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Home / Technical Articles / Electrical Safety Standards for LV/MV/HV (Part-2)
Electrical Safety Standards for LV/MV/HV part 2
Electrical Safety Standards for LV/MV/HV part 2 (on photo Downtown LA distribution power lines; photo by Hal Bergman Photography @Flickr)

Continued from part 1Electrical Safety Standards for LV/MV/HV (Part-1)

Content

Standard: Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), 6/025 ENA

  1. Clearances of Electrical Line to Ground and Roads
  2. Clearances of Electrical Line to Other Objects
  3. Clearances of Electrical Line to Trees and Hedges
  4. Clearances of Electrical Line to Street Lighting
  5. Clearances of Electrical Line to Waterways
  6. Clearances to Railways
  7. Clearances of Electrical Line to Fuel Tanks
  8. Clearances of Electrical Lines to other Electrical Lines
  9. Vertical Passing Clearance (sites where vehicles will pass below the lines)
  10. Horizontal Clearance (sites where there will be no work or passage of plant under lines)
  11. Distance between Conductors of Same/Different Circuit (On Same Support)
  12. Vertical Distance between Conductors of different Circuit (On Different Support)
  13. Distance between Conductors (Taken down from Pole to other Support, on Transformer)
  14. Horizontal Distance of Telecommunication Line & Overhead Line
  15. Passage Way for Metal-Clad Switchgear
  16. Safe approach distance for Person from Exposed Live Parts

Standard: Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), 6/025 ENA

Clearances of Electrical Line to Ground and Roads

Description of Clearance0.4 KV11 KV33KV110KV220 KV400KV
Line conductor to any point not over road5.2 Meter6.1 Meter6.4 Meter6.4 Meter7.0 Meter7.0 Meter
Line conductor to road surface5.8 Meter6.1 Meter6.4 Meter6.4 Meter7.4 Meter8.1 Meter
Line conductor to road surface of high load routes6.9 Meter6.9 Meter6.9 Meter7.2 Meter8.5 Meter9.2 Meter
Bare live metalwork ( transformer terminals, jumper connections, etc)4.6 Meter4.6 Meter4.6 Meter

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Clearances of Electrical Line to Other Objects

Description of Clearance<11 KV33 KV110KV220KV400 KV
Line conductor or bare live metalwork to any object that is normally accessible (including permanently mounted ladders and access platforms) or to any surface of a building3.0 Meter3.0 Meter3.4 Meter4.6 Meter5.3 Meter
Line conductor or bare live metalwork to any object to which access is not required AND on which a person cannot stand or lean a ladder0.8 Meter0.8 Meter1.2 Meter2.4 Meter3.1 Meter
Line conductors to irrigates, slurry guns and high-pressure hoses30 Meter30 Meter30 Meter30 Meter30 Meter
Line conductors to playing fields8.5 Meter8.5 Meter8.5 Meter8.5 Meter8.5 Meter
Line conductors to Caravan Sites9.0 Meter9.0 Meter9.0 Meter9.0 Meter9.0 Meter
Horizontal clearances to wells15.0 Meter15.0 Meter15.0 Meter15.0 Meter15.0 Meter

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Clearances of Electrical Line to Trees and Hedges

Description of Clearance<11 KV33 KV110KV220KV400 KV
Line conductor or bare live metalwork to trees or hedges unable to support a ladder or being climbed.0.8 Meter0.8 Meter1.2 Meter2.4 Meter3.1 Meter
Line conductor or bare live metalwork to trees or hedges capable of supporting a ladder or being climbed.3.0 Meter3.0 Meter3.4 Meter4.6 Meter5.3 Meter
Line conductor or bare live metalwork to trees falling towards the overhead line with the line conductors hanging vertically.0.8 Meter0.8 Meter1.2 Meter2.4 Meter3.1 Meter
Line conductors to trees in Orchards3.0 Meter3.0 Meter3.4 Meter4.6 Meter5.3 Meter

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Clearances of Electrical Line to Street Lighting

Description of Clearance0.4 KV11 KV33KV110KV220 KV400KV
Line conductor to Lantern on same pole1.0 Meter
Bare line conductor to lantern or column below.1.5 Meter
Insulated line conductor to column0.3 Meter
Insulated line conductor to lantern1.0 Meter
Column to nearest LV pole1.5 Meter
Line conductor to street lighting column with
(1) Column in normal upright position.1.7 Meter1.7 Meter2.3 Meter3.3 Meter4.0 Meter
(2) Column falling towards line with line conductor hanging vertically only1.7 Meter1.7 Meter2.3 Meter3.3 Meter4.0 Meter
(3) Column falling towards line0.4 Meter0.4 Meter0.8 Meter1.4 Meter1.9 Meter

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Clearances of Electrical Line to Waterways

