Communication Outdoor Cabling

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Communication Outdoor Cabling

T HR TE 01001 ST

Standard

Version 1.0 Issued Date: 30 April 2014 Effective Date: 30 April 2014Reconfirmed: 28 May 2019

Important Warning

This document is one of a set of standards developed solely and specifically for use on the rail network owned or managed by the NSW Government and its agencies. It is not suitable for any other purpose. You must not use or adapt it or rely upon it in any way unless you are authorised in writing to do so by a relevant NSW Government agency.

If this document forms part of a contract with, or is a condition of approval by, a NSW Government agency, use of the document is subject to the terms of the contract or approval.

This document may not be current. Current standards are available for download from the Asset Standards Authority website at www.asa.transport.nsw.gov.au.

© State of NSW through Transport for NSW

http://www.asa.transport.nsw.gov.au/

T HR TE 01001 ST Communication Outdoor Cabling

Version 1.0 Effective Date: 30 April 2014

© State of NSW through Transport for NSW

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Standard Approval Owner: T. Payne, Lead Telecommunications Engineer Authorised by: D. Spiteri, Chief Engineer Rail Approved by: G. Bradshaw, Principal Manager Network Standards and Services on behalf of the

Asset Standards Authority Configuration Control Board

Document Control Version Summary of Change 1.0 First issue

For queries regarding this document

[email protected]

www.asa.transport.nsw.gov.au

mailto:[email protected]



© State of NSW through Transport for NSW Page 3 of 21

Preface

The Asset Standards Authority (ASA) develops, controls, maintains, and publishes standards

and documentation for transport assets for New South Wales, using expertise from the

engineering functions of the ASA and industry.

ASA publications include the network and asset standards for NSW rail assets. Currently ASA

publications include RailCorp engineering standards that were applicable to the Transport for

New South Wales (TfNSW) rail assets as at 30 June 2013.

This standard supersedes RailCorp standard ESM 102 Communication Outdoor Cabling,

Version 2.0. The changes to previous content include the following:

replacement of RailCorp organisation roles and processes with those applicable to the

current ASA organisational context

minor amendments and clarification to content

conversion of the standard to ASA format and style

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Table of contents

1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................5

2. Purpose ..............................................................................................................................................5

3. Scope and application ......................................................................................................................5

4. References .........................................................................................................................................5

5. Terms and definitions.......................................................................................................................7

6. Cables and cabling works - general ................................................................................................8

6.1 Cables.................................................................................................................................................8 6.2 Composite cables..............................................................................................................................8 6.3 Optic fibre cable ................................................................................................................................9 6.4 Copper communications cable......................................................................................................10

7. Cable route – general......................................................................................................................12

7.1 Compliance to SPG 0705................................................................................................................12 7.2 Cable route life span.......................................................................................................................12 7.3 Cable route construction types .....................................................................................................12 7.4 GLT ...................................................................................................................................................12 7.5 Tracing of cable route location......................................................................................................12 7.6 Aerial cable ......................................................................................................................................13 7.7 Separation from other services .....................................................................................................13 7.8 Diverse cable routes .......................................................................................................................14 7.9 Hazardous locations .......................................................................................................................15

8. Cable route capacity .......................................................................................................................16

8.1 Pit and pipe capacity.......................................................................................................................16 8.2 GST capacity....................................................................................................................................16

9. Pit and pipe cable route construction...........................................................................................16

9.1 Conduits...........................................................................................................................................17 9.2 Pre-cast concrete pits.....................................................................................................................19 9.3 Mandrelling ......................................................................................................................................20

10. Operation and maintenance of duct space ..................................................................................21

10.1 Draw rope, cleaning and sealing of conduits...............................................................................21 10.2 Recovery of decommissioned cables...........................................................................................21

11. Historical names..............................................................................................................................21

12. Documentation ................................................................................................................................21

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1. Introduction

This standard sets out minimum requirements for the provision, installation, termination and

management of outdoor communications cables within the TfNSW rail telecommunications

network.

The requirements of this standard are in addition to Australian standards - they do not replace

them. If there is a conflict between this standard and an Australian standard, then the Australian

standard shall be adhered to and the ASA Lead Telecommunications Engineer shall be notified

immediately.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide a standard for the provision, installation, termination

and management of outdoor rail communications cables.

