Cabina AT Astalli

Located just steps from Piazza Venezia, in the Campidoglio district, the Astalli primary electrical substation is among the oldest and most important in Rome. Since 1930, it has occupied part of the basement of Palazzo Astalli, a 16th-century noble residence, and in 1997 it was expanded below street level.

The substation is composed of three main sections: the delivery point receives high-voltage electricity from the main grid; two transformers act as backups for each other, reducing the voltage from high to medium; and the MV switchboard distributes electricity to the secondary substations.

These, in turn, feed the low-voltage lines, intended for connected users, including homes, offices, commercial spaces, institutional buildings, and monuments.

Palazzo Astalli is a prestigious historic building, and no structural interventions or alterations to its façades are permitted.

• The work involved the narrow cabin spaces, located on the three underground levels of the building and below the street, and the internal cloister, protected by a new roof.

• Every construction and system component was custom-built to comply with architectural constraints and the specific operational and environmental conditions.

• The smoke and heat exhaust duct passes through the narrow cloister to reach the roof of the building, approximately 40 meters above ground.

Cefla has been working with Areti since 2014, supporting the management, maintenance, and implementation of medium- and low-voltage electrical networks, including extraordinary maintenance of primary and secondary substations. The goal is to offer an increasingly comprehensive service within the timeframes required by Areti and its users.

The fire safety upgrade of the Astalli substation was conducted in compliance with current technical standards, following a detailed project focused on both risk prevention and the installation of state-of-the-art fire detection and extinguishing systems, despite significant constraints.

The single existing compartment was divided into several rooms, all protected by fireproof walls and doors (REI 120) made of calcium silicate panels, which ensure mechanical resistance, watertightness, and thermal insulation. To address emergency conditions, the substation is equipped with mechanical ventilation systems for hygienic renewal and forced air extraction.