General Order 64-A

Section VIII

Detailed Construction Requirements For Communication Lines

(Class C Circuits)

84.6    Protective Covering.

A.    Vertical Runs.

Vertical runs of wires or cables attached to poles or structures, shall be covered by suitable protective covering where within an 8 foot vertical distance from supply conductors (open wire) supported on the same pole or structure or within a radius of 6 feet from the supply conductors (open wire) supported by another pole or structure.  Excepted from this are the following:

Runs originating from cables and placed on the surface of the pole to the point of termination directly above or below the cable.

Runs for services where same are in the adjacent quadrant to that of the cable and as near to the cable as possible.  Said wires are to be placed in bridle ring construction with a maximum bridle ring separation of 3 feet.  (See App. G, Fig. 84.)

B.    Vertical Risers and Ground Wires.

Vertical risers and ground wires, other than lighting protection wires not attached to equipment, except on grounded structures, shall be covered by metal pipe or suitable covering for a distance sufficient to protect against mechanical injury by traffic but in no case less than 8 feet above the ground.  Excepted from this rule are ground wires in rural areas which have a mechanical strength at least equal to No. 4 stranded hard drawn copper.

Vertical risers of wires or cables including ground wires attached to poles or structures shall be covered by suitable protective covering where within an 8 foot vertical distance from supply conductors (open wire) supported by another pole or structure.  Excepted from this rule are:

That section of a cable riser not within an 8 foot vertical distance of the ground nor within an 8 foot vertical or 6 foot radial distance of supply conductors.

Cable risers within an 8 foot vertical or 6 foot radial distance from grounded supply cables.

C.    Wood Troughs.

Due care shall be exercised in the building of wood troughs to avoid the possibility of nails protruding through their inner surface.  All protective covering shall be attached to poles by means of metal straps.