CEAR namely Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010 are regulations framed by Central Electricity Authority of India under Indian Electricity Act, 2003, to regulate measures relating to safety and electric supply in India.

History

CEAR came into effect 20 September 2010, in place of The Indian Electricity Rules, 1956. The Electricity Act, 2003, was formulated combining the Indian Electricity Act 1910 and Indian Electricity (supply) Act 1948.

Earthing provisions and safety

Under CEAR, rule 41, there is specific provision of earthing neutral wire of a 3-phase, 4-wire system and the additional third wire of a 2- phase, 3-wire system. Earthing is to be done with two separate connections. Grounding system also to have minimum two or more earth pits (electrode) such that proper grounding takes place. As per the rule 42, installation with load above 5 kW exceeding 250 V shall have suitable Earth leakage protective device to isolate the load in case of earth fault or leakage. Neutral and earth run separately on overhead line/cables. Separate conductor for overhead lines and armouring of cables are used for earth connection. Additional earth electrodes/pits are installed at user ends for proper earth. All metal casing or metallic coverings of electric supply line or apparatus to be connected with earth and all such earthling points shall be so joined to make good mechanical and electrical connection in complete system.

Earthing in mines

Earthing in an underground mine shall be carried out by connection to an earthing system at the surface of the mine as per rule 99. As per rule 100, protective equipment is to be placed in the mines for automatic disconnection of supply when there is earth fault exceeding 750 milliampere in 250 V to 1000 Volt installations. For open cast mine the limit is 50 ampere in installations of voltage exceeding 1100 V and up to 11 kV. The earth leakage current is to be restricted by placing suitable neutral grounding resistance (NGR) in all the distribution transformers.

Salient features

Chapters and regulations there in:
Central Electricity Authority- * Chapter - I Definitions 1 Short title and Commencement 2 Definitions * Chapter - II 3 Designating person(s) to operate and carry out the work on electrical lines and apparatus 4 Inspection of designated officers and other safety measures 5 Electrical Safety Officer 6 Safety measures for operation and maintenance of electric plants 7 Safety measures for operation and maintenance of transmission, distribution systems 8 Keeping of records and inspection there of 9 Deposit of maps 10 Deposit of printed copies 11 Plan for area of supply to be made and kept open for inspection * Chapter - III General safety requirements 12 General safety requirements, pertaining to construction, installation, protection, operation and maintenance of electric supply lines apparatus 13 Service lines and apparatus on consumer’s premises 14 Switchgear on consumer’s premises 15 Identification of earthed and earthed neutral conductors and position of switches and switchgear therein 16 Earthed terminal on consumer’s premises 17 Accessibility of bare conductors 18 Danger Notices 19 Handling of electric supply lines and apparatus 20 Supply to vehicles and cranes 21 Cables for portable or transportable apparatus 22 Cables protected by bituminous materials 23 Street boxes 24 Distinction of different circuits 25 Distinction of the installations having more than one feed 26 Accidental charging 27 Provisions applicable to protective equipment 28 Display of instructions for resuscitation of persons suffering from electric shock 29 Precautions to be adopted by consumers, owners, occupiers, electrical contractors, electrical workmen and suppliers 30 Periodical inspection and-testing of Installations 31 Testing of consumer's installation 32 Installation and testing of generating units Chapter - IV General conditions relating to supply and use of electricity 33 Precautions against leakage before connection 34 Leakage on consumer's premises 35 Supply and use of electricity 36 Provisions for supply and use of electricity in multi-storied building more than 15 meters in height 37 Conditions applicable to installations of voltage exceeding 250 Volts 38 Appeal to Electrical Inspector in regard to defects 39 Precautions against failure of supply and notice of failures * Chapter - V Safety Provisions for Electrical Installations and apparatus of voltage not exceeding 650 volts 40 Test for resistance of insulation 41 Connection with earth 42 Earth leakage protective device Chapter - VI Safety Provisions for Electrical Installations and apparatus of voltage exceeding 650 volts 43 Approval by Electrical Inspector 44 Use of electricity at voltage exceeding 650 Volts 45 Inter-locks and protection for use of electricity at voltage exceeding 650 Volts 46 Testing, Operation and Maintenance 47 Precautions to be taken against excess leakage in case of metal sheathed electric supply lines 48 Connection with earth for apparatus exceeding 650 V 49 General conditions as to transformation and control of electricity 50 Pole type sub-stations 51 Condensers 52 Supply to luminous tube sign installations of voltage exceeding 650 Volts but not exceeding 33 kV 53 Supply to electrode boilers of voltage exceeding 650 Volt but not exceeding 33 kV 54 Supply to X-ray and high frequency installations * Chapter - VII Safety requirements for overhead lines, underground cables and generating stations 55 Material and strength 56 Joints 57 Maximum stresses and factors of safety 58 Clearance above ground of the lowest conductor of overhead lines 59 Clearance between conductors and trolley wires 60 Clearance from buildings of lines of voltage and service lines not exceeding 650 Volts 61 Clearances from buildings of lines of voltage exceeding 650 V 62 Conductors at different voltages on same supports 63 Erection or alteration of buildings, structures, flood banks and elevation of roads 64 Transporting and storing of material near overhead lines 65 General clearances 66 Routes proximity to aerodromes 67 Maximum interval between supports 68 Conditions to apply where telecommunication lines and power lines are carried on same supports 69 Lines crossing or approaching each other and lines crossing street and road 70 Guarding 71 Service lines from overhead lines 72 Earthing 73 Safety and protective devices 74 Protection against lightning 75 Unused overhead lines 76 Laying of cables 77 Protection against electromagnetic interference * Chapter - VIII Safety requirements for Electric Traction 78 Application of chapter 79 Voltage of supply to vehicle 80 Insulation of lines 81 Insulation of returns 82 Proximity to metallic pipes 83 Difference of potential on return 84 Leakage on conduit system 85 Leakage on system other than conduit system 86 Passengers not to have access to electric circuit 87 Isolation of sections 88 Minimum size and strength of trolley wire 89 Height of trolley wire and length of span 90 Earthing of guard wires 91 Proximity to magnetic observatories and laboratories 92 Records * Chapter - IX Safety requirements for mines and oil fields 93 Application of chapter 94 Responsibility for observance 95 Notices

References

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