Living adjacent
to a transmission line
Contents
3 Fingrid in brief
4 Let’s stay on good terms Fingrid has a right to use the line areas Compensation paid to landowners for the use of the line area Robust but useful neighbour
7
2
Taking care of the lines Transmission line inspections constitute the basis for maintenance Regular manage-
ment of trees guarantees reliability Compensations for the use of private roads
9 What you need to know before you do anything
Felling of trees and storage of timber Safe use of machinery Safe cultivation and pasturage Do not spray water on the transmission line Make sure that row covers stay in place Grounding of fences and tin roofs Making an open fire is prohibited Fingrid provides intructions for blasting work Do not refuel machinery near a transmission line Climbing in towers poses a danger to life Keep a fishing rod far away from a line Do not fly a kite in a right-of-way
Trampolines and climbing frames Inform Fingrid of
a line fault
12 Many ways to utilise the transmission line area
Recreational uses Hunting Establishing a road or outdoor route Use of snowmobiles Buildings and structures Soil extraction and disposal, ditching
13 Good to know
15 Projects near transmission line requiring permit
Fingrid in brief
Electricity is a necessity in everyday life in Finland.
Society is powered by electricity.
The grid network is the backbone network of electricity
transmission. Large power plants and factories, as well as
regional distribution networks, are all connected to the
grid. The Finnish grid network managed by Fingrid consists
of approximately 14,000 kilometres of 400, 220 and 110
kilovolt power lines, over one hundred distribution substations and back-up power plants, which are required if major
disruption occurs in the electricity system.
Fingrid ensures that Finland will continue to receive an
undisrupted supply of electricity. We participate in the EU’s
energy efficiency project by strengthening the grid network
in line with new energy solutions.
We will build approximately 2,500 kilometres of power lines
and about twenty distribution substations this decade.
As such, we are involved in the development of Finnish
society and in the wellbeing of every Finn.
We promote electricity market functionality.
Joint-European electricity markets which
function well and are trusted by interest
groups also provide benefits to the consumer.
Fingrid Oyj’s
power transmission grid
1 January 2014
400 kV grid (4,500 km)
220 kV grid (2,300 km)
110 kV grid (7,500 km)
HVDC
• Fenno-Skan 1 submarine cable 400 kV (100 km)
• Fenno-Skan 2 submarine cable 500 kV (100 km)
• Estlink 1 cable +/- 150 kV (105 km)
• EstLink 2 submarine cable 450 kV (145 km)
(available to the market since the
commissioning tests 6 December 2013).
lines of other companies
Basemap © Karttakeskus Oy, Helsinki
Fingrid Oyj is the company responsible for the functionality
of the electricity transmission system in Finland.
3
Let’s stay on good terms
COMPENSATION PAID TO LANDOWNERS
FOR THE USE OF THE LINE AREA
An electricity transmission line is a neighbour
which does not wish to disturb others or be disturbed. This brochure contains information and
safety instructions, which make living adjacent to
a transmission line safe and trouble-free.
A lump-sum compensation determined in the
expropriation proceedings is paid for the right of
use of the transmission line area. Fingrid does not
decide on the expropriation compensations, but
these are specified by an impartial expropriation
committee in accordance with the act concerning
expropriation.
FINGRID HAS A RIGHT TO USE THE LINE AREAS
4
Fingrid does not own the land areas under the
transmission lines or the trees located within
these areas. These are property of the landowner.
Through expropriation, Fingrid has acquired a
permanent right to use the transmission line area.
This gives the company a right to for example use
the transmission line area, restrict building in the
area, clear vegetation in the area, and manage
excessively tall trees in the border zone.
If a landowner suffers disadvantage or damage in
conjunction with the maintenance of the transmission line, these cases are agreed upon with the
landowner individually in each case.
The company’s right and obligation to give the
instructions presented in this brochure is based
on the Electrical Safety Act and on the expropriation of the transmission line area on the basis of a
permit given by the Council of State.
The voltage levels of transmission lines in Finland
are 110, 220 and 400 kilovolts (kV)*. The voltage
level can be recognised by the length of the insulator string and the number of insulator discs:
ROBUST BUT USEFUL NEIGHBOUR
The transmission line area is the area for which
Fingrid has expropriated a right of use. The right of
use imposes usage restrictions on the landowner.
