Electric fields and arc protection during live-line maintenance

Limits of extra low frequency electric fields are defined by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). There are separate values for both public and occupational exposures. In case of live-line maintenance (LLM) - especially at high voltage levels - electric field values above the limits may occur. Conductive clothing acting as a Faraday cage are widely used to shield these fields, but the efficiency of them depends on many different parameters, such as the size of the openings, or the "Faraday-holes". This paper investigates the electrical properties of different clothing with different ways of face protection as a function of the voltage level and the distance from the phase conductor. Critical parameters are also defined. Another important and practical…