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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

**BULLETIN 1753F-151**

**SUBJECT:** **[Specifications and Drawings for Construction
of]{.underline}**

> **[Underground Plant, RUS Form 515b]{.underline}**

**TO:** All Telecommunications Borrowers

RUS Telecommunications Staff

**EFFECTIVE DATE:** September 17, 2001

**OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST:** Outside Plant Branch, Telecommunications
Standards Division.

**AVAILABILITY:** This bulletin supersedes RUS Bulletin 345-151,
Specifications and Drawings for Conduit and Manhole Construction, RUS
Form 515c, issued May 25, 1989; and RUS Bulletin 345-152, Specifications
and Drawings for Underground Cable Installation, RUS Form 515d, issued
May 25, 1989.

This bulletin can be accessed via the Internet at
http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/publications/bulletins.htm

**PURPOSE:** This specification provides Contractors, Engineers, and RUS
Borrowers with assembly unit descriptions, materials, construction and
installation, and drawings for underground plant associated with RUS
Form 515, Telecommunications System Construction Contract.

[Roberta D. Purcell]{.underline} [8/21/01]{.underline}

### Roberta D. Purcell Date

Assistant Administrator

Telecommunications Program

**RUS Bulletin 1753F-151**

**Specifications and Drawings for Construction of**

**Underground Plant, RUS Form 515b**

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

# [Page]{.underline}

List of Changes i

Part I -- Description of Assembly Units and Proposal and

Contract Sections 1

Part II -- Specification for Materials 9

1\. Scope 9

2\. General 9

4\. Miscellaneous 9

Part III -- Specification for Construction and Installations 9

1\. General 9

2\. Underground Conduit and Manholes 10

3\. Underground Handholes 13

4\. Underground Cable Placement 14

List of Construction Drawings and Plans 16

INDEX

###  **ASSEMBLY UNITS:**

Conduit and Manhole

**CABLE:**

Assembly Units

###  **CONSTRUCTION:**

Fiber Optic Cable Plant

Manholes

Underground Cable (Physical Plant)

Underground Conduit

###  **SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS:**

Outside Plant

LIST OF CHANGES

1\. Combination of RUS Form 515c and RUS Form 515d.

2\. Modification of Section HC to provide compensation on a single pair
basis.

3\. Modification of Section HO to provide compensation for testing a
fiber.

4\. Modification of Section PM as follows:

\(a\) Redefined PM21 to a more generalized description;

\(b\) Added PM22 unit.

5\. Elimination of Section U.

6\. Modification of Section UD by elimination of suffix \"P\" and the
adding of suffix "V" to allow placement of innerducts in new or existing
conduit systems.

7\. Modification of the UF and UO units to provide compensation on a per
foot basis.

8\. Elimination of Section UG.

9\. Modification of Section UH to allow for installation in areas of
vehicular traffic.

10\. Modification of Section UM to indicate precast manholes as the
default type.

11\. In part III, section 2, added requirement that poured in place
manholes are now to be constructed as specified by the Engineer. Other
references to poured in place manholes were eliminated.

12\. In part III, section 4, added requirement that when blowing of
underground cable is specified, the installation shall be in accordance
with the manufacturer of the blowing installation equipment.

For editorial or other minor technical changes, refer to the body of the
document.

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**[Part I - DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY UNITS AND PROPOSAL
AND]{.underline}**

**[CONTRACT SECTIONS]{.underline}**

The Contractor's Proposal form is divided into sections and the sections
approved for construction shall be listed in the Construction Agreement
by the Owner. The sections are as follows:

Section HC - Copper Splicing Assembly Units

Section HO - Fiber Optic Splicing Assembly Units

Section HU - Underground Splice Closure Assembly Units

# Section PM - Miscellaneous Assembly Units

# Section UD - Underground Conduit Assembly Units

Section UF - Underground Filled Copper Cable Assembly

#### Units

Section UH - Underground Handhole Assembly Units

##  Section UM - Precast Manhole Assembly Units 

Section UO - Underground Filled Fiber Optic Cable

> Assembly Units

Each assembly unit includes only the materials listed on the
corresponding Installation and Construction Guide Drawings or
description of unit where no drawing exists. The various installation
and construction units, which are included in this Proposal and upon
which quotations are required, are defined by the following
descriptions:

[Section HC -- COPPER SPLICING ASSEMBLY UNITS]{.underline}

HC1 Consists of the labor and material necessary in the wire work and
splicing of one (1) cable pair in any cable, including any non-working
pair in an existing cable in accordance with RUS Splicing Standard
Bulletin 1753F-401 (PC-2) using individual mechanical splicing
connectors. The splice may be straight, bridged, or pieced out and
bridged. Pairs that are to be tested, capped, or tested and capped, when
specified by the Engineer are considered to be part of this unit. Only
those pairs on which splicing, testing, and/or capping operations are
performed are counted and each pair is counted only once at each
location. On aerial inserts, each end of the fuse link is considered as
a splice.

