Substation lighting Installation

On this installation the client (a local REC) required the compound and out laying areas of the site to be illuminated. The light levels required were 200lux at ground level.

The restrictions to the project were the obvious health and safety issues to the workforce whilst carrying out the installation of the lighting in a live 132Kv substation, and subsequently the health and safety issues for the on- going maintenance of the lighting installation.

The design of the lighting scheme had to take into account the nature of the construction of the compound and the future use of the compound in the ongoing years. The air space above the site had been sold to developers for the construction of approx 270 private dwellings. The developer had allowed to fully cover the site and thus the compound would receive no natural light at any time in the future.

The choice and height of the light fittings was therefore critical, as was the method of installation to prevent clashes with and future works associated with the installation of the compound roof and walls.

Non conducting light fittings were chosen and the height of luminaires were at no point any greater than 1200mmFFL, and in most cases below 750mmFFL the obvious up side to this being that maintenance of lights (no requirement for step ladders) however this had to be balanced with the requirement to install additional luminaries due to the lack of height of the luminaries.

In addition to the standard luminaries, emergency luminaires were used to comply with all relevant requirements and assist operatives egress in the event of a lighting or power failure.

The use of intrinsically safe light fittings were required in the design for the under compound  tunnels, these tunnels were deemed as class 1 and therefore the luminaires and associated cabling and glands to the light fittings were also class 1 intrinsically safe.

The associated control equipment and distribution equipment were installed in remote (non class 1 classified) areas to reduce the risk of explosion and cost to the client.

The works carried out were all carried out by A.M.P Electricals own electricians whom are fully conversant with working in 132Kv transformers sites and also fully trained to work in confined spaces as was the requirement in the underground tunnels below the 132Kv site.