The height of the electric pole from the ground: how to install it correctly on your site

If you find yourself in a situation where the issue of electrifying your suburban area is being decided, then you are probably faced with the question of how tall the electric pole should be. Many people don’t know whether they have to install it themselves, or whether it’s the work of electrical networks, and what material is best to install the pole from.

The topic is quite rare and practically not covered on the Internet. Apart from specialized sites and SNiP, which not everyone can navigate.

Choosing an electric pole

The choice of material from which the support will be made is limited to three options: wood, reinforced concrete and metal.

Concrete pillar

Reinforced concrete supports are manufactured in industrial conditions, subject to technological parameters. High-quality poles will last a long time because they cannot be affected by aggressive components emitted into the atmosphere by industrial enterprises.

But a reinforced concrete electric pole has a significant drawback - its weight. It is very heavy, which makes it extremely difficult to install it yourself.

Metal supports

As a rule, they are used in the construction of high-voltage power lines. They consist of steel structures, are quite heavy and expensive.

Wooden electric pole

The name of the pole itself suggests that such electrical supports are made from a tree trunk. Such supports have a number of undeniable advantages over the two described above.

• Firstly, the cost of a wooden pole is much lower than a concrete one or one made of metal structures.
• Secondly, the weight of a wooden pole is much less, and lifting equipment is not required to install it.
• It is quite possible to make a wooden electric pole with your own hands.
• A properly prepared pillar treated with antiseptic and anti-flammable compounds can last no less than a concrete one. Namely, up to 40 years old.

Requirements for a wooden electric pole

To be used as a support, the pole must meet the following requirements:

1. Wood - debarked coniferous tree trunks or oak. This treatment of the trunk allows you to preserve a layer of resin, which protects the tree from the influence of precipitation.
2. The upper diameter of the trunk must be at least 12 cm for a voltage of 1.0 kilovolts, and 16 cm for 1.0-3.5 kilovolts.

Wood

Wooden poles used to be installed everywhere; today they are used mainly in private construction. Designs can be:

• Solid wood. Before installation, the log is impregnated with antiseptics and fire-fighting compounds. Wooden support can be used on dry soils in non-wetlands.
• A wooden pole with a reinforced concrete base is the best choice for supporting a power line. The concrete beam to which the support is attached is buried in the ground, the tree does not come into contact with the unfavorable environment at all.

The advantages of wooden supports are their low cost. You can install an electric pole in your dacha yourself without the use of special equipment.

The distance at which power lines are installed to the fence

In the matter of building a house and equipping its territory, many issues are important. This includes the distance from the power line to the fence, which everyone who has started building a fence for their private plot should know about. The safety of those who come to the territory on vacation or permanently reside on the territory depends on the correct calculation of the distance from power lines to the fence of a private house.

Diagram with dimensions of the location of the fence from the power line

Important points

A person uses electricity all the time, be it at home, in the country or in the office. But few people delve into the fact that power lines not only supply a useful resource, but can also be harmful due to magnetic fields, and in case of failures they become unsafe for humans. It is imperative to adhere to the established rules, which indicate the required distance from the support to the fence of a residential private house for the following reasons:

1. To preserve the health of building occupants.
2. In order not to suffer from the effects of airborne electromagnetic fields that have a detrimental effect on the human brain.
3. In the security zone of power lines, where the voltage level is especially dangerous for humans, the issue of locating residential buildings is especially acute. If the level of danger is off the charts, the area is fenced off with an industrial fence and a ban on construction in this area is put in place.

Power line protection zone diagram

Therefore, SNiP establishes distances from power lines to the fence of a house not just so that people do not receive fines for violations, but for the safety of the population of cities and villages.

The sanitary standards related to power lines clearly and in detail describe at what distance from power lines fences can be installed. This distance depends on the voltage level in the wires. In places of special tension, which are specially equipped, there are sanitary zones, near which it is prohibited to place fences and build residential buildings.

Safe distance from power lines

A requirement is established for the distance from the fence at the dacha to the place where the power line support is located, based on the voltage class.

Some owners of private plots turn to city or rural self-government bodies in order to obtain information about the voltage class in power lines located near their summer cottage.

Of course, not knowing how to determine the voltage level in the wires, it is better to do just that, so as not to unwittingly become a violator of SNiP requirements and endanger the residents of a private plot.

However, there is a method by which you can independently determine the voltage level in power poles.