HC3 Consists of the labor and material necessary in the wire work and
splicing of one (1) cable pair in any cable, including any non-working
pair in an existing cable in accordance with RUS Splicing Standard
Bulletin 1753F-401 (PC-2) using splicing modules. The splice may be
straight, bridged or pieced out and bridged. Pairs that are to be
tested, capped, or tested and capped, when specified by the Engineer are
considered to be part of this unit. Only those pairs on which splicing,
testing, and/or capping operations are performed are counted and each
pair is counted only once at each location. On aerial inserts, each end
of the fuse link is considered as a splice.

[Section HO - FIBER OPTIC SPLICING ASSEMBLY UNITS]{.underline}

Consists of all labor and material necessary to splice and/or test one
(1) glass fiber in any cable in accordance with RUS Splicing Standard
Bulletin 1753F-401(PC-2). The labor shall include initial measurement,
minimizing the attenuation, splicing and stowing the spliced fiber in a
fiber organizer. The labor and material for the fiber organizer is part
of the appropriate splice closure unit.

[Suffix]{.underline} [Description]{.underline}

HO1 Fusion Splice

HO2 Mechanical Splice

HO3 Connector Splice

[Section HU - UNDERGROUND SPLICE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY UNITS]{.underline}

Consists of an underground splice closure and the closure manufacturer's
provided encapsulating material if required, installed in place and the
labor and material for setting up in preparation for installing the
closure, such as, opening the sheath or jacket of the cable, bonding of
the cable shields, filling the closure if required, closing the closure,
and, when applicable, pressure testing, all in accordance with the
manufacturer\'s instructions. It also includes all necessary hardware
items to support the closure and the cable adjacent to the closure on
the cable racks in the manhole. Cable splicing shall be compensated
under the appropriate splicing units.

The assembly units are defined as follows:

HUF( ) [Underground Filled Closure]{.underline} - A filled splice
closure with pair count and gauge for each cable to be spliced.

HU0( ) [Underground Filled Fiber Optic Closure]{.underline} - A fiber
optic

closure and organizer with the number of fibers to be

housed in the organizer.

HUP( ) [Underground Pressurized Closure]{.underline} - A pressurized
splice closure with pair count and gauge for each cable to be

spliced.

The following illustrations indicate the method of designating the
material required.

HUF(100-24) Underground filled closure enclosing two

cable ends same pair count and gauge.

HUP(200-24)(100-24) Underground pressurized closure

enclosing two cable ends with different

pair counts.

HUF(600-24)(200-24) Underground filled closure enclosing

(200-24)(200-22) four cable ends with pair counts and

gauges as shown.

HUO(24) Underground filled fiber optic splice

> closure and organizer capable of

accommodating a minimum of 24 fibers.

[Section PM - MISCELLANEOUS ASSEMBLY UNITS]{.underline}

Consists of all labor and materials to construct and install the units
defined individually below required for the installation and
construction of the underground cable portions of the Project.

PM21 [Cable Entrance]{.underline} -- Consists of the necessary labor and
material to terminate copper and/or fiber optic outside plant cables as
shown on the detailed drawings as specified by the Engineer.

PM22 [Grounding System]{.underline} -- Consists of the necessary labor
and material to construct a grounding system as shown on the detailed
drawings as specified by the Engineer. This unit shall include all
ground electrodes, trenching, backfilling, bonding the auxiliary ground
electrodes to each other and to the primary ground electrodes, and
bonding to the master ground bar (MGB).

### 

### Section UD - UNDERGROUND CONDUIT ASSEMBLY UNITS

Consists of one (1) foot \[0.305 meters (m)\] of single or multiduct
conduit in place. This unit includes all material and labor for the
placement of the conduit to the depth indicated in the specifications.