Description of Clearance0.4 KV11 KV33KV110KV220 KV400KV
Navigable Waters: Lower bank to conductor or earth wire10.5 Meter10.5 Meter10.5 Meter10.5 Meter10.5 Meter10.5 Meter
Minor Watercourses : Lower bank to conductor or earth wire7.6 Meter7.6 Meter7.6 Meter7.6 Meter7.6 Meter7.6 Meter

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Clearances to Railways

Description of Clearance0.4 KV11 KV33KV110KV220 KV400KV
Line conductor to ground level6.1 Meter6.1 Meter6.1 Meter6.7 Meter7.0 Meter7.6 Meter
Line conductor to ground level on or across vehicle parks7.6 Meter8.5 Meter8.5 Meter9.1 Meter9.4 Meter10.1 Meter
Line conductor to ground level at roads and yards, where road mobile cranes are likely to be employed10.7 Meter10.7 Meter10.7 Meter11.2 Meter11.5 Meter12.2 Meter
Line conductor to Rail level7.3 Meter7.3 Meter7.3 Meter8.0 Meter8.2 Meter8.8 Meter
Line conductor to the level of buildings, gantries or other structures (including those carrying traction wires) on which a man may be3.0 Meter3.0 Meter3.0 Meter3.7 Meter4.6 Meter6.1 Meter
Line conductor to poles and other projections.2.4 Meter2.7 Meter2.7 Meter3.0 Meter3.7 Meter5.5 Meter
Line conductor to any other wire other than traction wires.1.8 Meter1.8 Meter1.8 Meter2.4 Meter3.0 Meter3.7 Meter

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Clearances of Electrical Line to Fuel Tanks>

Description of Clearance0.4 KV11 KV33KV110KV220 KV400KV
Horizontal clearance from line conductors to petrol tanks and vents15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter
Horizontal clearance from line conductors to liquid gas tanks
(1) 459 to 2273 litre capacity3.0 Meter3.0 Meter3.0 Meter3.4 Meter4.6 Meter5.3 Meter
(2) 2274 to 9092 litre capacity7.6 Meter7.6 Meter7.6 Meter7.6 Meter7.6 Meter7.6 Meter
(3) More than 9093 litre.15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter
Vertical clearance from line conductors to fuel oil tanks Please refer Clearances to Objects

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Clearances of Electrical Lines to other Electrical Lines

Description of Clearance0.4 KV11 KV33KV110KV220 KV400KV
Lowest line conductor or earth wire of upper line to highest line conductor of lower line.1.0 Meter1.8 Meter2.0 Meter2.5 Meter3.7 Meter4.4 Meter
Lowest line conductor or earth wire of upper line to earth wire of lower line where erected.0.7 Meter1.4 Meter1.6 Meter2.5 Meter3.7 Meter4.4 Meter
Lowest line conductor or earth wire of upper line to any point on a support of the lower line on which a person may stand.2.7 Meter2.8 Meter3.0 Meter3.4 Meter4.6 Meter5.3 Meter
Support of upper line and any conductor of lower line.7.5 Meter7.5 Meter7.5 Meter15 Meter15 Meter15 Meter

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Vertical Passing Clearance (sites where vehicles will pass below the lines)

Description of Clearance<33 KV110KV220KV400 KV
Passing clearance: fixed height loads0.8 Meter1.4 Meter2.4 Meter3.1 Meter
Passing Clearance: variable height loads.2.3 Meter3.2 Meter4.1 Meter5.0 Meter

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Horizontal Clearance (sites where there will be no work or passage of plant under lines)

Description of Clearance<33 KV110KV220KV400 KV
Minimum horizontal distances to safety barriers6.0 Meter9.0 Meter12.0 Meter14.0 Meter

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Distance between Conductors of Same/Different Circuit (On Same Support)

Higher Voltage of either CircuitLower Voltage of either CircuitDistance between Circuits
< 33 KV< 1 KV1.0 Meter
< 33 KV> 1 KV1.2 Meter
33 KV to 110 KV< 1 KV1.5 Meter
33 KV to 110 KV> 1 KV2.0 Meter
Above 110 KVAll2.5 Meter

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Vertical Distance between Conductors of different Circuit (On Different Support)

Higher Voltage of either CircuitDistance between Circuits
< 1 KV0.6 Meter
1 KV to 33 KV1.2 Meter
33 KV to 66 KV1.8 Meter
110 KV2.4 Meter
220 KV2.8 Meter

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Distance between Conductors (Taken down from Pole to other Support, on Transformer)

VoltageDistance between Circuits
11 KV & LV Line0.60 Meter
22 KV & LV Line0.75 Meter
33 KV & LV Line0.90 Meter

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Horizontal Distance of Telecommunication Line & Overhead Line

