Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations (Amendment) (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1962. No. 28.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH

ACT 1901-1961.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1961.

Dated this fifteenth day of March, 1962.

DE L’ISLE

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Postmaster-General.

AMENDMENTS OF THE TELEGRAPH LINES PROTECTION REGULATIONS. 

1. Regulation 2 of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Parts.

“2. These Regulations are divided into Parts, as follows:—

Part  I.—Preliminary (Regulations 1-8).

Part  II.—Electric Traction Systems.

Division 1.—General (Regulations 9-15).

Division 2.—Direct Current Systems (Regulations 16-20).

Division 3.—Alternating Current Systems (Regulation 21).

Part  III.—Electric Light and Power Lines and Works.

Division 1.—General (Regulations 22-25).

Division 2.—Aerial Lines (Regulations 26-36).

Division 3.—Lines other than Aerial Lines (Regulations 42-43).

Part  IV.—Miscellaneous (Regulations 44-50).”.

2. Regulation 5 of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead—

Interpretation.

“5.—(1.) In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

‘aerial line’ means an aerial line used for the transmission, above the ground and in the open air, of current at a voltage exceeding 30 volts in the case of alternating current or 100 volts in the case of direct current, and includes the conductor and its supports and any insulators and other apparatus connected to the line or any of its supports;

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 22nd March, 1962.

  Statutory Rules 1934, No. 130.

5754/61.—PRICE 8D. 9/12.12.1961

‘approved’ means approved, in writing, for the purposes of the provision in which the expression occurs, by the Postmaster-General or by an officer authorized by the Postmaster-General to give approvals for the purposes of that provision;

‘average potential’ means the algebraic average potential calculated over a period of 24 hours on a week-day other than a week-day when extraordinary traffic conditions exist;

‘conductor’ means a part of an aerial line or of an electric traction system by which current is transmitted;

‘current’ means electric current;

‘effectively connected with earth’ means connected with the general mass of the earth in such a manner as to ensure, at all times, an immediate and safe discharge of energy;

‘generator’ means a device used for the generation of energy, and includes a device used for the conversion of alternating current to direct current or of direct current to alternating current;

‘high voltage aerial line’ means an aerial line designed to transmit current at a voltage exceeding 650 volts;

‘leakage’ means—

(a) in relation to a line—the passage of current between the line and the earth, or any other line, at a point where the line should be insulated; and

(b) in relation to an uninsulated neutral conductor—the passage of current between the conductor and the earth or any object in the earth;

‘line’ means a conductor insulated from earth;

‘low voltage aerial line’ means an aerial line designed to transmit current at a voltage exceeding 30 volts in the case of alternating current or 100 volts in the case of direct current but not exceeding 650 volts;

‘motor’ includes any appliance using current;

‘return’ means a conductor used for transmitting direct current from a motor back to the generator by which the current was generated;

‘the Act’ means the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1961;

‘voltage’ means—

(a) in relation to an aerial line transmitting direct current—the difference in potential; and

(b) in relation to an aerial line transmitting alternating current—the root mean square value of the difference in potential,

between two conductors forming part of the aerial line or between such a conductor and the earth.

“(2.) Where, by testing a part of an aerial line, the load that was being supported by the part at the instant when the part became unable to support any additional load has been ascertained, that load shall for the purposes of these Regulations, be deemed to be the load required to cause the breaking of any part constructed to the same design and specifications as that part, and references in these Regulations to the load required to cause the breaking of a part of an aerial line shall be read accordingly.”.

Precautions at crossings.

3. Regulation 12 of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is amended by inserting at the end of sub-regulation (2.) the following word and paragraph:—

“; and (f) The use of steel stranded wires between the telegraph wires and any conductor forming part of the electric traction system.”.

Location of aerial lines for traction purposes.

4. Regulation 15 of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is amended by omitting the word “the” (first occurring) and inserting in its stead the word “open-wire”.

