Bandera Electric Cooperative Driving Safety

Driving Safety

BEC follows the range of service voltages in use by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for Electric Power Systems and Equipment C84.1-1989. The term “service voltage” is defined as the point where BEC's electrical system connects with that of a member.

ANSI Standard C84.1

Nominal Service Voltage	Desirable Range	Acceptable Range
	Requires that occurrences of service voltage outside range are infrequent.	Occurrences outside the desirable range resulting from practical design or operating conditions that are limited in extent, frequency, and duration.
120	126 to 114	127 to 110
208	218 to 197	220 to 191
240	252 to 228	254 to 220
277	291 to 263	293 to 254
480	504 to 456	508 to 440

BEC General Clearance Requirements

There are 3 organizations, the National Electrical Safety Code, National Electric Code, and the State of Texas, that influence these general standards. When the standard varies, the strictest option is required. If code standards are in question, members are encouraged to contact their local code authority.

Vertical Clearance Requirements for Energized Lines from 0 to 750 volts*

Location	Height
Railroads	24 feet
Public streets, alleys, roads and highways	22 feet
Commercial driveways, parking lots & other areas subject to truck traffic	22 feet
Residential driveways	16 feet
Other land with vehicle traffic	16 feet
Spaces or ways with pedestrian traffic	12 feet
Spaces with limited building height (300 volts or less)	No less than 10.5 feet
Rural land beside roadway	14 feet
Urban land beside roadway	16 feet
Swimming areas	22.5 feet
Building roofs (no pedestrians)	3.5 feet
Building roofs (with pedestrians)	11 feet
Signs, chimneys, antennas, tanks	3.5 feet

*For clearance information on lines energized above 750 volts, contact BEC.