Electrical Room / Sub Switching Room Guidelines

ELECTRICAL ROOM / SUB SWITCHING ROOM GUIDELINES

IEC 61936-1

DOOR: Doors shall have a fire resistance of at least 60 minutes Doors which open to the outside are adequate if they are of fire-retardant material and construction Ventilation openings necessary for the operation of the transformers are permitted When designing the openings, the possible escape of hot gases shall be considered The doors of switchgear cubicles or bays should close in the direction of escape. Length of Escape Route in Electrical Room Exits shall be arranged so that the length of the escape route within the room does not exceed 40 meter for installation of rated voltages Um greater than 52 kV, and 20 meter for installation of rated voltages up to Um = 52 kV. This does not apply to accessible bus ducts or cable ducts Permanently installed ladders or similar are permissible as emergency exits in escape routes. No of Door If an operating aisle does not exceed 10 m, one exit is enough. An exit or emergency possibilities shall be provided at both ends of the escape route if its length exceeds 10 Meter Service areas Service areas comprise aisles, access areas, handling passages and escape routes Aisles and access areas shall be adequately dimensioned for carrying out work, operating switchgear and transporting equipment. Aisles shall be at least 800 mm wide. The width of the aisles shall not be reduced even where equipment projects into the aisles, for example permanently installed operating mechanisms or switchgear trucks in isolated positions. Space for evacuation shall always be at least 500 mm, even when removable parts or open doors, which are blocked in the direction of escape, intrude into the escape routes. For erection or service access ways behind closed installations (solid walls), a width of 500 mm is sufficient. Windows Windows shall be designed so that entry is difficult. This requirement is considered fulfilled if one or more of the following measures are applied The window is made of unbreakable material. The window is screened The lower edge of the window is at least 1.8 Meter above the access level The building is surrounded by an external fence at least 1.8 Meter high. External fences or walls and access doors Unauthorized access to outdoor installations shall be prevented. Where this is by means of external fences or walls, the height and construction of the fence/wall shall be adequate to deter climbing. Height and construction of the fence/wall shall be adequate to deter climbing. The external fence/wall shall be at least 1 800 mm high. The lower edge of a fence shall not be more than 50 mm from the ground. Access doors to outdoor installations shall be equipped with security locks. External fences/walls and access doors shall be marked with safety signs Any adjacent fences, other structures and trees outside the installation should also deter climbing.

IS 3034: 1993

Cable Entry All cable entries in the switch gear room shall be effectively sealed by use of fire stops ( see IS 12459 : 1988 ).

Section 50A in The Indian Electricity Rules, 1956

FIRE BARRIER No other service pipes shall be taken along the ducts provided for laying power cables. All ducts provided for power cables and other services shall be provided with fire-barrier at each floor crossing

4.2-Substations and Switch Rooms (NATIONAL BUILDING CODE 2016)

At Basement Location of substation in the basement should be avoided, as far as possible. Only One Basement In case there is only one basement in a building, the substation/switch room shall not be provided in the basement. Also, the floor level of the substation shall not be lowest point of the basement. Central of Load Centre Ideal location for an electrical substation for a group of buildings will be at the electrical load Centre. Generally the load Centre will be somewhere between the geometrical Centre and the air conditioning plant room, as air conditioning plant room will normally be the largest load, if the building(s) are centrally air conditioned. Prevention of Strom Water / Water seepages In order to prevent storm water entering the transformer and switch rooms through the soak pits, the floor level of the substation/ switch room shall be at least 300 mm above the highest flood water level that may be anticipated in the locality. Also, facility shall be provided for automatic removal of water. Not Above Water Tank / Sewage Plant Substation shall not be located immediately above or below plumbing water tanks or sewage treatment plant (STP) water tanks at the same location. Sub Station Door All door openings from substation, electrical rooms, etc, should open outwards. Vertical shutters (like fire rated rolling shutters) may also be acceptable provided they are combined with a single leaf door opening outwards for exit in case of emergency For large substation room/electrical room having mul…