Uninsulated returns.

5. Regulation 19 of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting sub-regulation (5.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“(5.) The rail potential drop, overall rail potential and rail joints resistance that may be stipulated by the Postmaster-General under sub-regulation (3.) of this regulation are—

(a)a drop in average potential, on any section of railway track or tramway track measuring half a mile in length, not exceeding—

(i) in the case of a track that is laid on a separate road-bed—2 volts; or

(ii) in any other case—1 volt;

(b)a drop in average potential, between any two points in a tramway track that is not laid, or in tramway tracks that are not laid, on a separate road-bed, not exceeding—

(i) a number of volts equal to the number ascertained by multiplying by 2 a number equal to the distance in miles and parts of a mile between those points; or

(ii) 2 volts,

whichever is the less;

(c) a drop in average potential, between any two points in a railway track that is not laid, or in railway tracks that are not laid, on a separate road-bed, not exceeding—

(i) a number of volts equal to the number ascertained by multiplying by 4 a number equal to the distance in miles and parts of a mile between those points; or

(ii) 12 volts,

whichever is the less;

(d)a rail joint resistance, in the case of a joint other than a joint where there are points or crossings in the rail, not exceeding the resistance of any 3 yards of the rail, and an increase in resistance in any section of track due to the joints, in that section not exceeding ten per centum of the mean of the resistances of the rails in that section (not including any joints in the rails in that section);

(e) a conductance, in the case of a cross connexion between the rails of a tramway track or railway track, or between a rail of such a track and a rail of another such track that is parallel to it, such that the resistance between the two rails does not exceed—

(i) in the case of a tramway track—1.5 milliohms per yard; or

(ii) in the case of a railway track—6 milliohms per yard,

of the distance between the two rails; and

(f) a difference between the average potential of a rail forming part of a tramway track or railway track and the average potential of any adjacent cable-sheath or work of the Postmaster-General (not being a cable-sheath or work that is connected to the track by virtue of permission granted under sub-regulation (1.) of the last preceding regulation) not exceeding—

(i) in the case of a rail forming part of a tramway track—0.8 volts; or

(ii) in the case of a rail forming part of a railway track—1.6 volts.”; and

(b)by omitting from sub-regulation (6.) the words “paragraph (iv) of” and inserting in their stead the words “paragraph (d) of”.

Particulars as to alternating current systems.

6.Regulation 21 of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (f) the word “and”; and

(b)by adding at the end thereof the following paragraphs:—

“(h) the current at which the proposed system is designed to operate; and

“(i) the current that will be transmitted through the proposed system in the event of an earth fault occurring in the system.”.

Test of insulation of circuit.

7. Regulation 24 of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “High pressure or extra high pressure circuits” and inserting in their stead the words “A high voltage aerial line”;

(b)by inserting in that sub-regulation, after the word “apparatus”, the words “connected to the line”; and

(c) by omitting from that sub-regulation the word “pressure” (third occurring) and inserting in its stead the word “voltage”.

Earth connexion.

8. Regulation 25 of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words “low or medium pressure alternating current distribution systems, the neutral wire” and inserting in their stead the words “a low voltage aerial line transmitting alternating current, the neutral conductor”;

(b) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (2.) the word “wire” and inserting in its stead the word “conductor”;

(c) by inserting at the end of that paragraph the word “and”; and

(d) by omitting paragraph (ii) of sub-regulation (2.).

9. Division 2 of Part III. of the Telegraph Lines Protection Regulations is repealed and the following Division inserted in its stead:—

“Division 2.—Aerial Lines.

Supports of aerial lines.

“26.—(1.) The supports of an aerial line shall be of durable material and shall be constructed to withstand any wind pressure, change in direction of the aerial line and unequal tensions in adjacent spans to which it could reasonably be subjected.