Diagram of voltages in power lines of various types

If the voltage is very small, then it can be determined by counting the insulators.

How to increase your security level

Even having fully complied with all the norms and requirements regarding the distance of the fence from the poles through which electricity passes, houses built near power lines are still at risk in unforeseen situations and must protect their private sectors. This can be done in the following ways:

• Select a roof with grounding for the construction of the house,
• Install reinforcing mesh inside the wall structure. This solution will help reduce the risk of penetration of harmful electromagnetic waves into the living space,
• To increase the level of safety for home residents, fruit trees should be planted at a horizontal distance of at least 2 meters from power lines.

Minimum permissible distances from trees to power lines

Recommendations

The requirements in SNiP are prescribed primarily for the safety of people, and not to fulfill the wishes of self-government bodies. Therefore, you should not neglect safety rules, especially when it comes to electrical voltage.

It is worth paying maximum attention to calculations at what distance it is safe to install a fence from power lines. Only a properly installed fence will provide comfort and limit the residents of a private plot from troubles and danger.

Why do you replace the cable?

Many people living in private homes do not know why exactly they need to replace the cable that supplies their home with energy. Electricity is supplied to private homes using main lines.

Cables attached to support insulators pass through special poles. Moreover, many of these lines are quite old and can be subject to severe overloads.

This causes conductors to fail and can sometimes cause fires and short circuits on lines.

Sometimes bad weather conditions can affect the lines, breaking the cable or causing a short circuit. At the same time, the companies servicing the lines do not immediately send specialists to accident sites.

Moreover, the work, even after the arrival of the experts, may be of poor quality. This causes the line to break again in strong winds and rain.

The mystical meaning of the “devil’s gate”

Another undeniable advantage of reinforced concrete power line racks over wooden and iron racks is their high corrosion resistance when operating in fairly harsh environmental conditions.

Structurally, all electrical insulators differ in the methods of attachment to the supporting structure and cable fastening. The main task of this product is to prevent electrical discharges; for this purpose, they are made in the form of plates or rods with ribs. These ribs are needed so that the discharge develops at an angle to the field lines.

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By design, there are three main types of overhead line insulators:

• pin;
• suspended linear;
• support and passage.

When choosing lighting masts of a mobile or non-mobile type, it is necessary to take into account the financial and economic part, labor costs for transportation, delivery, installation and the aesthetic component.

According to the requirements of the PUE, the structure must contain only fire-resistant elements that can withstand exposure to an open flame for fifteen minutes. What then about the commonly found wooden poles? It’s simple; before installation, the wood is impregnated with a special compound to make it fire-resistant.

The installation of additional electric poles may be necessary in the private sector, especially if the wooden poles have become unusable. You've probably noticed rotting and rickety wood poles from which power lines run? Previously, only these were installed, but after the expiration of their service life, old samples should be replaced with new ones. It can be wooden, metal reinforced concrete or mixed: a wooden support on a concrete base.

Glass ones, although they are afraid of shocks, but to control their integrity a visual inspection is sufficient, which can be carried out without turning off the voltage. Currently, they are replacing ceramics in overhead power lines and as suspension insulators, including because they weigh less and are also cheaper to produce.

What associations arise when mentioning overhead power lines? Of course, the wires are stretched through the air from support to support or from pillar to post. Moreover, visually, the greater the span between the supports, the higher the wires are stretched, therefore, the higher the support itself should be. In fact, there is no direct relationship between the height of the support and the length of the span.

Pine and spruce are most often used as raw materials for the production of wooden poles. They are least susceptible to rot and insects, unlike other types of wood.

Instructions for installing electricity poles

Before starting the installation process, it is necessary to study the terrain features, which can significantly affect the quality and service life of electricity poles

So, pay attention to the factors:

• natural landscape - where the installation is taking place, for example, in a lowland;
• maximum wind load;
• optimal step between supports.

Installation procedure

Installation of a power line support is a complex and responsible procedure consisting of several stages. In order to properly install an electricity pole on a site, you must:

• draw up a plan for landscaping the area adjacent to the dacha, and mark on it the place where the supporting structure will be located;
• coordinate the resulting scheme with neighbors in the area and supervisory authorities;
• remove turf and tree roots at the point where the supporting structure is installed;
• drill a well in the soil, the depth of which should be 50 cm greater than the freezing level of the soil (for this you can use either special equipment or an ordinary garden drill);
• pour a 10-liter bucket of crushed stone into the hole;
• install a pole in the well and secure it in the desired position using supports;
• fix the support in the ground by tying it with a metal mesh or reinforcing bars;
• pour concrete solution into the hole and leave it to harden.

