LT HT Panel Rear Clearance

• Does it need to stand against a wall?
• Does it need to stand back-to-back with another panel?

I am asking this general querry. This is not related to any particular project as such. I have also mentioned the general practices followed in our company with ref. to clearances.

Kindly clarify if there there is any code or standard with related to this

You may refer latest Indian Electricity Rules.

Rear access is required for attending the components, bus bars,cable terminations etc from rear side of the panels for routine checking and maintenance.The rear clearance should be adequate for a person to perform the above work .The same should also be more than the width of the hinged type rear door of the panels.

If there are hinged doors then there needs to be enough space for them to open and to pass behind when in the open position.

You can't have too much space.

That depends on the width of the rear door.For a width of 800 mm,a rear clearance of 1000 mm is OK .

Rear clearance is required if the panel has back access. This depends on the design of the panel where cable chamber and bus bar connections are on the back side of the panel.Clearance should not be less than 75 cm at the back. There shall be a clear passage on both sides of the panel of at least 75 cm width with a head clearance of 1.8 M. This is as per clause no. 37 (chapter IV) of CEA regulation, 2010, applicable for all installations in India with voltage class more than 650V.

However, if the space permits it is better to have back clearance of 1M for ease of maintenance. Front clearance for LT and HT switch board is generally kept as 1.5M and 2M respectively considering ease of maintenace with drawout type panels.

Good answer sir.

Thanks

Vide the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956, Rule No. 51 (1) (c)Every switchboard shall comply with the following provisisons, namely:-

(i) a clear space of not less than 1 metre in width shall be provided in front

of the switchboard;

(ii) If there are any attachments or bare connections at the back of the switchboard, the space(if any)behind the switchboard shall be either less than 20 centimetres or more than 75 centimetres in width, measured from the farthest outstanding part of any attachment or conductor;

(iii) If the space behind the switchboard exceeds 75 centimetres in width, there shall be a passage-way from either end of the switchboard, clear to a height of 1.8metres.