Front matter for Substation Structure Design Guide

(As developed by the ASCE Technical Procedures Committee, July 1930, and revised March 1935, February 1962, and April 1982)

A manual or report in this series consists of an orderly presentation of facts on a particular subject, supplemented by an analysis of limitations and applications of these facts. It contains information useful to the average engineer in his or her everyday work, rather than findings that may be useful only occasionally or rarely. It is not in any sense a “standard,” however, nor is it so elementary or so conclusive as to provides a “rule of thumb” for nonengineers.

Furthermore, material in this series, in distinction from a paper (which expresses only one person's observations or opinions), is the work of a committee or group selected to assemble and express information on a specific topic. As often as practicable the committee is under the direction of one or more of the Technical Divisions and Councils, and the product evolved has been subjected to review by the Executive Committee of the Division or Council. As a step in the process of this review, proposed manuscripts are often brought before the members of the Technical Divisions and Councils for comment, which may serve as the basis for improvement. When published, each manual shows the names of the committees by which it was compiled and indicates clearly the several processes through which it has passed in review, so that its merit may be definitely understood.

In February 1962 (and revised in April 1982), the Board of Direction voted to establish a series titled “Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice” to include the manuals published and authorized to date, future Manuals of Professional Practice, and Reports on Engineering Practice. All such manual or report material of the Society would have been refereed in a manner approved by the Board Committee on Publications and would be bound, with applicable discussion, in books similar to past manuals. Numbering would be consecutive and would be a continuation of present manual numbers. In some cases of joint committee reports, bypassing of journal publications may be authorized.

A list of available Manuals of Practice can be found at https://ascelibrary.org/page/books/s-mop.

The Subcommittee on the Design of Substation Structures under the Committee on Electrical Transmission Structures from the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE developed this Manual of Practice (MOP). The subcommittee membership represented utilities, manufacturers, consulting firms, and general interest. The combined expertise of the subcommittee members contributed to make this a valuable substation structure design guide for the utility industry.

The primary purpose of this MOP is to document electrical substation structural design practice and to provide guidance and recommendations for the design of outdoor electrical substation structures. This MOP covers a review of structure types and typical electrical equipment. Guidelines for analysis methods, structure loads, deflection criteria, member and connection design, structure testing, quality control, quality assurance, connections used in foundations, detailing, fabrication, construction, and maintenance issues are presented. This second edition also includes a chapter on foundation types used in substations. A chapter on retrofitting existing structures was included along with a chapter on oil containment and barrier walls. Appendix D is included as a draft prestandard to show what this MOP might look like if it were advanced to become a standard. In addition to Appendix D, Appendixes A, B, and C were added to cover various examples of structure design (Appendix A), a detailed explanation of short-circuit forces application to substation structures (Appendix B), and supplemental information on application of seismic forces as it applies to substation structures. The recommendations presented herein are based on the professional experience of the subcommittee members. Although the subject matter of this manual has been thoroughly researched, its application should be based on sound engineering judgment.

The subcommittee wishes to thank the peer review committee for their assistance and contributions to this document.

The subcommittee wishes to thank the peer review committee for their assistance and contributions to this document.

John Eidinger, G&E Engineering Systems

Tom Mara, CPP Wind Engineering Consultants

Robert Cochran, Seattle City Light

Benedict Chu, Pacific Gas & Electric

Kamran, Khan Trench Ltd.

William B Mills, FWT (retired)

The subcommittee thanks all the individuals who have contributed to the completion of this manual. Without their contributions, guidance, and dedication, this manual would not have been published. The following individuals have contributed to this manual, either as past subcommittee members or as corresponding members: