Electric Power Substation - Vegitation Clearing
Electric Power Substation - Vegitation Clearing
(OP)
I've been asked to design an addition to a 69kV substation. The area within the substation fence where the addition equipment will go is currently wooded. For political reasons the owner of the electric distribution system is reluctant annoy the local residents and so wants to keep as many trees within the substation fence. These 30-50 trees would be within 15 feet of a 69kV 54mvar capacitor bank.
Typical practice at all other station is to totally clear all vegitation within the fence and landscape around the exterior. Exterior trees are trimmed of any branches overhanging into the substation area.
I have been unable to find a standard that clearly states the vegitation within a station should be cleared. Is this such an intuitively good common sense practice that no one has seen the need to publish it? Any guidance to a standard that I could quote to prove my point would be appreciated.
Typical practice at all other station is to totally clear all vegitation within the fence and landscape around the exterior. Exterior trees are trimmed of any branches overhanging into the substation area.
I have been unable to find a standard that clearly states the vegitation within a station should be cleared. Is this such an intuitively good common sense practice that no one has seen the need to publish it? Any guidance to a standard that I could quote to prove my point would be appreciated.





RE: Electric Power Substation - Vegitation Clearing
This sounds more like a building codes question - does the local municipality have no regulations regarding this? If not, maybe BOCA would be of some help.
HTH
Todd
RE: Electric Power Substation - Vegitation Clearing
This would be at least the minimum you would need to clear.
Zuccus
RE: Electric Power Substation - Vegitation Clearing
I think that you really, really, REALLY do not want ANY vegetation (and other things they attract, like birds and other wildlife) intentionally left within a fence boundary.
Who is going to trim the trees inside the yard? High voltage techie / arborists are rather hard to come by.
RE: Electric Power Substation - Vegitation Clearing
Your owner should know better than this - it is an extreme safety hazard. I'm not sure you need a minimum NEC code to prove this... Provide an aesthetic pleasing fence and then screen it with plantings outside of the fence.