3. Scope and application

This standard establishes requirements for all new outdoor TfNSW rail telecommunications

network cables, including reconfiguration of the existing outdoor cabling network. For the

purpose of this standard, cabling in tunnels is considered to be outdoor cabling.

Additional requirements to those specified in this standard also apply to special situations such

as cables in tunnels, aerial cable, cables associated with high voltage installations.

4. References

Australian standards

AS/CA S008 Requirements for customer cabling products

AS/CA S009 Installation requirements for customer cabling (Wiring Rules)

AS/NZS 1660.5.2 Test methods for electric cables, cords and conductors - Fire tests -

Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions


Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas evolved during the combustion of polymeric

materials taken from cables


Determination of degree of acidity of gases evolved during the combustion of materials taken

from electric cables by measuring pH and conductivity

AS/NZS 3000 Electrical Installations (Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)

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AS/NZS 3085.1 Telecommunications installations - Administration of communications cabling

systems. Part 1 Basic requirements

AS/NZS 3500.2 Plumbing and drainage Part 2: Sanitary plumbing and drainage

SAA HB 100 (CJC 4) Coordination of Power and Telecommunications – Manual for the

establishment of safe work practices and the minimisation of operational interference between

power systems and paired cable telecommunications systems

SAA HB 101 (CJC 5) Coordination of Power and Telecommunications – Low Frequency

Induction (LFI) – Code of practice

SAA HB 102 (CJC 6) Coordination of Power and Telecommunications – Low Frequency

Induction (LFI) – Application guide

SAA HB 243 Communications Cabling Manual Module 1: Australian regulatory arrangements

SAA HB 29 Communications Cabling Manual Module 2: Communications cabling handbook

International standards

ITU-T G.652 Characteristics of a single-mode optical fibre & cable

ITU-T G.655 Characteristics of a non-zero dispersion-shifted single-mode optical fibre & cable

ITU-T G.657 Characteristics of a bending loss insensitive single-mode optical fibre & cable for

the access network

Transport standards - as published on the ASA website

EP 00 00 00 08 SP Safe Limits of DC Voltages

EP 90 10 00 03 SP Coordination of Communications and Power Systems - Earth Potential Rise

ESC 540 Service Installations w the Rail Corridor

SPC 207 Track Monitoring Requirements for Under Track Excavation

SPG 0705 Construction of Cable Route and Associated Civil Works

SPM 0123 Reinforced Pre-cast Concrete Cable Pits

SPM 0677 Single-Mode Optical Fibre Cable

SPM 0885 Aerial Non-Metallic Single-Mode Optical Fibre Cable

SPM 1181 40mm Class 9 High Density Polyethylene Cable Conduit

SPM 0073 Communications Data Collection Requirements

T HR TE 01002 ST Signalling Bungalow Communications Cabling Standard

T HR TE 01003 SP Single Mode Optical Fibre Termination, Management and Patching

Equipment

T HR TE 21001 ST Communications Equipment Rooms

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T HR TE 21002 ST Communications Earthing and Surge Suppression Standard

TMM P001 Copper Cable Termination

TMM P021 Optic Fibre Cable Jointing, Termination and Management

Transport standard drawings

MET-CA0242 Bollard Installation

MET-OT0042 Mounting of Pit ID Tags for Half & Full Size Pits Arrangement

MET-OT0043 Pit ID Tag Arrangement

MET-OT0048 Coordination of Signals and Communications Pits and Pipes Part 1




SK0128 Typical Fibre Jointing Arrangement Layout

XXX-CA0294 Conduits Buried in Platform or Sealed Vehicular Area

XXX-CA0311 40mm HDPE Conduit Joint

XXX-SK0105 Buried Cable Route

XXX-SK0106 Cable Route Construction by Rock Sawing

XXX-SK0107 Galvanised Steel Trough Route to Pit Transition

5. Terms and definitions

AEO Authorised Engineering Organisation

ASA Asset Standards Authority

DTRS Digital Train Radio System

GLT Ground Level Troughing

GST Galvanised Steel Troughing

Hazardous EPR Zone A zone where the earth potential rise exceeds 430 V ac under power

system fault condition

High voltage As defined in AS/NZS 3000 and AS/CA S009. Note that in this standard the high

voltage shall also include the 1500 V dc positive and negative feeders that supply the overhead

traction power, as these feeders regularly exceed 1500 V dc

Pipe Continuous or jointed pipe forming a sealed conduit between two terminations. Pipe,

conduit and duct are interchangeable terms in this standard

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Route Asset or containment to support or carry cables.