This is interesting: installation of a vulture from a pole to a house.

On days 5-7 after the end of the procedure, it is necessary to remove the supports supporting the pole and make sure that the supporting structure is fixed strictly perpendicular to the surface of the earth. Immediately after this, you can submit an application for installation of power lines to the local energy supply organization.

Regulatory Requirements

Please note: the adopted document canceled the validity of the older PUE. The changes affect, among other things, the chapter “Electricity sewerage” that is relevant to us.

Let's pay attention to the most important points of the document in our case

General requirements for lines with voltage up to 1 kV

• When hanging any unprotected wires on supports, the distance from them to windows or balconies at maximum deviation should not be less than 1.5 meters.
• Above the carriageway, the wires are hung at a height of at least 6 meters, above the impassable part - at least 3.5 m.

The height of the wires above the roadway and pedestrian paths.

• The distance between the wires when spanning up to six meters must be at least 10 cm, when spanning over 6 meters - at least 15 cm.
• Entry into the building is carried out at a height of at least 2.75 m; in this case, an insulating pipe is used for entry, the shape of which prevents water from entering the house.
• The structures on which the conductors are installed are made of fireproof materials and must have a fire resistance rating of at least a quarter of an hour.

Comment: it would seem that this point puts an end to wooden pillars. But... no, a loophole remains: wood impregnated with a protective composition does not support combustion.

• The minimum distance from bare wires to a pipeline for any purpose is 1 meter. If the wire is insulated, the distance is not standardized.
• Insulators must be fireproof. Traditionally, porcelain and glass are used for this purpose.

The photo shows porcelain insulators.

Requirements for overhead lines with voltage up to 1 kV

The supports should not impede passage and passage, or block entrances to courtyards.

Where there is a possibility of being run over by a car, the support is protected from collision with it by a bumper or any other method.

The pole should be marked at a height of 2.5 - 3 meters. It indicates the serial number of the support, the width of the security zone and the telephone number of the line owner.

All metal structures are protected from corrosion. The method of protecting the PUE is not specified; Traditionally, painting is used for this.

The minimum wire cross-section for an overhead line is limited by its mechanical strength and is determined by the material.

It’s curious: for a single-wire steel wire, it’s not the cross-sectional area that is limited, but the diameter. It should not be less than 4 mm.

The branch from the nearest support is carried out only and exclusively with an insulated wire. The maximum branch length is 25 meters.

The input is made with an insulated wire.

To connect the wires, connecting clamps or welding are used. Single-wire wires can be connected by twisting followed by soldering; but you can’t butt weld them. In this case, a wire that differs in material or cross-section of the current-carrying core is connected only with clamps.

The minimum cross-section of the entrance to the house is also limited by the document; and in this case the cross-section is determined by the type of wire:

Supports

What should the actual pillar be like?

For low-voltage lines, reinforced concrete, metal, solid wood and wooden poles with a concrete base can be used. All types of wood, except larch, must be impregnated with an antiseptic; Larch wood itself is extremely resistant to rotting.

Wood is the most affordable material for a pole.

When using a wooden support, its minimum diameter (at the top end) should be:

• For the main power supply line - 14 cm;
• For a branch to a house (in particular, for a pole installed on a site) - 12 cm.

Regarding the deepening of supports, the document is somewhat vague - “depending on local conditions.”

What should be the minimum distance from the pole to surrounding objects and communications?

Power line security zone and the law

Magnetic waves emitted by power poles have a negative impact on people living near high-voltage structures. According to research, serious problems affect all organs. Based on this, experts have established the permissible distance at which residential buildings are allowed to be built.

In the city

If the site that is included in the security zone is owned by a private person, then a burden is imposed on the construction of buildings that provide for a long-term presence of people. Therefore, before you buy a plot to build a house near power lines, you need to inquire about a possible ban. The scope of the zone is determined by the organization of the electrical network.

Established standards for construction near power lines

The rules prohibit the installation of overhead power lines near open and crowded areas (sports grounds, swimming pools), over kindergartens and schools.

It is strictly prohibited to extend wires from poles over residential buildings. The site prepared for the construction of a country house or residential building must be located at a safe distance from power lines.