The assembly unit is defined as follows:

UD ( ) Underground Conduit

The number of conduits placed horizontally, and vertically, and the
inside diameter (distance between opposite walls for square conduit),
shall be indicated in the parentheses.

Options designated by the following suffixes apply:

[Suffix]{.underline} [Description]{.underline}

> E This unit consists of necessary labor and materials to encase the
> conduit in concrete. (Encasement shall consist of a 2 inch (in.)
>
> \[51 millimeters (mm)\] minimum cover over the conduit(s), a minimum
> of 1-1/2 in. (38 mm) at
>
> the sides and a minimum of 2 in. (51 mm) for
>
> the base.)
>
> S This unit consists of the necessary labor and materials to encase
> the conduit in sand or fine earth. (Encasement shall consist of a 4
> in.
>
> (102 mm) cover over the conduit(s), a minimum of 1-1/2 in. (38 mm) at
> the sides and a minimum of
>
> 3 in. (76 mm) for the base.)
>
> B This unit consists of the necessary labor and materials to provide a
> concrete base for the conduit assembly unit as determined by the
> Engineer. (Concrete base will be 3 in. (76 mm)
>
> in thickness for the width of the trench.)
>
> C This unit consists of the necessary labor and materials to provide a
> concrete cover for the conduit assembly unit as determined by the
> Engineer. (The concrete cover shall have a minimum thickness of 3 in.
> (76 mm) and shall be at least as wide as the conduit.)
>
> A This unit consists of the necessary labor and materials to remove
> and restore paved surfaces. All work shall be performed as required in
> accordance with federal, state and/or local construction standards in
> effect at the time of bid date.
>
> V This unit consists of the necessary labor and materials to place one
> or more vacant innerduct(s) in a conduit. The parentheses for the UD
> unit shall indicate the number of innerducts followed by the inside
> diameter of the innerduct to be placed in new or existing conduit,
> including rodding and cleaning of the conduit if necessary.

A. This unit also includes:

\(1\) All labor and material required for conduit jointing, such as,
conduit bends, couplings, adapters, fittings, plugs or seals, and
spacers.

\(2\) All material and labor required in the repair of streets, roads,
sidewalks, drives, fences, lawns, shrubbery, trees, watermains, pipes,
pipelines and contents, underground power and telecommunications
facilities, and any other incidental property damaged during the
installation of underground conduit.

\(3\) All labor and material for trenching, shoring, backfilling,
tamping, and disposal of water and excess or unusable material.

\(4\) All labor required for rodding and cleaning of conduit as
specified by the Engineer. When rodding and cleaning are not specified
by the Engineer, these actions shall be in accordance with Part III,
Section 2.10.

B. The length of conduit for compensation purposes is determined by
taking the sum of distances paralleling the conduit between manholes or
between manholes and termination points as specified by the Engineer.

The following illustrations indicate the method of designating the
material required.

UD(4x4-2)E Indicates concrete encased conduit having four ducts
horizontally by four ducts vertically, (16 ducts total), with each duct
having an inside diameter of 2 in. (51 mm).

UD(4x3-3-1/2)B Indicates a concrete base for a conduit having 4 ducts
horizontally by 3 ducts vertically, (12 ducts total), with each duct
having an inside diameter of 3-1/2 in.

> (89 mm).

UD(3-1.25)V Indicates 3 innerducts of 1.25 in. (31 mm) inside diameter
to be placed in a new or existing conduit.

[Section UF - UNDERGROUND FILLED COPPER CABLE ASSEMBLY
UNITS]{.underline}

Consists of 1 foot (0.305 m) of underground filled copper cable
installed in underground conduits and manholes. This unit also consists
of setting up the cable within the manhole, providing and placing cable
supports and cable rack hooks, pulling-in wires, duct seals or plugs,
cable tags, manhole cable racks and rodding and cleaning of ducts all as
required in accordance with the detailed plans and specifications. This
unit includes bonding together of all closures, but does not include
cable closure assemblies or cable splicing in manholes. The splicing and
closures will be specified separately. The length of cable for
compensation purposes is determined by measuring the distances
paralleling the cable plus the vertical lengths of cable installed on
supporting structures. This unit shall include the cleaning out and/or
pumping out of manholes when specified by the Engineer in advance of
bidding.

Options designated by the following suffixes apply:

[Suffix]{.underline} [Description]{.underline}

H Screened cable designated for T1 carrier systems.

H1C Screened cable designated for T1C carrier systems.

