In the next paragraph it would be more

appropriate if the word "nonskid" were

added so that the sentence would commence:
"Adequate nonskid stairways . ." Also,
this section should contain the thought
that platforms and permanent ladders

Guide

Clearances ror

should be avoided where possible, but

where necessary, safeguards are as indicated.
H. P. Cadario: We are pleased that Mr.
Rixse has presented certain additions, some

Minimum Electrical
Standard Basic Insulation

ror

Levels
AIEE COMMITTEE REPORT
MANY utility companies have their
own standards for minimum clearances to ground at various voltages and
basic insulation levels. Some national
and state organizations have also set up
these clearances in a rather limited fashion. All of these standards have long
years of use behind them and, while the
actual method of arriving at the values
has been lost in many cases, it is interesting to note that in an approximate
manner most of the existing standards
agree to a large extent.
The need for correlation of existing
data and of selecting values with some
logical background brought about the
formation of the committee responsible
for this guide. It is a subcommittee of
the National AIEE Committee on Substations. The results of its findings are
given in Table I.

of which had been considered, but were

omitted because of the necessity of maintaining the paper within a reasonable size.
These additions will certainly aid in the
clarification of certain points in this large

subject.

ers and transformers at one level and

stacking insulators at another), the designer must choose one of the two levels
with which to co-ordinate his clearances.
Clearances for the extra-high BIL are
not shown, as these levels are not yet
fully standardized. However, when the
BIL is known these clearances can be
readily computed, using the method just
outlined.
Corrections should be made in Table I
if apparatus is to be applied at elevations
above 3,300 feet. All clearances should
be increased, in keeping with tables appearing in AIEE Standard 22A.2
For example, at 5,000 feet, the minimum
values given in the table should be divided by 0.95 to obtain the corrected
value; at 10,000 feet, the table values
should be divided by 0.80, and so on.
It should also be pointed out that this
guide is not intended for use in the design
of electric devices or apparatus such as
circuit breakers, transformers, etc. It
is to be used only in the installation of
equipment in the field.
In general, it is remarkable how well
the minimum clearances to ground shown
in Table I agree with those of a great
majority of utility standards. Since
manv of these utility values antedate
the BIL, it is likely that they are based
on insulator characteristics as discussed
in the Appendix. Switch and bus insulator dimensions and data are also given in
Table III.

Paper 54-80, recommended by the AIEE Substations Committee and approved by the AIEE Committee on Technical Operations for presentation at
the AIEE Winter General Meeting, New York,
N. Y., January 18-22, 1954. Manuscript submitted October 20, 1953; made available for printing November 20, 1953.
The personnel of the Working Group on Minimum
Clearances of the AIEE Committee on Substations
are: S. C. Killian, Chairman, T. J. Allen, J. L.
Buckley, H. P. Cadario, E. M. Hunter, K. E. Personius, C. H. Smoke, and R. F. Stevens.

These flashover values must then be

translated into withstand values, for those
clearances chosen must withstand the
various BIL listed. This is done by
increasing the spacings by 10 per cent.
These 110-per-cent values are shown in
column 3, Table II. While this method
is not absolutely scientific, it is sufficiently accurate for this purpose.
From large laboratory experience it has
been found that flashovers of busses to
beams, switch parts to structures, insulator live parts to ground wire, etc., do not
follow rod gaps very closely because of
their different geometry and consequently
different electric-field patterns. Flashover values as much as 12 per cent lower
have been noted when comparing these
configurations to rod gaps. In other
words, a positive wave will flash a 193/8inch rod gap at 345 kv. However, the
same 193/8 inches appearing between
switch hardware and ground will flash at
only 306 kv. Therefore, if all the various
odd configurations which occur in outdoor
electrical design are to be given just con- Phase Spacing
sideration, the spacings shown in column
The average phase spacing in use today
3, Table II, must be increased by ap- is based on a V/3 or 1.73 factor and can
proximately 12 per cent to be reasonably be checked quite well, center line to
sure that they will withstand the BIL. center line, by using the following proThese values, shown in column 4, Table cedure; to the arcing distance over a cap
II, and column 3, Table I, are recom- and pin equipment insulator, add a factor
mended minimum clearances to ground at of 20 per cent, multiply by 1.73 and add
sea level.
the hardware width (usually the diameter
Several explanations for selecting values of the insulator cap). (In the higher
from the table should be made here. voltages this method breaks down.
Stacking insulators for air switches, bus Spacings are smaller than would be obinsulators, and the like for BIL of 650 tained by this method.) This 1.73 factor
kv, 825 kv, and 1,175 kv are not available. has very little justification. It is true
It is therefore usually necessary to use that the 60-cycle voltage between phases
insulator stacks of 750 kv, 900 kv, and is 1.73 times that to ground, but other
1,300 kv respectively. When choosing considerations than 60-cycle voltage
minimum clearances to co-ordinate with determine insulator to ground and clearthis combination of circumstances (break- ance between phases.