Voltage level
kV
Length of
insulator string
Number of
insulator discs
110
220
400
approx. 1 metre
approx. 2 metres
approx. 4 metres
6–8
10–12
18–21
*1 kV = 1,000 volts (V)
Overhead earth wire
20 m
Earth wire peak
20 m
Crossarm
Insulator string
Insulator unit
10 m
Phase conductor
10 m
Horizontal brace
Border zone
Right of way
Transmission line area / Building prohibition zone
Border zone
Leg
Guy
The widht of an 110 kV right of way is generally 26–30 m.
The widht of a 220 kV right of way is generally 32–38 m.
The widht of a 400 kV right of way is generally 36–42 m.
Number plate
UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES
The width of the border zone is 10 metres both sides of the line, always a total of 20 metres.
Foundation
5
Ground electrode
Guy anchor
The tower type shown in the picture is the most
commonly used guyed portal tower, but so-called selfsupporting steel towers without guys are also used.
NE
OF
TR
AN
SM
IS
SI
ON
LI
NE
The tower area of
a transmission line
tower extends over a
distance of
3 metres from the
overground tower
structures.
CE
NT
RE
LI
3m
3m
3m
3m
A guyed two-legged portal tower.
ION
MISS
ANS
LINE
3m
IN
EL
NTR
CE
TR
E OF
3m
3m
3m
A single-legged steel lattice
tower without guys.
6
Taking care of the lines
TRANSMISSION LINE INSPECTIONS CONSTITUTE
THE BASIS FOR MAINTENANCE
As the owner of the transmission line, Fingrid has
an obligation to maintain the line in the condition
prescribed by electric safety regulations. In order
to fulfil this obligation, the company’s employees
and service providers have the right to move in
the transmission line area on foot and by using
machinery and vehicles, to use roads and paths
leading to the transmission line area and to use
other areas, if necessary. The condition of the
transmission line and the height of vegetation in
the transmission line area are monitored with the
help of inspections carried out at intervals of 1 to
3 years.
The inspections are used for observing issues such as:
-vegetation in the transmission line area, new structures, excavations
-potential inclination of tower structures, condi-
tion of steel parts
-grounding and foundations
-condition of insulators and conductors.
In the winter, snow accumulating on the conductors is removed whenever necessary.
REGULAR MANAGEMENT OF TREES
GUARANTEES RELIABILITY
Trees in the right-of-way are cleared mechanically
or manually every 5 to 8 years.
Trees in the border zones of transmission lines are
managed at intervals of 10 to 25 years. Excessively
tall trees are felled or their tops are cut by 2 to 4
metres by means of a helicopter. Trees top-ended
with helicopter sawing do not need to be harvested right away. Decay in a tree with a cut top
progresses so slowly that decay damage does not
reduce the value of timber if its felling is combined with the logging of some adjacent forest
area in the coming years. It is also worthwhile logging border zone trees, whose tops have not been
cut, at the same time.
Fingrid informs landowners by letter of the clearing of rights-of-ways and management of trees in
the border zones.
If there is a need to fell the trees in the border
zone, Fingrid endeavours to arrange joint felling
and sales of the timber. However, as the owner of
the trees, the landowner has a right to decide how
to arrange the harvesting and sales of border zone
trees, which need to be felled because of transmission line maintenance. In any case, it is important
to remember that logging close to a transmission
line requires special professional skills, and landowners should not do this on their own.
If most of the trees in the border zone are too tall,
it is usually most sensible to use total management of the border zone so that all other trees
except those that are considerably shorter than the
trees shown in the diagram on page 5 are felled in
the border zone.
Forest management for the border zones of transmission line areas involves many special features,
which should be taken into account when deciding on the forest regeneration and management
measures. In order to enhance forest management in these special areas, Forestry Development
Centre Tapio has drawn up forest management
recommendations for border zones. These recommendations are presented in a forest management
card, which can be downloaded (in Finnish) from
Fingrid’s website.
COMPENSATIONS FOR THE USE OF PRIVATE ROADS
Fingrid signs 10-year maintenance road agreements with road owners on the use of private
roads leading to the transmission line areas.
Fingrid, the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) and the Central
Union of Swedish-Speaking Agricultural Producers
in Finland (SLC) have drawn up a compensation
recommendation concerning the use of private
roads. Among other things, the recommendation
specifies the unit prices of road usage fees for
various usage categories.