TfNSW Transport for New South Wales

Trunk route A route that interconnects two or more communications equipment rooms or main

communications nodes, or between train stations

Non-trunk route A feeder route to an equipment site, usually less than 500 m, not designed to

house trunk cables

ULX Under Line Crossings

URX Under Road Crossings

6. Cables and cabling works - general

Cables and all cabling work shall be in accordance with the following documents, in precedence

order:

AS/CA S009 and AS/CA S008

Other AS/CA standards

This document

TMM P001 Copper cable termination

TMM P021 Optic Fibre Cable Jointing, Termination and Management

SPM 0677 Single Mode Optical Fibre Cable

T HR TE 01003 SP Optical Fibre Termination, Patching and Management Equipment

SPM 1181 40mm Class 9 High Density Polyethylene Cable Conduit

SPG 0705 Construction of Cable Route and Associated Civil Works

Other transport standards (published on the ASA website)

6.1 Cables

All cables used and the method of construction shall be in accordance with specifications

quoted in this standard.

6.2 Composite cables

Communications trunk optic fibre cables shall not incorporate multi-mode fibres.

Where different grades of single-mode fibres are incorporated into a cable, each tube shall

contain one grade only. Where non-zero dispersion shifted fibres (ITU G.655) are incorporated,

they shall occupy the first tube(s) of that cable.

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Note that T HR TE 01002 ST prohibits the use of communications trunk optic fibre cables for

interconnecting local signalling equipment between adjacent signalling bungalows, relay rooms

and location cases.

6.3 Optic fibre cable

6.3.1 SMOF fibre specification

Optic fibre cable used externally within the rail corridor shall comply with the requirements of

SPM 0677.

The size of optical fibre cables shall be 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 144, cores or higher. Optical fibre

cable construction types shall be used in the environment it was designed for.

6.3.2 Optical fibre cable construction

There are three types of optical fibre cable construction described by SPM 0677 for use

externally in the rail corridor. Each type is designed for a particular purpose as detailed below:

General Installation - Cable suitable for general installation in the rail environment by way

of hauling into underground ducts, hauling into above ground steel troughing (GST) and

laying in ground level concrete troughing (GLT). This cable may be used in all locations

except for underground tunnels or stations or other underground facilities.

Fire Safe - Cable for installation in underground stations or other underground facilities

and tunnels. This cable may be used in all locations however not practical to use in long

section of small diameter HDPE pipe.

Blown Cable - Cable for installation by way of air/gas blowing through small diameter

HDPE continuous conduits. This cable may only be used where the route is

predominantly small diameter HDPE continuous pipe and installation is by way of

blowing.

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6.3.3 Optical fibre cables sizes

All the cables mentioned in this section are optical fibre cables.

At the completion of a cable installation project, all cables shall have a minimum 75% of fibres

that are unused (dark fibres) and available for service restoration and future expansion. The

size of any trunk (or long haul) cable shall not be less than 96 cores.

With regard to trunk cable, if there is no existing cable or no ring cable to provide diversity, two

new trunk cables in different routes shall be installed at the time of construction. Diversity

provided by a fibre swap arrangement with other organisations or carriers is deemed to meet

this requirement so a second new cable is not required. See Section 7.8 for diverse cable

routes.

Table 1 – Minimum cores of fibres

Route type Minimum cores of fibres

Trunk cable >3 km 96F (may require G.655 fibres)*

Customer cable, 1 km 24F

DTRS cables 12F

* Note 1: to be determined by the responsible AEO

Both station cable and customer cable are access cables.

6.4 Copper communications cable

Copper, twisted pair communications cable used externally in the rail environment falls into two

categories:

a) cable for general outdoor use

b) fire safe cable used within tunnels and underground stations

This standard does not cover:

fire rated cable used for emergency systems in tunnels

internal fire safe cable used in underground stations

internal cable used in aboveground stations and buildings

6.4.2 Copper cable (outdoor)

External copper communications cable shall be protected against mechanical damage,

vandalism and/or theft by being installed within properly constructed cable routes and shall

comply with the following requirements:

the cable shall have 10, 20, 30, 50, or 100 pairs as required

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the cable shall have:

conductors of solid annealed copper

conductor diameter of 0.64 mm or 0.9 mm

insulated with cellular polyethylene

colour coded

unitised twin configuration

jelly filled

black polyethylene moisture barrier sheathed

hard nylon jacket

metre marked

The cable shall conform to the requirements of AS/CA S008.