636

Guide for Electrical Clearances for BIL

Ground Clearance
All values used in computing these
clearances are based on the basic insulation levels (BIL) tabulated in column 1,
Table II. In column 2 these BIL are
translated into maximum inches of gap,
based on flashover at sea level. Since a
positive wave will flash a larger gap than
a negative wave of equal voltage, positive
wave values are used. These values are
based on flashovers of 1/2-inch square
rods. I

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JUNE, 1 954

phases. These values are shown in

column 6, Table II. Another 12 per
cent must be added to take care of the
difference in flashovers between rod gaps
and equipment ordinarily encountered
in substation design as explained in the
section on ground clearances. These
values rounded off to the next higher
inch are shown in column 7, Table II,
and in column 4, Table IL as recommended minimum clearances between
phases at sea level.
It is not expected that these column 4,
Table I, values will find great use in
substation design for application as
standard spacings. The larger spacings
now in use have a wealth of long experience behind them and are unlikely to be
easily changed. The column 4, Table I,
values are recommended minimums,
however, and can be so used. Note that
these spacings are metal to metal. Hardware dimensions must be added to obtain center-line to center-line spacings.
These spacings, it should be noted also,
are for busses and disconnects only, and
do not apply to expulsion-type fuses or
arc-interrupting switches where the spacing must be larger. Likewise, certain
classes of construction and conditions,
such as the presence of chemical fumes,
salt water spray, extreme dust, etc., may
require greater spacing. High shortcircuit stresses when present must also
be considered in phase-spacing requirements.
Minimum clearances between live
parts of different voltages should be the
value given in the table for phase spacing
at the higher voltage.
This paper has purposely omitted references to lightning arrester protection,
magnitudes of switching surges, etc. All
of these factors are important in choosing
an insulation level. However, after this

Table 1. Minimum Electrical Clearances For Standard BIL Outdoor A-C

Kv
Class

Minimum
Clearance
to Ground
for Rigid
BIL Level,
Kv Withstand Parts, Inches

7.5 .....

95..

110.

15 ......
23
..
34.5 ......
46 ......

69

115

138

161
230
230

......
......
......

......

......
......

200 .
250...
350 .
550.
650.
750.
825 .
900 ...

1,050.
1,175 .

6
5
4
Minimum Clearance Minimum Clearance
Between Phases Between Overhead Minimum Clearance
Between Wires
Conductors and
(or Live Parts)
for Rigid Parts, Grade for Personnel and Roadways,
Substation
Inside
Inside
Inches,
Safety,
Enclosure, Feet
Substation, Feet
Metal to Metal
20
8.
7.
9.
20
12
....
.
.15 .10 ................. 22
.22
10
18 ...
22
.10
21
...
23
11.
.31..............
12.25
.53..............
13.25
.62..............
14.26
.72..............
.27
80 .
.............15
27
.15
89
...
.28
.16
.105
113
.29
.17

6..............
7.

13
+17

......
..

6.
71 .

-83
94.

......

......

25
42
50
58

Notes
1. Co-ordinate kv class and BIL when choosing minimum clearances.
2. The values above are recommended minimums but may be decreased in line with good practice depending on local conditions, procedures, etc.
3. The values above apply to 3,300 feet above sea level. Above this elevation increase above values
according to paragraph 22-4 of AIEE Standard No. 22A.2
4. These recommended minimum clearances are for rigid conductors. Any structural tolerances, or
allowances for conductor movement, or possible reduction in spacing by foreign objects should be added
to these minimum values.
5. These minimum clearances are intended as a guide for the installation of equipment in the field only,
and not for the design of electric devices or apparatus such as circuit breakers, transformers, etc.

Actually, all that is required is enough

increased spacing to cause flashover to
occur phase to ground instead of phase
to phase. Because of the severe system
disturbances they cause, phase-to-phase
faults are least desirable. It is therefore
necessary that the distance between
phases exceed that to ground, thereby
practically insuring a flashover to ground.
This might be done by merely adding
some safety factor to the values shown
in column 3. An adder of 10 per cent
would be sufficient for reasonably insuring
flashover to ground if only withstand
values were concerned.
However, another problem must be
considered when attempting to arrive
at correct phase spacing values. This is
the fact that phase spacing flashovers
must exceed the actual flashover of insulators and not only the BIL withstands,
if flashover is to occur to ground and not
between phases. In other words, adding
only a 10 per cent safety factor to the
BIL as suggested in the preceding paragraph may be insufficient because the
actual flashover of the insulator may be
more than 10 per cent over the BIL.
Accordingly, values for each insulator
class standard cap and pin equipment
insulators3 were set down for 60-cycle,
impulse positive, and impulse negative
flashover,' and these used as a basis of
comparison. Then a rod gap distance
was chosen' which provided a larger
flashover than the insulator under all
three conditions, 60-cycle, impulse positive, and impulse negative.
As an example, refer to the 7.5-kv

class. The insulator itself has the following standard flashovers, based on clean
insulators: 60-cycle, 60 kv; positiveimpulse, 105 kv; and negative-impulse, 120 kv.
After some trial distances, it is found
that a 5-inch rod gap has the following
flashovers: 60-cycle, 66 kv; positiveimpulse, 108 kv; and negative-impulse,
126 kv.
A 4-inch gap is insufficient to match
the insulator flashovers. Therefore the
5-inch value was set down as a minimum
clearance. All insulators and rod gaps
were similarly studied and column 5,
Table II, is the result.
Ten per cent must then be added to
these values to insure flashover at the
insulator to ground, rather than between

