Energy and Power / Transformers

Safety Clearance Recommendations for

Transformer

Clearance Tables
1. Clearance from Outdoor Liquid Insulated Transformers to Buildings
(NEC)
2. Clearance between Two Outdoor Liquid Insulated Transformers (NEC)
3. Dry Type Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES 420.21)
 4. Dry Type Transformer in Outdoor Installation (NES 420.22)
5. Non Flammable Liquid-Insulated Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES
420.21)
6. Oil Insulated Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES 420.25)
7. Transformer Clearance from Building (IEEE Stand.)
8. Transformer Clearance Specifications (Stand. Georgia Power Company)
9. Clearance of Transformer-Cable-Overhead Line (Stand. Georgia Power
Company)

Clearance from Outdoor Liquid Insulated Transformers to Buildings (NEC)

Liquid Liquid Fire Non- Combustible Vertical

Volume Resistant Combustible Wall Distance
(m3) Wall Wall
Less NA 0.9 Meter 0.9 Meter 0.9 Meter 0.9
Flammable Meter
<38 m3 1.5 Meter 1.5 Meter 7.6 Meter 7.6
Meter
>38 m3 4.6 Meter 4.6 Meter 15.2 Meter 15.2
Meter
Mineral Oil <1.9 m3 1.5 Meter 4.6 Meter 7.6 Meter 7.6
Meter
1.9 m3 to 4.6 Meter 7.6 Meter 15.2 Meter 15.2
19 m3 Meter
> 19 m3 7.6 Meter 15.2 Meter 30.5 Meter 30.5
Meter
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Clearance between Two Outdoor Liquid Insulated Transformers (NEC)

Liquid Liquid Volume Distance

(m3)
Less NA 0.9 Meter
Flammable <38 m3 1.5 Meter
>38 m3 7.6 Meter
Mineral Oil <1.9 m3 1.5 Meter
1.9 m3 to 19 m3 7.6 Meter
> 19 m3 15.2 Meter
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Dry Type Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES 420.21)

Voltage Distance (min)

Up to 112.5 KVA 300 mm (12 in.) from combustible
material unless separated from
the combustible material by a
heat-insulated barrier.
Above 112.5 KVA Installed in a transformer room of
fire-resistant construction.
Above 112.5 KVA with separated from a fire-resistant
Class 155 Insulation barrier not less than 1.83 m (6 ft)
horizontally and 3.7 m (12 ft)
vertically
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Dry Type Transformer in Outdoor Installation (NES 420.22)

Voltage Distance (min)

Above 112.5 KVA with separated from a fire-resistant
Class 155 Insulation barrier not less than 1.83 m (6 ft)
horizontally and 3.7 m (12 ft)
vertically
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Non Flammable Liquid-Insulated Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES 420.21)

Voltage Distance (min)

Over 35KV Installed indoors Vault (Having liquid
confinement area and a pressure-relief vent
for absorbing any gases generated by arcing
inside the tank, the pressure-relief vent shall
be connected to a chimney or flue that will
carry such gases to an environmentally safe
area
Above 112.5 Installed in a transformer room of fire-
KVA resistant construction.
Above 112.5 separated from a fire-resistant barrier not less
KVA (Class 155 than 1.83 m (6 ft) horizontally and 3.7 m (12
Insulation) ft) vertically
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Oil Insulated Transformer in Indoor Installation (NES 420.25)

Voltage Distance (min)

Up to 112.5 Installed indoors Vault (With construction of
KVA reinforced concrete that is not less than 100
mm (4 in.) thick.
Up to 10 KVA Vault shall not be required if suitable
& Up to 600V arrangements are made to prevent a
transformer oil fire from igniting
Up to 75 KVA Vault shall not be required if where the
& Up to 600V surrounding Structure is classified as fire-
resistant construction.
Furnace Installed without a vault in a building or room of
transformers fire resistant construction
(Up to 75
kVA)
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Transformer Clearance from Building (IEEE Stand)

Transformer Distance from

Building (min)
Up to 75 KVA 3.0 Meter
75 KVA to 333 6.0 Meter
KVA
More than 333 9.0 Meter
KVA
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Transformer Clearance Specifications (Stand: Georgia Power Company)
 Description of Clearance Distance (min)
Clearance in front of the transformer 3.0 Meter
Between Two pad mounted transformers 2.1 Meter
(including Cooling fin)
Between Transformer and Trees, shrubs, 3.0 Meter
vegetation( for unrestricted natural
cooling )
The edge of the concrete transformer 4.2 Meter
pad to nearest the building
The edge of the concrete transformer 3.0 Meter
pad to nearest building wall, windows,
or other openings
Clearance from the transformer to edge 3.0 Meter
of (or Canopy) building (3 or less
stories)
Clearance in front of the transformer 3.0 Meter
doors and on the left side of the
transformer, looking at it from the front
(For operation of protective and
switching devices on the unit)
Gas service meter relief vents. 0.9 Meter
Fire sprinkler values, standpipes and fire 1.8 Meter
hydrants
The water’s edge of a swimming pool or 4.5 Meter
any body of water.
Facilities used to dispense hazardous 6.0 Meter
liquids or gases
Facilities used to store hazardous liquids 3.0 Meter
or gases
Clear vehicle passageway at all times, 3.6 Meter
immediately adjacent of Transformer
Fire safety clearances can be reduced
by building a suitable masonry fire
barrier wall (2.7 Meter wide and 4.5
Meter Tall) 0.9 Meter from the back or
side of the Pad Mounted Transformer to
the side of the combustible wall
Front of the transformer must face away
from the building.
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Clearance of Transformer-Cable-Overhead Line (Stand: Georgia Power Company)

Description of Horizontal Distance (mm)

Clearance to pad- to to
mounted buried overhead
transformers HV HV Line
cable
Fuel tanks 7.5 Meter 1.5 7.5 Meter
Meter
Granaries 6.0 Meter 0.6 15 Meter
Meter
Homes 6.0 Meter 0.6 15 Meter
Meter
Barns, sheds, 6.0 Meter 0.6 15 Meter
garages Meter
Water wells 1.5 Meter 1.5 15 Meter
Meter
Antennas 3.0 Meter 0.6 Height of
Meter Antenna
+ 3.0
Meter
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About Author
Jignesh Parmar

Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control) ,B.E

(Electrical). He is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE),India. Membership
No:M-1473586.He has more than 13 years experience in Transmission
-Distribution-Electrical Energy theft detection-Electrical Maintenance-Electrical
Projects (Planning-Designing-Technical Review-coordination -Execution). He
is Presently associate with one of the leading business group as a Deputy
Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He has published numbers of Technical
Articles in "Electrical Mirror", "Electrical India", "Lighting India", "Industrial
Electrix"(Australian Power Publications) Magazines. He is Freelancer
Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel base Electrical
Programs as per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger and
Familiar with English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share
his experience & Knowledge and help technical enthusiasts to find suitable
solutions and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.