Design of Engineering and Technical Security Systems (ITSS)

Why is a substation security perimeter without a properly designed ETSS a legal and physical vulnerability at the same time?

For an electrical power facility with an assigned hazard category, the composition and technical parameters of engineering and technical security means are determined not by the free choice of the designer, but by regulation: Order of the Ministry of Energy of Russia No. 6 from 15.01.2024 and a unified technical policy PJSC Rosseti establish mandatory requirements for the composition of ETSS for substations with the highest voltage 35-750 kV. Project documentation that does not meet these requirements will not pass the departmental examination - and will be returned with comments that will require re-development in terms of labor intensity comparable to the original project.

Engineering security equipment (ETSS) is not just a fence with cameras. This is a multi-level security complex in which physical barriers (perimeter fencing, anti-ramming devices, gates and gates with locking) form passive boundaries, and electronic systems - perimeter alarm system, security television (CCTV), security alarm system (SIAS) and ACS - provide their active control and instant detection of the intruder. The interaction of all levels is determined at the design stage: that is why a correctly developed DD is not a formality for obtaining a construction permit, but a technical guarantee of the security system’s performance in real conditions.

AYU-Project develops design documentation and working documentation to ETSS for energy infrastructure facilities (220-500 kV substations), industrial enterprises, critical and sensitive facilities. Our specialists have completed nine projects at power grid facilities in 2024-2025, which were approved with the requirements PJSC Rosseti and accepted by the customer without significant comments.

Three principles that determine the quality of our project ETSS

We develop ETSS projects taking into account the purpose of the object and the range of real threats: for a substation and for an industrial enterprise these are fundamentally different threat models, which means different requirements for the number of detection lines, types of sensors and response algorithms. We integrate all engineering and technical security means into a single protective complex: the physical perimeter, electronic detection systems, security lighting and ACS function as a single organism, exchanging events and implementing agreed upon algorithms. We ensure compliance of design documentation and working documentation with the standards and requirements of the approving bodies - the Russian Guard, the Ministry of Energy, PJSC Rosseti - which eliminates repeated iterations of documentation and disruption of the construction schedule.

Composition of ITSO: subsystems and their role in multi-faceted protection

Physical perimeter and engineering barriers - the first and main passive line of defense. We design a fence with standardized geometric parameters (height, design of the upper part, type of mesh or reinforced concrete sections), gates and gates with electromechanical locks, anti-ramming devices (barriers, gouges, concrete blocks) to protect entry zones, as well as a restricted area with a standardized width to accommodate the means of the second detection line. Constructive solutions along the perimeter are determined in connection with the requirements for the time it takes for an intruder to overcome the boundary.

Perimeter security alarm system - the second detection line, electronic. We design multi-channel perimeter systems using: vibration (seismic) detectors for fencing monitoring; radio beam (active IR) detectors for the warning zone; Microwave Doppler detectors for open areas with high levels of interference; capacitive systems on metal fences. The choice of types and combinations of sensors is justified by the threat model, terrain and the normalized level of false alarms.

CCTV system (CCTV / video surveillance) - visual control of the perimeter, the territory of the facility, entry zones, checkpoint and critical elements. We are designing IP-CCTV using street video cameras with IR illumination for night surveillance, PTZ cameras for areas with extended visibility, analytical modules for automatic detection of perimeter crossings and movement in protected areas. The archive of video recordings is designed with a standardized storage period; for objects fuel and energy complex - in accordance with the requirements of the unified technical policy PJSC Rosseti.

Security lighting (SLO) - a specialized lighting system for the perimeter and critical areas, providing a standardized level of illumination for the effective operation of video cameras at night. We design an emergency lighting system with standardized horizontal illumination (at least 0,5 lux at ground level in a strip near the fence) on supports located on the inside of the perimeter, with modes: constant emergency lighting and emergency switching on of full power based on a signal from the perimeter alarm. For fuel and energy facilities - taking into account the requirements for the location of supports in the restricted area.

Security and Intrusion Alarm System (SOTS) - an additional line of control within the protected perimeter: protection of buildings substation control building, GIS, oil switches and other critical elements of the facility. Includes door and hatch opening sensors, motion sensors inside technological rooms, alarm buttons at operating personnel workplaces, integration with CCTV to automatically switch cameras to the alarm event zone.

Access Control and Management System (ACS) - differentiation of access between categories of personnel at the entrance and entry checkpoint, into technological areas and buildings of the facility. We design ACS using ID cards, biometric readers and PIN keyboards; with access logic by personnel categories (operational, maintenance, contractors, security); with event logging and automatic blocking in case of alarm from SIAS.

Power supply and redundancy ETSS - for electric power facilities and sensitive facilities, the power supply of technical security equipment is designed according to the first reliability category: the main power supply from the facility’s network and a guaranteed reserve from UPS with batteries that provide a standardized operating time ETSS in the event of a complete blackout of the facility. For perimeter systems, remote power supply via cable with a voltage safe for personnel is used.

Power facilities: what makes the design of ITSO for substations fundamentally special?

