Section 22

Relations between Various

Classes of Lines
and Equipment
220. RELATIVE LEVELS
Rule 220A requires that the levels of different classes of conductors should be
standardized by agreement of the utilities concerned. A joint use agreement,
which is an agreement between supply and communications utilities permit-
ting the communication utility to attach to supply poles, is one type of agree-
ment used to standardize utility locations on a pole. Rule 220B1 states that it is
preferred that supply (power) conductors be located above communications
conductors at crossings and on the same structures. See Fig. 220-1.
Rule 220B2, Special Construction for Supply Circuits, the Voltage of Which
Is 600 Volts or Less and Carrying Power Not in Excess of 5 Kilowatts, is a rule
for special construction related to railroad signal circuits. There are seven con-
ditions (paragraphs a through g) that must be met to apply this rule. Rule 220B2
does not apply to modern cable television and telephone circuits.
Rule 220C discusses where to position supply (power) lines of different volt-
ages on overhead structures. The terms crossings and conflicts are used in
Rule 220C1. Crossings are discussed in detail in Rule 241C. Conflicts are dis-
cussed in Rule 221 and a definition of structure conflict is provided in Sec. 02,
of the NESC. Relative levels of supply lines at crossings and conflicts are shown
in Figs. 220-2 and 220-3.
Rule 220C2 has requirements for structures used only for supply (power)
conductors. Rule 220C2a covers structures with circuits owned by one utility
and Rule 220C2b covers structures with circuits owned by separate supply util-
ities. See Figs. 220-4 and 220-5.
137
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Positioning higher voltage lines above lower voltage lines makes good sense.
Clearance above ground is greater for higher voltage circuits, so having them at
higher positions permits greater clearance. Rule 220C states the relative levels
of conductors, not the clearance between them. NESC Table 235-5 is referenced
in Rule 220C as this table provides vertical clearances between conductors on
a common supporting structure. Lower voltage circuits are worked on more
than higher voltage circuits so having them at lower positions makes them eas-
ier to access.
Rules 220D and 220E require uniform positions of supply and communica-
tion conductors and equipment or constructing, locating, marking, or number-
ing to facilitate identification by authorized employees who have to work on
them. This rule is similar to Rule 217A3, Identification of Supporting Struc-
tures. Identifying overhead conductors by attachment to distinctive insulators
or crossarms is also acceptable. Using uniform positions of conductors does not
prohibit changing locations systematically.
138 OVERHEAD LINES Rule 220
Fig. 220-1. Preferred supply and communication conductor levels (Rule 220B1).
See
Photo
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A neutral conductor, when on a crossarm with the phase conductors, is com-
monly identified with a different color or style insulator or by labeling the
crossarm with a letter N below the neutral insulator. A pole with crossarms
owned by multiple utilities can have the crossarms labeled with the utility
name or the crossarms can be constructed or located such that the employees
authorized to work on them can recognize them as their own.
221. AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICT
The term conflict was introduced in Rule 220C. See Rule 220 for additional
information on structure conflict. Avoidance of conflict can be accomplished
by sufficient separation of lines, or by structure strength, or by combining the
lines on the same structure. See Fig. 221-1.
Many times, right of way constraints will prohibit two separate lines and
collinear or joint use construction will be required. The term collinear con-
struction applies to two or more lines on the same structure. The term joint
Rule 221 RELATIONS BETWEEN VARIOUS CLASSES OF LINES AND EQUIPMENT 139
Fig. 220-2. Relative levels of supply lines of different voltages at crossings (Rule 220C1).
See
Photo
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140 OVERHEAD LINES Rule 221
Fig. 220-3. Relative levels of supply lines of different voltages at structure conflict locations
(Rule 220C1).
See
Photo
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use construction, per the definitions in Sec. 02, applies to two or more kinds
of utilities on the same structure (i.e., power and communication).
222. JOINT USE OF STRUCTURES
Per the definition of joint use in Sec. 02 of the NESC, joint use refers to two or
more kinds of utilities on the same structure (i.e., power and communication).
The NESC encourages the use of joint use construction along highways, roads,
streets, and alleys. See Fig. 222-1.
To decide between joint use and separate lines along highways, roads,
streets, and alleys, the following must be considered by the various power and
communication utilities considering the joint occupancy:
Rule 222 RELATIONS BETWEEN VARIOUS CLASSES OF LINES AND EQUIPMENT 141
Fig. 220-4. Relative levels of supply circuits of different voltages owned by one utility (Rule 220C2a).
