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Marne and Associates, Inc.
Experts in Electrical Code

NESC® and OSHA Newsletter November 19, 2008

Marne and Associates NESC and OSHA Newsletter addresses issues relevant to power and communication utilities.

In This Issue:

NESC Rules for Joint Use Construction
More info.

Coming to Missoula, MT (Dec 3-4).

This NESC® seminar is a two-day class focusing on the joint use construction rules in the National Electrical Safety Code® (NESC®). The class will provide an overview of each part of the NESC® that deals with joint use construction (Day 1). Applying the Code to day-to-day work will be stressed by focusing on practical applications and class attendee questions (Day 2). The class includes ample time for questions and attendees are encouraged to share their NESC® applications with the class. The presentation is rich in graphics. More info.


Arc Flash Hazards and Fire Rated Clothing
More info.

Need help meeting the Jan 1, 2009 deadline for the NESC® arc flash rules? Join our 90-minute live web seminar on December 10, 2008. More info.


Question #1:

Can attaching [communication] utilities run service wire down the pole without a conduit, as long as they staple it to the pole? Or does the vertical run need to be guarded?

NESC Rule 239D requires vertical conductors and cables (e.g. risers) to be guarded within 8 ft of ground; however, there is an exception to this rule that allows guarding to be omitted from specific types of cables, including communication cables or conductors. The most common forms of guards for communication cable risers are conduit and U-guard. Remember that the joint-use agreement between the utilities involved may contain additional requirements and may require communication utilties to guard the communication cables even though it is not required in the NESC.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a communication riser that is not guarded.

Fig. 1
Fig. 1 - Communication Riser not in Conduit


NESC Joint Use Rules 2-Day Seminar
NESC Rules for Joint-Use Construction is a 2-day seminar being offered across the country this fall.

Arc Flash for Electric Utilities
Arc Flash Hazards and Arc Rated Clothing is a 90 minute web seminar offered once each month from August through December of 2008.

NESC and NESC Handbook
Purchase McGraw-Hill's NESC 2007 Handbook the NESC from the Code Store.

Expert Witness Services
Marne and Associates also provides expert witness services relating to the National Electrical Safety Code and OSHA.

If you have a question for our newsletter, please send an email to kirstin@marneassociates.com with a concise description of your NESC or OSHA question. We attempt to answer every question received, but the volume and type of questions limits us.

Disclaimer: The content of this newsletter should be considered general information only. It is not intended to be consulting engineering advice, legal advice, or an official interpretation of the NESC® or OSHA requirements.

The information and diagrams contained in this document attempt to show common situation where the 2007 NESC Code applies. They are intended to be used as visual aids to the reader of the Code and are not intended to be a replacement for the comprehensive nature of the Code as it is written.

Figures and/or photos used in this document that were derived from McGraw-Hill's NESC® Handbook are used by permission of the publisher, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Copyright © 2008 Marne and Associates, Inc.