For electric power facilities with an assigned hazard category, ITSO is designed in accordance with the requirements Order of the Ministry of Energy of Russia No. 6 from 15.01.2024 “On approval of the Guidelines for the technological design of alternating current substations with higher voltage 35-750 kV” (valid with 02.10.2024). The guidelines are mandatory for all organizations designing such facilities and determine the minimum necessary requirements for the composition of security systems in DD.

For objects included in the area of ​​responsibility PJSC Rosseti and its subsidiaries (Rosseti Center, Rosseti Ural, Rosseti Siberia, etc.), the composition and technical parameters of ITSO are additionally determined by the unified technical policy and standards of the group. This means that the designer is required to know the internal requirements of a particular network client - without this knowledge, the DD will be sent for revision already at the stage of internal verification, even before the state expert review. AYU-Project has proven experience in developing design documentation and working documentation for ITSO for network substations PJSC Rosseti, which allows us to design in strict accordance with the customer’s corporate requirements.

Completed projects ETSS

The result of our work is confirmed by specific implemented facilities. AYU-Project has developed design documentation and working documentation for ITSO for the following power grid facilities:

• substation 220 kV Ilkovskaya (2024);
• substation 220 kV Ilyichevka (2024);
• substation 220 kV Bolchary (2024);
• substation 220 kV Garlic (2024);
• substation 220 kV Krasnoleninsky GPZ (2024);
• substation 220 kV Murashi (2024);
• substation 220 kV Lebyazhye (2024);
• substation 220 kV Vyatka (2024);
• Substation 500 kV Kirov (2025).

All listed projects have been approved with the requirements PJSC Rosseti and state or departmental examination. Experience working at nine facilities of this class for two years is not only technological competence, but also an understanding of the procedure for interaction with the customer, the timing and specifics of approval procedures.

Composition of design documentation and working documentation according to ITSO

Documentation is developed in accordance with Government Decree of the Russian Federation No. 87 dated 16.02.2008 No. 87 (as amended on 21.10.2025) “On the composition of sections of project documentation and requirements for their content”, GOST R 53704-2009, By Order of the Ministry of Energy No. 6 from 15.01.2024 (for electric power facilities), GOST R 21.1101-2020 and the requirements of the technical specifications.

Design documentation stage includes: an explanatory note with a description of the object, a threat model, justification for the composition of ETSS, the number of protection lines and the types of means used; block diagram ETSS with the composition of subsystems and algorithms for their interaction; zoning diagram of the protected area indicating zones of limited and controlled access; matrix of alarming events and automatic reactions; calculation of electrical loads ETSS and the amount of power backup.

Working Documentation Stage (WD) contains:

• block diagrams of each subsystem ETSS (CCTV, perimeter alarm, ACS, SIAS, SOO) with a complete set of equipment;
• perimeter drawings indicating the types of fencing, installation locations of SOO supports, perimeter alarm sensors and video cameras with detection and viewing areas;
• plans for placing equipment on the territory and in buildings with reference to construction axes;
• schematic electrical diagrams of control cabinets for each subsystem;
• subsystem integration matrix (list of events, transmission channels and response algorithms);
• cable log and cable tracing diagrams (power and low-current);
• assignment for programming an integrated security system;
• power supply diagram with calculations UPS and battery bank;
• specifications of equipment and materials;
• statement of quantities.

Regulatory design basis ETSS

• GOST R 53704-2009 - complex and integrated security systems: general technical requirements for construction and design ETSS;
• GOST R 51558-2014 - CCTV systems: general technical requirements and test methods;
• GOST R 51241-2008 - means and systems of access control and management: classification and general technical requirements;
• GOST R 54830-2011 - perimeter security systems: general technical requirements and test methods;
• Order of the Ministry of Energy of Russia No. 6 from 15.01.2024 - guidelines for technological design of alternating current substations 35-750 kV (mandatory for electric power facilities);
• Federal Law No. 256-FZ “On the safety of fuel and energy complex facilities” - requirements for the physical protection of facilities fuel and energy complex with an assigned hazard category;
• Government Decrees Russian Federation on the categorization of objects fuel and energy complex and requirements for their anti-terrorist protection;
• WD 78.36.003-2002 - recommendations Ministry of Internal Affairs Russia on the use of technical security means;
• GOST R 21.1101-2020 - requirements for working documentation (WD) formatting;
• Government Decree of the Russian Federation No. 87 dated 16.02.2008 No. 87 (as amended on 21.10.2025) “On the composition of sections of project documentation and requirements for their content.”

How to order ITSO design from AYU-Project?

To receive a commercial proposal, indicate the type and purpose of the facility, its voltage class or production category (for fuel and energy facilities), assigned or preliminary hazard category (if any), the composition of the required subsystems according to the technical specifications and the design stage - DD or WD. If the terms of reference for ITSO have not yet been formed, we begin with a consultation: we help determine the mandatory regulatory composition, the requirements of the corporate client and the design budget. We work across Russia remotely; experience in obtaining approvals for facilities PJSC Rosseti allows us to realistically plan deadlines at the stage of concluding a contract.