3348
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
No. 89

11. Except by permission of the Minister of Telegraphs, all overhead electric-light-pole lines shall be placed on the opposite side of the streets to that on which any telegraph-pole lines exist, and where the erection of the electric-light wires necessitates the alteration of telegraph wires that may exist when the electric-light wires are being run, and such alteration is practicable, the expense of the alteration shall be borne by the Corporation.

12. Where the electric-light wires are on one side of a street and the telegraph-wires are on the other, and service is required to be given from each to the other side of the street, each party shall give the other reasonable facilities as far as possible to effect supply.

13. Where it cannot be arranged otherwise, and there is room on the telegraph-poles, and other circumstances do not render it unsafe or impracticable, the electric-light wires may be run along on the telegraph-poles, subject to their insulation being not less than 300-megohms-per-mile grade of vulcanized rubber, and to any special conditions that it may be found necessary to impose at the time that the placing of such electric-light wires on the telegraph-poles is being considered.

14. When the electric-light-pole lines are being laid out provision should be made, by increased length of pole, to provide clearance to facilitate crossing with telegraph service wires to the side of the street occupied by the Corporation’s line.

15. Telegraph-wires shall not be run along or placed on the Corporation’s poles, nor shall the Corporation’s wires be run along or placed on telegraph-poles, without a special understanding of requirements and precautions to be observed being arrived at between a responsible officer of the Corporation and of the Minister of Telegraphs in respect of each case. Rental at a rate to be agreed upon may be charged for the use of poles, but nothing in these regulations shall be construed to give any party a right to the use of poles other than its own.

16. Every main shall be tested for insulation after having been placed in position and before it is used for the purposes of supply, the testing-pressure being at least 220 volts, and the Corporation shall duly record the results of the tests of each main or section of a main.

17. The insulation of every complete aerial and underground circuit used for the supply of energy, including all machinery, apparatus, and devices forming part of or in connection with such circuit, shall be so maintained that the leakage current shall not under any conditions exceed one-thousandth part of the maximum supply-current. Every leakage shall be remedied without delay. Every such circuit shall be tested for insulation at least once in every week, and the Corporation shall duly record the results of the tests. Provided that where the Board of Control have approved of any part of any electric circuit being connected with earth the provisions of this regulation shall not apply to that circuit so long as the connection with earth exists.

18. The sectional area of the conductor in any electric line laid or erected in any street shall not be less than that of a strand of seven wires, each of which is of No. 20 standard wire gauge, and the sectional area of every wire in a strand forming any such conductor shall not be less than that gauge.

19. All material used for insulating electric lines or apparatus shall be of the best quality, and thoroughly durable and efficient, having regard to the conditions of its use. Suitable provision shall be made for the protection of the insulating material against injury or removal. If the protection so provided be wholly or partly metallic, it shall be efficiently connected with earth.

20. All metal pipes or coverings containing any electric wire shall be efficiently connected with earth, and shall be so jointed as to make good electrical connection throughout their whole length.

21. Arc lamps used in any street for public lighting shall be so fixed as not to be in any part at a less height than 10 ft. from the ground. All arc lamps shall be so guarded as to prevent pieces of ignited carbon or broken glass falling from them, and shall not be used in situations where there is any danger of the presence of explosive dust or gas.

22. The variation of pressure at any consumer’s terminals shall not, under any conditions of the supply which the consumer is entitled to receive, exceed 4 per cent. from the normal pressure at which he is being supplied.

23. Every aerial line shall be attached to supports at intervals not exceeding 200 ft. where the direction of the line is straight, or 150 ft. where the direction is curved or where the line makes a horizontal angle at the point of support.

24. Every support for an aerial line shall be of a durable material, and properly stayed against forces due to wind-pressure, change of direction of the line, or unequal lengths of span. The factor of safety shall be for all aerial lines and suspending wires, and for all other parts of the structure, at least 6, taking the maximum possible wind-pressure at 20 lb. per square foot. Earth wires, where led down poles, shall be protected by casing for a distance of 8 ft. from the ground.

25. All aerial wires shall be attached to suitable insulators carried on cross-arms of suitable material and cross-section, and they shall be so attached to the insulators or guarded that they cannot fall away from the support. Conductors covered with insulating material shall be so attached that their insulation will not be impaired where they are secured to the insulator.

26. Any aerial wire shall not in any part thereof be at a less height from the ground than 18 ft., or within 5 ft. measured horizontally, or 7 ft. measured vertically, from any part of any building or erection other than a support for the line, except where brought into a building for the purpose of supply. Where the wires cross the railway-line the minimum height of all shall be 18 ft., unless the Railway Department requires a greater height; and the permission of that Department shall be obtained by the Corporation for every such crossing.

27. Service lines from aerial lines shall be led as directly as possible to insulators firmly attached to some portion of the consumer’s premises which is not accessible to any person without the use of a ladder or any other special appliance. Every portion of any service line which is outside a building and is within 7 ft. from any part of the building shall be rubber-insulated.

28. Where an aerial line crosses a street, the angle between the line and the direction of the street at the place of crossing shall not be less than 60 degrees, and the spans shall be as short as possible.

29. Where an aerial line crosses or is in proximity to any metallic substance, precautions shall be taken against the possibility of the line coming into contact with the metallic substance, or of the metallic substance coming into contact with the line, by breakage or otherwise.

30. Efficient guard-wires shall be erected in a manner to meet with the approval of the Minister of Telegraphs at all crossings and places where electric-light wires intersect telegraph or other wires, as may be required by the Minister to be so protected. The Corporation shall bear the expense of such guard-wires in all cases where an electric-light wire intersects a telegraph or other wire previously existing.

31. Every aerial line, including its supports, its conductors, and their insulating covering, and all the structural parts and electrical appliances and devices belonging to or connected with the line, shall be duly and efficiently supervised and maintained as regards both electrical and mechanical conditions.

32. An aerial line shall not be permitted to remain erected after it has ceased to be used for the supply of energy unless the Corporation intends within a reasonable time again to take it into use.

33. The electric-light wires may be placed wholly underground or partly underground and partly overhead.

34. All conduits, pipes, casings, and street boxes used as receptacles for electric lines shall be constructed of durable material, and shall be of ample strength to prevent damage from heavy traffic, and reasonable means shall be taken to prevent the accumulation of gas in such receptacles.

35. Where an underground line crosses or is in proximity to any metallic substance, special precautions shall be taken against the possibility of any electrical charging of the metallic substance from the line, or from any metallic conduit, pipe, or casing enclosing the line.

36. All underground metal conduits, pipes, or casings containing an electric line shall be efficiently earthed, and shall be so jointed and connected across all street-boxes and other openings as to make good electrical contact throughout their whole length.

37. The covers of street-boxes shall be so secured that they cannot be opened except by means of a special appliance. Street-boxes shall be inspected from time to time for the presence of gas, and suitable action shall be taken to check its influx and accumulation.

38. The Corporation shall be responsible for all electric lines or wires, fittings, and apparatus belonging to it, or under its control, which may be upon a consumer’s premises, being maintained in a safe condition and in all respects fit for supplying energy.

39. In delivering the energy to a consumer’s terminals the Corporation shall exercise all due precautions so as to avoid risk of causing fire on the premises.

40. Where medium pressure is supplied to any consumer the following conditions shall be complied with:—

Where the supply is for power purposes—

(a.) The frame of every electric motor shall be efficiently connected with earth.

(b.) The consumers’ wires forming the connections to motors, or otherwise in connection with the supply, shall be, as far as practicable, completely enclosed in strong metal casing efficiently connected with earth, or they shall be fixed in such a manner that there shall be no danger of any shock.