The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has released a comprehensive draft list of relevant standards for electrical safety and power sector operations. The notification has been issued by the Chief Electrical Inspectorate (CEI) Division in accordance with Regulation 137 of the Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
The regulation requires the CEA to publish applicable safety and operational standards within three months of the regulations coming into force. The draft list brings together Indian Standards (IS) and international standards issued by organizations including the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
The proposed standards cover a wide range of electrical infrastructure and are aimed at strengthening safety practices, standardizing equipment and protecting electrical workers and the public from hazards.
For general electrical safety, the draft includes standards covering working tools, insulation, earthing and personal protective equipment (PPE). These include safety belts, non-conductive ladders, rubber insulating gloves and insulating mats designed to reduce the risk of electric shock and arc-flash incidents.
The draft also establishes safety requirements for buildings and electrical installations. These include provisions for fire safety, wiring, earthing, danger notices and residual current devices. For multi-storeyed buildings above 15 metres, Fire Retardant Low Smoke (FRLS) power cables are required. Halogen Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) cables are specified for sensitive facilities such as airports, hospitals and hotels. High-voltage installations and substations above 650 V are also subject to requirements covering safety clearances, transformer fire barriers and automatic fire-fighting systems.
For overhead transmission and distribution infrastructure, the standards address line joints, structural steel tower stress limits, anti-climbing arrangements and lightning protection. Requirements have also been outlined for underground cables, including minimum burial depths for cables up to 33 kV.
Mining and hazardous locations form another important part of the draft standards. These provisions cover heavy-duty cables, flame-proof electrical equipment for gas-prone areas, shot-firing cables, illumination and emergency fire-fighting arrangements.
The draft also gives specific attention to renewable energy and emerging technologies. Solar power installations are required to incorporate appropriate lightning protection, surge protective devices and fire detection systems. Floating solar projects are covered through environmental and structural testing requirements, including salt mist, ammonia corrosion and tensile stress testing for High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) structures.
Standards have also been identified for wind energy systems, electric vehicle charging stations, High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) systems and Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS). Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are covered through safety provisions addressing thermal runaway, fire suppression, HVAC ventilation and electrolyte spill containment.
The CEA has invited comments, suggestions and feedback from stakeholders and members of the public on the draft list.
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