Grain Bin Clearances

If you are planning to locate a new grain bin (or move an existing one), please contact Western Iowa Power Cooperative (WIPCO).  WIPCO will provide assistance in planning for a safe environment for everyone working and living around grain bins.  The State of Iowa requires specific clearances for electric lines around grain bins, with different standards for those filled by portable and permanent augers, conveyors and elevators.

Review the minimum bin set back requirements from electric wires (drawings are pictured below). These are drawings of the specific clearances required for both scenarios. If you have any questions concerning these drawings, please contact WIPCO. Disclaimer: These drawings are provided as part of Iowa electric cooperatives' annual public information campaign and are based on the 2017 Edition of the National Electrical Safety Code. To view the actual drawings refer to that publication. Every care has been taken for the correctness of the contents for these drawings. However, the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives and its member cooperatives accept no liability whatsoever for omissions or errors, technical inaccuracies, typographical mistakes or damages of any kind arising from the use of the contents of these drawings, whether textual or graphical.

According to the Iowa Electrical Safety Code found in Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 199 – 25.2(3) b. An electric utility may refuse to provide electric service to any grain bin built near an existing electric line which does not provide the clearances required by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)C2- 2017 “National Electrical Safety Code,” Rule 234F. This paragraph “b” shall apply only to grain bins loaded by portable augers, conveyors or elevators and built after September 9, 1992, or to grain bins loaded by permanently installed augers, conveyors or elevator systems installed after December 24, 1997. The Iowa Utilities Board has adopted this language.

Western Iowa Power Cooperative is required by the Iowa Utilities Board to provide this annual notice to farmers, farm lenders, grain bin merchants and city and county zoning officials.  If you have any questions concerning clearance regulations – or what needs to be done before you begin placing a new grain bin or moving an existing one – please call Western Iowa Power Cooperative.