TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00

Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 1 followed by 2

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

1.0 Purpose:
Purpose of this safety standard is to achieve adequate safety of Personnel working in Electrical Room.
This procedure outlines the safety requirements for the Personnels working in Electrical rooms.

2.0 Reference:
IE (Indian Electricity Rules)-1956, IS:5216 (Recommendations on Safety Procedures and Practices in
Electrical Work), IS:10118 (Code of Practice for selection, Installation and Maintenance of Switchgear).
3.0 Associated Hazards
Electrical shock, Burn injury, Fire etc.
4.0 Applicability:
Inside TRF permices.
5.0 Procedure: Definitions
IE-Rules: Indian Electricity Rules-1956
Low voltage: Voltage which does not exceed 250V in normal condition.
Medium Voltage: Voltage which does not exceed 650V in normal
condition. High voltage: Voltage which does not exceed 33kV in
normal condition. Extra Voltage:
Voltage which exceed 33kV in normal condition.
6.0 Safety Guidelines:

1. All Electrical Installations shall be installed and maintained in compliance with the IE-rules. The
List of IE-rules (Number &Title) which are particularly applicable to Electrical Rooms are given in
Annexure-1.
2. All the equipment used in the Electrical room shall be of sufficient current rating for its normal
duty as well as during the fault current. The equipment shall be of sufficient mechanical strength
to with stand the fault condition to ensure human safety. Like minimum fault current rating for
220V switchgear shall be 8kA.The minimum fault current rating in kA for 415V power system is
given in Annexure-2.

3. All the Electrical equipment/switchgear used in the Electrical room shall conform to relevant
specifications of the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) or any other International standard like
IEC/CSA/VDE/BS etc.
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00
Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 2 followed by 3

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title
Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

4. The Electrical Installations for Medium, High and Extra high voltage shall have a danger notice both
in English or Hindi and local language of the district with a sign of skulls and bones (design as per
IS:2551).
5. Following tools and devices of appropriate rating shall be made readily available in the Medium
voltage/ High & Extra high voltage and Electrical Rooms:-
Electrical safety gloves Electrical Overshoes
Cool coat (Safety Standard SS/PRO-04) Safety belts
Earthing devices Power Tester.
6. The Electrical Installations for High and Extra high voltage shall have a running tap water close by.
All the users shall be inducted that in case of electric burns and the persons is conscious then burnt
portion should be cooled down with application of the water as soon as possible to reduce the
impact of the burn injury.

7. All the ducts provided for power cables shall be provided with fire barriers at each floor
crossing.
8. A clear space of not less than 1 meter in width shall be provided in front of the switch board. If
there is any attachment at the back of the switchboard, the space shall be either less than 20cm or
more than 75cm in width from the farthest outstanding part of the switchgear. If the space
behind the switchboard exceeds 75 centimeters in width, there shall be passage-way from either
end of the switchboard clear to height of 1.8 meters.

9. Following safety interlocks are essential for the safe operation of the switchgears. :-
Isolators and controlling circuit breaker shall be interlocked so that isolators can not be operated
unless the corresponding breaker is in open position.
Isolator and corresponding earthing switches shall be interlocked so that no earthing switch can be
closed until the corresponding, isolator is in open condition.
Where two or more supplies are not intended to be operated in parallel, the respective circuit
breakers or linked switches controlling the supplies shall be interlocked to prevent possibility
or any inadvertent paralleling or back feed.
Where two or more generators are operated in parallel and neutral switching is adopted,
interlock shall be provided to ensure that generator breaker cannot be closed unless one of the
neutrals is connected to the earthing system.
The above interlocks shall be checked for their proper operation at pre decided frequency.
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00
Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 3 followed by 4

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title
Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

10. Following Protection are essential for the safe operation of the switchgears :
Overcurrent protection
Earth fault /Earth leakage protection.
Buch-holz relay for the transformer rating of 1000KVA and above.
All the generators of rating 1000KVA and above shall be protected against faults within the
generator winding using restricted earth fault protection or differential protection or both.
11. No High voltage and extra high voltage system/switchgear which has been kept
disconnected, for period of six months or more for any maintenance job shall be
energised without Testing.

12. Records of all Tests, repairs, maintenance work of all the Equipment in the Electrical room
shall be duly kept in the history registers so that these records can be compared with
earlier ones. The name plate rating of the each equipment shall also be recorded in the
history registers.

13. Every earthing system shall be tested for its resistance to earth on a dry day not less than
once a year. Records for such details shall be maintained and shall be produced if
required, before the Electrical Inspector.

14. Whenever the person is undertaking such jobs where he is suppose to touch the bare
parts of the electrical system or going in such a close proximity which may be hazardous to
the safety of personnel, the isolation shall be done in the following way:----

The isolation shall be done in such a way so that separated electrical contacts are visible,
like racking out of the circuit breaker or removal of the fuses.

If the above method of isolation is not possible then the isolation shall be done at two
places so that any possibility of power in the conductor is ruled out.
Switching off the MCCBs/MCBs designed and approved suitable for the Isolation is
sufficient for the voltage system up to 450V and does not call for the above two
conditions of the isolation.
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00

Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 4 followed by 5

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title
Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

15. Irrespective of the isolation method adopted as mentioned above the power shall be
checked through single function power testers. For the voltage level up to 450V the Test
lamp.

16. Before any maintenance job is carried out on or near the live parts the power source should
be proved dead.
17. All voltage indicators should always be tested on a known Live source immediately
before and after use.
18. It is wise step to assume that the circuit is alive at full voltage until it is proved it is dead.
19. TRF power shut down system shall be adopted before taking up any job as per the safety
standards.

20. The DMM (Digital Multi Meter) used in TRF Works shall comply the following safety
requirement :----
Safety class- Cat-III for the Voltage measuring range of DMM up to 1000V.
Safety class- Cat-IV for the Voltage measuring range of DMM to 650V
21. Bus charging of the 3kV and above voltages shall be avoided in the evening hours and one
hour before the shift changing time.

22. Bus coupler panel and its cubicle shall be handled with utmost care. It is ideal to take
complete bus shut down for doing bus maintenance but it is hardly possible in the real life
situation. In case of half bus shut down bus coupler panel, its cable chamber should be
properly barricaded.

The proper barricading means that it shall not be only visual (like tags/off indication etc),
but physical barricading like putting locks along with chain or danger tape surrounding
the bus coupler panel. For all practical purposes the Bus coupler shall be considered as live
panel and no attempt shall be made to expose the bare contacts.

23. While taking the bus shut down the power distribution shall be carefully studied and
all the breakers which has the possibility off feed back at remote end should be racked out,
tagged and locked. The cables shall be tested for the absence of power and shall be
discharged.
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00
Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 5 followed by 6

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title
Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

24. Observation of the Live equipment: It is some time necessary for live equipment to be
observed with the covers removed while operating. Only authorize persons shall do this and
no one shall do such work alone. Companion to the authorized person should know before
hand exactly what work has to be done and what he should do if an accident occurs. All the
persons (both authorize persons and companions) shall wear the Cool coat while doing such
observation.

25. Precautions against auxiliaries circuits: Precaution should be taken to ensure that
control circuits to automatic equipment are disconnected from the supply before work is
commenced on the equipment. It should not be assumed that the isolation of the main
supply to the equipment isolates auxiliary circuits. For example, voltage transformer may
be made live from another source.

26. Precautions for oil immersed equipment: Smoking or the exposure of the naked flames, such
as blow lamps, in the vicinity of the switchgear which has operated on fault, or when
emptying or filling the switchgear tanks, is highly dangerous as it may lead to explosion or
fire. Where oil fumes are likely to be present, the vicinity of the circuit breakers should be
thoroughly ventilated before work is commenced.

