Safety Procedures in Electricity

Work zone and vicinity

DefinitionThe Vicinity Zone

The vicinity zone has been defined when a live part of an equipment is close to people. The distance between them depends of the voltage. In lower voltage (50 – 1000 V AC) this distance is 30 cm (11 in). It has also to be taken in account the possible movement of the worker, movement of live part (aerial wire), tools...

It has been defined that the accessible live part are equipment with:

  • In LV the IP is lower than IP2X

  • In LV the IP is lower than IP3X

Warning

Work in a vicinity area requires the use of PPE and PEI.

Vicinity Zoneq

  • Zone 1: Non vicinity

  • Zone 4: Vicinity area in LV (less than 30 cm from live parts). All equipment with IP < IP2X is considered as live part.

  • Zone 2: Vicinity area in HV (up to red line)

  • - 2 m (79 in) if U < 50 000 V (3 m -118 In – for aerial wire)

  • - 3 m (118 in) if U < 250 000 V (5 m -197 In – for aerial wire)

  • - 4 m (157 in) if U < 400 000 V (5 m -197 In – for aerial wire)

  • - 5 m (197 in) if U < 750 000 V (5 m -197 In – for aerial wire)

  • Zone 3 : This is the distance between the live part and the Minimum Distance Approach (MDA). In this area there a risk of electric arc. The MDA distance is 60 cm (24 in) up to 50 000 V. From 50 000 V the MDA is given by the following formula: MDA(m) = 0,005 x U(kV) + 0,5

PreviousPreviousNextNext
HomepageHomepagePrintPrintCreated with Scenari (new window)