277

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.10

Within thirty (30) days after completion of the inspection and testing, the

borrower (acting through its engineer,

if applicable) will prepare a report of

the inspection and testing, obtain a

copy of the report from its engineer,

and submit a copy to the contractor.

This report must include a detailed description of the methods of conducting

the test(s), observed data, comparison

of guaranteed and actual performance,

and recommendations concerning acceptance. The borrower will obtain

from the engineer a written certification stating that the equipment has

been installed, placed in satisfactory

operation and tested, and meets the

contract requirements. Where more

than one-hundred and eighty (180) days

have elapsed since the delivery of the

equipment and the equipment has not

been installed or tested, the contract

may be closed out upon certification by

the engineer that the equipment has

been inspected and appears to be in accordance with the contract requirements.

(b) Final inspection of construction.

The borrower will require the contractor to notify its engineer when

construction of a section of the project

is complete. The borrower (acting

through its engineer, if applicable) will

schedule such final inspection at a

time mutually agreeable to the borrower, its engineer, contractor, and the

respective GFR, if the GFR has notified the borrower or its engineer of a

desire to observe the final inspection.

The borrower (acting through its engineer, if applicable) will perform a final

inspection of the construction of that

section of the project and notify the

contractor of any required changes or

corrections.

(c) Closeout documents. (1) Upon satisfactory completion of construction of a

section of the project (including all

changes and corrections by the contractor), the borrower (acting through

its engineer, if applicable) will obtain

executed copies of the following documents:

(i) RUS Form 792b, Certificate of

Contractor and Indemnity Agreement

(ii) RUS Form 213, ‘‘Buy American’’

certificate.

(iii) Certification by the project engineer in accordance with paragraph (a)

of this section, if applicable.

(iv) Final design documents, as outlined in part 1724 of this chapter.

(2) Distribution of closeout documents.

(i) The borrower will retain one copy of

each of the documents identified in

paragraph (c)(1) of this section in accordance with applicable RUS requirements regarding retention of records.

(ii) For contracts not subject to RUS

approval, the closeout is not subject to

RUS approval and the closeout documents need not be sent to RUS unless

specifically requested by RUS.

§ 1726.405 Inventory of work orders

(RUS Form 219).

Upon completion of the contract

closeout, the borrower shall complete

RUS Form 219, Inventory of Work Orders, in accordance with part 1717,

Post-Loan Policies and Procedures

Common to Insured and Guaranteed

Electric Loans, of this chapter.

PART 1728—ELECTRIC STANDARDS

AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION

Sec.

1728.10 General purpose and scope.

1728.20 Establishment of standards and

specifications.

1728.30 Inclusion of an item for listing or

technical acceptance.

1728.40 Procedure for submission of a proposal.

1728.50 Removal of an item from listing or

technical acceptance.

1728.60 List of materials and equipment.

1728.70 Procurement of materials.

1728.97 Incorporation by reference of electric standards and specifications.

1728.201 RUS Bulletin 1728H-701, RUS Specification for Wood Crossarms (Solid and

Laminated), Transmission Timbers and

Pole Keys.

1728.202 RUS Bulletin 1728H-702, RUS Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of Timber Products.

AUTHORITY: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 1921 et seq.,

6941 et seq.

EDITORIAL NOTE: Nomenclature changes to

part 1728 appear at 55 FR 39397, Sept. 27, 1990.

§ 1728.10 General purpose and scope.

(a) The requirements of this part are

based on contractual provisions between RUS and the organizations

278

§ 1728.20 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

which receive financial assistance from

RUS.

(b) RUS will establish certain specifications and standards for materials,

equipment, and construction units that

will be acceptable for RUS financial assistance for the electric program. Materials and equipment purchased by the

electric borrowers or accepted as contractor-furnished material must conform to RUS standards and specifications where they have been established

and, if included in RUS Bulletin 43–5,

‘‘List of Materials Acceptable for Use

on Systems of RUS Electrification Borrowers’’ (List of Materials), must be selected from that list or must have received technical acceptance from RUS.

RUS, through its Technical Standards

Committees, will evaluate certain materials, equipment and construction

units, and will determine acceptance.

[50 FR 47710, Nov. 20, 1985. Redesignated at 55

FR 39395, Sept. 27, 1990]

§ 1728.20 Establishment of standards

and specifications.

