Temporary Electrical Installations

Temporary Electrical installations are required to be

designed and erected to be in use for a short period of
time for various purposes like green field project,
construction site,
exhibitions, public functions etc.

These are connected to supply source in open ground

which are not protected from environmental hazards as
compared to permanent structures.

In such installations, major risk of Fire due to short circuit

and shock due to exposure to live wires is involved.
Classification on the basis of duration of
installation
1. Temporary installations for duration not exceeding 6
months. Outdoor installations open to sky or partially
covered, Erected in the vicinity of construction site for
lighting and motive load

2. Temporary installations for duration not exceeding 45

days. Includes fairly large loads such as for
exhibitions, Fairs etc.

3. Temporary installations for duration not exceeding 7

days for week long Public function or for Festivals or
any other reason.

4. Temporary installations for duration not exceeding 24

hours for purposes of marriages, reception, religious /
public function, celebraions etc.
 General requirements for Temporary Electrical
installation

1. Substation

2. Power distribution

3. Control of circuits

4. Sub circuits

5. Earthing

6. Protection and Safety

1. Substation
• Where the load requirement is large and Power
supply authority does not have net work in the
vicinity of temporary installation, then it would be
necessary to establish a temporary Sub station where
the switch and transformer can be installed.

• Sub station site should be as close to load centre as

possible

• If overhead line is laid, then the supporting poles,

conductors, materials of the line, insulation and the
method of stringing the conductors and the
mechanical strength of the line should conform to the
relevant provisions of IS : 5613 (Part 1/sec1) -1970
& IS: 5613(Part1/ sec2) – 1971
• For the supply voltage above 650 V, Enclosure to
install the switch gear and the metering arrangements
shall be erected.

• The sub station surrounding area should be kept clean

of grass, weeds and any combustible/ flammable
material.

• Only authorized person should carry out any work in

substation.
2. Power Distribution

 A unit containing the main control gear and principal

protective device should be provided at the Origin of
each installation

 Main switch should be installed in an enclosure as

near to metering point as possible

 The enclosure should be such that the equipment

inside should not be affected by environmental
conditions

 Emergency switch should be provided on the supply

line
 The connection from the main switch to point of
supply should be through armored cable and
termination should be protected from rain water

 For Emergency access, the main switch should be

located at a height not exceeding 1.5 mts.

 The cable should be laid either underground or

overhead

 If the cable is laid underground, the same safety

precautions should be taken as required for
permanent power connection
 If the cable passes below a passage, it should
be laid through whole or split pipes to protect
the cable from movements on the passage /
road

 In case of overhead cable laying, the cable

should be supported on rigid poles or fixed to
the wall using cleat and saddle arrangement of
proper size.

 The height of the cable should be more than 2

mts when run inside the compound and 5 mts
when laid along the road
 A separate earthing should be established
inside the installation premises

 While selecting the equipment and cables, the

rating should be decided on the basis of load
and environmental conditions

 The incoming supply point should be placed at

one end of the site so that it is not accessible
to general public
3. Control of circuits

 Everysupply and distribution units should have

a device on the incoming cable for switching
and isolating

 Themain switch should be protected from

water ingress.

 The incoming and outgoing cables of main

switch should be supported firmly
 The main switch should be installed on a firm
and vertical surface to withstand mechanical
vibrations

 Theventilation in main switch room should be

adequate

 Only
authorized persons shall enter main switch
room.
4. Sub circuit

 Theoutgoing end of the main switch should be

connected to Bus bar of required size

 Varioussub circuits should be connected to the

Bus bar through double or triple pole switches

 Theswitches should be rigidly supported at a

height of 1 to 2 mts from the floor
 There
should be minimum clear distance of 60
mm between the switches

 Theout going wires from the sub circuits

should be properly cleated. Any wire above 2
mts. in length should have guide wire support.
5.Earthing
• There should be provision of double earthing for all
appliances and equipment in temporary installation

• If armored cables are used, the armoring should be

connected to earthing of power supply authority

• An independent earth continuity wire should be used

for local earthing.

• The earth electrode should be buried near supply

intake point for local earthing
Contd…
• The earth continuity wire should be single core
insulated wire.