JUNE 1 954

Guide for Electrical Clearances for BIL

Table II. Basic Insulation Levels

1

1/2-Inch

Rod Gap
Flashover
1 1/2x40
Insulator
Microseconds
Positive Wave 110 Per Cent, 112 Per Cent, Flashover 110 Per Cent, 112 Per Cent,
Column 6,
Column 5,
Co-ordination,*
Column 3,
Column 2,
BIL Level,
Inches at
Inches
Ky Withstand Sea Level
Inches
Inches
Inches
Inches
7
12
15
.
.12
8.25 ..
.........
.
10.5
18
.
200
.14
11. 55 ..
.........
.
21
13.5
250.
.
14.85...17.17 ....
25 ......... 277.5 ......... 31
20 ........ 22 .. 2.................25
350.
.........42 ............ 43 ......... 47.3 ......... 53
550. 344...34 ....... 37.4 .
55
50 . 5
62
44
.. 5..................
650..........
47 .......... 51.7 ..........5......... 63.8......... 72
750
.65 .71.5
52 .......... 57.2 .......... 65
......... 80
825 .
62.7 .................... 72 ......... 79.2 ......... 89
900..........
105
93.5
.85
83
73.7
..
67
1050.
.........
..........
..........
113
.91
76 .......... 83.6 .......... 94
1175 .
......... 100.1..
95
110
150

.
.

4.3
5
7.5

4.73

..

.5.5..

6.
7.
10
13

.......

5.........
9.........

5.5 .........
9.9 .........
13.2 .........
15.4 .........
18. 7 .
.........

.......

* Insulator stacks not available at 650 kv, 825 kv and 1,175 kv. Values shown obtained by interpolation.

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63S7

Table Ill. Switch and Bus Insulator Dimensions and General Data3
l

Kv Class

2
BIL Level,
Kv Withstand

3
Insulator Height,
Inches

4
Insulator Arcing
Distance, Inches

5
Insulator Technical
Reference No.

7.5 ................
95 ..
.
.
7/2 .
51/4 .
1
15 ................. 110
.
...1......0..
4
......714.... ...
23 ................. 150 1 2 .. .
12 . ............ 91/2...
7
34.5................. 200 15................
10
............. 14
..
46 .................
250 .............. 18 .
17
...............
..............13
69 ................. 350................ 29
..
28..16
115
.
550
43'/2 ..... ..........
19
*
138 ................. 650 ............
161 ..............
750............
.58
58
2
............6....
......
230 .............
825 ..............
*
230 ................. 900
.. 721/2 .
74 ................ 27
1 ,050
87
88 ................ 28
1,17..
*
.................

Summary
A guide for minimum clearances at vari-

ous voltages has been developed, and values are shown in Table I as follows: mini-

mum clearance to ground, column 3;

minimum clearance between phases, metal
to metal, column 4; minimum clearance
between overhead conductors and grade,
column 5; and minimum clearance between wires and roadways, column 6.

Appendix

* There are no standard insulator stacks for BIL of 650, 825, and 1,175.

level is chosen, minimum clearances must

be used as given in the table for that
level, to co-ordinate the insulation itself
with the clearances.

Conductor Clearance to Ground

and Roadways
Minimum clearances between overhead
conductors and ground inside substations
are fairly well standardized in the
National Electrical Code,4 and others, up
to 115 kv, and agree substantially with
the values appearing in column 5, Table
I. If the ground clearances shown in
column 3 are subtracted from those in
column 5 up to 115 kv, it is found that
the average difference is about 8 feet 6
inches. This dimension provides for a
tall man with arms outstretched. All
remaining values above 115 kv in column
5, Table I, were similarly computedrecommended ground clearance plus 8
feet 6 inches. This result was then
rounded off to the next highest foot.
This results in slightly higher values than
given in some codes by a matter of a few
inches. The code values are of course

satisfactory. In a guide such as this

where an over-all approach is made, it is
not desirable to divide recommendations
of many feet into less than 1-foot increments.

Minimum clearances between overhead

conductors and roadways inside substations are somewhat standardized in the
same publications mentioned in the preceding paragraph up to 115 kv, and
values in column 6, Table I, show these
standards. As was done just previously,
if column 3, Table I, is subtracted from
column 6, up to 115 kv, the average
difference is about 20 feet 6 inches. This
dimension provides for a truck load with a
man standing on top. All remaining
values in column 6, Table I, were similarly computed-ground clearance plus
20 feet 6 inches, and rounded off to the
next highest foot.
Where installations are made in areas
subject to heavy snow fall, approximately
2 feet should be added to the values which
are shown in columns 5 and 6, Table I.
If local snow experience is available, this
should be used instead of the suggested 2
feet.