(a) National and other standards. RUS

will utilize standards of national standardizing groups, such as the American

National Standards Institute (ANSI),

American Wood Preservers’ Association (AWPA), the various national engineering societies and the National

Electrical Safety Code (NESC), to the

greatest extent practical. When there

are no national standards or when RUS

determines that the existing national

standards are not adequate for rural

electric systems, RUS will prepare

standards for material and equipment

to be used on systems of electric borrowers. RUS standards and specifications will be codified or listed in

§1728.97, Incorporation by Reference of

Electric Standards and Specifications.

RUS will also prepare specifications for

materials and equipment when it determines that such specifications will result in reduced costs, improved materials and equipment, or in the more effective use of engineering services.

(b) Deviations from Standards. No

member of the RUS staff will be permitted to authorize deviations from

the standard specifications, or to establish or change the technical standards, or to authorize the use of items

that have not received acceptance by

the Technical Standards Committees,

except as provided for under §1728.70, or

by authorization and/or delegation of

authority by the Administrator of

RUS.

(c) Category of Items. Items appearing

in the List of Materials are listed by

categories of generic items which are

used in RUS construction standards incorporated by reference in §1728.97.

RUS will establish and define these

categories and will establish all criteria for acceptability within these

categories.

[50 FR 47710, Nov. 20, 1985. Redesignated at 55

FR 39395, Sept. 27, 1990, and amended at 55

FR 53487, Dec. 31, 1990]

§ 1728.30 Inclusion of an item for listing or technical acceptance.

(a) Scope. RUS, through its Technical

Standards Committees ‘‘A’’ and ‘‘B’’

will determine the acceptability of certain standards, standard specifications,

standard drawings, and items of materials and equipment to be used in

transmission, distribution and general

plant (excluding office equipment,

tools, and work equipment, and consumer-owned electric wiring facilities).

(b) Addresses of Committees. The address of Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A’’ is: Chairman, Technical

Standards Committee ‘‘A’’ (Electric),

Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC

20250–1500. The address of Technical

Standards Committee ‘‘B’’ is: Chairman, Technical Standards Committee

‘‘B’’ (Electric), Rural Utilities Service,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250–1500.

(c) Review by Technical Standards

Committee ‘‘A’’. All proposals for listing

a product in the List of Materials must

be addressed to Technical Standards

Committee ‘‘A.’’ This committee will

consider all proposals made by sponsors of specifications, drawings, materials, or equipment in categories for

which RUS has established criteria for

acceptability. A sponsor may be a manufacturer, supplier, contractor or any

other person or organization which has

made an application for listing or has

requested an action by the committee.

279

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.40

1 Nondomestic items are items which do

not qualify as domestic products pursuant to

RUS ‘‘Buy American’’ requirement.

Committee ‘‘A’’ will consider all relevant information presented in determining whether an item should be accepted by Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A.’’ Formal rules of evidence

and procedure shall not apply to proceedings before this committee.

(d) Action by Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A’’. (1) Committee ‘‘A’’ may

take one of the following actions:

(i) Accept an item for listing without

conditions (domestic items only),

(ii) Reject an item (domestic or nondomestic),1

(iii) Accept an item for listing with

conditions (domestic items only),

(iv) Table an item for a time period

sufficient to allow the sponsor to be

notified and furnish additional information (domestic or nondomestic),

(v) Grant technical acceptance with

or without conditions for a period of

one year from the date of notification

by RUS (nondomestic items only).

(2) All committee decisions regarding

the actions listed above must be unanimous. If the vote is not unanimous, the

item shall be referred to Technical

Standards Committee ‘‘B.’’ Written notice of Technical Standards Committee

‘‘A’s’’ decision, stating the basis for

the decision, will be provided to the

sponsor.

(3) Items accepted without conditions

by the Technical Standards Committees will be considered to be accepted

on a general basis. No restrictions as to

quantity or application will be placed

on items which have received general

acceptance. Items accepted subject to

certain conditions, such as limited use

to gain service experience, or limited

use appropriate to certain areas and

conditions, will be considered to be accepted on a conditional basis. The conditions will be cited as a part of the

listing provided for in §1728.60, or as

part of the technical acceptance for

nondomestic items.

(e) Appeal to Technical Standards Committee ‘‘B’’. A sponsor may request a review of an adverse decision by Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A’’ within

ten (10) days of notification of such decision by submitting a letter requesting such review to Technical Standards

Committee ‘‘B’’ (Electric).

