Clearance Requirement Between Overhead Poles and Light Poles

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faresos

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Hello Everyone:

Can someone guide me in where to look in the National Electrical Safety Code as far the clearance requirement between overhead poles and light poles? The light pole (30ft high) is about 11ft away from the 13.2KV overhead power pole and I want to make sure there is no issue there.

Thanks,
 
You will probably have to contact the local power company to find out their clearance requirements. I was told a long time ago to roughly figure 1 foot per 1,000V.


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faresos said:
Hello Everyone:

Can someone guide me in where to look in the National Electrical Safety Code as far the clearance requirement between overhead poles and light poles? The light pole (30ft high) is about 11ft away from the 13.2KV overhead power pole and I want to make sure there is no issue there.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Possibly can be practically touching each other. I don't think horizontal distances are going to be an issue but rather the distance between any part of the light pole and the ungrounded conductors whether it be where attached to the pole or in mid span.
 
I just contacted the utility company and they have said 10ft minimum horizontal distance required but we have to make sure that if the light pole falls over, it will not come within 10ft of the overhead line as well. I will move these poles away from the power lines.

Thank you all for your responses!
 
I guess I sort of missed the light pole was 30 feet high, which might put the top at near same elevation as the high voltage lines, but I still think first concern is usually going to be distance to exposed ungrounded conductors in any direction.
 
Have always looked it up in th elocal OSHA guidelines--we have always used 10 feet clearance upto 50kv and .4 inch per kv over that

No--don't go sticking yer steel tape out there to see how far you are from the lines!!:ashamed1:
 
RichB said:
Have always looked it up in th elocal OSHA guidelines--we have always used 10 feet clearance upto 50kv and .4 inch per kv over that

No--don't go sticking yer steel tape out there to see how far you are from the lines!!:ashamed1:
Click to expand...

It was one of those misty/foggy days. I walked under a power line with my umbrella, and felt a tingle! I decided to get wet.
 
midamericairon said:
You will probably have to contact the local power company to find out their clearance requirements. I was told a long time ago to roughly figure 1 foot per 1,000V.


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This is the right answer; well, the first sentence anyway. Louisiana has had the Overhead Power Line Safety Act in effect for many years. That mandates a *minimum* of 10 feet in all directions from overhead high voltage. (Most states have something similar.) In some cases, we (poco) would shoot for more.
 
Iron_Ben said:
This is the right answer; well, the first sentence anyway. Louisiana has had the Overhead Power Line Safety Act in effect for many years. That mandates a *minimum* of 10 feet in all directions from overhead high voltage. (Most states have something similar.) In some cases, we (poco) would shoot for more.
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10 feet to what? communications companies might hang equipment/lines on same poles and is often less than 10 feet from high voltage lines.
 
kwired said:
10 feet to what? communications companies might hang equipment/lines on same poles and is often less than 10 feet from high voltage lines.
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10 feet to an energized HV conductor.

Communications companies do indeed often have equipment less than 10 feet from the high voltage. Their terms and conditions are spelled out in very specific contracts between the two parties. They are not subject to the terms of the OPLSA.
 
Iron_Ben said:
10 feet to an energized HV conductor.

Communications companies do indeed often have equipment less than 10 feet from the high voltage. Their terms and conditions are spelled out in very specific contracts between the two parties. They are not subject to the terms of the OPLSA.
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I don't know what there is for laws here on the subject, but different POCO's all have different policies they like to enforce on this subject.

Farming areas - one POCO doesn't want grain storage bins within 50' of their lines - understandable as long portable conveyors are typically used to fill those and if not paying attention when moving them can contact the lines. 50' may still be a little close actually.

That said, I have a client that built 2 new bins a few years back, local POCO distribution was on opposite side of road so no problem. Then a new substation was built serving a large region not too far away and another POCO happen to run a 115 kV line on same side of road as these bins. They must not had that same policy. Their conductors are much higher though and I doubt there is much risk of any conveyors used on this site ever contacting them.
 
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