Protected zone of power transmission lines: norms and rules for the installation of overhead and cable power lines

Electric wires emit electromagnetic fields, which adversely affects a living organism. There are risks of injury and even death of a person from electric shock. To protect people from current and radiation, laws have been passed that define a protective area near high-voltage power lines. This area is called the power transmission line security zone.

Zone regulation rules

The use of land, buildings, water basins, which are located in the protected area of ​​power transmission lines, are subject to the Rules for the establishment of protection zones related to power grid facilities. The rules were legalized in 2009 by Decree No. 160 (as amended in 2016). It is this document that should be guided by when resolving disputes concerning territories adjacent to power lines.

Sanitary issues of protected areas of power transmission lines are also reflected and approved by the relevant sections of the SNiP Rules. The boundaries of the protected areas are determined taking into account the requirements of GOST. Permits for the installation of protective zones are given by the regional authorities dealing with energy and the federal cadastral authorities. The installation of security zones is the responsibility of the grid companies, which must coordinate their actions with the technical supervision authorities.

The date of adoption of the Rules in 2009 does not mean at all that previously there was no such document and there were no security zones for power lines. It's just that the new Rules canceled the previously valid documents that legally restricted any work and other activity in the area of ​​the network facilities. (for example, "Rules for the protection of electrical networks with voltages up to 1000 volts", in force since 1972, and a document with the same name, but "voltage over 1000 volts", adopted in 1984).

Updates to the Rules and Norms are dictated not only by time and the change of supervisory bodies. New research is underway on the impact of electricity on the environment and the human body with the involvement of doctors, specialists, scientists in various fields.

At the same time, the latest research methods and modern technical means are used. On the basis of a comprehensive analysis of these studies, existing norms and rules are adjusted, and new requirements inevitably appear and those that are no longer relevant are abolished.

Classification of protected areas

Depending on how the power line is laid, there are 2 options for its installation:

1. Overhead power line (OHL).
2. Cable power line (CL).

Overhead lines are installed using supports of various designs. In this case, the lines pass over the surface of the land or water bodies and rivers. Cable lines are laid at a certain depth underground or under water.

For overhead lines, the boundaries of the protected areas are the normalized values ​​from the extreme wires to one side and the other along the entire length of the power line. It turns out a kind of virtual corridor, inside which there is an overhead power line with supports, wires and other necessary equipment.

For cable lines laid in the ground and under water, the protective zone is:

• normalized distances to one side and the other from the electrical cable (or from the extreme cables, if there are more than 1 of them);
• in the case of underground cables - a section of soil to the depth of their laying over the entire width of the established zone;
• in the case of submarine cables, the entire water surface of the specified width of the zone to the very bottom of the water basin or river.

The distances of the security boundaries from cables and wires directly depend on the voltage class of a particular electrical network.

Line voltage classes

Overhead power lines are divided into classes depending on the voltage:

• below 1000 volts (V);
• from 1 to 20 kilovolts (kV);
• 35 kV;
• 110 kV;
• from 150 to 220 kV;
• 330, 400, 500 kV;
• 750 kV;
• 1150 kV.

Overhead lines that run over water areas have a separate class. For them, their own standards of the security boundary are determined, which do not depend on the voltage of the wires.

Zone sizes

According to sanitary standards, the minimum distances from the extreme wires of overhead lines of one class or another to any buildings should be equal:

• 2 m if the line voltage is less than 1 kV;
• 10 m - for power lines from 1 to 20 kV (in cases where self-supporting or insulated wires of such lines are placed in residential areas, a distance of 5 m is allowed);
• 15 m - for 35 kV lines;
• 20 m in both directions from the extreme wires - the size of the security zone of the 110 kV overhead line;
• 25 m - for overhead lines 150 and 220 kV;
• 30 m - for power transmission lines with capacities of 330, 500 and 400 kV;
• 40 m - for a high-voltage power grid with a voltage of 750 kV;
• 55 m - for 1150 kV transmission lines.

If we proceed from the fact that the security zone of a 10 kV power transmission line is a distance of 10 m, then for all subsequent voltages (35, 110, 220, 330 kV), 5 m is added to the distance of the previous stage. This makes it easier to remember.

For those overhead lines, the wires of which pass over the surface of lakes, the course of rivers, canals and other water spaces, the distance to the boundaries of the zone on both sides should be at least 100 m.

In cities, the minimum distance of underground cable lines with voltage up to 1000 volts is 0.6 m to any buildings or structures, and to the carriageway of city streets - 1 m.

The boundaries of the protection zones for underwater electric lines are located at a distance of 100 m on either side of extreme cables and occupy the entire water column from the surface to the very bottom of the water basin along the lines of these distances.

Prohibited actions

The following works are not allowed in the sanitary zone:

1. Construction of buildings and structures for any purpose, as well as their demolition and repair, if they have already been (rules allow the passage of overhead lines over some industrial buildings and electrical structures).
2. Placing stadiums, stops for transport, holding any group events with a large crowd of people.
3. Reclamation, tree planting, land irrigation, mining and blasting operations.
4. Storage of hay, equipment of storage facilities for feed and fertilizers, various dumps and petrol stations.
5. Open fire.
6. Cluttering of the paths of passage and approach to the supports of overhead lines.

Plots of land that have fallen into the protection zone of power transmission lines will not be confiscated from their owners. Land plots can be exploited at will, as well as sold or donated.

Potatoes or other agricultural crops can be planted on land plots. But at the same time, one should take into account the risks of a possible loss of part or all of the crop at any time (in cases of repair and emergency work on the line, the passage of equipment), and also observe the rules for being on the sanitary territory of power lines (do not erect buildings, do not dig ditches, do not burn grass and do not commit other actions).

It should be understood that the restrictions on activities in the protected area of ​​the lines can be explained by both ensuring the safety of people and the protective measure against possible damage to lines and their devices, which could lead to emergency shutdowns of electricity consumers or accidents cases. Any actions and work in the protected area in case of emergency should be coordinated with the owner of the electric line.