(f) Action by Technical Standards Committee ‘‘B’’. Committee ‘‘B’’ may take

any of the actions listed for Committee

‘‘A’’ in §1728.30(d). However, for a Committee ‘‘B’’ action to be effective it

must be by majority vote. Failure to

obtain a majority on one of the proposed actions shall mean that the product will not be listed or accepted. Committee ‘‘B’s’’ determination shall be

based on the record developed before

Committee ‘‘A’’ and such additional information as Committee ‘‘B’’ may request. Formal rules of procedure and

evidence shall not apply to proceedings

before Committee ‘‘B.’’ Written notice

of Committee ‘‘B’s’’ decision, stating

the basis of the decision, will be provided to the sponsor.

(g) Appeal to the Administrator. In the

event of an adverse decision by Committee ‘‘B,’’ the sponsor may, within

ten (10) days of notification of such decision, request a review of this decision

by submitting a letter to the Administrator requesting such a review.

(h) Change in Design. RUS acceptance

of an item will be conditioned on the

understanding that no design changes

(material or dimensions) affecting the

quality, strength, or electrical characteristics of the item shall be made

without prior concurrence of Technical

Standards Committee ‘‘A.’’

[50 FR 47711, Nov. 20, 1985. Redesignated at 55

FR 39395, Sept. 27, 1990]

§ 1728.40 Procedure for submission of

a proposal.

(a) Written Request. Consideration of

an item of material or equipment will

be obtained by the sponsor through the

submission of a written request in an

original and five copies addressed to

the Chairman, Technical Standards

Committee ‘‘A’’ (Electric). The letter

must include the catalog number or

other identifying number or code as

well as a description of the item. In the

event that an item being submitted is

also intended for consideration by

Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A’’

(Telephone), a separate request must

be made to the telephone committee.

(See part 1755 of this chapter).

280

§ 1728.50 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

(b) Technical and Performance Data.

Six copies of the specification of manufacture, drawings and test data must

be submitted to the committee. Six

copies of the performance history shall

also be submitted unless RUS determines that such performance history is

not reasonably available.

(c) Sample. One sample of the item

must be submitted to the Chairman,

Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A,’’

unless RUS waives the requirements of

the sample. In case of large, bulky or

extremely heavy samples, the sponsor

should contact the Chairman, Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A’’ (Electric), at the above address, before any

sample is shipped.

(d) Action on Proposal. RUS will inform a sponsor of the action taken on

the sponsor’s proposal.

[50 FR 47711, Nov. 20, 1985. Redesignated at 55

FR 39395, Sept. 27, 1990]

§ 1728.50 Removal of an item from listing or technical acceptance.

(a) Removal Actions. An item of material or equipment may be removed

from the listing or technical acceptance in accordance with the following

procedures upon determination that

the item is unsatisfactory or has been

misrepresented to the owner or RUS.

(b) Notification by the Committee. The

sponsor of an item of material or

equipment will be notified in writing of

a proposal to remove such item from

the listing or technical acceptance.

(c) Supplemental Information. Within

ten (10) days of receipt of such notification, the sponsor may submit to Committee ‘‘A’’ a letter expressing the

sponsor’s intent to submit written supplemental technical information relevant to Committee ‘‘A’s’’ determination. The sponsor must submit such information within twenty (20) days from

the submission of its letter to Committee ‘‘A.’’ Committee ‘‘A’’ will have

the discretion of making a decision following the expiration of the time periods provided in this paragraph.

(d) Review by the Technical Standards

Committee ‘‘A’’. Committee ‘‘A’’ will

consider all relevant information presented in determining whether an item

should be removed from the listing or

technical acceptance. Formal rules of

evidence and procedure shall not apply

to proceedings before Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A.’’

(e) Action by the Technical Standards

Committee ‘‘A’’. Committee ‘‘A’’ may

take one of the following actions:

(1) Order the immediate removal of

the item from the listing, or technical

acceptance,

(2) Condition the item’s continued

listing, or technical acceptance,

(3) Recommend a basis of settlement

which will adequately protect the interest of the Government, or

(4) Delay the effectiveness of its decision for a time period sufficient to

allow the sponsor to appeal to Technical Standards Committee ‘‘B.’’

All committee ‘‘A’’ decisions regarding

the actions listed above must be by

unanimous vote. If the vote is not

unanimous, the item will be referred to

Technical Standards Committee ‘‘B.’’

Written notice of Technical Standards

Committee ‘‘A’s’’ decision, stating the

basis for the decision, will be provided

to the sponsor.

(f) Additional Opportunity to Present

Information. At the request of the sponsor, RUS may afford additional opportunity for consideration of relevant information. Such additional opportunity may include, without limitation, a meeting between RUS and the

sponsor in such a forum that RUS may

determine. In making this decision,

RUS will consider, among other things,

the best interests of RUS, its borrowers, and the sponsor, and the best

manner to develop sufficient information relating to the proposed action.