7
IF A TREE BEGINS TO FALL TOWARDS A TRANSMISSION LINE DESPITE PRECAUTIONS, FOLLOW
THESE INSTRUCTIONS:
8
Interrupt your work immediately.
Bound so that only one foot touches the ground at a time and proceed to a distance of at least 20 metres from the tree as quickly as possible.
If a falling tree hits the line or gets caught in the conductors, notify Fingrid’s Network Control Centre (tel. 030 395 4300) of this
immediately or call the nation-wide emer-
gency number 112.
Make sure that nobody goes close to the suspended tree.
DO NOT TRY TO LOOSEN A TREE WHICH TOUCHES
PHASE CONDUCTORS BEFORE:
the line has been de-energised,
the line has been provided with work grounding, and
you obtain permission from the owner of the line to loosen the tree.
What you need to know before you do anything
FELLING OF TREES AND STORAGE OF TIMBER
Near a transmission line, the trees must not be
cut towards the line. Always verify the correct
felling direction in accordance with the safety
instructions for timber harvesting work. If necessary, Fingrid will provide further information and
felling assistance.
5 metres
110 kV 3 metres
220 kV 4 metres
400 kV 5 metres
For safety reasons, timber or energy wood must
not be stored under a transmission line or nearer
than 10 metres from the closest phase conductor
of the line in the horizontal direction.
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY
Ordinary agricultural machinery can be operated
under a transmission line. Caution must be exercised when operating agricultural machinery near
the tower structures. If, however, tower structures
are damaged, inform Fingrid immediately.
If you are using an excavator, crane or other machinery near a transmission line, make sure that
you do not end up too close to the live phase
conductors. No machinery must be brought into
the tower area.
The table below presents the permitted minimum
distances of machinery with potential load from
the phase conductors of a transmission line.
Never drive machinery between the tower legs,
under a guy wire, or closer than 3 metres from
the tower structures!
Trees located close to a transmission line
should always be felled by professionals.
Voltage Minimum distance
Minimum distance
level of
to machinery to machinery or load
trans­mission
or load beneath
from phase
line phase conductors
conductors in
horizontal direction
110 kV
220 kV
400 kV
3 metres
4 metres
5 metres
5 metres
5 metres
5 metres
IF THE LOADER OR LOAD TOUCHES THE CONDUCTORS WHILE USING MACHINERY, PROCEED AS
FOLLOWS:
You are initially safe inside the cabin.
Try to run the machine off the transmission line.
If the machine catches fire or if its tyres start to smoke, jump out of the machine so that both of your feet touch the ground simultaneously.
Do not touch the machine and ground
simultaneously.
Bound so that only one foot touches the ground at a time and proceed to a distance of at least 20 metres from the machine as fast as possible.
Contact Fingrid immediately even if the transmission line is not visibly damaged.
Make sure that nobody can access the area.
9
10
SAFE CULTIVATION AND PASTURAGE
MAKE SURE THAT ROW COVERS STAY IN PLACE
A right-of-way can be used for cultivation, and
domestic animals can graze safely in the area. It
can also be used as a vegetable garden, and for
example berry bushes can be planted there. When
planting bushes, leave a passage in the centre line
of the transmission line so that line inspectors and
maintenance personnel can either walk or move
their machinery from one tower to another. Fruit
trees and Christmas trees can be cultivated in a
right-of-way just as long as their height remains
within the permitted limits. Growing of trees must
be agreed upon with Fingrid through a growth
clearance area contract.
If a planted area is covered with protective row
covers, use weights or other fasteners to make
sure that the covers will stay in place also when
there is a gusty and strong wind. Warming of air
under the cover causes a buoyant effect, which
may loosen the cover and send it flying high into
the air. If, despite precautions, covers fly onto the
transmission line structures, never try to remove
them yourself. Fingrid must be notified accordingly without delay.
DO NOT SPRAY WATER ON THE TRANSMISSION LINE
Artificial irrigation systems can be used in the
normal way in the vicinity of a transmission line
just as long as the water jet does not hit the
line. When setting up, moving and dismantling
irrigation systems, make sure that the irrigation
equipment does not come dangerously close to
the phase conductors.
If the phase conductor of a transmission line
is broken or otherwise hanging close to the
ground, it is highly dangerous to go near the
conductor!
