atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Outside Plant OSP Construction new member with a question on protector placement

Since Verizon is a utility, they are exempt from having to follow the NEC...

The NEC does not cover outside plant but it certainly applies once the cable enters a building.

Building entrance protection must be installed in all circumstances where their cable enters a building. The fact that they don't get installed is only because they didn't get caught. Believe me, they know what the code is and they know how to do it right. They are just lazy and cut corners when they know no one will care.

Electrical inspectors ignore it because they are there to look at other work. If it isn't on their inspection application they won't look at it.

The times where I have been involved with the LEC installing their terminals I always was there and made sure they were protected and properly grounded. Never got an argument either.

-Hal

No, Hal.....Electrical inspectors don't know what they are looking at when it comes to telecommunications cables except when they are in ceilings. Around here, that's all that ever gets inspected, ceilings and firewall/floor penetrations. The inspectors don't know a protector from a projector!

This applies to access to the equipment, not to the mounting of equipment on the wall adjacent to the equipment.

This basicly says that the area in front of service equipment must be at least 30" wide (or width of equipment if more than 30" wide), 36" from FRONT of equipment to nearest obstruction, and 6.5' high.

110.26(f) defines the dedicated equipment space, basicly saying that you can't mount non-electrical items above panels below the 6' level or structural ceiling, whichever is less, with the exception allowing for false ceilings within that space. This extends the virtual width and depth of the equipment up to the 6' level.