Since the heights and arcing distances on

cap- and pin-type equipment insulators
have long been the basis on which many
ground clearance standards have been set,
it is interesting to compare these values
with those shown in column 3, Table I. It
will be noted that the insulator arcing distance, column 4, Table III, is in many cases
greater than the recommended minimum
clearance to ground, column 3, Table I.
This is because of different geometries in the
two cases and because in many instances the
insulators have an inherently large safety
factor over the BIL.
General insulator data shown in Table
III for standard strength cap and pin insulators is included for ready reference for
those who wish to compare the recommended clearances with insulator values.

References
1. MEASUREMENT OF TEST VOLTAGE IN DIELECTRIC TESTS. AIEE Standard .vo. 4, Nov. 1942.
2.

AIR SWITCHES, INSULATOR UNITS, AND Bus

SUPPORTS. AIEE Standard No. 22A, paragraph

22-4, Oct. 1949.
3.

SWITCHING EQUIPMENT, STANDARDS FOR

POWER. NEMA Publication N o. 49-144, National
Electrical Manufacturers Association, New York,
N. Y., 1949, p. 20.

4. NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE. ASA Cl-1951,

American Standards Association, New York, N. Y.,

1951.

Discussion
J. A. Elzi and W. F. Griffard (Commonwealth Associates Inc., Jackson, Mich.):
This paper presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of station electrical clearances. In some situations the values given
may be considered low while in other situations high. It is strongly urged that these
values not be considered as "recommended"
or as "standard" especially since this work
has not been fully considered by all industry groups.
It would be of interest to know how extensive a survey was made of present industry practice in arriving at the conclusion that
the values given in Table I agree with clearances generally used.
In determining minimum ground clearances two additional factors should be given
consideration:

1.

638

The characteristics of rod gaps which

vary considerably and according to the conditions.

2. Necessary clearance spacing to allow
for birds and rodents, especially at the lower
service voltages.
Another AIEE Committee Report1 shows
that the critical flashover voltage of standard rod gaps even under controlled laboratory conditions may vary 418 per cent and
in addition, where standard conditions do
not apply (such as would be the case in the
field), variations as much as 4110 to 15 per
cent can be expected.
Taking these factors into consideration a
1/2-inch rod gap could require a spacing of
51/4 inches for the critical sparkover on a
95-kv positive 1.5 X40-microsecond wave.
This assumes a negative tolerance of 20 per
cent which is well within the range of the
-8 per cent and -10 to 15 per cent values
just given. In Table II the rod-gap spacing
for 95 kv is shown as 4.3 inches. Using the

51/4-inch value and adding 10 per cent to

convert to a withstand value and 12 per
cent for differences in geometry between rod
gaps and substation equipment, a minimum
spacing of 6l/2 inches is obtained for a 95-kv
level.
The clearances given in this paper are intended for field use and they should be practical values which can be used directly by the
designer. In outdoor stations there is
always the possibility of small birds flying
through the structure or perching on live
conductors and the minimumn design clearances should be sufficient to preclude a
flashover occurring every time this occurs.
An allowance of 31/2 to 4 inches has been
quite commonly used. Thus, for an insulation level of 95 kv it would appear that a
minimum clearance to ground of 10 to
101/2 inches (61/2X31/2=10) would be more
realistic than the 6-inch value given in the
paper. Similar increases would be required
for other insulation levels.

Guide for Electrical Clearances for BIL

JUNE 1 9054

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In this report minimum ground clearances

have been determined on the basis of equivalent rod-gap spacing while minimum phase
spacing values have been determined on the
basis of spacings proportional to insulator
flashover values. In a co-ordinated design
the minimum live part clearances should bear
some definite relationship to the minimum
ground clearances and a logical approach
would be to use insulator arc distance or
flashover values to determine the minimum
ground clearances as well as the minimum
live part clearances.
Table III gives the insulator height in
inches. For insulators rated 115 kv and
above the insulator height given is less than
or eqttal to the insulator arcing distance.
It should be noted that these insulators require a subbase in order to develop the full
electrical characteristics and it is felt that
this should be covered by a note or the insulator height given should include the subbase.
REFERENCE
1. PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHTNING

PROTECTIVE DEVIcES, AIEE Committee Report.

AIEE Transaclions, vol. 72, pt. III, June 1953, pp.
427-32.

J. E. Conner (Southern California Edison

Company, Los Angeles, Calif.): The establishing of uniform minimum electrical clearances for the wide variety of substation de-