Each underground filled copper cable assembly unit is listed in
accordance with the number of pairs and gauge of conductors. Each unit
is prefixed by the letters UF. The following illustration indicates the
method of designating the material required.

UF600-24H1C A 600 pair, 24 gauge underground filled copper cable with a
screen designated for T1C carrier systems.

[Section UH -- UNDERGROUND HANDHOLE ASSEMBLY UNITS]{.underline}

Consists of labor and material for one (1) underground handhole
installed in place, including the base, top cover and mounting hardware,
and pea gravel. The handhole size, amount of pea gravel and the
installation shall be as specified by the Engineer. The handhole
assembly unit shall be used only in areas of non-vehicular traffic. When
required for use in areas

of vehicular traffic, the handhole shall be rated to withstand vehicular
traffic. Where specified, vehicular traffic rated handholes shall be
suffixed with the letter \"T\".

The assembly units are defined as follows:

> UHC( ) Underground Handhole for copper systems.
>
> UHF( ) Underground Handhole for fiber optic systems.

The dimensions of length, width, and depth of the handhole shall be
indicated in the parentheses in inches (millimeters).

[Examples]{.underline}:

UHC(13x24X24) Underground handhole for copper systems with

> dimensions of 13 x 24 x 24 in. (330 x 610 x
>
> 610 mm)(approximate).

UHF(17x30x30)T Underground handhole for fiber optic systems with
dimensions of 17 x 30 x 30 in. (432 x 762

> x 762 mm) (approximate) which is rated for vehicular traffic.

[Section UM -- PRECAST MANHOLE ASSEMBLY UNITS]{.underline}

Consists of all labor and material necessary to install a precast
concrete manhole in place. The unit shall include pit excavation,
masonry materials, collar, manhole frame and cover, pulling-in irons,
and other materials necessary to make an appropriate installation in
accordance with the Construction Sheets. In addition, precast manhole
assembly units also include all material and labor required in the
repair and/or replacement of streets, roads, drives, fences, lawns,
shrubbery, watermains, pipes, pipelines and contents, underground power
and telecommunications facilities, buried sewerage and drainage
facilities and any other property damaged during the construction of the
manhole assembly unit. Backfilling shall include backfill compaction,
removal of excess materials and site clearing. Each manhole is listed as
a separate unit installed in place.

All manhole unit designations shall begin with the letters UM followed
by a letter to indicate the type of the manhole and conduit arrangements
shown in the unit drawings. The letters \"A\", \"L\", \"T\", \"J\",
\"X\", or \"Y\" indicate rectangular manholes, and the letter \"V\"
indicates a V-shaped manhole.

Immediately following the letter indicating the manhole type shall be a
fourth letter, which shall indicate the type of frame, and cover with
which the manhole is to be equipped. The letter \"R\" indicates a light
duty frame and cover. The letter \"B\" indicates a heavy duty frame and
cover. Following the letter indicating frame and cover type, and
enclosed in parentheses shall be the nominal diameter of the frame
opening in inches (millimeters).

[Examples]{.underline}:

UM-AR(24) Rectangular manhole equipped with a 24 in.

(610 mm) light duty frame and cover.

UM-VB(30) V shaped manhole equipped with a 30 in.

(762 mm) heavy duty frame and cover.

[UO - UNDERGROUND FILLED FIBER OPTIC CABLE ASSEMBLY UNITS]{.underline}

Consists of one (1) foot (0.305 m) of underground filled fiber optic
cable installed in underground conduit and manholes. This unit also
consists of setting up the cable within the manhole, providing and
placing cable supports and cable rack hooks, pulling-in wires, duct
seals or plugs, cable tags, manhole cable racks, and rodding and
cleaning of ducts, all as required in accordance with the detailed plans
and specifications. This unit does not include cable closure assembly or
cable splicing. They will be specified separately. The length of cable
for compensation purposes is determined by measuring the distances
paralleling the cable plus the vertical lengths of cable installed on
supporting structures. This unit shall include cleaning out and/or
pumping out of manholes when specified by the Engineer in advance of
bidding.

Each underground filled fiber optic cable assembly unit is listed in
accordance with the number of optical fibers. Each unit is prefixed by
the letters UO. The following illustration indicates the method of
designating the material required.

## UO24 An underground filled fiber optic cable

## with 24 fibers. 

**[Part II - SPECIFICATION FOR MATERIALS]{.underline}**

**1. SCOPE**

This part of the specification is concerned with the various materials
required for the construction of underground plant of a rural
telecommunications system as shown on the Plans, Specifications, and
Construction Sheets.

