Technical requirements for the electric fence system in Vietnam from February 1, 2025

Technical requirements for the electric fence system in Vietnam from February 1, 2025​ (Image from the Internet)

On February 1, 2025, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam issued Circular 02/2025/TT-BCT outlining the regulations on the protection of power works and safety in the electricity sector.

Technical requirements for the electric fence system in Vietnam from February 1, 2025

Article 5 of Circular 02/2025/TT-BCT specifies the technical requirements for electric fence systems in Vietnam as follows:

(1) The electric fence must be designed and installed safely to prevent accidental contact with people and livestock, must not affect the normal operation of the electrical system, must not endanger nearby areas and living environments, and must ensure stability under storm conditions as well as aesthetic appeal.

(2) The electric fence can be arranged in combination with other protective fences or independently but must meet the following conditions:

- If combined with other protective fences, the electric fence must be positioned above, with the height of the suspended electric conductor not less than 2.5 m from the ground;

- If positioned independently, both the outer and inner parts of the electric fence must have protective fences to prevent accidental contact by people and animals with the electric fence. The distance between the electric fence and the protective fence must be no less than 2.0 m.

(3) Warning signs must be placed along both sides of the electric fence at visible locations with the message "STOP! DANGEROUS ELECTRIC SHOCK" according to electrical safety signage regulations. The signs must be fixed at a height of 1.7 - 2.0 m from the ground, with no more than 20 m between two signs.

(4) Voltage used for the electric fence is regulated as follows:

- Below 1,000 V when using alternating current;

- No regulation for impulse voltage when using direct current.

(5) An audible and visual alarm system must be present at the operator's work area. The alarm system must activate when a power failure occurs on the electric fence or when a ground fault or short circuit occurs. The alarm can only be deactivated by an operator's action. The normal operation of the alarm system is checked each shift change using test buttons.

(6) Conductors must meet the following technical requirements:

- Materials for the conductors can be plates, meshes, wires, or metal bars. If using galvanized steel wire or mesh, the wire cross-section must not be less than 6 mm². If using copper or aluminum wire, it must have a cross-section of no less than 10 mm². Single wires should have no joints between poles. If a connection is needed, the wire ends must be securely wound around the insulator neck before connecting the wire ends with connectors, twisting, or soldering.

- Conductors must be securely and firmly attached to the insulators. The distance between two insulators supporting one conductor along its length should not exceed 5 m. The distance between adjacent phase conductors or between phases and the ground should not exceed 0.20 m.

- Ordinary insulators should not be inclined more than 45 degrees from the vertical direction. If insulators need to be inclined more than 45 degrees, reinforced insulating types must be used.

Conditions for using electricity as a direct protection measure in Vietnam from February 1, 2025

Agencies, organizations, and units are only allowed to use electricity as a direct protection measure when other protective measures are ineffective and the following conditions are met:

- Approval must be obtained from the Ministry of Public Security or the Ministry of National Defense (for military units) according to their respective regulations.

- The design, construction, and installation of the electric fence must meet the technical requirements outlined above.

- The electric fence may only be put into use when the investor has completed acceptance testing as per regulations, has delivered all relevant documents and materials related to the construction of the electric fence system to the operational management unit, and the operational management unit has allocated sufficient personnel according to regulations.

- Before putting the electric fence into use, the investor is responsible for developing and issuing procedures, forms for managing operation, inspection, maintenance of the electric fence system, and electrical safety procedures.

(Article 4 of Circular 02/2025/TT-BCT)

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