signs found on individual power systems is

both an ambitious and worth-while project.
Most operating utilities have established
their own standards for minimum electrical
clearances and any correlation between these
existing standards and those proposed in
the guide requires more than a casual survey.
It is very encouraging to see this committee
undertaking such a problem and they deserve every possible co-operation on the part
of those concerned with electrical clearances.
The use of BIL's as a basis for establishing minimum electrical clearances seems
reasonable; however, the importance of
comparing the proposed guide clearances
with those in actual use on operating systems
cannot be overemphasized. Any minimum
electrical clearance, regardless of origin, may
be applied to many possible diverse physical configurations. To interpret the physical separation of live parts, without regard
for geometry, directly in terms of insulation
ability can only provide a very false sense of
security. Recent tests conducted by the
writer on proximity effects of near-by
grounded objects on the impulse ilashover
characteristics of insulators mounted in
enclosed bus-type structures have demonstrated very clearly that each configuration
is unique in itself and that prediction of
flashover voltage magnitude or location is
virtually impossible. In some cases where
several possible flashover paths existed in
parallel, the actual flashover took place
across a gap which was approximately 50
per cent longer than the minimum clearance
for the particular geometry. There is reason to believe that similar results would be
obtained on outdoor types of equipment if
it were possible to make the required tests.
In the absence of actual test data the only
other reliable source of information is the
performance reebrd of minimum clearances
now in use on operating systems. These
performance records should be very seri-

JUNE 1954

ously considered when compiling such a

guide for widespread use.
It should be emphasized that minimum
clearances, regardless of original basis, are
for field use only and do not represent clearances and spacings intended for new substation construction. Effectively, this
means that field crews may allow the specified minima to be met or exceeded without
contacting engineering personnel for advice.
It seems reasonable that this is the general
appliction for such a minimum clearance
guide in the utility industry. When used in
this manner, it is apparent that the number
of installations where these minima will be
in actual use is limited. Since such a guide
finds application primarily as an absolute
minimum, it is important to realize these
limitations and to guard against specifying
clearances which are excessively large.
The proposed guide phase-to-ground
clearances are larger in all cases than comparable clearances which have been used on
power systems for the past 20 years. The
proposed clearances are also larger than the
recommended external clearances for power
and distribution transformers given in the
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Standard No. 48-132.1
While the background responsible for some
of the shorter minimum clearances may be
obscure, their entirely satisfactory service
records cannot be discarded in favor of what
appears to be a logical basis. In view of
these satisfactory service records of power
systems regularly using minimum clearances less than the proposed guide clearances, it is not possible to indicate approval
of the guide in its present form. It is recommended that in the compilation of such
a guide, full and just consideration be given
to present-day time-tested practices of operating companies. Application of this guide,
should it become an adopted standard,
would most assuredly increase substation
costs without assurance of any improvement
in operating efficiency.
REFERENCE
1. STANDARDS FOR TRANSFORMERS. NEMA Publication No. 48-132, National Electrical Manufac-

turers Association, New York, N. Y., 1948.

after that leave the BIL level and co-ordinate the phase spacing strictly with the
ground clearance only.
This method would make the co-ordination between phase-to-ground and phase-tophase spacing independent of the amount
of insulation used for the bus support. For
example, if overinsulation is used to compensate for a contaminated atmosphere the
co-ordination would still be secured (though
a relief gap to ground might be needed to
hold down the phase-to-ground spacing).
The same would apply if the station designer
merely overinsulated to secure more insulation margin. If the bus should be underinsulated, the co-ordination would be obtained, but with a margin that could exceed
the 23.3 per cent. In short, the station designer would have a free hand in choosing
his bus insulation without upsetting his

flashover co-ordination between phase-tophase and phase-to-ground spacings.

The phase spacing would be adjusted so
that its impulse flashover voltage on a 1 /2x40-microsecond wave would be 23.2 per cent
higher than the impulse flashover of the
ground clearance on the same wave. This
would be tried with both positive and negative waves separately. The polarity giving
the smallest margin woud then be used to
determine the phase spacing. For those
spacings that have both a maximum and
minimum flashover value, the minimum
value would be used for the phase spacing
and the maximum value for the spacing to
ground.
Using this method to compute the flashover voltages of the phase-to-ground and
phase-to-phase spacings, the phase spacings
now in the guide for 7.5-kv and 46-kv classes
would have impulse flashover margins of
only 2 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.
Most of the other spacings would have margins slightly below the 23.2-per-cent rule.
A few would be well above it. It would
seem that the 23.2-per-cent rule is about the
least margin we should use. If applied as
suggested here it would result in some
changes in the phase spacings that are now
in the guide.

F. R. Longley (Western Massachusetts

Electric Company, Springfield, Mass.):
The committee has used a margin of 23.2
per cent for co-ordination. This is from the
10-per-cent margin for insulation strength
per se, and the 12 per cent to allow for the
different electric field patterns caused by
the different geometries of substation structures ( 1.10X1.12=1.232 or 23.2 per-cent
margin). We have been using a margin of
25 per cent for this purpose since 1931. It
was interesting to see that the two values are
nearly the same.
The reasoning and approach given in the
guide to establish minimum clearances to
ground are excellent, but it seems that some
improvements might be suggested for the
phase spacing. Since the purpose of the
phase spacing is to insure that flashovers
will take place from phase to ground instead
of phase to phase, why not simply make the
impulse flashover strength of the phase spacing 23.2 per cent greater than that of the
spacing to ground? In other words, coordinate the ground clearance with the, BIL
withstand level, as done in the guide, but