GROUNDING OF FENCES AND TIN ROOFS
No significant voltages are usually created in a
barbed wire fence or a metal wire net fence by
the electric field of a transmission line. These are
well grounded through fence poles, grass or other
vegetation. If the fence runs for a long distance
close to the transmission line or if the fence is
isolated from the ground, a harmful voltage may,
however, be created in the fence. In this case, the
fence must be grounded.
The electric field of the transmission line may also result in a charging voltage, which is harmless in itself,
being charged in tin roofs located under the line.
This can also be removed easily by grounding the
roof to the ground for instance through gutter pipes.
Remember that the “fuse” never blows in a highvoltage transmission line; it is always dangerous!
More detailed advice for grounding matters is
available from Fingrid.
MAKING OF OPEN FIRE IS PROHIBITED
For safety reasons, it is forbidden to make an open
fire under a transmission line or in its immediate
vicinity. If you intend to burn grass within a distance
of less than 50 metres from the line, contact Fingrid.
FINGRID PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS FOR BLASTING WORK
If you are going to quarry rock or carry out blasting work within a distance of less than 100 metres from the line, ask for instructions from Fingrid.
DO NOT REFUEL MACHINERY NEAR A TRANSMISSION LINE
For the sake of fire safety, avoid refuelling a
vehicle or other machinery within less than 20
metres from a transmission line.
CLIMBING IN TOWERS POSES A DANGER TO LIFE
It is very dangerous and absolutely forbidden to
climb in transmission line towers. It is also forbidden to attach anything to the towers.
KEEP A FISHING ROD FAR AWAY FROM A LINE
If you are fishing, make sure that neither the rod
or the line can reach closer than 5 metres from the
phase conductors of the transmission line.
DO NOT FLY A KITE IN A RIGHT-OF-WAY
For safety reasons, flying a kite is not allowed in
the right-of-way of a transmission line.
TRAMPOLINES AND CLIMBING FRAMES
Because of personal safety, it is forbidden to place
trampolines, climbing frames and other devices,
which can bring persons higher than the normal
ground surface, under a transmission line.
INFORM FINGRID OF A LINE FAULT
Thanks to regular inspections and maintenance,
line faults are rare, but they cannot be avoided
completely. If you notice a defect or an abnormal
phenomenon in a line, please notify Fingrid’s
Network Control Centre (tel. 030 395 4300) of this
as soon as possible.
11
Many ways to utilise
the transmission line area
12
In addition to cultivation and grazing, rights-ofways can be utilised in many ways.
RECREATIONAL USES
A transmission line area is suited for many types
of recreational uses. You can hike and pick berries
and mushrooms in a transmission line area. Transmission lines also constitute habitats favoured by
butterflies and many plant species.
HUNTING
Good visibility renders transmission line areas suited for hunting. For safety reasons, the shooting
places must be located so that the line structures
are not in the line of fire. The erection of hunting
towers should be agreed upon in advance with
Fingrid. Game fields can be established on old
fields located in rights-of-ways. A permit for clearing new fields should be requested from Fingrid.
ESTABLISHING A ROAD OR OUTDOOR ROUTE
You can jog and ski in a transmission line area. A
permit from the landowner and a statement from
Fingrid are required for the building of a road,
outdoor recreation route, jogging track or skiing
track in a transmission line area.
USE OF SNOWMOBILES
With the landowner’s and Fingrid’s permit, a
transmission line area can be used for snowmobile
riding. Snowmobile riding is, however, strictly forbidden in tower areas. A snowmobile route must
be placed so far from the towers that there is no
risk of collision with the tower legs or guys.
BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
It is forbidden to construct a building in a
transmission line area. If you want to build other
structures such as shelters, roads, parking areas,
overhead lines, underground cables, water pipes,
sewers, lighting posts, flag poles, fish basins etc.,
a permit must be acquired from Fingrid for the
location and building of these.
Long lighting lines and other lines laid over the
ground under a transmission line may also cause
a hazard. A permit is also needed if you wish to
make changes to a structure built earlier in the
transmission line area.
SOIL EXTRACTION AND DISPOSAL, DITCHING
A permit from Fingrid is required for the extraction of gravel, sand, clay, earth and peat in the
right-of-way. The same applies to ditching and
soil heaps being dumped in a transmission line
area.
It is prohibited to dig ditches in a tower area.
The sides of a ditch must never be closer than
three metres from the tower and guy structures.
If the depth of a ditch to be dug is more than
half a metre, the underground grounding electrodes must be taken into account. Fingrid must
be informed immediately of broken grounding
electrodes.
