Original General Order 128

Section IV

Requirements For Communication Systems

43.3     Clearances and Depths  

Buried communication cables and conductors for public use shall be subject to the same clearance and depth requirements as specified for duct systems in Rules 41.4-A, 41.4-C and 41.4-D. In addition, separations from supply system ducts and buried cables or conductors shall be as follows:  

A.    Independently Installed  

Buried communication cables and conductors, when independently installed, shall be separated where practicable from supply system ducts and buried cables or conductors by not less than 3 inches of concrete, 4 inches of brick masonry, or 12 inches of earth.  

B.    Concurrently Installed

Buried communication cables and conductors, when concurrently installed, and with mutual agreement of the parties involved, may have separations from supply system ducts and buried cables or conductors less than those specified in Rule 43.3-A as follows:  

(1)    Random Separation from Buried Supply Cables and Conductors of Not Over 300 Volts to Ground: No physical separation of supply and communication systems is required when the supply circuit includes an effectively grounded neutral conductor and the maximum voltage to ground of the circuit does not exceed 300 volts provided that all grounded conductors, sheaths, or shields of each system appearing at connecting or terminating points are bonded and such bonds of the two systems are interconnected wherever practicable. (See Appendix B, Fig. 5)