K. H. Kidd and H. M. Ellis (Hydro-Electric

Power Commission of Ontario, Toronto,
Ont., Canada): The committee is to be congratulated on their analysis of the factors
affecting electrical clearances in substations
and for their concise guide of recommended
minimum clearances to ground and between
phases for various voltages.
The minimum electrical clearances to
ground and between phases, given in Table
I, agree well with those obtained in a recent
study by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, anld also with those given
in the Swedish Electrotechnical Standard
SEN-30,1 except that AIEE phase-to-phase
clearances are approximately 5 inches
greater at the 900 and 1,050 BIL levels.
The phase-to-phase clearance obtained
in the Commission study was 84 inches at
the 900-kv BIL, which is 5 inches less than
the committee recommendation of 89 inches.
Would the authors please comment on why
it was necessary to recommend 89 inches
for the phase-to-phase minimum electrical
clearance at the 900-kv BIL level.
The Commission study used a factor of
1.25 times the basic impulse insulation level
for the minimum live part-to-ground clear-

Guide for Electrical Clearances for BIL

639

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ance. This was made up of a 15-per-cent increase in the basic insulation level to convert from a withstand voltage to a flashover
voltage and a 10-per-cent increase for variations in atmospheric conditions. The
phase-to-phase minimum clearance was obtained by using 1.15 times the minimum live
part-to-ground clearance. This phase-tophase clearance was sufficient to ensure
phase-to-ground flashover of insulators
rather than phase-to-phase faults.
The authors have allowed a factor of 12
per cent over the rod-gap flashover voltage
to allow for the fact that switchparts, insulators, etc., have different electric field
patterns than rod gaps. It is difficult to
appreciate this factor as larger electrode
configurations, with the same gap spacing,
means more uniform electric field patterns
and higher flashover voltage than for rod
gaps. Also the effect of gap configuration
on the electric field pattern should become
less as the gap spacing is increased so that at
230 kv this factor should be much less important than at, say, 15 kv. Would the authors care to comment on this point and on
the allowance for the effect of atmospheric
conditions on the minimum electrical clearances.
REFERENCE
1. STANDARD FOR INSULATION OF ELECTRICAL
INSTALLATIONS AND EQUIPMENT FOR SYSTEM VOLTAGES OF MORE THAN 600 VOLTS. Swedish Electrotechnical Standard SEN-30, 1944E.

W. K. Anderson (Commonwealth Edison

Company, Chicago, Ill.): The stated intention of the working group that prepared this
paper was to arrive at a standard of electrical co-ordination for installed electric
structures. One of the main points made
in the report is that clearances shall be so
established that flashovers would always be
from phase to ground rather than from phase
to phase.
A comparison of the "minimum clearance to ground of live parts, in inches" of
Table I, of the paper with the phase-tophase terminal clearance for transformers
of NEMA Standard No. 48 132t shows that
the phase-to-ground clearances proposed in
this paper are, in all but one case, equal to or
greater than the phase-to-phase terminal
clearances for transformers.
Has the committee considered the fact
that the present NEMA transformer terminal standards, if representative of practice,
do not coordinate with the clearances proposed in this paper? Unless apparatus
terminal clearances conform to values given
in this paper, we will have no assurance that
flash-overs will occur phase to ground, instead of phase to phase.
REFERENCE
1. See reference 1 of Mr. Conner's discussion, p.
56 (revised March 1952).

minimum values suggested, particularly in

regard to phase-to-phase spacing.
It is sometimes considered that the forces
of a short circuit will deflect the busses and
thereby reduce the spacing. The committee has not taken this into account, and
it would appear that this effect could be
ignored, because there would be no high
voltage expected concurrent with the short
circuit.

E. A. Williams (I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Greensburg, Pa.): The decision of the
Working Group to base minimum ground
clearances and phase clearances on the characteristics of standard BIL insulators appears to be both logical and practical. The
cost of air is considerably less than the cost
of porcelain and it is therefore reasonable to
provide sufficient air clearance to realize the
flashover voltage of the porcelain. It is also
reasonable to assume that the impulse
voltage between phases will not exceed the
impulse voltage to ground. Therefore, it
can be concluded that the minimum clearance between phases need not exceed the
minimum clearance to ground, plus sufficient margin to force electric breakdown, if
any, to occur from line to ground rather
than from line to line. The minimum clearances proposed by the Working Group meet
these criteria.
The phase spacings of transformers and
circuit breakers now in use do not differ
materially from the proposed minimums.
A comparison of power circuit breaker bushing spacings, NEMA switch and bus spacings, and the proposed minimum spacings is
given in Table IV.
The minimum phase spacings shown in
column 7 are identical with those proposed
by the Working Group except that an allowance for width of live parts, column 8,
has been added to refer the clearances to
center lines for comparison with circuitbreaker and switch practices. The circuitbreaker phase spacings were taken from the
published data of the three largest manufacturers of power breakers. It will be noted
that in general the proposed minimum phase
spacings agree fairly well with the average
circuit-breaker phase spacing.
From this analysis it may be concluded
that the minimum clearances proposed by
the Working Group are substantially cor-

rect, have been proved in field service, and

should be a useful guide in future designs.
John H. Rixse, Jr. (Rural Electrification
Administration, Washington, D. C.): This
paper marks a positive contribution to the
engineering art because it provides a composite of opinions for use by design and operating engineers. It is a practical type of
paper. It would be helpful if there were
more of its kind.

