IE Rules
IE Rules
Earthed or connected with earth means connected with the general mass
of earth in such a manner as to ensure at all times an immediate discharge of
energy without danger.
2 (r)
Earthing system means an electrical system in which all the conductors are
earthed.
2 (aa) Lightning arrestor means a device, which has the property of diverting to
earth any electrical surge of excessively high amplitude applied to its
terminals and is capable of interrupting follow current if present and
restoring itself thereafter to its original operating conditions.
2 (ad) Neutral conductor means that conductor of a multi-wire system, the
voltage of which is normally intermediate between the voltages of the other
conductors of the system and shall also include return wire of the singlephase system.
2 (av) Low voltage
Medium voltage
High voltage
Extra high voltage
29 [1] All electric supply lines and apparatus shall be of sufficient ratings for
power, insulation and estimated fault current and of sufficient mechanical
strength, for the duty which they may be required to perform under the
environmental conditions of installation, and shall be constructed, installed,
protected, worked and maintained in such a manner as to ensure safety of
human beings, animals and property.
29 [2] .. the relevant code of practice of the BIS including NEC, if any, may be
followed to carry out the purposes of this rule and in the event of any
inconsistency, the provision of these rules shall prevail.
29 [3] The material and apparatus used shall conform to the relevant specifications
of BIS, where such specifications have already been laid down.
32
where the earthed or the earthed neutral conductor is the property of the
supplier, at or near the point of commencement of supply
(b)
(c)
(2) No cutout, link or switch other than a linked switch arranged to operate
simultaneously on the earthed or earthed neutral conductor and live
conductors shall be inserted or remain inserted in any earthed or earthed
neutral conductor of a two-wire system or in any earthed or earthed neutral
conductor of a multi-wire system or in any conductor connected thereto with
the following exceptions:
(a)
(b)
(3) The supplier may recover from the consumer the cost of installation on the
basis of schedule of charges notified in advance and where such schedule of
charges is not notified, the procedure prescribed in sub-rule (5) of Rule 82 will
apply.
37 Supply to vehicles or cranes, etc. Every person owning a vehicle, traveling
crane or the like to which energy is supplied from an external source and,
where such vehicle or traveling crane or the like runs on metal rails, the owner
shall ensure that the rails are electrically continuous and earthed.
38 Cables for portable or transportable apparatus
(2) Where the protection is by means of metallic covering, the covering shall be in
metallic connection with the frame of any such apparatus and earth.
(3) The cable shall be three-core type and four-core type for portable and
transportable apparatus working on single phase and three phase supply
respectively and the wire meant to be used for ground connection shall be
easily identifiable.
48 Precautions against leakage before connection
(1) The supplier shall not connect with his works the installation or apparatus on
the premises of any applicant for supply unless he is reasonably satisfied that
the connection will not at the time of making the connection cause a leakage
from that installation or apparatus of a magnitude detrimental to safety.
Compliance with this rule shall be checked by measuring the insulation
resistance as provided below:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(2) If the supplier declines to make a connection under the provision of sub-rule
(1), he shall serve upon the applicant a notice in writing stating his reason for
so declining.
(b)
60 Test for resistance of insulation: (1) Where any electric supply line for use at
low or medium voltage has been disconnected from a system for the purpose of
addition, alteration or repair, such electric supply line shall not be reconnected
to the system until the supplier or the owner has applied the test prescribed
under rule 48.
(2) The provision of sub-rule (1) shall not apply to overhead lines except,
overhead insulated cables unless the Inspector otherwise directs in any
particular case.
61 Connection with earth: (1) the following provisions shall apply to the
connection with earth of systems at low voltage in cases where the voltage
normally exceeds 125 Volts and of systems at medium voltage: -
[(a)
(b)
The connection with earth may include a link by means of which the
connection may be temporarily interrupted for the purpose of testing
of for locating a fault.
(d)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(e)
(f)
No person shall make connection with earth by the aid of, nor shall he
keep it in contact with, any water main not belonging to him, except
with the consent of the owner thereof and of the Inspector.
