Aerial Drop NESC Violations

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Aerial DropNESC Violations BootlegsScott
LivingstoneAdvanced Technical TrainerNetwork
EngineeringComcast
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Agenda

• Why???
• Terminology and Regulations
• Top Five Issues
• What can I do?

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Why???

• Safety
• Regulations
• Relationships
• Reliability
• Cost

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Why???1. Safety

• NESC National Electrical Safety Code
• Rules and regulations are designed to ensure
  worker and public safety

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Why???2. Regulations

• NESC
• State Requirements
• Contractual Obligations
• Company Regulations

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Why???3. Relationships

• With governance boards
• With pole owners
• With other renters
• With our customers
• With your supervisor
• With your work group

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Why???4. Reliability

• Low drops have low reliability ?
• Good engineering practices
• Under some circumstances the pole owner has the
  right to remove a drop in violation

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Why???5. Cost

• Cost of accidents
• Cost of fines
• Cost of inspections
• Cost of repair or replacement
• Costs impactReduced profit margin
• Increase incomeCustomer satisfaction
• Reduce costs
• Do it right the first time
• If you find a violationFix it or report it

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Terminology and Regulations

• Terminology
• NESCNational Electric Safety Code
• OPUCOregon Public Utility Commission
• WUTCWashington Utilities and Transportation
  Commission
• BootlegUnauthorized Pole Connection

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Terminology and Regulations

• Regulations come from
• NESC
• OPUC/WUTC
• Pole Owners
• MSO (Cable Company)
• Market/System

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Top Five Issues

• Top Five List
• Drop clearances at the house
• Bootlegs
• Climbing space
• Drop clearances at the pole
• Vertical clearances (roads, etc.) drop routing

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Top Five IssuesIssue 1

• Drop Clearances at the House
• 6 minimum from phone
• 12 minimum from power
• Never attach to a weather head
• Maintain clearances from roofs, windows, signs,
  antennas, etc. (See NESC part 2 or company
  regulations for specificsComcast (TCI)SDU manual
  or contact supervisor or training dept.

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Top Five Issues Issue 2

• Bootlegs
• Avoid additional pole connections whenever
  possible (Absolute last resort)
• If an additional connection is necessary insure
  pole clearances are observed
• Always document and process attachment permit
  request according to local policy
• All pole attachments should be checked (QC)

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Top Five Issues Issue 2

• Bootlegs

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Top Five Issues Issue 3

• Climbing Space
• BestEnsure at least one quadrant of the pole is
  open from the ground to the top of the pole
• Specification30X30X6 open space must be
  maintained up the full length of the pole with a
  40 overlap

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Top Five Issues Issue 4

• Drop Clearances at the Pole
• 40 from power
• 12 from phone
• 20 from bottom of the streetlight bracket
• (If mounted above the cable strand)
• 40 to the top of the streetlight bracket
• (If mounted below the cable strand)
• 12 from streetlight conductors

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Top Five Issues Issue 5

• Vertical Clearances and Routing

Area Under Drop Cable
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Top Five Issues Issue 5

• Vertical Clearances and Routing
• Ensure cable follows strand when routing around
  poles
• Avoid aerial trespass when routing cable from
  pole/midspan to house

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Top Five Issues Issue 5

• Aerial Trespass Example

X
OK
OK
OK
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What can I do?

• What can I do to reduce the number of existing
  and new NESC violations and bootlegs in my System?

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What can I do?

• Install and Repair Technicians
• Ensure you know the specifications or know where
  to find them when you have a question
• Do the job right the first time
• Fix or report all potential violations and
  bootlegs you find

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What can I do?

• Install and Repair Supervisors
• Ensure your employees know and/or have access to
  all applicable specifications and regulations and
  have the skills to do the job right
• Know the regulations yourself
• QC Coach
• QC Coach

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What can I do?

• System Management
• Ensure all personnel know or have access to all
  applicable specifications and regulations
• Implement a strong quality control program (This
  is a key issue)
• Ensure compliance with the quality control program

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What can I do?

• All Field Personnel
• Know or have access to all applicable
  specifications and regulations
• Fix or report all violations and potential
  bootlegs you find

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• Review