“(2.) A particular structure or article included in a class of structures or articles specified in the following table shall not be used as a particular part of a support of an aerial line if the load to which that part is subjected under maximum loading conditions exceeds the limit specified in relation to that class in the second column of that table:—

Class of structures or articles.	Load limit.
First column.	Second column.
Fabricated steel structures, steel poles or steel cross arms	50 per centum of the load required to cause breaking or permanent deformation
Reinforced concrete structures ..........................................................	50 per centum of the load required to cause breaking
Wooden poles or wooden cross-arms that have, for the purpose of preserving the poles or cross-arms, been subjected to full-length pressure treatment or to some other treatment as effective for that purpose as full-length pressure treatment	40 per centum of the load required to cause breaking
Wooden poles or wooden cross-arms that have not been subjected, for the purpose of preserving the poles or cross-arms, to full-length pressure treatment or to some other treatment as effective for that purpose as full-length pressure treatment	25 per centum of the load required to cause breaking
Insulators, stays, fabricated fittings or forged fittings	40 per centum of breaking strength
Cast fittings.............................................................................................	33⅓ per centum of breaking strength

“(3.) Where the Postmaster-General is of opinion that, by reason of special circumstances, the limit specified in the last preceding sub-regulation is, in the case of a particular part of a support of an aerial line, insufficient to ensure that the aerial line will not injuriously affect any telegraph line or work of the Postmaster-General, the Postmaster-General may, by notice in writing to the electric authority responsible for the operation of the

aerial line, specify the load to which the part must be capable of being subjected, and, upon receipt of the notice, the electric authority shall ensure that a part not capable of being subjected to the load specified in the notice is not used as that part of the support.

“(4.) A particular wooden pole or wooden cross-arm shall not be used as a particular part of a support of an aerial line if the load to which that part is subjected under sustained loading conditions exceeds—

(a) in the case of a pole or cross-arm that has, for the purpose of preserving the pole or cross-arm, been subjected to full-length pressure treatment or to some other treatment as effective for that purpose as full-length pressure treatment—20 per centum of the load required to cause breaking; or

(b) in the case of a pole or cross-arm that has not been subjected to such a treatment—15 per centum of the load required to cause breaking.

“(5.) In calculating the load required to cause an undressed wooden pole to break for the purposes of either of the last two preceding sub-regulations, the sapwood shall be disregarded unless the pole has, for the purpose of preserving the pole, been subjected to full-length pressure treatment or to some other treatment as effective for that purpose as full-length pressure treatment.

“(6.) In calculating the load required to break a wooden cross-arm for the purposes of this regulation, the appropriate allowance shall be made for any bolt and pin holes in the cross-arm.

“(7.) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (2.) of this regulation, an insulator shall not be attached to a stay-wire as part of the stay, unless the breaking strength of the insulator is equal to or greater than the breaking strength of the stay-wire.

“(8.) In calculating the load, under maximum loading conditions, to which a part of a support of an aerial line is subjected—

(a) it shall be assumed—

(i) that any cylindrical surface of the part is under a wind pressure equal to 15 pounds per square foot of the projected area of the surface;

(ii) that any flat surface of the part is under a wind pressure equal to 25 pounds per square foot of the projected area of the surface;

(iii) that wind is blowing at right angles to the projected area of the surface; and

(iv) that no surface of a part is shielded by any other part of the support; and

(b) if the part is situated at a place where it is likely to be subjected to falls of snow or the formation of ice, appropriate provision shall be made for the additional load to which it is likely to be subjected under those conditions.

“(9.) In calculating the load, under sustained loading conditions, to which apart of a support of an aerial line is subjected, it shall be assumed—

(a) that the ambient temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit; and

(b) that there is no wind pressure on the part or on any conductor attached, either directly or by means of another part or other parts of the support, to the part.

Types of conductors.

“27.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a conductor of an aerial line shall be made of stranded wires of—

(a) hard-drawn copper or copper alloy, galvanized steel, hard-drawn aluminium or steel-cored aluminium; or

(b)a metal or alloy as resistant to atmospheric corrosion as a metal or alloy referred to in the last preceding paragraph.

