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Safety Clearance for Transformer

SEPTEMBER 2, 2012
7 COMMENTS (HTTPS://ELECTRICALNOTES.WORDPRESS.COM/2012/09/02/SAFETY-CLEARANCEFOR-TRANSFORMER/#COMMENTS)

Safety Clearance for Transformer:

Clearance from Outdoor Liquid Insulated Transformers to Buildings (NEC):
Liquid

Liquid
Volume (m3)

Fire
Resistant
Wall

Non-Combustible
Wall

Combustible
Wall

Vertical
Distance

Less
Flammable

NA

0.9 Meter

0.9 Meter

0.9 Meter

0.9 Meter

<38 m3

1.5 Meter

1.5 Meter

7.6 Meter

7.6 Meter

>38 m3

4.6 Meter

4.6 Meter

15.2 Meter

15.2Meter

<1.9 m3

1.5 Meter

4.6 Meter

7.6 Meter

7.6 Meter

1.9 m3 to 19m3

4.6 Meter

7.6 Meter

15.2 Meter

15.2Meter

> 19 m3

7.6 Meter

15.2 Meter

30.5 Meter

30.5Meter

MineralOil

Clearance between Two Outdoor Liquid Insulated Transformers (NEC):

Liquid

Liquid Volume
(m3)

Distance

Less
Flammable

NA

0.9 Meter

<38 m3

1.5 Meter

>38 m3

7.6 Meter

<1.9 m3

1.5 Meter

1.9 m3 to 19 m3

7.6 Meter

> 19 m3

15.2Meter

MineralOil

Dry Type Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES 420.21):

Voltage

Distance (min)

Up to 112.5 KVA

300 mm (12 in.) from combustiblematerial

unless separated from the combustible
material by a heat-insulated barrier.

Above 112.5 KVA

Installed in a transformer room of

re-resistant construction.

Above 112.5 KVA with Class

155 Insulation

separated from a re-resistant barrier not

less than 1.83 m (6 ft) horizontally and 3.7
m (12 ft) vertically

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Dry Type Transformer in Outdoor Installation (NES 420.22):

Voltage

Distance (min)

Above 112.5 KVA with Class

155 Insulation

separated from a re-resistant barrier not

less than 1.83 m (6 ft) horizontally and 3.7
m (12 ft) vertically

Non Flammable Liquid-Insulated Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES 420.21):

Voltage

Distance (min)

Over 35KV

Installed indoors Vault (Having liquid connement area

and a pressure-relief vent for absorbing any gases
generated by arcing inside the tank, the pressure-relief
vent shall be connected to a chimney or ue that will
carry such gases to an environmentally safe area

Above 112.5 KVA

Installed in a transformer room of re-resistant

construction.

Above 112.5 KVA

(Class 155
Insulation)

separated from a re-resistant barrier not less than 1.83

m (6 ft) horizontally and 3.7 m (12 ft) vertically

Oil Insulated Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES 420.25):

Voltage

Distance (min)

Up to 112.5 KVA

Installed indoors Vault (With construction of reinforced

concrete that is not less than 100 mm (4 in.) thick.

Up to 10 KVA &
Up to 600V

Vault shall not be required if suitable arrangements are

made to prevent a transformer oil re from igniting

Up to 75 KVA &
Up to 600V

Vault shall not be required if where thesurroundingStructure

is classied as re-resistant construction.

Furnace
transformers (Up
to 75 kVA)

Installed without a vault in a building or room of re

resistant construction

Transformer Clearance from Building (IEEE Stand):

Transformer

Distance from Building

(min)

Up to 75 KVA

3.0 Meter

75 KVA to 333
KVA

6.0 Meter

More than 333

KVA

9.0 Meter

Transformer Clearance Specifications (Stand: Georgia Power Company):

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Distance
(min)

Description of Clearance
Clearance in front of the transformer

3.0 Meter

Between Two pad mounted transformers

(including Cooling n)

2.1 Meter

Between Transformer and Trees, shrubs,

vegetation( for unrestricted natural cooling )

3.0 Meter

The edge of the concrete transformer pad to

nearest the building

4.2 Meter

The edge of the concrete transformer pad to

nearest building wall, windows, or other
openings

3.0 Meter

Clearance from the transformer to edge of (or

Canopy) building (3 or less stories)

3.0 Meter

Clearance in front of the transformer doors and on

the left side of the transformer, looking at it from
the front. (For operation of protective and
switching devices on the unit.)

