March 29, 2017

Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Application
This standard establishes the clearances that are required on utility pole structures
between electrical supply facilities owned and operated by Tacoma Power and
communication facilities owned and operated by others.

Terms
Term Definition
Joint Utility For the purposes of this standard, any entity (utility, public agency,
communications company, or other) other than the electrical supply
utility that is attached to the structure.
Communication The space on joint-use structures where communication facilities are
Space separated from the supply space by the communication Worker safety
zone. This space is below the communication worker safety zone.
Communication That space as defined in National Electric Safety Code (NESC) Rule
Worker Safety 235C4. This zone generally originates at the lowest point of the supply
Zone space. This space is intended to maintain a physical separation
between supply and communication facilities. The minimum dimensions
of this space shall at no time be violated.
Supply Space The space on joint-use structures where supply facilities are separated
from the communication space by the communication worker safety
zone. This space is above the communication worker safety zone.
Transmission Tacoma Power supply voltages of 115 kV or 230 kV.
Distribution Tacoma Power supply voltages of 7.2 kV to 15 kV.
Secondary Tacoma Power supply voltages of 600 V or less.
Supply Neutral Multi-grounded conductor of the Distribution system.
Common Position Nine feet (9 ft.) below the distribution.

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 1 of 13

 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Figure 1 Illustration of Space Allocation on Pole

Supply Space

Common Position

Communication Worker
Safety Zone
Communication
Space

Required
Ground
Space

Figure 2 Illustration of Communication Worker Safety Zone

Power Attachment

Communication Worker Safety Zone

Per Figures 3,4,5,6, & 7

Communications
Attachment

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 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Clearance Requirements
Clearances to Clearances from transmission to communication underbuild will be determined by
Transmission the Tacoma Power Line Engineering Department. This standard does not list any
clearances of communication cables to Tacoma Power transmission facilities.

Clearances to Clearances to distribution, secondary and supply neutral conductors will follow the
Distribution, most current version of the NESC unless otherwise noted. At no time will the
Secondary and minimum NESC clearances be compromised.
Supply Neutral
Minimum clearance values listed for existing attachments do not allow for additional
communication facilities to be installed at a later date.

New For new communication attachments to existing structures that wish to be installed
Attachments above existing communications facilities the minimum clearance values must be
present. If this is not the case make ready work is likely to be required.

Clearances at The minimum clearances at supports between Tacoma Power electrical supply
Supports conductors, equipment, and hardware and communication conductors and hardware
attached to the same supports are listed in the figures that follow:

If… and… then refer to…

Figure 3
distribution/supply neutral
there are no additional (The clearance is
conductors are mounted
Tacoma Power measured from the tie
on a crossarm at the same
conductors or equipment wire or conductor clamp
level (either single or
below the crossarm on the insulator to the top
double arm construction)
of the communication
space)
electrical equipment
distribution/supply neutral
enclosure is mounted
conductors are mounted
beneath the crossarm
on a crossarm at the same Figure 4
with no additional Tacoma
level (either single or
Power conductors or
double arm construction)
equipment beneath it
the supply neutral is
there are no secondary
located in the common Figure 5
conductors on the pole
position on the pole
secondary conductor is
located in the common Figure 6
position
a secondary riser is
Figure 7
located on the pole

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 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Figure 3 Clearance to Distribution/Supply Neutral Conductors on Pole with No Other

Equipment or Conductors (e.g. 13.8 kV System or Supply Neutral on arm, etc.)

Supply
Distribution Neutral
Conductor

Communication Worker
Safety Zone
9’ min.

Communications
Cable

Communication
Space

Pole Grounding
Conductor

Minimum Clearance*
9 feet

 Clearances are designed so that Tacoma Power manlift equipment can move
from the road side of the structure to the field side of the structure. The clearances
exceed the NESC minimum clearance of 40 in.

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 4 of 13

 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Figure 4 Clearance to Equipment

Distribution/Supply
Neutral Conductor

Supply Space

Grounded
Equipment
Case

30” Grounded Case

40” Ungrounded Case
Communication Worker
Safety Zone

Communication
Space

Minimum Clearance
Grounded Case Ungrounded Case
30 inches 40 inches

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 5 of 13

 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Figure 5 Clearance to Supply Neutral in the Common Position

Optional
Secondary
Supply Rack
Space

Supply Space

Rigid Clevis

Supply Neutral

40” Minimum
Communication
Worker Safety Zone

Communication
Space NOTE: Communications shall install as
low as possible on the pole while
maintaining clearances

Minimum Clearance*
40 inches

 The minimum clearance may be reduced to 30 inches on a per structure basis as

reviewed and approved by the Tacoma Power Line Section.