Good to know
Scientific research has not found that transmission lines would have adverse effects on the health
or fertility of pasturing animals. It has not been
established that the licking of wooden towers
which have been treated with creosote would have
negative effects on animals. A statement on this
issue has been submitted, among others, by the
Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene
of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Finland
on 25 October 1994.
Power line bird markers can be used on the
conductors near the routes of migratory birds or
in locations where birds nest to warn birds of the
line. It is advisable to inform Fingrid, which decides on the placing of power line bird markers, of
locations where birds collide with a line.
There has been extensive research on the potential health impacts of the electric and magnetic
fields created around transmission lines. Based on
research findings, these fields do not cause a risk
to people or animals. Publications on this topic in
Finnish can be downloaded from Fingrid’s website.
According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, transmission lines do not increase lightning
nor direct the movements of thunder clouds, but
the lines actually increase lightning safety. Since
the transmission line towers are usually higher
than their immediate environment and since
they are also grounded, they ”attract” strokes of
lightning which would strike in any case in the
adjacent area.
The line is constructed so that a stroke of lightning is guided through the overhead ground wire
into the ground in a harmless manner. In other
words, it is not advisable to stay in the immediate
vicinity of a transmission line during thunderstorm.
Transmission lines cannot influence the number of
strokes of lightning, either. Their number depends
entirely on the properties of the thunder cloud,
not on the underlying towers.
The buzzing sound heard near a transmission
line is caused by corona discharge occurring on
the surface of the conductors or insulators. The
corona phenomenon is harmless to people. The
phenomenon is caused by the ionisation of air
near the surface of conductors, insulators and
other similar components. The sound caused by
corona is loudest in moist weather or in the winter
when hoar frost accumulates on the conductors. It
is practically almost impossible to prevent corona
discharge completely, but since the sound is always an indication of energy losses, the goal is to
reduce this phenomenon. Corona occurs mainly at
the 400 kV voltage level.
High-voltage lines may also cause sounds created
as a result of wind which shakes the various parts
of the line such as steel towers, conductors, cross­
arms or insulators. These sounds occur irrespective
of whether the line is live or not.
13
14
Some medical devices inserted in the body (such
as pacemakers) may malfunction under a transmission line. Disturbance in a pacemaker can be reduced through adjustments and especially through
the selection of an appropriate pacemaker.
FM radio transmission (VHF), i.e. the most common broadcast or local radio transmission, is not
disturbed by transmission lines.
A transmission line disturbs the television signal
only in very rare cases. If problems occur, contact
Fingrid’s experts.
A hand-held fluorescent lamp may light up under
a transmission line as a result of the electric field
created by the conductors. The current passing
through the lamp is naturally much weaker than
normally. The lamp glows weakly, and the light
emitted from it cannot be compared to the light
emitted in the normal use of the lamp. The light
can only be seen when it is dusky. This purely
electric phenomenon does not mean that it would
cause a health hazard.
One of the properties of the electric field of a
transmission line is that electrically conductive
objects which are isolated from the ground and
located close to the line – such as metal shovels,
tools etc. – become electrically charged. Anyone
working under a line also becomes electrically
charged. Usually, you do not even notice this, but
when you are wearing footwear with a thick sole,
such as rubber boots, you may feel a faint spark
when you touch a grounded object, for instance
a metallic fence pole. The phenomenon is similar
to and as harmless as the spark which is created
when taking off a sweater made of synthetic fibres. In the same way, the sparking of an umbrella,
for instance, under a transmission line is harmless
and caused by electric charge.
Projects near transmission
line requiring permit
THESE ARE NEEDED FOR PERMITS AND STATEMENTS:
A map indicating the location of the intended project and the transmission line.
A layout drawing indicating the exact location of the project with respect to the transmission line.
The name, address and telephone number
of the applicant so that we can obtain additional information if this is necessary.
Send the application to the below address:
Fingrid Oyj
Risteämälausunnot
P.O. Box 530
FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland
or by e-mail to
[email protected]
15
FINGRID OYJ
Läkkisepäntie 21, FI-00620 Helsinki / P.O. Box 530, FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358 (0)30 395 5000 | Telefax +358 (0)30 395 5196 | www.fingrid.fi
Fingrid´s Main Grid Control Centre | Tel. +358 (0)30 395 4300 (24h duty)