McCains Ballarat

In February 2009, large sections of Victoria were engulfed by devastating bush fires, that burnt out large portions of the state and resulted in the deaths of 173 Victorians.

The design and installation requirement was a result of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission recommending the installation of Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCL) to supply authority networks to reduce the risk of fires caused by failure of supply of HV infrastructure.

This technology rapidly reduces the arching current when high voltage overhead conductors come in contact with the ground or a tree limb, significantly reducing the likelihood of igniting a fire.

A consequence of the implementation of REFCL, private high voltage customers were required to review, test, upgrade; or a combination of all three to ensure that their infrastructure is suitably rated.

McCain’s was one of the first private HV customers required to achieve REFCL compliance and the fact that the change in the required single phase to earth voltage rating of primary connected equipment did not align with typical values meant our engineering team set about reviewing standards and datasheets to ensure that equipment and cables offered would be suitable.