(g) Appeal to the Technical Standards

Committee ‘‘B’’. Within ten (10) days of

notification of Committee ‘‘A’s’’ decision, a sponsor may appeal in writing

to Technical Standards Committee ‘‘B’’

to review Committee ‘‘A’s’’ decision,

specifying the reasons for such a request. Committee ‘‘B’s’’ determination,

in response to such request, shall be

based on the record developed before

Committee ‘‘A’’ and such additional information as Committee ‘‘B’’ may request. Formal rules of procedure and

evidence shall not apply to proceedings

before Committee ‘‘B.’’

(h) Action by Technical Standards Committee ‘‘B’’. Committee ‘‘B,’’ by majority vote, may take one of the following

actions:

281

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.70

(1) Order the immediate removal of

the item from listing, or technical acceptance,

(2) Condition the item’s continued

listing, or technical acceptance,

(3) Recommend a basis of settlement

which adequately protects the interests of the Government, or

(4) Delay the effectiveness of its decision for a time period sufficient to

allow the sponsor to appeal to the Administrator of RUS.

Failure to obtain a majority vote on

any of the above actions shall mean

that the product will continue to be

listed or accepted.

Written notice of Committee ‘‘B’s’’ decision stating the basis of the decision

will be provided to the sponsor.

(i) Appeal to the Administrator. Within

ten (10) days of the receipt of Committee ‘‘B’s’’ decision, a sponsor may

appeal to the Administrator to review

Committee ‘‘B’s’’ decision. If an appeal

is made, the sponsor shall submit a

written request to the Administrator,

Rural Utilities Service, Room 4053,

South Building, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250–1500

specifying the reasons to request reconsideration. The Administrator will

have the option to decline the request,

in which case the decision of Committee ‘‘B’’ shall stand. If a review is

granted, the determination by the Administrator or the Administrator’s designee shall be based on the record developed before Committee ‘‘A’’ and

Committee ‘‘B’’ and such additional information as the Administrator may

request. Formal rules of procedure and

evidence shall not apply to the actions

of the Administrator.

(j) Action by the Administrator. The

Administrator may take one of the following actions:

(1) Order the immediate removal of

the item from the listing, or technical

acceptance,

(2) Condition its continued listing, or

technical acceptance, or

(3) Recommend a basis of settlement

which adequately protects the interests of the Government.

Written notice of the Administrator’s

determination, stating the basis for the

decision, will be provided to the sponsor.

The Administrator’s actions are final.

[50 FR 47711, Nov. 20, 1985. Redesignated at 55

FR 39395, Sept. 27, 1990]

§ 1728.60 List of materials and equipment.

(a) General. Those items of material

or equipment accepted by Technical

Standards Committee ‘‘A’’ or ‘‘B,’’

with the exception of technically accepted nondomestic items, will be listed in the List of Materials. Items

which do not qualify as domestic products may be accepted on a technical

basis only (technical acceptance) for a

period of one year as provided in

§1728.30(c)(1) and will not be included in

the List of Materials.

(b) Publishing and Revisions. RUS will

reissue the List of Materials every

year, dated July, and issue supplements, if needed, dated October, January, and April of every year. An RUS

office copy, which is the official current copy, of the List of Materials, will

be updated every time changes are

made by the Technical Standards Committees.

(c) Dual Listings. RUS, through its

Technical Standards Committees, will

accept for listing only one item of a

particular type of material or equipment for each manufacturer. If a manufacturer submits an item to perform

the identical function of a listed item,

RUS, through its Technical Standards

Committees, may accept that item and

remove the one previously listed. RUS

will list only new items of material and

equipment in the List of Materials.

Used items will not be considered for

listing.

[50 FR 47712, Nov. 20, 1985. Redesignated at 55

FR 39395, Sept. 27, 1990]

§ 1728.70 Procurement of materials.

(a) By Owner. When purchasing the

type of materials included in the List

of Materials, RUS borrowers shall purchase only materials listed in the List

of Materials, or materials which have a

current technical acceptance by RUS

and meet the ‘‘Buy American’’ requirement.

(b) By Contractor. When performing

work for an RUS borrower, contractors

shall supply only items from the general acceptance pages of the List of

Materials, or obtain the borrower’s

282

§ 1728.97 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

concurrence prior to purchase and use

of a technically nondomestic item or

any item listed on a conditional basis.

(c) Procurement of Unlisted Items. (1)

The borrower shall request prior approval from RUS for use of an item

that does not fall in categories established by RUS in the List of Materials

for which acceptability has been established by the Technical Standards

Committees.

