buildings or infrastructure;
• Construction companies, installers and maintenance providers;
• Inspection offices and specialised service providers.

In other words, any structure exposed to electrical risk must control it.

 Why and how to remain compliant with standard NF C18-510?

The NF C18-510 standard is regularly updated to incorporate feedback and technological requirements. Organisations must therefore monitor regulatory developments, update their internal procedures and maintain systematic documentation.
Employers have a legal responsibility to verify that their teams’ qualifications are appropriate for the tasks assigned to them, and to organise training in accordance with the standard.
Initial training and refresher courses must comply with the requirements of the standard in terms of educational content, practical assessments and traceability. Rigorous management is essential to ensure compliance and reduce risks.

Why choose Altsis’ Pégase solution?

Altsis’ Pégase software solution is an innovative solution dedicated to managing electrical safety obligations. Designed to meet the requirements of the NF C18-510 standard, it centralises the management of authorisations, organises intervention processes on electrical installations and digitises documentation.

Pégase guarantees reliable monitoring of procedures, such as Preliminary Information Notes (PINs) for interventions, the provision of electrical access and work permits.

The solution also offers the possibility of planning interventions and managing external companies.

In summary, Pégase is an essential platform for managing electrical risk in organisations.

The NF C18-510 standard: the cornerstone of electrical safety

The NF C18-510 standard is the foundation of all electrical safety measures. It structures practices, regulates skills and guarantees a high level of prevention. To remain compliant, organisations must train their staff, equip themselves and rigorously monitor their obligations. This is essential to protect teams and control electrical risks.