THE ELECTRICITY SAFETY, QUALITY AND CONTINUITY REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012

PART 4 UNDERGROUND CABLES AND EQUIPMENT

General restriction on the use of underground cables

12.  A generator or distributor shall not use any of their underground cables and associated equipment (except those in generating stations or substations) which they know do not comply with regulations 13 and 14.

Protective screens

13.—(1) Underground cables and associated equipment which contain conductors not connected with earth shall be protected in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) The protection referred to in paragraph (1) shall comprise—

(a) in respect of joints or terminations of a conductor in a low voltage system, some form of mechanical protection; and

(b) in respect of any other part of any conductor, an electrically continuous metallic screen connected with earth, so placed as to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, any tool or device likely to be used in the vicinity will make contact with that protection or screen before it can make contact with any conductors not connected with earth.

Excavations and depth of underground cables

14.—(1) Every underground cable shall be kept at such depth or be otherwise protected so as to avoid, so far as is reasonably practicable, any damage or danger by reason of such uses of the land which can be reasonably expected.

(2) In addition to satisfying the requirements of paragraph (1), an underground cable containing conductors not connected with earth shall be protected, marked or otherwise indicated so as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that any person excavating the land above the cable will be given sufficient warning of its presence.

(3) The protection, marking or indication required by paragraph (2) shall be made by placing the cable in a pipe or duct or by overlaying the cable at a suitable distance with protective tiles or warning tape or by the provision of such other protective or warning device, mark or indication, or by a suitable combination of such measures, as will be likely to provide an appropriate warning.

Maps of underground networks

15.—(1) This regulation applies in respect of any network or part thereof, owned or operated by a generator or distributor which is below ground on land which is not under their control.

(2) Every generator or distributor shall have and, so far as is reasonably practicable, keep up to date, a map or series of maps indicating the position and depth below surface level of all networks or parts thereof which they own or operate.

(3) The generator or distributor shall make a copy of the whole or the relevant part of the map prepared or kept for the purposes of paragraph (2) available for inspection by any of—

(a) the Department;

(b) the Department of the Environment; and

(c) any other person who can show reasonable cause for requiring to inspect any part of the map,

and shall, on request, provide a copy of such map or part of the map.

(4) The generator or distributor may, at their discretion, require payment of a reasonable fee for the inspection or copying of the map or part thereof referred to in paragraph (3).

(5) Any map prepared for the purposes of paragraph (2) may be prepared and kept by electronic means provided that that means has the capability of reproducing such map in printed form.

(6) Nothing in this regulation shall require the inclusion, on a map prepared or kept for the purposes of paragraph (2), of information relating to the position and depth below surface level of networks or parts thereof which were placed below ground before 3rd February 1992 where it would not be reasonably practicable to obtain such information.