Substation Design Manual

All Greenfield substations and where possible, new bay extensions to existing substations must
use the standard spacings between items of switchyard plant as depicted on the ZSS General
Arrangement Drawings.
Refer to:
 913703-02, -03, -04, -05 Z1-63 General Arrangement and Elevations
 913303-02, -03, -04, -05 Z6-32 General Arrangement and Elevations

Brownfield Site Considerations

When retro-fitting new substation plant into Brownfield substations, it may not be possible to
maintain the switchyard clearances as specified in the Ergon Energy Standard or the Queensland
Electrical Safety Act.
The mandatory distances that shall be maintained are the section, horizontal, and vertical
clearances, as specified in AS2067.
The Qld Electrical Safety Act provides additional clearance above the non-flashover distance as
specified in AS2067, and is known as the Exclusion Zone. If the design cannot meet the required
clearances using the exclusion zone, then it must meet the requirements of AS2067. In this
instance a risk assessment must be undertaken and documented as part of the Safety in Design
process, refer to Section 5.4.3.
Example: An 11kV switchyard originally designed to AS2067 will have section clearance of
2615mm (Ground 2440mm +Non-flashover 175mm). Designing new plant in accordance with the
Safety Act will require a section clearance of 3140mm, an increase of 525mm. If the switchgear
cannot be practically installed to meet this increased clearance, then it is acceptable to use the
2615mm clearance and undertake an appropriate risk assessment.

13.12 Lightning and Surge Protection

Shielding against direct lightning strike must be provided for all substation installations. The
lightning shielding system must be designed in accordance with Ergon Energy Standards. Refer to:
 SS-1-1.4 Substation Design Requirements
 SS-1-8.2 Substation Direct Lightning Strike Shielding
The use of overhead earthwires to provide shielding above switchyard busbars and HV plant must
be avoided.
Surge protection must be incorporated into the design of all substations to ensure that all plant and
equipment is protected from lightning strike, all sources of power system surges, and GPR. Refer
to:
 SS-1-1.4 Substation Design Requirements
 SS-1-8.1 Substation Surge Protection
 SS-1-8.3 Selection of Surge Arresters
 SS-1.8.4 Insulation Coordination
Surge Arresters for substation applications must be of Metal Oxide Construction, and a minimum
Class 3 Energy Capability. All arresters must have an insulated base fitted, and earthing
connections installed in accordance with Ergon Energy Standard Earthing to facilitate the
measurement of on-line leakage current measurement. There is no requirement to install surge
counters on substation surge arrester installations. Refer to EESS-10031-17 Surge Arrester
Earthing Assembly and EESS-10031-55 Surge Arrester Test Connection.

Page 51 of 120 Reference NI000401R121 Ver 2

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