Sanitary protection zone

The distance between the pillars should be uniform. The height from the ground to the electrical cable should be:

• 3 meters between wires and rocky hill;
• 5 meters from the surface of a swamp or other source of water;
• 6 meters from the ground in a non-residential area;
• 7 meters from the soil surface in a residential area.

The distance to roads that run parallel to power lines should be five times the height of the pole.

To find out what distance from a residential building to a power line will be acceptable, you need to refer to existing standards. The safe distance from electric poles with a voltage of 110 kV will be about 20 meters; at a voltage of 500 kV – 30 meters; at a voltage of 750 kV - 40 meters; at a voltage of 1150 kV - 55 meters.

Power line support

To prevent radiation from high-voltage lines from having a harmful effect on the human body, it is recommended to choose a permanent place of residence at a distance of about one hundred meters.

An overhead cable can be laid underground. This action will increase the permissible distance by a whole meter. The method of underground cable wiring is an expensive proposition. But the result obtained will have a beneficial effect on the safety of living near power lines.

Work on the site, provided for by the technical specifications

It is advisable to trust the implementation of the power supply plan on a site for individual housing construction, as well as the scheme itself, to specialists if you want electrical communications to be as efficient and reliable as possible. But even in this case, it is better for the owner to understand the features of the electrical infrastructure in order to control the work and have confidence that everything is done correctly.

The main element of the system on the site is a pipe stand receiving device with a meter that will take into account electricity consumption. House construction, outbuildings and electrical appliances on the site are powered from it

It is extremely important to wisely select materials for the implementation of the scheme. Electricity is supplied through a cable; the air installation method is predominantly used

In this case, SIP 4 with a cross section of 16 mm3 is most often used. Its insulation is made of polyethylene, which is not destroyed by ultraviolet radiation, and its service life reaches a quarter of a century. Depending on what circuit is implemented on the site (single-phase or three-phase), a cable with either two or four cores is used.

In recent years, underground cable laying has been gaining popularity. In this case, it is better to choose a VVG copper cable with a cross-section of 10 mm3, or an aluminum AVBbShv cable with a cross-section of 16 mm3. If you use armored grades, they can be laid directly under the ground; conventional grades are pulled through a HDPE pipe. Entry into housing construction with underground installation is carried out in the same way as with the air method.

Pipe stand, its functions and installation methods

A pipe stand is a piece of pipe intended for fastening cables; wires are introduced into the area through it. An electrical panel is also installed on it. According to technical standards, the distance from the surface of the earth to the entry of electrical wires into the house must be at least 2.75 meters. Such parameters are necessary in order to avoid accidental contact. If the dimensions of the buildings cannot meet such requirements, a pipe stand is installed.

It is made of steel pipes, the diameter of which should be: when entering 2 wires - 20 mm, when entering 4 wires - 32 mm. No moisture should get into the pipe; therefore, its top should be bent 180 degrees. To avoid corrosion, it is advisable to cover the pipe stand with paint or bitumen. The gander can enter the building either through the roof or through the wall. If there are no buildings on the site yet, the pipe stand can be installed on the ground, subject to the technical conditions applicable in this case.

What components are required in an electrical panel?

Current technical standards require the presence of the following devices in the electrical panel: input packet, meter and RCD. All devices must comply with the parameters of the circuit features.

An RCD is a mandatory component, it is the safety of the house and household members, even if it operates only once during the period of operation, this will prevent serious problems associated with fires and electric shocks. The circuit breaker provides protection against short circuits and line overloads.

Padlock on the counter is a required attribute

Fastening the SIP cable to the pipe stand

To protect the lock mechanisms and allow easy opening, use wd40

A meter is required in the system to record electricity consumption; monthly payments are calculated based on its readings. These metering devices have many modifications, which are classified according to many criteria: principle of operation, accuracy class, connection features, number of measuring elements and other factors. Multi-tariff meters are in high demand because they allow significant savings on electricity bills.

Metering devices with a day/night tariff are equipped with a set of counting mechanisms, each of which operates at a strictly defined time of day. This is how accounting is formed using different algorithms. In the vast majority of cases, the multi-tariff accounting system generates significant savings for the family budget. Without a metering device, the power supply circuit cannot be put into operation.

The meters are reconciled and sealed by employees of the network company during inspection, before the actual connection of electricity. After which, acts on completion of work and connection of a new subscriber are drawn up.

Do not forget to install sockets in the panel in order to connect construction tools during the construction of the house

One of the seals on the shield

Ground wire is required

Estimate for pipe stand and prices for materials

Why is removal from power lines necessary?