“(2.) A conductor made of solid galvanized steel and having a diameter of not less than four twenty-fifths of an inch may be used instead of a conductor made of stranded wires.

Ultimate breaking strength of conductors.

“28.—(1.) A conductor that forms part of a low voltage aerial line shall have a breaking strength of not less than 700 pounds.

“(2.) A conductor that forms part of a high voltage aerial line shall have a breaking strength of not less than 1250 pounds.

Limits of tension in conductors.

“29.—(1.) The tension, under maximum loading conditions, of a conductor that forms part of an aerial line shall not exceed 50 per centum of its breaking strength.

“(2.) The tension of a conductor of a kind specified in the first column of the following table shall not exceed, under sustained loading conditions, the percentage of the breaking strength of the conductor specified—

(a) if effective vibration dampers or armour rods are fitted to the conductor—in the second column of that table; or

(b) if effective vibration dampers or armour rods are not fitted to the conductor—in the third column of that table,

in relation to a conductor of that kind:—

Kind of conductor.	Percentage of breaking strength.
	Where vibration dampers or armour rods fitted.	Where vibration dampers or armour rods not fitted.
First column.	Second column.	Third column.
Conductor consisting of seven strands of hard-drawn copper or galvanized steel	33⅓	25
Conductor consisting of seven strands of hard-drawn cadmium copper alloy or steel-cored aluminium	25	18
Conductor consisting of three strands of hard-drawn copper or galvanized steel	40	30
Conductor consisting of three strands of hard-drawn cadmium copper alloy or steel-cored aluminium	30	21 ⅗

“(3.) The tension of a conductor, other than a conductor of a kind specified in the first column of the table in the last preceding sub-regulation, shall not exceed, under maximum loading conditions and under sustained loading conditions, such respective percentages of the breaking strength of the conductor as the Postmaster-General determines.

“(4.) In calculating the tension of a conductor, under maximum loading conditions—

(a) it shall be assumed—

(i) that the ambient temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit;

(ii) that, in the case of a conductor which forms part of a high voltage aerial line and is supported by steel towers, the conductor is under a wind pressure equal to 7½ pounds per square foot of the projected area of the conductor or, in the case of any other conductor, the conductor is under a wind pressure equal to 10 pounds per square foot of the projected area of the conductor;

(iii) that the wind is blowing at right angles to the projected area of the conductor; and

(iv) that no surface of the conductor is shielded by another conductor or by any other part of the aerial line; and

(b) if the conductor is situated at a place where it is likely to be subjected to falls of snow or the formation of ice, appropriate provision shall be made for the additional load to which it is likely to be subjected under those conditions.

“(5.) In calculating the tension of a conductor under sustained loading conditions, it shall be assumed—

(a) that the ambient temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit; and

(b) that there is no wind pressure on the conductor.

Securing of aerial lines.

“30. An electric authority responsible for the operation of an aerial line shall take all reasonable measures to prevent a conductor forming part of the aerial line from falling away from an insulator to which it is fastened.

Protection from induction.

“31.—(1.) For the purpose of preventing the telegraph lines and works of the Postmaster-General from being interfered with or injuriously affected by induction from an aerial line—

(a) the conductors that constitute a circuit shall be erected in such a manner that they are substantially parallel with each other and, if such a conductor is fastened to a structure or pole, each other conductor forming part of the circuit shall be fastened to that structure or pole;

(b) the conductors shall be interchanged by crossing where the Postmaster-General directs; and

(c) where, in the opinion of the Postmaster-General, special measures are necessary, such other approved measures shall be taken.

“(2.) This regulation does not apply in relation to a circuit that transmits direct current without appreciable pulsation and does not interfere with, or injuriously affect, by induction, a telegraph line or work of the Postmaster-General

Prevention of contact.