• It should be connected to local earth plate and taken

along the cable connecting supply intake point and
main switch

• The sub distribution boards should be connected to

earth continuity wire and in turn terminated to a
common bus.
6. Protection & Safety
• Protection against overload, short circuits and earth
leakage should be provided through protective
devices.

• Circuit protection devices are designed to

automatically limit or shut off the flow of electricity
in the event of over load, ground-fault or short
circuit conditions.

• Fuses, circuit breakers, and ground-fault circuit

interrupters are three known examples of such
devices
 Never remove a grounding device from any electrical
source, tool, or equipment.

 Never remove the ground prong from an electrical

cord or device of any kind.

 Never by-pass grounding or circuit breaker protection

at any time.

 If you find any of the above have occurred, repair and

/ or report immediately.
• Fuses and circuit-breakers are over-current devices
that are placed in circuits to monitor the amount of
current that the circuit will carry.

• They automatically open or break the circuit when the

amount of current flow becomes excessive.

• Fuses are designed to melt when more current than

the rated value flows through them.

• Circuit breakers, on the other hand, are designed to

trip / open the circuit by electro-mechanical means.
 Fuses and circuit breakers are intended
primarily for the protection of conductors and
equipment.

 They prevent over-heating of wires and

components that might otherwise create
hazards for operators.

 They also open the circuit under certain

ground-fault conditions.
• The ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is
designed to shutoff electric power within as little
as 1/40 of a second.

• It works by comparing the amount of current

going to electric equipment against the return
current from the equipment through return path.

• If the current difference exceeds 6 milli amperes

the GFCI interrupts the current quickly enough to
prevent electrocution.

• The GFCI is used in high-risk areas such as wet

locations and construction sites.
• It should be ensured that there is no risk of electric
shock or fire due to temporary installation

 The flammable material should not be stored near

electrical equipments

 The power supply panel should be readily accessible

to allow power shutdown

 Proper protective equipment should be worn and

used.
 Suitable Fire extinguishers should be kept at
supply intake point and near the main switch

 ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) of

proper Rating should be used to prevent
Electrical shock hazard

 No Cable should remain immersed in water

 Regular Testing of Electrical Equipment should
be carried out to detect defects

 Work Permit System should be introduced and

followed strictly

 Do not allow people to work on live lines or live

Feeders
Causes of Electrical Accidents

1. Unprotected temporary Electric Power

Connection

2. Open Distribution Boards/Switch Boards

3. Switches, Fuses and Cutouts of improper

rating.

4. Badly insulated Cables laid on the Ground

Contd…

5. Damaged Cables Lying in water

6. Damage to underground cables while digging

or excavating

7. No proper Earthing to Electrical Equipment

8. Overloading the Feeders

Contd….

9. Instead of using three pin plugs, jamming of

of cables in the sockets by make shift
arrangements such as matchsticks

10. Working on Live Lines or on Live Feeders

11. Use of Improper Tools

12. No Usage of Personal Protective Equipment

Contd….
13. Unqualified/ Unauthorised person working on
Electrical Equipment

14. Short Circuits

15. Improper Welding Machine connection and

improper Welding cable

16. Flouting of all Electrical Safety Rules

Prevention of Electrical Accidents

1. Electrical System in the plant should be

properly designed and regularly inspected by
competent Engineer
2. Low Voltage System should be used where
ever possible
3. The Electrical cables should be laid properly
and should be hung overhead preferably
4. Proper Junction Boxes and Distribution Boards
should be provided at every floor
6. Switches, Fuses and Cutouts should be of
proper Rating
7. Three Pin Plug Socket should be used with
proper Earth connection
8. Loose wires should not be pushed into sockets
with matchsticks
9. Ordinary PVC Cables should not be used in
the construction site instead use armoured
cables
10. Do not overload the Feeders
11. Double Earthing should be provided to all
Electrical Equipment
12. Do not allow people to work on live lines or
live Feeders
13. Ensure that Proper tools and Personal
Protective Equipment are provided and they
are used
14. Regular Testing of Electrical Equipment
should be carried out to detect defects
15. Welding Machine connection should be done
properly using lugs
16. Inspect cables and wiring regularly to prevent
short circuits