Indiana Administrative Code
Title 170 - INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Article 4 - ELECTRIC UTILITIES
Rule 3 - Electric Supply and Signal Lines; Principles of Safety; Co-ordination with Other Utilities
Section 3-12 - Definitions

Universal Citation: 170 IN Admin Code 3-12
Current through March 20, 2024

Authority: IC 8-1-1-3; IC 8-1-2-10

Affected: IC 8-1-2-5; IC 8-1-14-1; IC 8-3-1-1

Sec. 12.

Definitions. For the purpose of these principles and practices, the following terms are used with meanings as defined below.

Inductive Co-ordination. The location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of supply and signal systems in conformity with harmoniously adjusted methods which will prevent inductive interference.

General Co-ordinated Methods. Those methods reasonably available for general application to supply or signal systems, which contribute to inductive co-ordination without specific consideration to the requirements for individual inductive exposures.

Specific Co-ordinated Methods. Those additional methods applicable to specific situations where general co-ordinated methods are inadequate.

Inductive Interference. An effect arising from the characteristics and inductive relations of supply and signal systems of such character and magnitude as would prevent the signal circuits from rendering service satisfactorily and economically if methods of inductive co-ordination were not applied.

Inductive Exposure. A situation of proximity between supply and signal circuits under such conditions that inductive interference must be considered.

Inductive Susceptiveness. Those characteristics of a signal circuit with its associated apparatus which determine, so far as such characteristics can determine, the extent to which it is capable of being adversely affected in giving service, by a given inductive field.

Inductive Influence. Those characteristics of a supply circuit with its associated apparatus that determine the character and intensity of the inductive field which it produces.

Inductive Coupling. The interrelation of neighboring supply and signal circuits by electric or magnetic induction or both.

Circuit means a conductor or system of conductors through which an electric current is intended to flow.

Signal Circuit. Any telephone, telegraph, messenger call, clock, fire, police alarm, or other circuit of similar nature (with connected apparatus) devoted exclusively to the transmission of signals or intelligence which operates at less than 400 volts to ground, or 750 volts between any two points of the circuit and the transmitted power of which does not exceed 150 watts. Below 150 volts no limit is placed on the power capacity of the system.

Supply Circuit. A circuit (with connected apparatus) used for transmitting a supply of electrical energy. Railway signal circuits above 400 volts to ground are always supply circuits within the meaning of these principles. Signal circuits not for public use coming under the above definition may be run and operated as supply circuits if desired when exclusively so.

Conductor means a metallic conducting material, usually in the form of a wire or cable, suitable for carrying an electric current. Does not include bus bars.

Lateral Conductor means, in pole wiring work, a wire or cable extending in a general horizontal direction approximately at right angles to the general direction of the line conductors.

Line Conductor means one of the wires or cables carrying electric current, supported by poles, towers, or other structures, but not including vertical or lateral connecting wires.

Vertical Conductor means, in pole wiring work, a wire or cable extending in an approximately vertical direction.

Conflicting or in Conflict (as applied to a pole line) means that the line is so situated with respect to a second line (except at crossings) that the overturning of the first line will result in contact between its poles or conductors and the conductors of the second line, assuming that no conductors are broken in either line: Provided, however, That lines on opposite sides of a highway, street, or alley are not considered as conflicting if separated by a distance not less than 60 per cent of the height of the taller pole line, but in no case less than 20 feet.

Urban Districts means thickly settled communities (whether in cities or suburbs) where congested traffic often occurs. A highway, even though in the country, on which the traffic is often very heavy, is considered as urban.

Rural Districts means all places not urban, usually in the country but in some cases within city limits.

Guarded means covered, shielded, fenced, enclosed or otherwise protected, by means of suitable covers or casings, barrier rails or screens, mats or platforms, to remove the liability of dangerous contact or approach by persons or objects to a point of danger.

Open Lines means overhead lines not in conduits, and consisting of single conductors or of individual twisted pairs, as opposed to multiple-conductor cables.

Reconstruction means replacement of any portion of an existing installation by new equipment or construction. Does not include ordinary maintenance replacements.

Normal Sag means the difference in elevation between the highest point of support of a span and the lowest point of the conductor in the span (or in the curve of the conductor in the span produced), at 60 degrees F. with no wind loading.

Apparent Sag of a Span means the maximum departure of the wire in a given span from the straight line between the two points of support of the span, at 60 degrees F. with no wind loading. Where the two supports are at the same level this will be the normal sag.

Apparent sag at any point means the departure of the wire at the particular point in the span from the straight line between the two points of support of the span, at 60 degrees F. with no wind loading.

Service means the connecting conductors by which a supply of electrical energy is carried from a supply line to the building or premises served.

Climbing Space means the vertical space reserved along the side of a pole structure to permit ready access for linemen to equipment and lines located on the pole structure.

Lateral Working Space means the space reserved for working between conductor levels outside the climbing space, and to its right and left.

Common Use means simultaneous use by two or more utilities of the same kind.

Joint Use means simultaneous use by two or more kinds of utilities.

Voltage or volts means the highest effective voltage between any two conductors of the circuit concerned, except that in grounded multiwire circuits, not exceeding 750 volts between outer conductors, it means the highest effective voltage between any wire of the circuit and the ground.

In ungrounded circuits not exceeding 750 volts, voltage to ground means the voltage of the circuit.

When one circuit is directly connected to another circuit of higher voltage (as in the case of an auto-transformer), both are considered as of the higher voltage, unless the circuit of lower voltage is permanently grounded. Direct connection implies electrical connection as distinguished from connection merely through electromagnetic or electrostatic induction.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Indiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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