**2. GENERAL**

All materials used in the construction of the rural telecommunications
system except those listed in Paragraph 3 below shall be listed in RUS
Informational Publication (IP)

344-2, \"List of Materials Acceptable for Use on Telecommunications
Systems of RUS Borrowers,\" unless specific written approval has been
granted by the Administrator.

**3. MISCELLANEOUS**

Items which do not appear in RUS IP 344-2, \"List of Materials
Acceptable for Use on Telecommunications Systems of RUS Borrowers,\"
shall be of a quality suitable for the application for which they are
intended.

**[Part III - SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND
INSTALLATION]{.underline}**

**1. GENERAL**

**1.1** All construction and installation work shall be done in a
thorough and workmanlike manner in accordance with the Plans,
Specifications and Construction Sheets and shall be subject to
acceptance by the Owner and the Administrator.

**1.2** All material to be used in construction of the Project shall be
stored so as to be protected from deteriorating effects of the elements.

**1.3** All underground cables and accessory materials used in the
construction of the Project shall be handled with care. Each reel of
underground cable shall be inspected for damage. Prior to installation,
all damage shall be repaired to the satisfaction of the Engineer. If
reel wrap is present, the reel wrap shall remain intact on the reel
until the cable is ready to be placed.

**1.4** Deviations from the Plans, Specifications and Construction
Sheets shall not be permitted except upon written permission of the
Engineer.

**1.5** The latest revision of the National Electrical Safety Code
(NESC) and the National Electrical Code (NEC) shall be followed in every
case except where local regulations are more stringent, in which case
local regulations shall govern.

**2. UNDERGROUND CONDUIT AND MANHOLES**

**2.1** The underground conduit and manhole system shall be constructed
in accordance with the instructions given herein unless otherwise
specified by the Engineer or unless state or local requirements are more
stringent in which case the latter requirements will govern.

**2.2** The Engineer shall determine the location of all conduit and
manholes and shall specify size, type, position, and depth at which they
are to be constructed. The size, type and location of all main conduit
and subsidiary ducts, location of foreign structures where known; and
applicable right-of-way restrictions shall be shown on the Construction
Sheets. The size, type, and location of all conduit entrances and size
and location of the manhole frame opening shall be shown on the
Construction Sheets.

**2.3** All parties associated with excavations for the conduit and
manhole system shall follow well-established safety rules and
regulations to safeguard the public and workmen.

2.3.1 Testing shall be conducted in excavations and manholes to
determine if there is an oxygen deficiency or a presence of harmful gas,
in accordance with federal, state, and/or local requirements.

**2.3.2** Gas and oil mains shall be given special attention and
precautions shall be taken to guard against the fire hazards they
present. Excavations in public streets shall always be checked for gas
leakage, even though gas mains or sewers are not directly encountered.
No flame of any sort shall be permitted around excavations when the odor
of gas is detected. Workmen shall not be allowed to smoke; and
precautions shall be taken to prevent pedestrians from throwing lighted
cigars, cigarettes, or burning matches into such excavations. The owning
company shall be notified when excavation involving such structures is
undertaken so that a representative may be present if desired.

**2.3.3** The Contractor shall provide adequate shoring, warning signs,
lights, no parking signs, barricades, and removal of excess water and
excavated material. Flagmen and guards shall be provided where required
to maintain safe conditions for the workmen and the public.

**2.3.4** Blasting shall only be permitted with approval from state or
local authorities and with the warning to and protection of workmen and
the public.

**2.3.5** Excavations shall be closed and/or barricaded for public
protection prior to leaving the job site at night with warning lights
and/or guards.

**2.3.6** Accessibility to fire hydrants, fire alarm boxes, and private
driveways shall be maintained using temporary bridges over trenches as
required.

**2.4** The Contractor shall notify utilities, local authorities,
regulatory bodies, and others when construction is to commence. When
conflicts are encountered involving the relocation of manholes or
conduits, the Engineer shall be notified.

**2.5** Where deviations from the Construction Sheets are necessary or
desirable, such construction shall proceed only with prior approval by
the Engineer.

**2.6** The depth of the trench shall be sufficient to obtain a cover of
at least 24 in. (610 mm) over the conduit formation including top
protection where employed unless otherwise approved by the Engineer.