S. C. Killian: It was with considerable satisfaction that we saw these eight discussions
make their appearance since they show a
lively interest in the project and emphasize
the importance of attempting to fix these
clearances at least in a tentative manner.
We wish to thank all the discussers and feel
that so many well-written suggestions and
approaches will help direct thinking on the
question. In several instances, the questions raised by one discusser are answered
by another, though we have attempted to
answer all questions in the following. This
guide is not the last word which will appear
on the subject and it is entirely likely that
after a few years have passed and opinion
has crystallized, the guide will be given to
another working group for revision.
Mr. Elzi and Mr. Grifford make a number of good points. The word "recommended" could perhaps be omitted in order
to make the guide less mandatory although
the committee has gone out of its way to
point out repeatedly in the paper that the
values shown cannot be taken as "standards." The committee wonders if the question of laboratory variations can be justifiably introduced here. As rod-gap values
go up and down from laboratory to laboratory, will not values to ground over insulation and values of air gaps between line
hardware also go up and down in a somewhat similar manner.? In a project such as
undertaken by the committee, it is a constant temptation to pile safety factor upon
safety factor, but we did not feel this to be a
correct approach.
The bird question is a good one and deserves further thought. On the other hand,
this might be considered as another pyramiding of safety factors, since a surge is unlikely to occur at the moment the bird is

Table IV. Comparison of Phase Spacings

Apparatus
Voltage
Rating,
Kv

Impulse

Withstand

Level,
Kv

Power Cir. Bkr.*

Phase Spacing,
Inches

Min.

Max.

Ave.

NEMAt

Switch and Bus

Phase Spacing,
Inches

Proposed AIEE:
Minimum
Phase Spacing,
Inches

Allowance
for Width
Metal Parts,
Inches

6
.
5
18
7.5 ...9.....
..............
9....
24 ............... 17 .............. 5
15 ....... 110....... 8... 14
....
21 ............... 6
23 ...
30 .........
150 3... 3..7 24.
41
34.5 ...... 200 ....... 27
34.......... 36 ............... 24 .............. 6
. 48
46 ....... 25O....... 30
3935....
7
..............
60 .........
39 ............... 8
69 .........
4 a ...42 43 44.
60 .. 66... 63..
84............... 63 .10
11
a
550..
84
73 .
138
................. 72 .10
650 .......66
72
... 750 ...
161
96
108 .82
.10
84.
96
96
132
.11
230 ...900 ..
.100
96.
116 .............. 11
96
230 ...1050 .
96. 96.
96156.
287 ....... 1050
............................................... 116 .11
.11
.
330 ...1175 . 174 174 174
.124
...

E. Jahn (Sargent and Lundy, Engineers,

Chicago, Ill.): Mr. Killian and his colleagues deserve the compliments of the industry for their well-done effort to provide
it with a well-substantiated guide for minimum electrical clearances for standard
BIL's. It would be interesting to know if
the committee is aware of any switchyards
designed with clearances approaching the

640

...

* From catalogues of the three largest manufacturers of outdoor circuit breakers.

t From NEMA Publication No. 49-144, reference 3 of the paper.
I From the paper. Values shown include the allowances for width of metal parts given in column 8.

