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

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Electrical Safety Standards for LV/MV/HV (Part-1)
Electrical Safety Standards for LV/MV/HV (on photo Indonesia's state energy giant - High Voltage Switchyard)

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  1. Standard: Western Power Company
  2. Standard: New Zealand Electrical Code
  3. Standard: ETSA Utilities
  4. Standard: UK Power Networks – EI 02-0019

1. Standard: Western Power Company

Water Safely Clearance on Electrical Fires

VoltageMinimum distances between a nozzle producing a fog stream of fresh water and a live conductor
Up to 750 V1.5 Meter
750 V to 15 KV4.0  Meter
15 KV to 230 KV5.0 Meter

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Minimum Approach Distance for Authorized Person

This is the minimum distance that must be maintained by a person, vehicle or mobile plant.

VoltageDistance (minimum)
Up to 1 KV0.7 Meter
1 V to 6.6 KV0.7 Meter
6.6 KV to 11 KV0.7 Meter
11 KV to 22 KV0.7 Meter
22 KV to 33 KV1.0 Meter
33 KV to 66 KV1.0 Meter
66 KV to 132 KV1.2 Meter
132 KV to 220 KV1.8 Meter
220 KV to 330 KV3.0 Meter

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Minimum Approach Distance for Ordinary Person

VoltageDistance  (min)
Up to 1 KV3.0 Meter
1 V to 6.6 KV3.0 Meter
6.6 KV to 11 KV3.0 Meter
11 KV to 22 KV3.0 Meter
22 KV to 33 KV3.0 Meter
33 KV to 66 KV3.0 Meter
66 KV to 132 KV3.0 Meter
132 KV to 220 KV4.5 Meter
220 KV to 330 KV6.0 Meter

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Minimum Approach Distance for Vehicle and Plant for Ordinary Person

VoltageDistance  (min)
Mobile PlantVehicle
Up to 1 KV3.0 Meter0.6 Meter
1 V to 6.6 KV3.0 Meter0.9 Meter
6.6 KV to 11 KV3.0 Meter0.9 Meter
11 KV to 22 KV3.0 Meter0.9 Meter
22 KV to 33 KV3.0 Meter0.9 Meter
33 KV to 66 KV3.0 Meter2.1 Meter
66 KV to 132 KV3.0 Meter2.1 Meter
132 KV to 220 KV3.0 Meter2.9 Meter
220 KV to 330 KV6.0 Meter3.4 Meter

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2. Standard: New Zealand Electrical Code

Min. Safe Distance between Buildings and Overhead Line

VoltagePoleTower
11 kV to 33 kV2 Meter2 Meter
33 kV to 66 kV6 Meter6 Meter
66 kV and Above8 Meter8 Meter

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Min. Safe Distance for excavation near Overhead Line

Description of ClearanceFrom Pole (Min)From Tower (min)
Excavation in land more than 750mm depth8 Meter12 Meter
Excavation in land up to750mm depth2.2 to 5 Meter6 to12 Meter
Excavation in land up to 300mm depth2.2 Meter6 Meter
Construction near 11KV to 33KV Line2.2 Meter6 Meter
Construction near 33KV to 66KV Line6 Meter9  Meter
Construction near 66KV and more8 Meter12 Meter
Wire Fence near 1KV to 66KV Line2.2 Meter2.2 Meter
Wire Fence near 66KV and more5 Meter5 Meter

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Min. Safe Distance for Tower Carin near Electrical Tower

Description of ClearanceDistance (Min)
Mobile Carin movement4.0 Meter
Tower Carin movement4.0 Meter
Carin movement4.0 Meter
Moving Activity above height of Tower4.0 Meter
Hedge Cutter  movement4.0 Meter

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Min. Safe Vertical Distance above Railway Track

Description of ClearanceDistance (Min)
Earthed conductors5.5 Meter
Stay wires5.5 Meter
Conductors up to 33 kV6.5 Meter
Conductors above 33 kV to 220 kV7.5 Meter
Conductors above 220 kV.8 Meter

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Min. Distance between two Conductors on Same Supports

High Voltage CircuitHigh Voltage CircuitDistance  between circuits (min)
Up to 33 KVUp to 1KV1.0 Meter
Up to 33 KVMore than 1KV1.2 Meter
33 KV to 110 KVUp to 1KV1.5 Meter
33 KV to 110 KVMore than 1KV2.0 Meter
More than 110 KVAll2.5 Meter

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Min. Distance between two Conductors on Different Supports