**2.7** The trench route and manhole locations shall be clearly marked
by the Engineer before excavation is started.

**2.8** In preparing the trench bed for the conduit installation, the
trench bed shall be leveled to form an even base. In some cases it may
be necessary to provide sand or fine earth to establish an even base.
If, upon excavation, the trench bed appears to be incapable of firmly
supporting the conduit, the Engineer shall determine whether a concrete
base is required.

**2.9** Backfilling next to the conduit shall be free from stones or
other material which might damage the conduit or conduit joints. Large
boulders shall not be included in any part of the backfill. In tamping
the backfill at the sides of the conduit, extreme care shall be used to
avoid damage to the joints or shifts in the conduit structure.
Backfilling and tamping alongside the conduit shall be done in layers
only an inch or two in thickness until the level of the top of the
conduit is reached. Backfilling around conduit joined with mortar
bandages shall proceed as soon as the joints are completed. Troweled
joints shall be allowed to set at least 24 hours before backfilling.

**2.10** Upon completion of conduit sections, a test mandrel 1/4 in.
(6.4 mm) smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the conduit
shall be pulled through all single duct conduit and through two
diagonally opposite ducts in multiduct conduit formations to ensure
proper alignment. In addition, all conduits shall be cleaned of loose
materials such as concrete, mud, dirt, stones, etc. Pull wire (type as
specified by the Engineer) shall be placed in conduit if so indicated by
the Engineer on the Construction Sheets. The ends of the conduit shall
be sealed to prevent the entrance of foreign matter and to protect
against water or gas from entering manholes of buildings. All conduit
entering central offices or other buildings shall be kept plugged at all
times. If the work extends over several days, the conduits shall be
plugged at night temporarily and permanently upon completion of the
work.

**2.11** Where sod and/or top soil has been removed, finish off the
surface of the trench with top soil and/or sod as removed. This work
shall be done to the satisfaction of the property owner and authorities.

**2.12** All surplus material and debris shall be promptly cleared from
the job site.

**2.13** All cement used in underground construction shall be Portland
cement and shall conform to the latest specification for Portland cement
of the American Society for Testing and Materials.

**2.14** Cement shall be kept dry at all times prior to use in order to
prevent deterioration. No cement shall be used which contains lumps,
which will not pulverize readily in the hand. The presence of such lumps
indicates that the cement has absorbed moisture and has deteriorated.

**2.15** To ensure that concrete used in manhole construction will be
watertight, water shall be prevented from flowing through or over the
freshly placed concrete and washing away the cement paste. Admixtures
shall not be used for the purpose of producing watertight concrete.

**2.16** Each precast manhole shall be provided with hardware and
equipment as specified below and shown in the Construction Sheets.

**2.16.1** Type A, L, T, J, and V manholes shall be provided with either
37-hole or 18-hole cable racks as shown in the Construction Sheets. When
18-hole racks are used, they shall be attached to cable rack supports
with three cable rack supports required for each set of two 18-hole
racks. Type X and Y manholes shall be provided with 8-hole racks as
shown in the Construction Sheets. The cable racks shall be attached to
the supports by means of 1/2 in. x 1-3/4 in. (12.7 mm x 44.4 mm)
galvanized machine bolts and nuts. The cable rack supports shall be
secured to the manhole walls by means of 1/2 in. x 2-1/2 in. (12.7 mm x
63.5 mm) galvanized machine bolts screwed into metal inserts which shall
be cast in the walls when the manhole is constructed.

**2.16.2** Rectangular manholes, except Type X and Y, shall be provided
with four cable racks or sets of cable racks as shown in the
Construction Sheets. Type Y manholes shall be provided with two racks
and Type X manholes shall be provided with one rack as shown on the
Construction Sheets.

**2.16.3** Type V manholes shall be provided with six cable racks or
sets of cable racks as shown on the Construction Sheets.

**2.16.4** One pulling-in iron shall be cast in the wall opposite each
conduit with which it is associated and shall be installed in accordance
with the Construction Sheets.

**2.17** The frame shall be supported on a collar as shown in the
Construction Sheets. The collar shall be of sufficient height to bring
the cover flush with the grade of the street or surrounding earth.

**2.18** The sump or drain shall be located directly under the manhole
cover.

**2.19** Pulling-in irons shall be placed so as to extend into the
manhole far enough to permit a clear opening of approximately

3 in. (76.2 mm) in the eye.