3.0 Meter

Gas service meter relief vents.

0.9 Meter

Fire sprinkler values, standpipes and re hydrants

1.8 Meter

The waters edge of a swimming pool or any body

of water.

4.5 Meter

Facilities used to dispense hazardous liquids or

gases

6.0 Meter

Facilities used to store hazardous liquids or gases

3.0 Meter

Clear vehicle passageway at all times, immediately

adjacent of Transformer

3.6 Meter

Fire safety clearances can be reduced by building a

suitable masonry re barrier wall (2.7 Meter wide
and 4.5 Meter Tall) 0.9 Meter from the back or side
of the Pad Mounted Transformer to the side of the
combustible wall
Front of the transformer must face away from the
building.

Clearance of Transformer-Cable-Overhead Line (Stand: Georgia Power Company):

Horizontal Distance (mm)
Description of
Clearance

to
pad-mounted
transformers

to buried
HV cable

tooverhead
HV Line

Fuel tanks

7.5 Meter

1.5 Meter

7.5 Meter

Granaries

6.0 Meter

0.6 Meter

15 Meter

Homes

6.0 Meter

0.6 Meter

15 Meter

Barns, sheds,
garages

6.0 Meter

0.6 Meter

15 Meter

Water wells

1.5 Meter

1.5 Meter

15 Meter

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Safety Clearance for Transformer | Electrical Notes & Articles

Antennas

3.0 Meter

0.6 Meter

https://electricalnotes.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/safety-clearance-for-...
Height of
Antenna +
3.0 Meter

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About Jignesh.Parmar
Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E(Electrical) from Gujarat University. He has more than 13 years
experience in Power Transmission-Power Distribution-Electrical energy theft detection-Electrical Maintenance-Electrical
Projects(Planning-Designing-coordination-Execution). He is Presently associate with one of the leading business group as a Deputy
Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel Sheets of Electrical
Engineering as per IS,NEC,IEC,IEEE codes. He is technical Author for Electrical Mirror and Electrical India Magazines. He is
Technical Blogger and Familiar with English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share his experience & knowledge and
help technical enthusiasts to nd suitable solutions and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.

7 Responses to Safety Clearance for Transformer

biswa says:
February 2, 2013 at 7:17 pm
Thanks a lot for being with us
Reply
adel lot says:
March 11, 2013 at 8:36 pm
thanks a lot mr Jignesh.Parmar
Reply
Ma W says:
May 29, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Thanks, it would be nice to see the specic NEC references you are making ie what section, table etc of NEC. Thanks.
Reply
Ben Johnson says:
August 22, 2013 at 7:29 pm
I have three grey garbage-can shape transformers on the wooden pole behind my backyard. It is about 60ft away from my bed
room. My wife and I have some concerns about EMF coming from them. One of them is labeled 100 on the body and the other
two are 75 each. I have no idea the meaning of the numbers. If my wife is pregnant, should we concern about the EMF? By the
way, we are located in Chicago. Thank you for your help!
Reply
nixon says:
December 8, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Good ,easy to learn
Reply
Pat L. says:
October 27, 2014 at 11:17 pm
These tables look great, but I do not nd the listed clearances in either NEC or NES. The NES paragraphs sited do not exist in the
2012 issue of IEEE C2. Please provide correct references for listed clearances. Thank you!
Reply
Chanchal Mazumdar says:
August 1, 2015 at 9:12 pm

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Safety Clearance for Transformer | Electrical Notes & Articles

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I am living Guwahati in Assam, a residancial area, i need a suggestions from your side . Our colony commutee is installing a
transformar in front my veicle exited gate. So what can i do?
Reply

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