27. Earthing:

Before touching any equipment which has been energised and after taking precautions
regarding switching off supplies, the equipment shall be earthed. Many makes of the
switchgear have special arrangements fitted to the switchgear so that bus bars or feeders
may be earthed through the circuit breaker. This is the safest method and should always be
used if the equipment is available.

If the above equipment is not available, earthing should be carried out using a covered
flexible earthing lead which has been first clamped to earth bar and then touched on the
parts to be earthed by a suitably insulating rod.

The earthing lead shall have the cross section area commensurate with the short circuit
rating of the switchgear.
28. Fire Extinguishing Equipment:
All personnel should be instructed as to the dangers arising from the use of water on
electrical equipment in case of fire. The provision of fire extinguisher equipment of an
appropriate character shall be suitably placed and adequately maintained.

After fire or the operation of fire extinguishing equipment, adequate precautions should be
taken to ensure that the area is safe to enter.
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00
Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 6 followed by 7

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title
Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

29. Except where it is necessary to work on live low voltage or medium voltage switchgear,
no person should carry out work of any description (including maintenance, repairs,
cleaning and testing) on any parts of apparatus which are normally live unless such
parts are proved to be dead.

30. Routine operation of Circuit Breaker:

Circuit breakers not periodically operated may fail to trip on fault due to stiffness
developing in the mechanism or defects in the trip circuit. It is therefore recommended
that every circuit breaker should be tripped and reclosed at least once every six months.

In the case of some switchgear, depending on its application the above interval may have
to be extended. Every endeavor should be made to avoid such extension, as switchgear
mechanisms are more reliable when operated regularly.

Circuit breakers with trip coils should be tripped by operation of the relay and those with
series trip coils should be tripped by manual operation of the plungers. Circuit breakers
with built in release should be tested through its tripping elements.

31. Mechanism Checking:

During inspection or maintenance of mechanism (e.g. mechanism of Circuit
breaker)care should be taken to avoid fingers being trapped in any part of the mechanism
and avoid the possibility of anyone being struck by moving parts of the mechanism
or the moving contacts. It is recommended to discharge the stored energy in the
mechanism like release of the spring etc.

32. Replacement parts should be obtained from the manufacturers to ensure the proper
interchangeability and safe operation of the equipment.
33. Venting:
Examine the venting system of the switchgear/equipment to ensure that free passage for
oil and gas exists.
34. Isolation of the withdraw able metal clad circuit breakers should be delayed for not less
than 10 minutes after operation on fault to allow for the dispersal of any ignitable
gases in the live spouts.

35. Experience has shown that under trickle charging conditions stratification of the
electrolyte can occur and it is recommended that at intervals of approximately two years
the batteries should be given charge and discharge cycle, alternatively a boost charge to
ensure its reliable operation.
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00
Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 7 followed by 8

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title
Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

36. Voltage Transformer:

Steps should be taken to ensure that a voltage transformer is dead and isolated before it is
examined. Particular care should always be taken to ensure that voltage transformer is
not liable to be inadvertently made live due to feed-back via the secondary side.

37. Cubicles containing switchgear shall not be used as storing place. A small number of
spare parts, tools and instruments suitable for the equipment installed in the control
room may be housed in proper receptacles provided for the purpose.

38. Name plate particulars: Full nameplate particulars of the equipment should be kept in the
office records, as name plate may get damaged, defaced and painted over and may not
even in accessible position.

39. Cotton waste should not be used for cleaning. If clothes are used they should be free
from loose fibers. This is particularly important in oil immersed equipment as the presence of
loose fibers in the oil may lead to failure due to alignment of fibers under dielectric stress.

40. When solvents are used for cleaning or degreasing, the precautions against fire should
be taken.
41. Test should be made for the correct operation and calibration of protective devices
periodically and particularly after faults. It is essential that the settings should be
restored to the correct values after the test.

