SUBSTATIONS

BUILDING
SERVICES
ELECTRICAL

SATHYASEELAN.A

SUBSTATIONS
1. The substation for any large construction should preferably be located in a separate building
within the setbacks or on one side of the site.
2. The ideal location for an electrical substation for a group of buildings would be at the
electrical load centre on the ground floor.
3. The load centre would generally be between the centre of the site and the air conditioning
plant room, as air conditioning plant room would normally be the largest contributing factor
of electrical load.
4. The floor level of the substation or switch room shall be above the highest flood level of the
locality as it must never get flooded. This is the last place that should get water logged.
5. All doors opening from the substation, electrical rooms, etc should open outward.
6. There are two types of transformers that are used in these substations:

Dry Type Transformer - Basement

Oil Type Transformer Backyard economic substation

7. Transformer with 11KV, 22KV, and 33KV can be inside or outside, 66KV, 132KV and
above the transformer should be outside.
Dry type transformer
8. It may be located adjacent to medium voltage switchgear in the form of unit type substation.
9. Separate room or fire barrier for the transformer is not required, in a substation with oil free
equipment.
10. In such a case the room size will decrease. Layout of equipment has to keep the requirement
that any one piece of equipment or sub-assembly can be taken out of service and out of the
installed location, while keeping the remaining system in service
11. Minimum gap between dry type transformers, which generally doesnt have baffle walls
should be 2m.
12. It should be located on the floor close to ground level, but shall have direct access from the
street for operation of the equipment.
13. The layout of the room shall be in accordance with this flow, so as to optimise the cables etc

Oil filled transformers

14. There shall atleast 6 meter clear distance between the adjoining buildings and substation such
that fire tender is able to pass between the two structures.
15. In oil filled transformers, oil pits can be made so as to collect the excessive oil leaking from
the transformer. It can be filtered & reused.
16. If 2 transformers are provided they should have at least 2500mm distance between them.
( upto 500 KVA)
17. If the distance between the transformers is less than 2500mm then fire wall should be
provided.
18. Fire wall provided between 2 transformers, height should be 2feet from the top of
transformer.
19. Bus bars shouldnt pass right on top of these transformers but by the side. Minimum gap
between the transformer and bus bar should be at least 600mm(2 feet).
20. The space where transformers are kept should be filled with gravel. No plantation should be
allowed to grow in that space.
21. The minimum distance between transformer and the wall should be 1250mm (in case of
single side opening) or 1000mm (in case of double side opening).
22. The footing of the transformer should be in a higher level from the ground.
23. There should an oil tank with an oil tube/pipe connected to the footing of the transformer to
collect the excess or waste oil from the oil filled transformer.