Supply companies overhead cable

[Darkone]

The overhead supply cable from a pole to my property is over my garage. The cable is a single phase concentric type. Is there any regulation as to the distance that the cable should be above any property?, at present it is less than 1 meter above the ridge and is inconvenient when doing work on the roof.

 

[Engineer54]

Not sure what you would want the DNO to do?? Any changes from the pole connection to your properties entry point will most certainly be to Your cost. They can't, and will not pull the suspended cable tort, the cable needs to expand and contract with the changing ambient temperature...

The overhead cable pole is Fixed, your entry point is not.!! So you can always get your electrician to run in a new cable entry point on your property that will (maybe) avoid traversing your garage roof...

 

[Darkone]

Not sure what you would want the DNO to do?? Any changes from the pole connection to your properties entry point will most certainly be to Your cost. They can't, and will not pull the suspended cable tort, the cable needs to expand and contract with the changing ambient temperature...

The overhead cable pole is Fixed, your entry point is not.!! So you can always get your electrician to run in a new cable entry point on your property that will (maybe) avoid traversing your garage roof...

Well this is the problem, the cable IS "taught" NOW, the pole has a considerable “lean” and is getting worse. It is so tight and is putting strian on the fixing on my property, any more tension and it will pull away brickwork.
My question was slightly “loaded” (as most are on forums). They are going to have to do something about the problems above, but I wanted to know if I have a case for them to move the cable from above my garage or if the is a regulation that I can quote.
At a future date I had considered raising the height of the garage, so the cable in its present position would have to be moved. My understanding is that cable upto the sevice fuse and meter belongs to the DNO and no one else is alowed to re-route it, yes/no

 

[Paul.M]

Reg 522.8.4 (in a nutshell) supported cables should not be under mechanical strain from their own weight.

 

[malcolmsanford]

The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002

Have a read of that and part 18( 5 & 6) in particular, as this if from The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, the DNO might be a place to start .

 

[Paul.M]

"(5)*No overhead line shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, come so close to any building, tree or structure as to cause danger.(6)*In this regulation the expression “ordinarily accessible” means the overhead line could be reached by hand if any scaffolding, ladder or other construction was erected or placed on, in, against or near to a building or structure."

 

[oxocube]

Reg 522.8.4 (in a nutshell) supported cables should not be under mechanical strain from their own weight.

The Regs don't apply to dno's.

 

[JUD]

The Regs don't apply to dno's.

I was just thinking the same thing.

 

[Paul.M]

The Regs don't apply to dno's.

I agree but the DNO have the same rule under their regs I believe, just can't find it atm. Malcolm has pointed out the exact reg that the op needs.

 

[oxocube]

From ESQCR 2002

"SCHEDULE 2 Regulation 17(2)
MINIMUM HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND OF OVERHEAD LINES
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Nominal Voltages Over Roads Other Locations
Not exceeding 33,000 volts 5.8 metres 5.2 metres
Exceeding 33,000 volts but not exceeding 66,000 volts 6 metres 6 metres
Exceeding 66,000 volts but not exceeding 132,000 volts 6.7 metres 6.7 metres
Exceeding 132,000 volts but not exceeding 275,000 volts 7 metres 7 metres
Exceeding 275,000 volts but not exceeding 400,000 volts 7.3 metres 7.3 metres"

From ESQCR guidance notes, seems if insulated there is no specific clearance height.

"17(3)
This paragraph identifies three types of overhead line equipment that need not comply with Schedule 2, provided the equipment is not installed over a road:
(i) lines which are fully insulated (see definition of insulation at regulation 1(5));
(ii) exposed conductors connecting equipment (fixed to the support) to the line, provided the conductors are at least 4.3m above the ground (e.g. connections to pole mounted transformers or auto-reclosers); and
(iii) lines which are connected with earth, e.g. earth wires or neutral conductors on low voltage networks."

Regulation 1(5)

"insulation
This term defines insulation surrounding phase conductors which is designed to withstand the operating voltage of the equipment.
Insulation as defined does not include protective coverings or coatings (surrounding phase conductors) which are not designed to support the full phase to earth or phase to phase voltage (as appropriate). For example the covering on BLX overhead line conductors could not be described as insulation"

 

[malcolmsanford]

Agree OC but if a overhead cable that is 5.2m or 5.8m (over a road) can still be touched while standing on a garage roof then that minimum height may not sufficient, and I would have thought that a call to the DNO telling them this might be worth the OP's time.

Position, insulation and protection of overhead lines
18.—(1) Any part of an overhead line which is not connected with earth and which is not ordinarily accessible shall be supported on insulators or surrounded by insulation.
(2) Any part of an overhead line which is not connected with earth and which is ordinarily accessible shall be—
(a)made dead; or
(b)so insulated that it is protected, so far as is reasonably practicable, against mechanical damage or interference; or
(c)adequately protected to prevent danger.
(3) Any person responsible for erecting a building or structure which will cause any part of an overhead line which is not connected with earth to become ordinarily accessible shall give reasonable notice to the generator or distributor who owns or operates the overhead line of his intention to erect that building or structure.
(4) Any bare conductor not connected with earth, which is part of a low voltage overhead line, shall be situated throughout its length directly above a bare conductor which is connected with earth.
(5) No overhead line shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, come so close to any building, tree or structure as to cause danger.
(6) In this regulation the expression “ordinarily accessible” means the overhead line could be reached by hand if any scaffolding, ladder or other construction was erected or placed on, in, against or near to a building or structure.

 

[JD6400]

I would strongly advice not to move it yourself !
On recent new build development i know of very well the incomer needed to be moved prior to 4 new supply's being brought in , it was suggested by a representative from the supply company that this would be very expensive and take at least six weeks but if it's fixings were to become loose on the house awaiting demolition then someone should phone up there emergency call out department and they would be out that day to move it to a more satisfactory position for free !
I wonder if that would really work ???????

 

[Darkone]

if it's fixings were to become loose on the house awaiting demolition then someone should phone up there emergency call out department and they would be out that day to move it to a more satisfactory position for free !
I wonder if that would really work ???????

You are not suggesting I demolish my house are you? :smilielol5:

I have been out in the rain and taken a couple of photos, the cable is nearer the roof than I thought, about 400mm I am standing on my porch roof so I can quite easily reach out and touch the cable..

 

[Paul.M]

Darkone thanks for the photos, always helps. I think what Malcolm has said in post #11 gives you the bullets needed to fire at the DNO. Good luck and tell us the outcome.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Just a quickie

Was the garage in position first or was the Pole?

:thumbsup