NAC408.469. Aerial electrical or communication lines; National Electrical Safety Code adopted by reference; poles supporting crossings; poles for longitudinal installation.

     1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the owner of a utility facility shall, when it installs aerial electrical or communication lines, including television cable, ensure that the clearances and method of construction are in accordance with the rules for the installation and maintenance of electrical supply and communication lines set forth in the National Electrical Safety Code, 1997 edition, and any subsequent edition issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers which has been approved by the Department for use in this state and which is hereby adopted by reference. Each new edition shall be deemed approved by the Department unless the edition is disapproved by the Department within 60 days after the date of publication by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The Department will review each edition issued after the 1997 edition to ensure its suitability for this state. The most recent edition may be obtained from the Department of Transportation, 1263 South Stewart Street, Carson City, Nevada 89712, for the price of $79.

     2. An aerial electrical line must not be placed less than 22 feet (6.7 meters) above the ground. An aerial telephone or television cable line must not be placed less than 18 feet (5.5 meters) above the ground.

     3. Guy wires must:

     (a) Not be attached to trees; and

     (b) Be kept at a minimum elevation above the ground pursuant to the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1, unless the district engineer establishes requirements which exceed that code.

     4. Aerial crossings must conform to the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1.

     5. Aerial crossings must be made at or as near to 90 degrees as possible across the roadway. Poles supporting crossings must be located outside the clear zone and, if possible, located at or outside the line of the right-of-way. If a highway is divided, poles must not be placed within the median strip unless the median strip is at least 80 feet (24.4 meters) wide and the median pole is necessary to support the crossing. If the poles cannot be located outside the clear zone, appropriate measures must be taken to protect the users of the highway, including, if possible, the installation of impact attenuators, breakaway poles or guardrails.

     6. Poles used for a longitudinal installation must be placed outside the clear zone and at or as near to the right-of-way as possible. If the poles cannot be located outside the clear zone, appropriate measures must be taken, including, if possible, the installation of guardrails, impact attenuators or breakaway poles. In those areas where curbs, gutters and sidewalks have been installed, the poles must be located behind or at the back edge of the sidewalk, if possible. A pole must not be located closer than 2 feet (0.6 meter) behind the face of the curb.

     (Added to NAC by Dep’t of Transportation, eff. 1-6-95; A by R135-98, 10-3-2000)