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 6 of 13

 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Figure 6 Clearance to Secondary Conductor in the Common Position

Secondary or Service
Rigid Supply Conductors
Clevis

Supply Space

Drip Loop

40" Minimum
Communication
Worker Safety Zone

Communication
Space NOTE: Communications shall install
as low as possible on the pole
while maintaining clearances

Minimum Clearance
40 inches

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 7 of 13

 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Figure 7 Clearance to Secondary Riser Termination (Top of the Conduit)

Supply Space

Top of
Secondary Riser

40" Minimum
Communication Worker NOTE:
Safety Zone
Risers shall be installed at
the same level or above the
neutral

Communication
Space

Minimum Clearance
40 inches

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 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Clearances at The minimum clearances at midspan between Tacoma Power electrical supply
Midspan conductors and communication conductors attached to the same supports are listed
between in the figures that follow:
Supports
If… and… then refer to…
distribution/supply neutral
there are no additional
conductors are mounted on a
Tacoma Power conductors
crossarm at the same level Figure 8
or equipment below the
(either single or double arm
crossarm
construction)
the supply neutral is located
there are no secondary
in the common position on Figure 9
conductors on the pole
the pole
secondary conductor is
located in the common Figure 10
position

Figure 8 Midspan Clearance between Distribution Conductors and Communications Cables

Distribution/Supply Neutral Conductor

63" min

Communications Cable

Minimum Clearance
63 inches

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 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Figure 9 Midspan Clearance between Supply Neutral and Communications Cable

Supply Neutral

30" min

Upper Communications Cable

Minimum Clearance
30 inches

Figure 10 Midspan Clearance between Secondary Conductors and Communications Cable

Supply Neutral

Secondary
Conductor 30" min

Upper Communications Cable

Minimum Clearance
30 inches

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 10 of 13

 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Clearances to Street Lights

Clearances to street lights have been modified from the clearances to other electric
supply facilities due to the nature of their installation.

Clearances for When communication cables are installed below a street light on a structure, all of
Comm Cables the following minimum clearances shall be met (see Figure 11):
Below Street
Lights
Between the and the top of
The minimum clearance is…
bottom of… the…

street light communication Ungrounded bracket arm 40 inches

bracket arm space. Grounded bracket arm 4 inches

drip loop of street communication Uncovered drip loop 12 inches

light supply wire space. Covered drip loop 3 inches

Figure 11 Clearances for Street Light Above Communications

Bracket Arm
Supply Space

40" Minimum
Communication Worker
Safety Zone
Ungrounded 40"
Uncovered 12"
Grounded 4"
Covered 3"

Communication
Space

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 11 of 13

 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Clearances to Street Lights (continued)

Clearances for When communication cables/support arms are installed above a street light on a
Comm Cables/ structure, all of the following minimum clearances shall be met (see Figures
Support arms 12 and 13):
Above Street
Lights
Between the… and the… The minimum clearance is…
Ungrounded
lowest 40 inches
top of the street light bracket arm
communication
bracket arm Grounded
attachment 4 inches
bracket arm
Ungrounded
bottom of any 40 inches
top of the street light bracket arm
communication
bracket arm Grounded
support arm. 24 inches
bracket arm
bottom of the street light supply lowest
wire molding/conduit (where the communication 72 inches
wire is exposed at the drip loop) attachment.
top of the street light supply wire highest
molding/conduit (where the wire communication 40 inches
is exposed) attachment.

Figure 12 Clearances for Street Light Below Communication Cable

Supply Space

40" Communication
Worker Safety Zone Protective
Molding/Conduit

Communication Space Communications

Cables

Ungrounded 40"
Grounded 4"

72”

To
Exposed Wires

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 12 of 13

 March 29, 2017
Customer Requirements
Clearance Requirements for
Overhead Joint Utility Construction
C-OH-9000

Clearances to Street Lights (continued)

Figure 13 Clearances for Street Light Below Communications Support Arm

Supply Space

Protective
40" Communication Molding/Conduit
Worker Safety Zone

Communication Space

Ungrounded 40"
Grounded 24"

72”

To
Exposed Wires

Transmission & Distribution Standards Page 13 of 13