“32. An electric authority shall ensure that its aerial lines do not come into contact with any telegraph lines or works of the Postmaster-General.

Maintenance of aerial lines.

“33. Where an aerial line of an electric authority is, by virtue of a preceding provision of this Division, required to be designed or constructed in conformity with a standard specified in or under such a provision, the provision shall be taken to include a requirement that that electrical authority shall so maintain the aerial line that it will continue to conform to that standard.

Low voltage aerial lines crossing telegraph lines.

“34.—(1.) This regulation applies to an aerial line that is a consumers connexion with mains where the direction of the electric line crosses a telegraph line of the Postmaster-General at right angles at the point of shortest distance and continues in the same direction for a distance of 6 feet on each side of such point, and where the connecting wires so crossing are not within 3 feet of any telegraph wire.

“(2.) A conductor forming part of an aerial line to which this regulation applies shall not be erected in such a position that it crosses under a telegraph line of the Postmaster-General unless—

(a) it does not pass within 8 feet of a support for such a telegraph line; and

(b) the Postmaster-General has given approval for the conductor to cross under the telegraph line.

“(3.) The Postmaster-General shall not give approval for a conductor forming part of an aerial line to which this regulation applies to cross under a telegraph line of the Postmaster-General unless—

(a) the conductor is of an approved type;

(b) the aerial line is erected in a manner satisfactory to the Postmaster-General; and

(c) the system of distribution of which the aerial line forms a part is an approved system.

“(4.) A conductor forming part of an aerial line to which this regulation applies shall not be erected in such a position that it passes within 8 feet of a support for a telegraph line of the Postmaster-General unless—

(a) it does not cross under any such telegraph line; and

(b) it does not pass within 4 feet of any such telegraph line.

“(5.) Where the last preceding sub-regulation operates to prevent a conductor from running directly from an outside support to a consumer’s premises, the conductor may be attached to a support for a telegraph line of the Postmaster-General.

“(6.) Where a conductor is permitted to be attached to a support under the last preceding sub-regulation—

(a) the electric authority responsible for the operation of the aerial line of which the conductor forms a part may attach an extension to the support; and

(b) the conductor shall be attached to the support (or to an extension to the support) above the cross-arm or other attachment carrying telegraph lines and not less than 4 feet from that cross-arm or attachment measured in a straight line from the centre of that cross-arm or from that attachment.

“(7.) A conductor or extension shall not be attached to a telegraph line support for the purposes of this regulation—

(a) without prior notice to the Postmaster-General; and

(b) except in an approved manner.

High voltage aerial lines.

“35.—(1.) This regulation applies to a high voltage aerial line that is more than 10 yards from any telegraph line of the Postmaster-General.

“(2.) Except with the approval in writing of the Postmaster-General, a conductor of a high voltage aerial line to which this regulation applies that is attached to a support consisting of a single pole shall not be attached to the pole at a greater height above the ground than a height equal to the distance, at the ground line, from the support to the nearest telegraph line of the Postmaster-General.

“(3.) Where a high voltage aerial line to which this regulation applies crosses over a telegraph line of the Postmaster-General, the location of the supports for the aerial line at each side of the crossing shall be approved by the Postmaster-General.

“(4.) Wherever practicable, a high voltage aerial line to which this regulation applies that crosses a telegraph line of the Postmaster-General shall cross the telegraph line at right angles.

“(5.) A high voltage aerial line to which this regulation applies shall not, without the consent in writing of the Postmaster-General, cross a telegraph line at an angle less than forty-five degrees.

Electric lines not to be on same side of road as telegraph lines.

“36. Where a telegraph line of the Postmaster-General has been erected on one side of a street or road, an electric authority shall not, without the approval in writing of the Postmaster-General, erect an aerial line on the same side of the street or road.”.

By Authority: A. J. ARTHUR, Commonwealth Government Printer. Canberra.