6.4.3 Fire safe copper cable (for tunnels)

Copper communications cable that is to be installed within underground tunnels shall be

protected against mechanical damage, vandalism and/or theft by being installed within properly

constructed cable routes and shall comply with the following requirements:

the cable shall have 10, 20, 30, 50, or 100 pairs as required

the cable shall have:

conductors of solid annealed copper

conductor diameter of 0.64 mm or 0.9 mm

insulated with solid polyethylene

colour coded

unitised twin configuration

black polyethylene moisture barrier sheathed

over sheathed with a low smoke, halogen free, flame retardant jacket

The cable shall conform to the requirements of AS/CA S008 and the relevant fire safe

specifications, including AS/NZS 1660.5.2, AS/NZS 1660.5.3, and AS/NZS 1660.5.4.

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6.4.4 Cable identification codes

TfNSW rail communications cable identification codes shall be provided on each cable within

each pit, at cable joints and at each cable terminations. These codes shall display clearly the

cable identification number, type, size, conductor diameter and destination of the cable as per

SPM 0073, TMM P001, and TMM P021.

7. Cable route – general

7.1 Compliance to SPG 0705

Cable route construction shall be in accordance with SPG 0705, with the additional

requirements as per this standard.

7.2 Cable route life span

Cable route (includes conduits, joints and pits, GST etc) shall be designed and constructed for a

minimum life expectancy of forty years.

7.3 Cable route construction types

Except where installation conditions would make it impractical, pit and pipe construction shall be

used for all new cable routes.

Except for cable ladder, rack or cable tray which is acceptable in tunnels etc, cable route

construction type shall be in the preference in order of:

a) pit and conduit

b) GST

c) aerial cables

No new direct buried cable is allowed, except for the last 5 m accessing existing direct buried

cable network.

7.4 GLT

GLT shall only be used as a last resort.

Where used GLT sections:

a) shall not exceed 5 m, unless with written acceptance as per TMM C001

b) shall not be used in vehicle accessible areas

7.5 Tracing of cable route location

For new communication cable routes, facilities to trace and locate the cable route shall be

provided including but not limited to the following:

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SPG 0705 metallic trace wire except in hazardous EPR zone

RF Identification System, with GPS locations of the cable routes

7.6 Aerial cable

Where applicable, the material used for aerial cable installation shall comply with the below:

SPM 0885

the aerial cable shall be at least 5 m clearance from ground level

the aerial cable shall be at least 4.5 m clearance from GST

the aerial cable shall be installed in accordance with the specifications required by

TfNSW

7.7 Separation from other services

Where communications cables are installed in a combined service route, they shall be

separated from signalling and power conduits/cables in accordance with AS/CA S009. See also

SPG 0705.

Where communications cables are in the same trench as signalling and power cables, it is

mandatory that communications cables shall be housed in conduits.

Signalling and electrical conduit shall not pass through or enter pits dedicated for

communications cabling, nor shall communications conduits pass through or enter pits

dedicated for electrical or signalling cables except for the exemption provided below.

In locations where there are no dedicated communications cable pits or where it would be

uneconomical to provide such a pit for a single service, and it is required that a service be run to

a signalling location, then a communications cables designated for signalling services may pass

through a signalling pit but shall do so with in a subduct so as to comply with AS/CA S009.

Examples of such a service are signalling post phones and data links to signal locations.

Refer to drawings: MET-OT0048, MET-OT0049, MET-OT0050 and MET-OT0051.

7.7.1 Separation from HV - additional requirements

Communications pits and communications cable routes shall be separated from HV electrical

pits and cable routes such that the inside wall of a HV electrical pit and or conduit shall be not

less than 450 mm separated from the inside wall of a communications pit and that

communications conduits shall not pass closer than 450 mm from the inside wall of a HV

electrical pit. This is to ensure that compliance with AS/CA S009 will not depend on the location

of a cable within a pit.

For the purposes of separation, both negatives and positives of the 1500 V dc traction feeders

shall be considered as HV cables.

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Refer to drawings: MET-OT0048, MET-OT0049, MET-OT0050 and MET- OT0051.

7.8 Diverse cable routes

New trunk cable routes and nominated locations shall have a primary and an associated diverse

path (or paths) for the protection of important communications services such as DTRS, Elec.

