Earth Potential Rise-Protection of telecommunications network users, personnel and plant - Part 1: Code of practice

AS/NZS 3835.1:2006: Understanding Earth Potential Rise in Telecommunications Networks

For engineers and designers working with telecommunications infrastructure, particularly where it interfaces with high-voltage power systems, understanding and mitigating Earth Potential Rise (EPR) is paramount. AS/NZS 3835.1:2006 provides an essential, authoritative code of practice to safeguard users, personnel, and plant from the hazards associated with EPR. This standard offers a comprehensive framework designed to ensure the integrity and safety of telecommunication networks when exposed to fault conditions in adjacent power systems.

What is AS/NZS 3835.1:2006?

AS/NZS 3835.1:2006, an industry-leading standard from Standards Australia/New Zealand, establishes a code of practice for managing Earth Potential Rise (EPR) in telecommunications networks. It specifically addresses the risks posed by earth faults on high-voltage AC power systems and outlines the necessary measures to protect telecommunications users, personnel, and equipment from these hazardous conditions. Its primary purpose is to provide practical guidance for the design and implementation of protective strategies.

Scope & Purpose

This comprehensive standard governs the identification and minimization of hazards to telecommunications personnel, users, and plant arising from earth faults on high-voltage AC power systems. It details principles and practices for assessing EPR impacts and implementing appropriate mitigation techniques. While it focuses on EPR in the context of telecommunications, it does not cover general electrical safety regulations or the detailed design of high-voltage power systems themselves.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Electrical Engineers, Telecommunications Engineers, Network Technicians, Field Technicians, and Safety Officers.
• • Industries affected: Telecommunications, Electricity Generation and Distribution, Civil Infrastructure, and any sector involving the co-location or close proximity of telecommunications and power infrastructure.
• • Compliance nature: Primarily voluntary and recommended, but often mandated by contractual obligations, client specifications, and regulatory requirements within the telecommunications and energy sectors.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically overseen by network operators, project managers, and regulatory bodies responsible for electrical and telecommunications safety.

Key Requirements Overview

• • The standard requires professionals to identify potential EPR hazards by analysing fault scenarios on adjacent power systems.
• • It mandates the assessment of potential voltages that could affect telecommunications equipment and personnel under fault conditions.
• • Key provisions include the implementation of proven design considerations and protective measures to limit hazardous voltage exposures.
• • Professionals must ensure that earthing and bonding arrangements are adequate to manage EPR effects safely.
• • The standard emphasizes the development and application of safety protocols for personnel working in areas susceptible to EPR.

Related Standards & References

AS/NZS 3835.1:2006 works in conjunction with other standards to provide a complete safety framework. Complementary standards include AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules) for general electrical installations and AS/NZS 3835.2 (Application Guide) which provides detailed worked examples for applying the principles outlined in Part 1. References to publications from the New Zealand Committee for the Co-ordination of Power and Telecommunications Systems (NZCCPTS) are also integral for specific applications.