Original General Order 95
Section
VIII
Detailed Construction Requirements for
Communication Lines
(Class C Circuits)
86.4 Clearances
The basic minimum clearances of guys above the ground and from other wires or cables are specified in Tables 1 and 2. Modifications of these basic clearances are specified in Rules 37 and 38 and by the following provisions:
A. Above Ground
(1) Across Or Along Public Thoroughfares: Guys over or across public thoroughfares in urban districts shall have a clearance of not less than 18 feet above ground (Table 1, Case 3, Column A) except that a clearance of not less than 16 feet is permitted for the portions of guys over that part of the public thoroughfare which is an entrance to or exit from industrial or commercial premises; and not less than 14 feet in cases where an entrance to or exit from private residential premises is involved.
Overhead guys along public thoroughfares may have clearances, above ground which is not normally accessible to vehicles, less than as specified in Table 1, Column A, Cases 3 and 4 (18 feet and 15 feet respectively) but sections of such guys between insulators shall have a clearance of not less than 8 feet above the ground, and sections of guys between insulators and poles shall have a clearance of not less than 7 feet above ground, and such guys without insulators shall be not less than 7 feet above ground.
(2) Over Private Property: Those portions of guys over private roadways or areas normally accessible to vehicles may have a clearance above ground less than 18 feet (Table 1, Case 3, Column A) but not less than 16 feet in rural districts and not less than 14 feet in urban districts.
B. Above Rail Ways And Trolley Lines
(1) Which Transport Freight Cars: The clearance specified in Table 1, Case 1, Column A (25 feet) is based upon the maximum height of standard freight cars, 15 feet 1 inch from top of rail to top of running board. This clearance shall in no case be reduced more than 5% because of temperature, wind or mechanical loading.
(2) Operated By Overhead Trolley: The clearance of 26 feet specified in Table 1, Case 2, Column A is based upon a trolley pole throw of 26 feet. Guys and span wires may have clearances of less than the trolley throw distance (26 feet) above the running surfaces, top of rail or surface of street, used by trolley cars or coaches provided the guys and span wires are not less than 4 feet above the trolley contact conductors and are encased in wood boxing or moulding 7/8-inch or more in thickness for distances of at least 2 feet horizontally from the vertical plane through each trolley contact conductor.
C. From Conductors
(1) Crossing In Spans: Vertical clearances at points of crossing not less than as specified in Table 2, Case 1, and radial clearances not less than as specified in Table 2, Case 18, shall be maintained between guys or span wires and conductors supported on other poles.
(2) On Colinear Lines: The radial clearances between guys on a line and conductors on a colinear line shall be not less than as specified in Table 2, Case 18. Vertical clearances not less than as specified in Table 2, Case 1, shall also be maintained at points of crossing between guys on a line and conductors supported on, other poles of a colinear line.
(3) Parallel On Same Poles: The radial clearances between guys and communication conductors which are approximately parallel and supported by the same poles may be less than as specified in Table 2, Case 18, but shall be not less than 3 inches.
(4) Passing On Same Poles: The radial clearances between guys and conductors supported by or attached to the same poles or crossarms shall be not less than as specified in Table 2, Case 19.
a) Overhead Guys: Overhead guys of communication lines passing through the level of supply conductors shall do so only between pole pin positions or outside of the outer pin position of such conductors on the crossarm.
b) Anchor Guys: Anchor guys which pass supply conductors shall clear such conductors by not less than the clearances shown in Table 2, Case 19. Anchor guys which pass through the level of supply conductors at positions other than between pole pin positions or outside of the outer pin positions, shall be sectionalized by means of an insulator placed below the supply conductors in accordance with the provisions of Rule 86.7-B, and in addition thereto an insulator shall be placed not less than 2 feet above the supply conductor level.
D. From Span Wires Or Other Guys
(1) Crossing In Spans: At points of crossing, vertical clearances not less than 18 inches as specified in Table 2, Case 1, Column A, and radial clearances of not less than 12 inches, shall be maintained between guys or span wires and other guys or span wires which are not attached to the same poles.
(2) Passing And Attached To Same Pole: Where a guy of a communication system and a guy of a supply system pass each other and are attached to the same pole, a separation of not less than 3 inches shall be maintained between such guys. No separation is required between such guys of communication systems, provided neither is an exposed guy (see Rule 21.3-C).
(3) Approximately Parallel And Attached To Same Poles: Where two or more overhead guys are approximately parallel and attached to the same poles, either or both of which poles support supply conductors, such guys shall have a vertical separation of at least one foot between the points of attachment on the pole, or poles, which support supply conductors. In cases where this 1-foot minimum separation is not practicable other means may be employed to insure the effectiveness of guy insulators, but in no case shall the distance between any guy wire and the surface of the insulator in any other guy be less than 3 inches. This rule shall not prohibit the contact of such guys to the same shim and shall not apply to guys acting in different directions, nor to guys in which insulators are not required by any provision of Rule 86.6.
Where two or more anchor guys are attached to the same pole carrying supply conductors and the same grounded anchorage, either directly or through the medium of a stub, they shall be separated at the pole by a vertical distance of at least one foot, provided any guy wire shall be not less than 3 inches from the surface of the insulator in any other guy. In lieu of securing this 3-inch minimum separation by means of the 1-foot minimum separation of guy attachments at the pole, it shall be afforded by separation of the grounded anchorages or by other practicable means which shall insure the minimum clearance of 3 inches. The provisions of this rule do not apply to guys which act in different directions from the pole or to guys attached to grounded metal structures or to guys which do not require insulators.
The provisions of this rule requiring separation of guys shall not be held to apply to guys attached to poles supporting only communication conductors.
E. From Poles
Where guys passing poles supporting supply conductors are less than 15 inches from surface of pole and less than 8 feet below supply conductors of less than 20,000 volts supported on such pole, the guys shall be sectionalized, in addition to the normal sectionalization required by Rule 86.6, by means of insulators in accordance with Rule 86.6-B2 as though attached to the pole or structure.
F. Above Buildings
The minimum vertical clearance of 8 feet specified for guys above buildings (Table 1, Case 6, Column A) may be reduced over roofs of 3/8 pitch (37 degrees from the horizontal) or greater to a clearance of not less than 2 feet.