SCADA, ATP, CCTV and similar systems. This diverse path is generally only required for optical

fibre and shall be provided by one or more of the following means.

7.8.1 Diversity via different rail line (ring diversity)

An example would be providing diversity for a cable route between North Sydney and Gordon

via Hornsby, Strathfield and Central.

This is the preferred diversity option.

7.8.2 Diversity via path off the rail corridor

This would normally be achieved by a fibre swap with another communications organisation.

Another option is to lease capacity from other carrier(s).

7.8.3 Diversity provided by parallel pit and pipe, GST troughing etc

Diversity may be provided by parallel cable routes of GST / troughing / pit and pipe with an

acceptable separation between the different routes. Such separation shall be approved by the

ASA Lead Electrical Engineer. As a guide, the normal requirement would be:

less than 5 m of separation between routes is allowed for

up to 1% of the route length

20 meter of route length

whichever is greater.

Cables attached to two adjacent tunnels of the same route, are deemed to comply as diverse

cable routes. Cables attached to opposite sides of a single tunnel are not considered as diverse

cable routes.

7.8.4 Aerial routes as diverse cable routes

Aerial route provides an alternative route to buried, existing GLT and GST routes. Where the

risk (such as bush fire) is low, aerial route may be considered as a diverse cable route.

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7.8.5 HV power cables route as diverse cable route

Where no other diversity option as specified in Section 7.8.1 to Section 7.8.4 is feasible and

subject to the approval of the ASA Lead Electrical Engineer, where the communications cable

route runs parallel to the HV cables route, the HV route shall have an extra conduit for

communications cables, which shall be reserved for optical fibre cables to be installed as

diverse communications cables. Cable joints shall be installed in communications pits

(preferably dedicated to the diverse path) linked to the HV pit via conduit.

7.8.6 Signal cable route as diverse cable route

Where no other diversity option as specified in Section 7.8.1 to Section 7.8.5 is feasible and

subject to the approval of the ASA Lead Signals and Control Systems Engineer, diversity may

be achieved by installing a communications optic fibre cable in the signal cable route. A

dedicated conduit is not necessarily required. Cable joints shall be installed in communications

pits (preferably dedicated to the diverse path) linked to the signal pit via conduit.

7.9 Hazardous locations

7.9.1 Catch points

The cable routes, pits, cabinets and buildings shall not be positioned where they may be

damaged by a train derailed by catch points.

7.9.2 High voltage locations

Where copper communications cables pass through the hazardous EPR zone of a high voltage

location such as traction substations, pad-mount transformers, pole mounted transformers and

the like, they shall do so in accordance with the requirements of AS/ACIF S009: 2013. In

addition, copper communications cables coming within 15 metres of a high voltage location

earth grid shall do so in a continuously sealed, non-metallic conduit regardless of the level of

EPR.

High voltage locations located outside the rail corridor, owned and operated by others such as

Energy Australia, must also be taken into consideration.

Joints in copper communications cables shall not be permitted within a hazardous EPR zone.

7.9.3 Construction rules for hazardous EPR zones

Within hazardous EPR zones, the construction of cable routes, pits, communications rooms and

equipment shall comply with the rules below:

only plastic-sheathed cables shall be used

copper communications cables that pass through a hazardous EPR zone shall do so in

rigid plastic conduit - in pit and conduit construction route using white class 12 UPVC

conduits or class 9 HDPE conduits

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any joints in copper cables shall be housed in a suitable pit well outside the EPR hazard

zone and labelled with an EPR hazard warning that such copper cables pass through a

hazardous EPR zone

any existing pit within the proposed hazardous EPR zone shall be relocated. Subject to

the AEO’s approval, if such pit cannot be re-located, it must be labelled with an EPR

hazard warning on all walls and lids

no communications earthing or arresting shall be done within the hazardous EPR zone

no metallic trace wire shall be installed into any hazardous EPR zone

see AS/CA S009

8. Cable route capacity

At the completion of a given project there shall be reserved for communications purposes, a

minimum unused capacity of 50% of the total capacity for each and every section of new cable

route such that a second set of identical cables could be installed within each such section of

route without the need for additional route construction works.

Where a trunk cable route consists of pipes, the unused capacity shall not be less than one

additional unused pipe, or 50% of the total capacity, which ever is greater. For trunk route under

line crossings this shall be increased to two unused pipes or 60% of the total capacity

whichever is greater.