The distance from the fence to the power line, required by law, is not just a way to ensure the maintenance and operation of high-voltage lines. The Moscow government plans to transfer such networks to underground ones, because constant exposure to an electromagnetic field is extremely harmful for people living in such conditions.

This is not only a danger of oncological processes, but also the possibility of developing endocrine, immune and nervous pathologies. Even in a village where the number of people per square meter is much smaller. km, the state requires ensuring the health safety of its citizens by establishing sanitary and protective standards.

They regulate not only the security areas in the electromagnetic field zone, but also the distances from the wires to the roadway (at least 6 m from the pedestrian path (starting from 3.5 m) and the height of the branch near the house (starting from 2 m 75 cm)) . Scientific studies have established the influence of e/m fields on reproductive function in men and the possibility of causing miscarriages in women.

If rural or urban areas are taken into account, then the distance standards are still aimed at:

preventing fire in the fence of a residential building or utility room in the event of a probable accident that no one can foresee; take the maximum possible precautions regarding the health of people living in an area located in close proximity to power lines (no matter what kind of area it is, even if it is a country house where people do not live permanently); to prevent possible consequences from weather conditions that caused a fall, destruction of the structure or release of accumulated charge into the atmosphere.

In order to increase their security, many owners build a roof with grounding, lay reinforcement structures in the walls and specially plant fruit trees at a safe distance.

However, all this is not enough if the power line is located at an insufficient distance from various buildings. And the necessary standards can be easily determined by the appearance of the structures or by making inquiries with the relevant authorities. But in any case, the minimum distance is at least 10 m.

Organizations

Electrical networks are maintained by two organizations . The first ensures energy production and supplies current to the power grid, “generation”.

The second organizations (“Energosbyt”) ensure the delivery of current to consumers (after connecting to the power grid), distribution of energy, maintenance of power lines and collection of money for the electricity used by the consumer.

In Russian realities, rarely anyone encounters generation - only those who have their own generation on site (for example, solar panels or wind turbines), they become “generation”, and their relationship with energy sales is special.

For example, Mosenergosbyt is one of the largest energy sales companies in the Russian Federation.

How to install correctly

After you decide on the choice of material, you need to calculate at what distance the poles will be from each other, and how many of them you will need in general to provide electricity to the entire area.

For this, there are standards established by electrical engineers. This takes into account the length of the pole and what wire will be used.

From the calculations you can find out how many meters there should be between the pillars. After which, you can begin drilling wells for further installation of pillars in them.

Also, if you need to deviate from the course of the line and, for example, “power” a barn, it is not necessary to install all the same pillars on the way to it. There are small intermediate racks for these purposes. They do not require a support post due to their small size. They can also be used for street lighting in a summer cottage.

Please note: you should not connect the site to the main line yourself, even if you know how to handle electricity! If you connect on your own, you will definitely be fined! Therefore, it is better to obey the demands of the authorities. And then your home will be light and cozy

How to place a support under power lines manually, see the following video:

If you have purchased a country house or are about to start building it, then sooner or later you will be faced with the question of connecting to the electrical network. Often, in connection with this, there is a need to install a power line support near the site. In general, the installation of poles should be carried out by government organizations and this work should be done for free, but in practice everything is not so smooth, and you will have to wait several years. Special organizations can solve this problem for some money.

When hiring specialists, there is no need to delve into the intricacies of the work, but you still need to know certain information. Electricity poles come in three types:

• wooden supports are the cheapest, but not particularly durable;
• reinforced concrete pillars are the most common in use;
• iron power line supports are the most expensive.

Which pole to choose depends on the climatic conditions and the power of the energy consumer.

The approximate cost of installing electricity poles is as follows:

1. installation of one pole - 30-35 thousand rubles;
2. five pillars - 100 - 120 thousand rubles;
3. ten supports – 170 thousand and above.

Let's figure out how these amounts are obtained. Firstly, the cost of installation also includes the price of the pole itself, and secondly, all installation features are taken into account.

Methods for installing wiring to an object

1. Connection using bare aluminum wire.
2. Using copper or aluminum cable.
3. Use self-supporting insulated wire (SIP). This modern material has undoubted advantages over those presented above. It is reliable and safe.

You have become familiar with the rules and technology for installing a wooden electricity pole. It is still better to entrust the installation of the line itself, the entry into the house or cottage, to a specialist.

Have you installed electric poles on your property?