(g)
(2)
[(3)
[(4)
All earthing systems shall: (a) consist of equipotential bonding conductors capable of
carrying the prospective earth fault current and a group of
pipe/rod/plate electrodes for dissipating the current to the
general mass of earth without exceeding the allowable
temperature limits as per relevant Indian Standards in order
to maintain all non-current carrying metal works reasonably
[61A
(b)
(5)
(6)
A record of every earth test made and the result thereof shall be kept
by the supplier for a period of not less than two years after the day of
testing and shall be available to the Inspector or any other officer
appointed to assist the Inspector and authorized under sub-rule (2) of
Rule 4A when required.
Earth leakage protective device The supply of energy to every
electrical installation other than low voltage installation below 5kW
and those low-voltage installations which do not attract the provisions
of section 30 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910, shall be controlled by
an earth leakage protective device so as to disconnect the supply
instantly on the occurrence of earth fault or leakage of current:
Provided that the above shall not apply to overhead supply lines
having protective devices which are effectively bonded to the neutral
of supply transformers and confirming to rule 91 of I.E. Rules, 1956.]
62
64
Notes:
(1)
The above values are valid for altitude not exceeding 1000 Metres (m).
A correction factor of 1.25 per cent per 100metre is to be applied for
increasing the clearance for altitudes more than 1000m. and up to
3000m.
(2)
(3)
(4)
The highest system voltage is defined as the highest rms phase-tophase voltage, which occurs under normal operating conditions at any
time and at any point of the system. It excludes voltage transients
(such as those due to system switching) and temporary voltage
variations due to abnormal system conditions (such as those due to
fault conditions or the sudden disconnect ion of large loads).]
[(3)
64A Additional provisions for use of energy at high and extra-high voltage: The
following additional provisions shall be observed where energy at high or
extra-high voltage is supplied, converted, transferred or used:
(1) Interlocks: Suitable interlocks shall be provided in the following cases:
66
(b)
(e)
All gates and doors, which give access to live parts of an installation
shall be interlocked in such a way that these cannot be opened unless
the live parts are made dead. Proper discharging and earthing of
these parts should be ensured before any person comes in close
proximity of such parts.
(f)
(2)
(b)
Metal sheathed electric supply lines Precautions against excess leakage: (1)
(a)
67
(b)
Connection with earth: - [(1) All non-current carrying metal parts associated
with HV/EHV installation shall be effectively earthed to a grounding system
or mat which will (a)
(b)
(c)
(1A)
In the case of star-connected system with earthed neutral or deltaconnected system with earthed artificial neutral point
(a)
(b)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(a)
Where the earthing lead and earth connection are used only in
connection with earthing guards erected under high or extra-high
voltage overhead lines where they cross a telecommunication line or a
railway line, and where such lines are equipped with earth leakage
relays of a type and setting approved by the Inspector, the resistance
shall not exceed 25 .
(b)
Every earthing system belonging either to the supplier or to the
consumer shall be tested for its resistance to earthy on a dry day
during dry season, not less than once a year. Records of such tests
shall be maintained and shall be produced, if required, before the
Inspector or any other officer appointed to assist him and authorized
under sub-rule (2) of rule 4A.
(6)
68
(2)
69
Pole type substations: - Where platform type construction is used for a pole
type sub-station and sufficient space for a person to stand on the platform is
provided, a substantial hand-rail shall be built around the said platform and
if the hand-rail is of metal, it shall be connected with earth.
Provided that in case of pole type sub-station on wooden supports and
wooden platform, handrail shall not be connected with earth.
71
(e)
[(ee)
72
73
88
90
94 to 108
Electric Traction
109 to 132
HV Generators:
1. Neutral of the generator may be earthed through earthing transformer or
NGR. If NGR is used, it shall be rated for 30s.
2. If resistance or transformer earthing is adopted for neutral, cables shall be
rated for voltage same as that of unearthed system.
3. Protection shall include: Earth fault relay, Standby earth fault relay using
CT in neutral earthing conductor, REF Relay & Rotor earth fault relay.
