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11kV equipment

I cant find this with the old Google, but when we went to 11kV, we were advised that we needed a licensed/trained person to manage it, and anyone without such qualification could not enter the transformer compounds or RMU rooms. We subcontracted it to a third party and as such, we have no keys or access. 

 

Turns out, our other sites which have 11kV transformers, one is using the substation as a maintenance stores, and while it is big, and the stores is across the room from the transformer, its still the same room, and you could walk over and start pulling on levers on the RMU, tap changers etc. 

 

Another site has them caged in properly, but no appointed person. 

 

I'm trying to avoid making a huge fuss, but would like to advise them accurately, and I cant start that off with ‘I think I remember’, and ‘we do it like this’ 

Parents
  • I would hope that the switchgear and transformer had all their operating levers and handles locked to DNO standards. However, there is often nothing stopping relay case covers being removed, or metal covers protecting exposed HV metalwork being removed. 

    Anyone in the room needs to be HV competent for being around switchgear, understanding that you can’t just remove a cover or two to see what happens inside. You would also need to do a risk assessment here. How much time do people spend sitting beside the switchgear? What is the quality and failure mechanism of the switchgear - is it ENA approved? Where are the expansion vents? For example, if it vents from the rear, you don‘t want people sitting behind it. 

    A store may work from a risk assessment point of view, a permanent office may not. 

    Regards,

    Alan. 

Reply
  • I would hope that the switchgear and transformer had all their operating levers and handles locked to DNO standards. However, there is often nothing stopping relay case covers being removed, or metal covers protecting exposed HV metalwork being removed. 

    Anyone in the room needs to be HV competent for being around switchgear, understanding that you can’t just remove a cover or two to see what happens inside. You would also need to do a risk assessment here. How much time do people spend sitting beside the switchgear? What is the quality and failure mechanism of the switchgear - is it ENA approved? Where are the expansion vents? For example, if it vents from the rear, you don‘t want people sitting behind it. 

    A store may work from a risk assessment point of view, a permanent office may not. 

    Regards,

    Alan. 

Children
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