42. In no circumstances should attempts be made to rewire a non-rewire able fuse.

43. Hand lamps and torches shall be insulated type. Use of metal torches is prohibited in
the Electrical rooms.
44. Do not renew a blown fuse until the cause of blown fuse is known and the same is rectified.

45. Do not use copper wire as substitute for the fuse wire.
46. When removing the fuse, pull out the supply end first and when replacing the supply end
should be put in the last.
47. Do not close any switch, unless you are familiar with the circuit which it controls and know the
reason for its being opened.
48. Do not expose your eyes to an electric arc. Painful injury may result even with short exposure.
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00
Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 8 followed by 9

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title
Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

49. Always use portable hand lamps of the insulated safety type and provided with insulated
handle and insulated wire guard.

50. Organize precautionary fire drill. Have sufficient number of fire extinguishers located
in the strategic position so that they may be available for immediate use.
51. Do not attempt to disengage a person in contact with live apparatus which can not be
switched off immediately. Insulate yourself from earth by standing on rubber mat, or
dry board before attempting to get him clear. Do not touch his body. Pull him by clothes if
they are dry or push him clear with a piece of dry wood or insulated material rod.

52. Do not discontinue artificial respiration until recovery or death declared by doctor. It may
take some times even more than two to three hours for recovery.
53. Do not wear loose clothing, metal watch straps, bangles or finger rings while
working on electrical appliances.
54. Racking-in and Racking-out of Circuit breakers having isolating contacts in vertical plane
are very risky (e.g. Bieeco Breakers in PH4) and these breakers shall be racked-in or
out under protection plasma shield (developed in PH4) & Kool coat or through Tele-
breaker racking device.

7.0 Checking Corrective and preventive actions: Head of Elecrical Maintenance

8.0 Records: Nil

Annexure-1
List of IE-Rules related to Electrical Installation (Ref : IS:10118 Part-I Clause-4.1.1)
Sl. No IE-Rule No. Title of the Rule

Rule No-29 Construction, installation, protection, operation and maintenance of the

electric supply lines and apparatus.
Rule No-33 Earthed terminals on consumers premises.
Rule No-34 Accessibility of bare conductor.
Rule No-35 Danger Notice.
Rule No-36 Handling of Electric supply lines and apparatus.
Rule No-50 Supply and use of energy.
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE DIVISION) OCP0011 00
Orignal Issue Date : Date of Revision: Page 9 Followed by 1

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title
Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

Rule No-51 Provision applicable to medium, high or extra high voltage installation.
Rule No-61 Connection with the earth.
Rule No-62 Systems at medium voltage.
Rule No-63 Approval by Inspector.
Rule No-64 Use of energy at high and extra high voltage.
Rule No-65 Testing operation and maintenance.
Rule No-67 Connection with Earth.
Rule No-69 Pole type sub stations
Rule No-114 Isolation and fixing of Transformers, switchgears etc.
Note:
This is a general list of rules which are applicable to the Electrical Rooms however there may
be specific situations where some other IE-rules are applicable. Compliance to the IE rules is
statutory requirement.

Annexure-2
Fault current calculation for 6.6/415kV Transformer
Transformer % Impedance Max Fault Max Fault
Rating (KVA) Voltage (MVA) Current
(kA)
1000 4 25 35
1250 5 25 35
1600 6.25 25.6 35
2000 6.25 32 45
3000 6.25 48 67

Note: - % Impedance values taken from IS: 2026 Part-1 Table No. 3
 TRF LIMITED (BMHE OCP0011 0
DIVISION)
Orignal Issue Date Date of Revision: Page 10 followed by -

Prepared by : Sudhir Kumar Approved by : Issued By:

Title Safety Standrad for Working in Electrical Room

REVISION HISTORY
REV. No. Date DESCRIPTION

NOTE: FOR DETAILS OF REVISION HISTORY, REFER FILE

RECORDS AVAILABLE WITH M.R.