Earthing Standards:
1. Minimum fault level at 11kV side shall be assumed 150MVA for all earthing
design.
2. Number of earth electrodes required shall be calculated for fault current at
11kV side.
3. Duration of fault current shall be taken as 3 sec. for earthing design at HT
installations.
4. Maximum earth resistance at HT premises shall be limited to 1.0 Ohm.
5. Earth mat shall be provided for EHT premises for limiting step voltage and
touch voltage to tolerable values. Conductor size and mesh size may be
designed for fault duration of 1.0 second and 0.5 second respectively.
6. All earth electrodes shall be interconnected using the conductors of largest
size in the earthing system.
7. All non-current carrying metal parts of equipment s shall be double earthed
using conductors of adequate size.
8. Transformer and generator neutral shall be double earthed. One
independent earth electrode shall be provided for neutral earthing. Links
shall also be provided in neutral earthing conductor. Generator neutral shall
be earthed at control panel.
9. Lightning Arrestor shall be connected to a separate earth electrode using No.
6 SWG Cu. The L.A Earth electrode may be interconnected with other earth
electrodes.
10. If fault current exceeds 6kA, plate earth electrodes shall be used.
11. If soil resistivity is < 60 ohm-m, only copper shall be used as earthing
conductor.
12. Distance between plate earth electrodes shall be 8m minimum.
13. Distance between pipe earth electrodes shall be 5m minimum.
14. Minimum distance between earth electrode and adjacent civil structure shall
be 1.5m.
15. In location of SBs, DBs, etc., sub earth buses of 25 x 3 mm2 Copper may be
provided.
16. All joints in earthing connections shall be properly tinned.
17. Following guidelines shall be adhered to, when GI earthing is adopted:
a) GI strips used for earthing shall be minimum 6mm thick and hot dip
galvanized.
b) If round GI conductors are used, it shall have double the calculated
area of cross section.
c) The minimum cross sectional area of the GI shall be 50 mm2
d) Where a copper conductor is to be joined to GI, the joints should be
tinned to prevent electrolytic action.
e) If atmosphere is corrosive, GI conductors shall not be used for
earthing.
f) Joints shall be invariably done by means of welding except in such
locations where intermittent disconnection of joints is necessitated for
testing purpose, or for the earthing connection to the body of the
equipment s, etc.
g) Barium chromate or Zinc Dichromate treatment should be done at
the welds. Joints should be provided with coating alternative layers of
red oxide and aluminium. Joints are to be covered with hot bitumen.
Also, jute band covering of adequate thickness is to be made on the
portion of the earthing susceptible to higher corrosion and
environmental influence.
h) The area of strip electrode thus covered with bitumen and jute should
not be reckoned for the calculation of area of dissipation for the fault
current.
i) In places where the resistivity is very high and atmospheric corrosion
is not significant, even ordinary steel conductors shall be permitted.
j) Earthing system with GI conductors should be subjected to a through
physical examination after a period of 10 years and modifications
made if found necessary on such examination.
k) Joints using GI conductors should be welded as far as possible and
kept separated from air by a thick coating of tar or similar non-
(b)
(b)
Alternately, one core of the 4-core cable to the generator from the
offshore equipment shall be treated as earthing conductor.
HP
0.75
1.5
2.25
3.75
5.5
7.5
9.3
11.2
15
18.7
22.5
26
30
37.5
45
55
59
67.5
75
90
110
131
150
185
1
2
3
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
20
25
30
35
40
50
60
75
80
90
100
125
150
175
200
250
mm
3.251
3.251
3.251
3.251
3.251
3.251
3.251
3.251
3.251
3.251
4.877
4.877
4.877
4.877
5.893
5.893
6.910
6.910
6.910
6.910
7.620
7.620
7.620
25 x 3
Earth Conductor
Copper
SWG
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
6
6
6
6
4
4
2
2
2
2
1 or 0
1 or 0
1 or 0
--
Alu.
mm2
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
35
35
35
35
50
50
70
70
70
95
120
120
120
185