See
Photo
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142 OVERHEAD LINES Rule 222
Fig. 220-5. Relative levels of supply circuits of different voltages owned by
separate utilities (Rule 220C2b).
kV
kV
kV
kV
kV
kV
kV
kV
See
Photo
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Rule 222 RELATIONS BETWEEN VARIOUS CLASSES OF LINES AND EQUIPMENT 143
Fig. 221-1. Avoiding conflict between two separate lines (Rule 221).
See
Photo
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Character of circuits
Total number and weight of conductors
Tree conditions
Number of branches (taps)
Number of service drops
Structure conflict
Availability of right of way
When joint use is used, it must meet the grade of construction specified in Sec.
24. A joint use agreement is appropriate when joint use construction is used. Joint
use agreements normally include wording regarding an attachment fee that is paid
by the utility that is attaching to a pole owned by a different utility. Joint use agree-
ments also commonly include references to NESC requirements, methods to
address payment for structures that must be replaced to meet joint use require-
ments, and attachment locations. Some supply utilities reserve the top 10 or 12 ft
of a distribution pole for supply attachments. This method assures supply space
will be available for future distribution service transformers, primary taps, sec-
ondary services, etc. A joint use agreement should be used for both collecting pole
rental fees and assuring joint use attachments are in accordance with the NESC.
223. COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTIVE
REQUIREMENTS
Rule 223 requires that a communication apparatus that is subjected to light-
ning, contact with supply conductors exceeding 300 V to ground, a ground
144 OVERHEAD LINES Rule 223
Fig. 222-1. Joint use (power and communication) of structures (Rule 222).
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potential rise greater than 300 V, or a steady-state induced voltage of a haz-
ardous level must be protected by insulation and, where necessary, surge
arresters in conjunction with fusible elements. Additional communication pro-
tective devices are also listed for severe conditions.
A typical joint use (power and communication) overhead distribution line is
subjected to the conditions listed in Rule 223A. The most common method
used for the means of protection required in Rule 223B is insulating the com-
munication conductors (in the form of a communication cable) and grounding
the communication messenger and bonding it to the grounded supply neutral.
This measure must be taken to satisfy Footnote 8 of NESC Table 242-1 and to
meet the messenger grounding requirements in Rules 215C1 and 215C3.
The additional communication protective devices for severe conditions are
typically applied to a communications line entering an electric supply station.
The electric supply station normally has large fault current duties, which can
severely damage a metallic communications cable. Commonly, isolation equip-
ment or a fiber-optic communication cable is used to serve substations to miti-
gate this concern.
224. COMMUNICATIONS CIRCUITS LOCATED
WITHIN THE SUPPLY SPACE AND SUPPLY
CIRCUITS LOCATED WITHIN THE
COMMUNICATION SPACE
A communication circuit may be owned by a supply utility and used for com-
municating between supply stations or used as a line of business to provide
data, Internet, or telephone services. Rule 224A applies to communication cir-
cuits located in the supply space.
If a communication circuit is located in the supply space (not the communi-
cation space), it must be installed and maintained by an employee qualified to
work in the supply space per the work rules (Secs. 42 and 44) of the NESC. If a
communication circuit is located in the communication space (not in the sup-
ply space), it can be installed and maintained by an employee qualified to work
in the communication space per the work rules (Secs. 42 and 43) of the NESC.
Rule 224A2 states that an insulated communication cable supported by an
effectively grounded messenger and located in the supply space must have the
same clearance as neutrals meeting Rule 230E1 from communication circuits in
the communication space and from supply conductors in the supply space.
This requirement can be applied to NESC Table 235-5, Footnote 5 and Footnote
9. See Rules 235C and 238E for examples and additional information. Fiber-
optic cables located in the supply space are covered in Rule 230F.
Examples of communication cables located in the supply space and the com-
munication space are shown in Fig. 224-1.
Rule 224B applies to special supply circuits used exclusively in the opera-
tion of communication circuits. Rule 224B1 applies to open wire (noninsu-
lated) circuits. Rule 224B2 applies to a communication cable with a supply
circuit embedded in it.
Rule 224 RELATIONS BETWEEN VARIOUS CLASSES OF LINES AND EQUIPMENT 145
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225. ELECTRIC RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION
Electric railways can be in the form of electric locomotives on railroad tracks or
electric trolleys on streetcar tracks. The NESC addresses clearances of electric
railway conductors throughout Sec. 23.
146 OVERHEAD LINES Rule 225
Fig. 224-1. Examples of communication cables located in the supply space and the communication
space (Rule 224A).
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