Does anyone know where I can find in writing something that says when you must use a hotstick. IE lets say I Lo/To a 5 kv switch gear and am now testing to check if its de energized. If I am suited up with all the proper ppe can I take my rated tested voltage detector by hand and verify the bus is dead? Or must I have it on a hot stick? I cant find anything on it.

Why would you want to put yourself into the Prohitited Approach Boundary? The circuit has to be considered enrergized, until proven otherwise.

If your company electrical safety procedures do not require a hotstick, and you are qualified for testing 5 kV, and you have Class 1 gloves, then you can test without a hotstick. Why not use the hotstick anyway to provide an extra measure of safety?

This is more of a question of is it a standard or in writing. Of course I dont want anyone to have to be within the Prohitited Approach Boundary of 5kv and having them use a hot stick is what should be done. Yet that being said this was more of a question of was has to be done and refering to set rules to standards. NFPA 70E clearly states lots of requirements yet I just didnt see anything on hotstick useage is all. So I take it there isnt...