NS234

NS234: Telecommunications Underground Physical Plant Installation

Network Standard NS234 specifies the requirements for the installation of Ausgrid’s telecommunications conduit as well as for the haul of telecommunications cable through underground conduit in Ausgrid’s supply area.

Scope

This standard defines Ausgrid telecommunications underground infrastructure installation requirements. The majority of Ausgrid telecommunications infrastructure works are for optical fibre cable installation. This standard therefore covers installation of underground conduit and cabling for Ausgrid’s protection fibre cable network, as well as for DTS temperature sensing application.

This standard does not include telecommunications assets within the following boundary points:

• the security boundary fence line of Ausgrid’s electrical substations for substations with yards;
• the building entry point for substations with no yard and;
• the security boundary fence line of Ausgrid’s depots and offices.

Telecommunications asset installation and alteration works within the above boundaries shall comply with NS266 Telecommunications Cabling in Ausgrid Premises.

This standard does not include telecommunications pit installations or underground installations which are co-located with a HV feeder in shared trench arrangement. For these specifications, the reader should refer to NS204.2.1 Communications Pits – Specifications and Installation Guidelines, as well as NS130 Specification for Laying Underground Cables up to and including 11kV and NS168 Specification for the Design and Construction of 33kV, 66kV and 132kV Underground Cables.

The general excavation and reinstatement requirements as well as the associated documentation, safety and environmental aspects of underground asset installation detailed in NS130 and NS168 shall be applied to telecommunications stand alone conduit installation and alteration works.

In relation to conduit, this standard shall only cover details specific to stand alone telecommunications conduit installation and alteration which are considered atypical or separate to underground HV feeder installation works. In relation to cable, this standard shall cover details specific to the haul of all optical fibre cables outside of Ausgrid premises, regardless of whether the haul be through conduit in shared trench or stand alone arrangement. Refer to section 4 below for
clarification of the term ‘stand alone’.

Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) fibre cores and tubes that are built into the HV feeder cable sheath are not included in this standard. Refer to Ausgrid Mains Design Manager, NS130 and NS168 regarding composite conductor and DTS cables. Break-out of composite DTS and conductor cables to take the DTS away from the feeder for calibration, termination or other purposes may be performed as per this specification and/or NS266 Telecommunications Cabling in Ausgrid Premises where appropriate for the cable and/or conduit installation beyond the break-out NS234 Telecommunications Underground Physical Plant Installation Amendment No 2 NW000-S0074 UNCONTROLLED IF PRINTED Page 7 of 41 Unclassified joint. The Proponent should refer to Ausgrid’s Communications Engineering Planning Manager where clarification of DTS requirements is required.

This standard does not cover the installation, alteration, or recovery of copper pilot cables. Copper pilot cable works shall only be performed by Ausgrid in compliance with direction given by the Communications Engineering Planning Manager.