Guide for Electrical Clearances for BIL

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JUNE 1 954

sitting on a live member. Spacings are tice depending on local conditions, procebased on abnormal voltage conditions and dure, etc."
not on steady-state conditions.
Mr. Longley's method of computing phase
The first draft of the committee report did spacing has a certain merit and a similar
use insulator characteristics for clearance to plan was studied by the committee and then
ground also but it was thought the form discarded in favor of the one used. Several
finally used was the more logical. The other methods could also be used. It was
point regarding base adapters on higher thought that using the insulators themselves
voltage insulators is pertinent and should provided a more practical approach to the
have been mentioned in the paper.
phase-spacing question than simply a perMr. Conner's discussion is well presented centage over the ground clearance. If Mr.
and deserves every consideration. His Longley wishes to apply a 23.2-per-cent
point on conductors in enclosures is very safety factor, it would seem that the guide
true but in a general sense outdoor substa- should provide phase spacings with wider
tion live parts do not have grounded planes margins, not smaller, since column 5, Table
all about them. It is thought that the addi- I, is equal to or greater than column 4, Table
tional 12 per cent allowed in the paper for I, except in the 95-kv and 1,175-kv BIL
configuration will take care of this factor, classes. It is also difficult to understand
although, as he points out, there might be how the ratio of phase spacings to ground
some configurations which would require clearance in the 7.5-kv class could have a
more than 12 per cent. However, to at- margin as small as only 2 per cent when the
tempt to test every possible set of conditions relationship in inches is 7 to 6.
one might find on a substation would be an
The committee is pleased to learn from
endless task.
the discussion of Mr. Kidd and Mr. Ellis
In the section of the paper on "Ground that the Hydro-Electric Power Commission
Clearance" the committee misled Mr. of Ontario has arrived at values similar to
Conner and possibly could mislead others by those published in this paeper and that the
its choice of words. When we say "to be Swedish values also agree well. The comused only in the installation of equipment in mission study and the values in the paper
the field" we mean that circuit-breaker de- perhaps do not agree at 900-ky BIL for
signers are not to use it but substation de- phase spacing because they used 15 per cent
signers are. We did not mean to imply that more than line-to-ground clearance for this
these dimensions are to be used only by a value, while the paper goes back to the
foreman or superintendent in the field who characteristics of standard insulator stacks
must make a decision because a dimension is for its basic values. Bad atmospheric connot shown on a drawing. We cannot agree ditions may affect the insulation to ground
with Mr. Conner that our clearances are in a more adverse way than that in which
greater than those now in general use. Our the air between phases would be affected.
ground clearances are in good agreement
Mr. Kidd and Mr. Ellis make two interwith those utility standards which we were esting observations in their fifth paragraph,
able to review and our phase spacings are one of which is wrong and the other possibly
very much smaller than those in popular use,. right. Switchparts, insulators, etc., do
It is entirely possible that smaller spacings have different electric field patterns than
than those shown in the guide have had rods and do in many cases have lower flashsatisfying operating records and we at- overs. Even though the electrodes are
tempted to justify this very point with large compared to rod gaps, the fields are
note 2 under Table I which reads, "The very unsymmetrical as they include porcevalues above are recommended minimums lain, odd configurations on electrodes, and
but may be decreased in line with good prac- distorted ground surfaces in their pattern.

The rod gap, on the other hand, while it has

points of high gradient at the rod ends, does
have a symmetrical field and since the rods
extend well over the insulators in the standard test setup, has no distortion factor. In
addition, a regular ground plane is present.
Laboratory tests have repeatedly shown this
difference in flashover to be true. The
second half of their paragraph brings out a
point which can stand additional study. It
is likely that this factor, rod gap versus live
hardware flashover, will decrease in importance as the very high voltages are reached
but sufficient test data are not now at hand
to justify any other factor.
Mr. Anderson's question can be answered
by stating that, in general, ground clearances and phase clearances are less on transformers, breakers, and other factory assembled equipment than on equipment
which is mounted on a steel structure in the
field. A transformer will not flash over
phase to phase because this distance is coordinated with the strength of the transformer bushing and not with the insulator on
a bus support.
In answer to Mr. Jahn's question, we do
not know of any stations which are designed
to these phase-to-phase clearances, but those
which use the other values would be in the
great majority. A conductor moving under
short circuit would have to be considered in
the case of nonrigid busses but the guide
does not deal with this type of conductor.
Mr. William's interesting Table IV shows
that the controversial phase-spacing values
are not too badly out of line with circuitbreaker values, even though much less than
present NEMA phase-to-phase standards.
It is entirely possible that there will be a
gravitation to these values through the
years, as the more daring engineers will begin to reduce present spacings.
Finally, we are pleased that Mr. Rixse
feels our efforts have been well spent and
can only again repeat that the interest shown
at the meeting and in these discussions justifies the very considerable time which has
gone into the preparation of this guide.

High-Speed

trip, and protective relaying. Except for

the last two, it is considered practical to
multiplex one or more of these types of
functions on a single wire line or on a
carrier-current voice channel by means
of audio-tone equipment. All of these
functions have been multiplexed on a
wide-band microwave channel by means
of the audio tones. This wide variety of
applications dictates a numlber of unusual
features, and in working out the design
details, considerable assistance has been
derived from work on carrier-current
equipment designed for use by the electrical utilities for these same functions.

Control by

Audio
D. C. PINKERTON
MEMBER AIEE

THE rapidly growing use of microwave

channels by industry has been accompanied by increased attention to the
need for improvrements in the designs of
audio-tone equipment as employed for
control and telemetering over an audiofrequency channel such as is furnished
by microwave or carrier-current equipment or by a wire line. In the past there
has been some audio-tone equipment designed specifically for these industrial
applications, but in general, it has been

JUNE 1954

Frequency-Skirt

Tones
L. C. WIDMANN

ASSOCIATE MEMBER AIEE

more common to find that equipment designed for teletype and telegraph has been
adapted. This has frequently led to the
use of equipment which is not fully suited
to the job and which often has serious

shortcomings.
The industrial applications to be considered in designing this type of equipment cover a very wide range including
telemetering of several types, supervisory
control, remote control, load control, ringing, dialing, teletype, telegraph, transfer-

Paper 54-86, recommended by the AIEE Carrier

Current Committee and approved by the AIEE
Committee on Technical Operations for presentation at the AIEE Winter General Meeting, New
York, N. Y., January 18-22, 1954. Manuscript
submitted October 19, 1953; made available for
printing December 3, 1953.
D. C. PINEcERToN and L. C. WIDMANN are with the
General Electric Company, Syracuse, N. Y.

Pinkerton, Widmann-High-Speed Control by Audio Tones

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64t