Description of ClearanceDistance
Telecommunication Line(Not insulated) to HV LineMin 1.6 Meter
Telecommunication Line (Bare) to LV (Bare) LineMin 1.2 Meter
Telecommunication Line (Covered) to LV (Bare) LineMin 0.6 Meter
Telecommunication Line (Bare) to Stay (Bare) WireMin 0.3 Meter

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Passage Way for Metal-Clad Switchgear

Description of ClearanceDistance
Clean &unobstructed Passages at the front of any Low/High Voltage Switchgear.1.0 Meter wide & 2.5 Meter high
Clean &unobstructed Passages at side or under any earthed enclosure containing Bare Conductor0.8 Meter wide & 2.2 Meter high

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Safe approach distance for Person from Exposed Live Parts

Circuit VoltageDistance
< 1 KV0.5 Meter
11 KV1.5 Meter
22 KV2.0 Meter
33 KV2.5 Meter
66 KV3.0 Meter
110 KV4.0 Meter
>220 KV6.0 Meter

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author-pic

Jignesh Parmar

Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E (Electrical). He is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE), India. He has more than 20 years experience in transmission & distribution-energy theft detection and maintenance electrical projects.

17 Comments


  1. Usman Tahir
    Nov 20, 2023

    Dear Sir,
    Please share the above referred standard “NIE 6/025 ENA” for educational purpose. I will be very thankful to you.


  2. Chencho Tshering
    Jun 29, 2023

    It is indeed satisfying to see the data for electrical clearances and many more information for my applications in general.

    Thanks


  3. Yalamo URI
    Aug 29, 2022

    What is the allowable maximum distance for an 11kv, 22kv, 33kv & 66kv to be run (kilometers)?

    Or is it safe to Construct a 22kv line over 280km?


  4. balaji
    Sep 13, 2021

    were i can get 22kv clearance and cross arm and other details ?


  5. GANESAN K
    Jan 25, 2020

    Hi Sir, Great ,Highly Appreciable for the valuable technical specifications as part of Electrical Safety Aspects. certainly, helpful for give needful awareness among our Team.

    Thanks & Regards,

    Ganesan.K
    Ex. Indian Army, Sr. Manager-HSE
    9380673686


  6. mohammed
    Jan 13, 2020

    i appricate your information , just i want to no if it possible to have 230 kv cable inside pvc under 230 kv power transformer and if there is clearance distance or not .


  7. ROGER RiOS
    Dec 18, 2019

    Please could you tell me what is the minimum distance between the transmission lines of AT (220 kV) and wind turbine (wind turbines)


  8. Ajit kumar.thakor
    May 20, 2018

    Pl Suggest Neared by 66 kva O/H Line .

    Telecom tower 30 meter height erected neared by 6 meter is it sufficient space?

    As per IE stranded How much space require.


  9. Kandarpa Kalita
    May 12, 2015

    Whether living in a house under a 11 KV power line will be safe ? Kindly let me know. I propose to buy a plot where such a line passes. Whether living near such line ( not exact;y below ) is also harmful ?

    Pl let me know.

    K Kalita
    Guwahati , Assam


  10. Nijanthan
    May 11, 2015

    Can a 400kv transmission line be place 3 meters from a house and also can it pass through plots and residental area.


  11. amit
    Apr 27, 2015

    we need to construct chain link fencing in switch yard, where we have power transformers example 132 kv,140 MVA,so i need to know how much horizontal clearance should be maintained between transformer and fence


  12. Bhrigu Kumar Nath
    Jul 19, 2014

    hi,

    i have searched many Indian Standards but could not find horizontal Clearance distance between two parallel transmission line (esp. 400 kV and 220 kV). Would you help me in giving me the Standards or the distance?


  13. Djai
    Jun 18, 2014

    Hi,

    I am involved in a project where we are connecting a HV line into a substation. Now to do that we have two options:
    1- We need to go parallel to a gas pipeline for about 2 km, and as a result block any other future lines i.e. they would have to cross existing lines
    2- We need to go over HV power transformer and gas generator containers

    Problem is we do not have a specific standard to follow.

    Help please.

    Rgds,
    Djai


    • P.Chengal Reddy, Farmers activist
      Apr 25, 2018

      Please let me know the distance require near 400 KV transmission line and for construction of 3 stories business building .If possible speak to me .it is urgent
      Regards
      P. Chengal Reddy , Hyderabad
      98495 12600


  14. sareerahmad
    Sep 15, 2013

    Please give some reference from NESC for the clearance of transmission lines. That will also help us in finalizing the design. NESC is internationally accepted standard.


  15. haytham sabry
    Jul 21, 2013

    Thank you


  16. eepower
    Nov 14, 2012

    Thank you

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