8.1 Pit and pipe capacity

For trunk routes, the minimum installed capacity shall be 2 x 100 mm conduits.

8.2 GST capacity

For trunk routes using GST, the GST installed capacity shall be a minimum of 250% of the initial

required capacity for the whole project.

Either a complete trough with individual lid or white pipe in a shared trough shall be dedicated

for the sole use of TfNSW's communications.

A communications GST trough shall be at least 150 mm x 150 mm.

A GST communications route shall be capable of being duplicated by fitting additional GST

trough to the existing supports.

9. Pit and pipe cable route construction

The separation of signals from communications route shall comply with Section 7.7.

white conduit to be used for communications. All white conduits shall be in accordance

with Section 9.1

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in some cases, arrangement will allow shallow burial conduits with a reinforced concrete

cover (see drawing XXX-CA0294), refer to AS/CA S009 for minimum depth under road

ways

excavation works shall be in accordance with ESC 540 and AS 3500.2

9.1 Conduits

This section specifics the type of conduits to be used for cable route construction:

except where installation conditions would make it impractical, pit and conduit

construction shall be used for all new cable routes

where possible, 100 mm conduit shall be used for all new projects

For all pit and conduit cable route, the following conduits are approved for use.

Table 2 – Approved conduits

1 40 mm HDPE conduit 40 mm OD HDPE Class 9 conduits as per SPM 1181

2 100 mm HDPE conduit 100 mm OD HDPE Class 9 conduits with a normal wall thickness not less than 9.5 mm

3 50 mm conduit 50 mm UPVC Class 12 pressure conduit with a normal wall thickness not less than 3.0 mm



Conduits joints and installation shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

PVC conduits shall be jointed by solvent welding, with the ends forced well into the socket.

HDPE conduits shall be jointed by either a pressure fitting such as shown in drawing

XXX-CA0311 (see Section 4 or Section 9.1.2) or by thermal welding using purpose designed

thermal welding couplers. Conduit ends shall be cut cleanly and at right angles with all burrs

removed and forced well into the coupler socket before the heating or clamping process. The

finished joint shall be gas tight.

Where size of conduit is not specified, it is deemed to be 100 mm UPVC class 12 pressure

conduit.

9.1.1 Open-cut trenching and conduit installation

Voids being left between the conduit(s) and surrounding soil can lead to the deformation or

even the total collapse of a conduit.

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Figure 1 – A poorly installed cable route with voids between conduits and surrounding

soil leading to the deformation or collapse of the conduit

Conduits shall be placed in the trench and the fill placed around the conduits so that as far as

possible the fill and surrounding soil and or rock shall exert an even pressure on the entire

surface of the conduit. To this end installers shall insure that there are no voids between the

conduit(s) and/or surrounding soil and/or rock. This is best achieved by laying conduits a layer

at a time with spacers every 3 metres along the cable route and between the conduits to ensure

that the voids can be filled with sand or other suitable material to completely fill any voids.

Figure 2 – A cross-section and prospective of a correctly installed cable route with pine

battens to ensure that there are no voids between conduits and surrounding fill

Crushed rock, finely divided road base, or sand shall bed and cover the conduits and fill the

spaces between conduits. The conduits shall be covered to a thickness of not less than 100 mm

over the uppermost conduit. The remainder of the trench shall be filled with clean fill, free of

broken concrete, rubble, wood, glass, rubbish, steel or other metallic objects and free of stones

which would not pass through a 50 mm sieve.

If a signal tracer wire is required, it shall be a white polyethylene insulated stainless steel wire,

installed in the trench over the conduits at a nominal depth of 500 mm below finished surface

level.

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Cable marker tape as per specification SPG 0705 shall be installed over the cable route at a

depth of 300 mm. See drawings 112000/5/4, 112000/5/5 and 112000/5/6.

Trenches are to be excavated so that conduits can be laid with 300 mm clearance all round

from other obstructions.

The trench shall be compacted in accordance with SPG 0705. This compaction of the soil in the

trench shall not cause the conduits to be deformed.

9.1.2 Reference design drawings of typical installations

Listed below are drawings showing typical and the preferred design arrangements for cable

route construction. These arrangements shall be complied with as far as practicable.

