2370
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 48

the use of a ladder or other special appliance, and provided also that they are secured in such a manner that they cannot fall away from the insulator-support, or make contact with the building.

143. (1) Where stay-wires or truss-rods are used within borough, town-district, or township-limits, they shall be attached, at a point not less than 9 ft. above the ground, to a pole or suitable structure, except where they are erected alongside a substantial fence or hedge.

(2) Outside such limits as aforesaid, stay-wires may be attached to a stub-pole or a log of durable wood, or other form of “deadman,” buried at least 4 ft. in the ground, and they shall be attached to the “deadman” by means of a galvanized-iron bolt at least ¾ in. in diameter, and the wires themselves shall not, at any part thereof, be in contact with the ground.

(3) Where any stay-wire is not already erected alongside a substantial fence or hedge, it shall be guarded by—
(a) A substantial post-and-rail fence erected round the stay; or
(b) Two posts, in line with, and immediately against the stay, provided with a rail fitted between or on top of the posts; or
(c) A galvanized-iron pipe, not less than 2 in. in diameter, enclosing the stay-wire; or
(d) A double wooden batten (each batten being not less than 2 in. by 1 in.) securely fastened, with the stay-wire between the battens,

and the guard shall extend from the point where the stay enters the ground to a point where the stay is not less than 9 ft. above ground-level: Provided that where a stay-wire is elsewhere than in a street, and there is no danger of any person being injured by coming in contact therewith, the guard may be omitted.

(4) All guards shall be painted white.

(5) All stay-wires shall be stranded.

(6) The height of stay-wires over roadways shall not be less than 18 ft. above ground-level.

(7) When used to stay poles carrying high or extra-high pressure electric lines within borough, town-district, or township limits, all stay-wires or truss-rods shall be effectively earthed. Outside such limits, such stay-wires or truss-rods shall be earthed when any part thereof is erected at a less height than 9 ft. above ground-level.

144. (1) In those cases where the stay-wire is required by these regulations to be earthed, and where the resistance in accordance with Regulation 52 hereof cannot be obtained, the stay-wire, when used to stay poles other than metal, shall have, in addition to earthing, a strain insulator or insulators of the interlocking type inserted therein not less than 9 ft. vertically above ground-level.

(2) Each of the insulators used shall have a mechanical strength at least equal to that of the stay in which it is installed, and shall also have a minimum flashover voltage (when tested with a sphere gap) in accordance with the following table:—

145. In all cases where contact may be made by telegraph linesman with a stay-wire or truss-rod it shall be effectively earthed.

146. All live metal less than 14 ft. above ground-level, and attached to poles, shall be protected in such a manner that unauthorized persons cannot make accidental contact therewith.

147. All metal which is not connected to the circuit, and which may become charged by accident or otherwise, shall be efficiently earthed or otherwise adequately protected if placed less than 9 ft. above ground-level.

148. (1) Where metal towers or poles are used they shall be effectively earthed.

MAXIMUM LENGTH OF SPAN.

149. (1) The distance between supports carrying electric lines within borough or town-district limits, or within such other limits as may be specified in the license, shall not exceed 2¼ chains (165 ft.), unless the Minister otherwise directs in writing.

(2) Where poles are erected on both sides of a street they shall, where practicable, be placed opposite each other.

STREET CROSSINGS.

150. Where an overhead electric line crosses any street within which it is erected, any angle formed by the street and the line crossing the street shall not be less than 45°. This regulation shall not apply to street-intersections where the electric line does not change its direction.

COVERING OF OVERHEAD ELECTRIC LINES AND USE OF BARE WIRES.

151. (1) Overhead electric lines at medium or any lower pressure within a borough, town district, or township, or within such other limits as may be specified in the license, shall be covered throughout with triple braiding, thoroughly impregnated with weather-proof compound. This covering shall not be deemed to be an insulating covering for making the lines safe to handle when alive. All joints shall be effectively covered with compounded weather-proof tape.

(2) Overhead electric lines at high pressure within a borough, town district, or township, or within such other limits as may be specified in the license, shall be covered with vulcanized rubber of at least 600-megohm grade. This covering shall not be deemed to be an insulating covering for making the lines safe to handle when alive. All joints shall be effectively covered with rubber and taped.

(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this regulation, bare wires may be erected within borough, town-district, or township limits in such places as are approved in writing by the Minister.

(4) Electric lines at extra-high pressure shall be bare.

(5) Except as prescribed in Regulation 189 hereof, electric lines at medium or any lower pressure, or high pressure, erected outside the limits aforesaid, may be bare.

152. (1) Every portion of any medium or lower pressure electric line (other than an earthed neutral or intermediate conductor) which is outside and attached to a building shall be effectively covered with rubber of not less than 600-megohm grade or triple braiding in the span between the pole and the building, except where a pole is necessary against the building, to provide the clearances required by Regulations 113 and 114 hereof, in which case bare wire may be used for all lines which do not cross over the building, provided there is not less than 5 ft. 6 in. clearance between the wires on the pole and the highest point of the building at the pole.

(2) The wires between the top of the pole and the inside of the building shall be enclosed in galvanized conduit, effectively earthed, fitted with a bell mouth, and turned down outside to exclude moisture.

(3) Every portion of any high-pressure electric line which is outside and attached to a building shall be effectively covered with rubber of not less than 600-megohm grade in the span between the pole and the building.

153. Earthed neutral or intermediate conductors may be bare, and the earthed neutral of a star-connected medium or lower-pressure system may, without the use of insulators, be attached to its support, other than buildings, by clamps of types approved by the Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department.

154. (1) A conspicuous, durable notice, reading “Danger—Live Wires,” or any equivalent suitable warning approved by the Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department, shall be erected on poles or supports carrying high-pressure bare conductors, or extra-high-pressure conductors.

(2) Such notice shall be fixed on not less than one pole or support in five, and on every pole at a telegraph, street, or railway crossing.

(3) Where the lines are erected on the side of a street the notice shall be so fixed that it is plainly visible from the street.

(4) Every notice shall be fixed at a uniform height of not less than 6 ft. or more than 12 ft. from the ground-level.

155. The erection and use of bare medium or lower pressure and bare high-pressure electric lines shall be subject to the following conditions:—
     (a) When in the opinion of the Minister it is necessary in the interests of the public safety that the use of bare electric lines shall be discontinued, the licensee shall, upon receiving notice from the Minister, and within such time as he may fix, substitute therefor electric lines covered in the manner prescribed in Regulations 151 and 152 hereof.
     (b) Where telegraph-lines are affected the bare electric-lines shall also be subject to the conditions prescribed in Regulation 189 hereof with respect to the protection of telegraph-wires.
     (c) The licensee shall observe such special conditions as the Minister may see fit to impose.