2.20 When poured-in-place manholes are specified, the construction and
installation of the poured-in-place manhole shall be as specified by the
Engineer.

**3. UNDERGROUND HANDHOLES**

**3.1** The underground handholes shall be installed in accordance with
the instructions given herein unless otherwise specified by the Engineer
unless state or local requirements are more stringent in which case the
latter requirements will govern.

**3.2** The Engineer shall determine the location of the handhole and
shall specify type, position and depth of installation.

**3.3** A hole shall be dug large enough to accommodate the handhole.

**3.4** The handhole shall be positioned and a suitable backfill shall
be tamped around the handhole.

**3.5** Pea gravel should be placed inside of the handhole to minimize
condensation problems.

**3.6** The Engineer shall ensure that the dimensions of the handhole
shall be large enough to accommodate the splice case installation and
when required, cable slack.

**4. UNDERGROUND CABLE PLACEMENT**

4.1 Prior to entry, testing shall be conducted in excavations and
manholes to determine if there is an oxygen deficiency or a presence of
harmful gas, in accordance with federal, state, and/or local
requirements.

**4.2** When working in manholes, care shall be taken to prevent damage
to the cables in setting up the pulling apparatus or in placing tools or
hardware. Cables shall not be stepped upon when entering or leaving the
manhole.

**4.3** Cable reels, which are delivered to the work location and are
not set up immediately for placing operations shall be securely blocked
or secured to a substantial support to prevent rolling.

**4.4** The Contractor and Engineer shall jointly verify distances
between splice points prior to ordering cable in specific cut lengths.

**4.5** The duct assignment for each individual cable for any conduit
section shall be specified on the Construction Sheets. Cables shall not
be placed in ducts other than those specified on the Construction Sheets
without prior approval of the Engineer.

**4.6** It shall be the Contractor\'s responsibility to determine
whether ducts assigned for occupancy shall be rodded and cleaned.

4.7 All ducts containing earth, sand or gravel shall be cleaned. Ducts,
which cannot be cleaned, shall be reported to the Engineer.

**4.8** Reels shall be rolled in the direction indicated by the arrows
painted on the reel flanges.

**4.9** Cable reels shall be set up on the same side of the manhole as
the conduit section in which the cable is to be placed. The reel shall
be leveled and brought into proper alignment with the conduit section so
that the cable pays off from the top of the reel in a long smooth bend
into the duct without twisting. Under no circumstances shall the cable
be payed off from the bottom of a reel.

**4.10** The Contractor shall check the equipment set up prior to
beginning the cable pulling to avoid an interruption once pulling has
started.

**4.11** A cable feeder guide of suitable dimensions shall be used
between the cable reel and the face of the duct to protect the cable and
guide it into the duct as it is payed off the reel. Copper cable shall
not be bent to a radius of less than 10 times the diameter of the cable.
Fiber optic cable shall not be bent to a radius of less than 20 times
the diameter of the cable.

**4.12** The mechanical stress placed upon a cable during installation
shall not be such that the cable is twisted or stretched. During
installation, the Contractor shall not exceed the maximum pulling
tension of the cable as specified by the cable manufacturer.

**4.13** As the cable is payed off the reel, it shall be carefully
inspected for jacket defects. If defects are noticed, the pulling
operations shall be stopped immediately and the Engineer will determine
what corrective action shall be taken.

**4.14** As the cables are payed off the reel into the cable feeder
guide, they shall be sufficiently lubricated with a type of lubricant
recommended by the cable manufacturer. Where the cable is pulled through
a manhole it shall also be sufficiently lubricated at the intermediate
manhole.

**4.15** Cable placement shall be stopped immediately if the cable on a
reel binds or does not pay off freely. The cause of the binding must be
cleared to the satisfaction of the Engineer before the pulling operation
is continued.

4.16 When blowing of underground cable is specified, the installation
shall be in accordance with the manufacturer of the blowing installation
equipment.

**4.17** Sufficient cable shall be provided in each manhole to properly
rack and splice the cables as shown on the Construction Sheets.

**4.18** All cable ends, shall be protected at all times with acceptable
end caps except during actual splicing. During the splicing operations,
protection shall be available for immediate installation in case water.

####### LIST OF CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND PLANS

[Construction Guide Drawings]{.underline}

## UM-A, L, T, J Types A, L, T and J Precast Manholes

UM-V Type V Precast Manhole

UM-X, Y Types X and Y Precast Service Manholes