High Voltage CircuitDistance (min)
Up to 1 KV0.6 Meter
1 KV to 33 KV1.2 Meter
33 KV to 66 KV1.8 Meter
110 KV2.4 Meter
More than 220 KV2.8 Meter

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Min. Safety Distance from Electrical Apparatuses

Description of ClearanceDistance (min)
Passage In front of Metal-Clad Switchgear (UP to HV)1.0 Meter wide 2.5 Height
Passage In rear or side of Metal-Clad Switchgear (UP to HV)1.0 Meter wide 2.2 Height
Passage at any side of Metal-Clad Switch gear containing Bare conductor (UP to HV)0.8 Meter wide 2.2 Height

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Min. Approach Distance for Non-Competent Person near exposed Live Parts

VoltageDistance (min)
Below 110 kV4.0 Meter
220 kV and above6.0 Meter

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Min. Approach Distance for Competent Person near exposed Live Parts

VoltageDistance (min)
Below 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 kV and above6.0 Meter

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3. Standard: ETSA Utilities

Vertical Clearances between Services

ServiceLV CableHV Cable
Common Pipe0.100 Meter0.100 Meter
Gas Pipe0.200 Meter0.200 Meter
Sewer Pipe0.300 Meter0.300 Meter
Water Pipe0.600 Meter0.600 Meter

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Horizontal Clearances between Services

ServiceLV CableHV Cable
Common Pipe0.100 Meter0.100 Meter
Gas Pipe0.200 Meter0.200 Meter
Sewer Pipe1.0 Meter1.0 Meter
Water Pipe0.600 Meter0.600 Meter

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4. Standard: UK Power Networks – EI 02-0019

Cable Installation Depths

VoltageAreaDepth (min)
Low VoltageFootways, grass verges or private property0.450 Meter
Carriageways (including road crossings)0.600 Meter
Normal agricultural land (not deep ploughing)1.0 Meter
Agricultural land subject to deep ploughing1.2 Meter
11 KV to 20 KVFootways, grass verges or private property0.600 Meter
Carriageways (including road crossings)0.750 Meter
Normal agricultural land (not deep ploughing)1.0 Meter
Agricultural land subject to deep ploughing1.2 Meter
33 KV to 132 KVFootways, grass verges or private property0.9 Meter
Carriageways (including road crossings)0.9 Meter
Normal agricultural land (not deep ploughing)1.0 Meter
Agricultural land subject to deep ploughing1.2 Meter
Auxiliary Multi-core & Multi-pair CablesFootways, grass verges or private property0.450 Meter
Carriageways (including road crossings)0.600 Meter
Normal agricultural land (not deep ploughing)1.0 Meter
Agricultural land subject to deep ploughing1.2 Meter
On Cable Ladder for LV to HVThe Horizontal clearance between cables on cable ladders2X Dia of Cable of Largest Cable or min 150 mm
The clearance from a supporting wall20 mm
The vertical clearance between cables is greater150 mm
If the number of cables > 4, they are to be installed in a horizontal

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Minimum Approach Distance of Crane or Moving Part from Live Conductor

VoltageWithout Safety ObservationFor ordinary Person
Un insulated portionsInsulated portions
Up to 1KV2 Meter1.0 Meter3.0 Meter
11 KV2 Meter1.4 Meter3.0 Meter
22 KV2.4 Meter2 Meter3.0 Meter
33 KV2.4 Meter2 Meter3.0 Meter
66 KV2.8 Meter2 Meter3.0 Meter
132 KV3.0 Meter3.0 Meter3.0 Meter
220 KV4.8 Meter4.8 Meter6.0 Meter
330 KV6.0 Meter6.0 Meter6.0 Meter
500 KV8.0 Meter8.0 Meter8.0 Meter

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Minimum Fixed Clearances for Electrical Apparatus (Isolation Points)

VoltageFixed Clearance
Up to 11Kv0.320 Meter
11KV to 33KV0.320 Meter
33KV to 66KV0.630 Meter
66KV to 132KV1.1 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.

20 Comments


  1. Suresha KJ
    Sep 22, 2023

    It’s it’s 66kV line it should be minimum 6mtrs clearance from building, if it’s 11kV it should be minimum 3mtrs

    Reply

  2. Balamurali tharan
    Oct 31, 2021

    Sir, New petrol bunk construction means 11kv and 500kv line how much distance between petrol bunk.

    Reply

  3. Ravindra Kumar Kahar
    Mar 22, 2021

    My land has an overhead transmission line of 110KV. We wanted to build a house on our house but one of the overhead wire is just above the back side of the house. Is it safe to build a house in that area?
    i have head that minimum clearance for a normal person to live is 50m away from 110KV transmission line.

    Reply

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