CA0242 - Bollard Installation

CA0294 - Conduits Buried in Platform or Sealed Vehicular Area

CA0311 – 40 mm HDPE Conduit Joint

SK0106 - Cable Route Construction by Rock Sawing

SK0107 - Galvanised Steel Trough Route to Pit Transition

SK0128 - Typical Fibre Jointing Arrangement Layout

9.2 Pre-cast concrete pits

9.2.1 Compliance to SPM 0123

All reinforced pre-cast concrete cable pits shall be rectangular and conform to specification

SPM 0123.

9.2.2 Pre-cast concrete pit location

All pits and pipes shall be installed in accordance with SPG 0705. However, if a waiver is given

to install pits closer to the track than specified in SPG 0705, then the pre-cast concrete cable

pits manufactured in accordance with specification SPM 0123 shall not be installed closer than

one (1) metre from the edge of a sleeper.

Pre-cast concrete cable pits manufactured in accordance with specification SPM 0123 shall not

be installed closer than two (2) metres from any power pole or overhead wiring structure, or the

foot and/or the edge of a retaining wall.

Pits that are required to be closer to the track or structures than these limitations shall be

purpose designed and shall require the approval of ASA Lead Civil Engineer or his appointed

representative.

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9.2.3 Identification of pits and pit ID numbers

Each pit installed in the TfNSW rail telecommunications network shall be labelled on site, and

documented in accordance with SPM 0073, the information provided to the responsible AEO.

As shown in drawing MET-OT 0042, two identical identification labels shall be mounted on each

pit; one on the pit lid and the other mounted on the inside wall of cable pits approximately

50 mm from top in an easily accessible location. Pit identification labels shall be controlled by

the responsible AEO.

9.2.4 Where pits are required

Pits shall be installed at turning points, or where curves or bends occur. All pits shall be installed

outside any hazardous EPR zone for the main cable route.

Pits shall be placed immediately at either side of the following

underline crossing

under road crossing

where a building, maintenance facility, paved area or station exists

where access to constructing a new cable route in future becomes high risk due to limited

access

9.2.5 Distance between pits

Distance between pits shall be 125 m (maximum) unless:

the purpose of the route is for the installation of non metallic fibre cable only, in the

present and in the future

the route is at all points less than 2 m deep

in which case the pits shall be no more than 250 m apart, or less than 500 m if the route

between the pits is straight.

9.2.6 Protection of pits and pit lids

With the exception of trafficable pit lids, all pits and pit-lids shall be located such that they

cannot be damaged by vehicles or they shall be protected with suitable barriers, such as

bollards. Such barriers shall be approved by the design authority and shall not block the

passage way for vehicles or force vehicles into the danger zone.

9.3 Mandrelling

All conduits installed shall pass the mandrelling test by pulling a mandrel of a diameter 90% of

the internal pipe diameter, upon backfilling and compaction. The mandrelling test shall be

witnessed by the responsible AEO.

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The cable route, either pipe or GST, shall remain usable at all times, the cross sectional area of

the GST, pipe etc shall not be diminished by pressure or aging during the maintainable period of

the cable route, which shall include all GST, bores, pits and pipes and others. Conduits shall not

be deformed to less than 90% of the internal diameter of the pipe. Similarly, for GST, less than

10% of the internal area is lost due to changes in GST shapes.

10. Operation and maintenance of duct space

10.1 Draw rope, cleaning and sealing of conduits

All conduits shall contain draw wire or draw rope (minimum 10 mm diameter nylon rope)

whether conduits are empty or cables are installed. Such draw rope shall facilitate the hauling in

of cable pulling device, which will be used to haul in copper or optical cables.

All spare pipes shall be cleaned by the mandrelling test (refer to Section 9.3), each pipe shall

have draw rope suitably anchored at each end of the pipe and then sealed with proprietary end

caps to stop the ingress of foreign particles.

10.2 Recovery of decommissioned cables

Any cable that occupies space in a re-enterable cable route that has been decommissioned

shall be completely removed from the re-enterable cable route within three months from date of

decommissioning unless permission for an extension of time has been granted by the

responsible AEO. All cable, conduit, MDF records and associated services records shall be

updated within one month from actual date of removal. A comment field shall be recorded in the

history of records or drawings.

11. Historical names

References to previous organisational names (viz. 'RailCorp', 'Rail Access Corporation', 'Rail

Infrastructure Corporation', 'Argus Communications' etc or their abbreviations) in requirements

for marking of cables, conduits etc specified in annexes shall be replaced by TfNSW.

12. Documentation

All cabling and cable route construction works shall be recorded in accordance with SPM 0073.

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Documents

Communication Outdoor Cabling