(2) RUS will also determine, on a

case-by-case basis, whether to allow

use of an unlisted item in emergency

situations and for experimental use or

to meet a specific need. For purposes of

this part 1728, an emergency shall

mean a situation wherein the supply of

listed material and equipment from the

industry is not readily available, or the

standard designs are not applicable to

the borrower’s specific problem under

consideration.

(3) RUS will make arrangements for

test or experimental use of newly developed items requiring limited trial

use. RUS, working with the borrower

and the manufacturer, will establish

test locations for the items to facilitate installation and observation.

[50 FR 47712, Nov. 20, 1985. Redesignated at 55

FR 39395, Sept. 27, 1990]

§ 1728.97 Incorporation by reference of

electric standards and specifications.

(a) The following electric bulletins

have been approved for incorporation

by reference by the Director of the Office of the Federal Register. The bulletins containing construction standard (50–1 to 50–14) and Bulletin 50–18

(DT–5C), may be purchased from the

Superintendent of Documents, U.S.

Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The bulletins containing specifications for materials and

equipment (50–15 to 50–99) may be obtained from the Rural Utilities Service, Administrative Services Division,

Room 0175–S, Washington, DC 20250.

The terms ‘‘RUS form’’, ‘‘RUS standard

form’’, ‘‘RUS specification’’, and ‘‘RUS

bulletin’’ have the same meanings as

the terms ‘‘REA form’’, ‘‘REA standard

form’’, ‘‘REA specification’’, and ‘‘REA

bulletin’’, respectively unless otherwise indicated.

The bulletins are available for inspection at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,

suite 700, Washington, DC. These materials are incorporated as they exist on

the date of the approval and a notice of

any change in these materials will be

published in the FEDERAL REGISTER.

(b) List of Bulletins.

Bulletin 50–3 (D–804), Specifications and

Drawings for 12.5/7.2 kV Line Construction

(4–83)

Bulletin 50–4 (D–801), Specification and

Drawings for 34.5/19.9 kV Distribution Line

Construction (11–86)

Bulletin 50–6 (D–806), Specifications and

Drawings for Underground Electric Distribution (3–90)

Bulletin 50–15 (DT–3), RUS Specifications for

Pole Top Pins with 13⁄8′ Diameter Lead

Thread (1–51)

Bulletin 50–16 (DT–4), RUS Specifications for

Angle Suspension Brackets (3–52)

Bulletin 50–19 (DT–7), RUS Specifications for

Clevis Bolts (8–53)

Bulletin 50–23 (DT–18), RUS Specifications

for 60′′ Wood Crossarm Braces (2–71)

Bulletin 50–31 (D–3), RUS Specifications for

Pole Top Pins with 1′′ Diameter Lead

Threads (2–79)

Bulletin 50–32 (D–4), RUS Specifications for

Steel Crossarm Mounted Pins with 1′′ Diameter Lead Threads (10–50)

Bulletin 50–33 (D–5), RUS Specifications for

Single and Double Upset Spool Bolts (2–51)

Bulletin 50–34 (D–6), RUS Specifications for

Secondary Swinging Clevises (12–70)

Bulletin 50–35 (D–7), RUS Specifications for

Service Swinging Clevises (9–52)

Bulletin 50–36 (D–8), RUS Specifications for

Service Deadend Clevises (9–52)

Bulletin 50–40 (D–14), RUS Specifications for

Pole Top Brackets for Channel Type Pins

(9–51)

Bulletin 50–41 (D–15), RUS Specifications for

Service Wireholders (11–51)

Bulletin 50–55 (T–2), RUS Specifications for

Overhead Ground Wire Support Brackets

(5–53)

Bulletin 50–56 (T–3), RUS Specifications for

Steel Plate Anchors for Transmission

Lines (12–53)

Bulletin 50–60 (T–9), RUS Specification—Single Pole Steel Structures, Complete with

Arms (12–71)

Bulletin 50–70 (U–1), RUS Specification for 15

kV and 25 kV Primary Underground Power

Cable (12–22–87)

Bulletin 50–72 (U–4), RUS Specification for

Electrical Equipment Enclosures (5–35 kV)

(10–79)

Bulletin 50–73 (U–5), RUS Specifications for

Pad-Mounted Transformers (Single and

Three-Phase) (1–77)

283

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.201

Bulletin 50–74 (U–6), RUS Specification for

Secondary Pedestals (600 Volts and Below)

(10–79)

Bulletin 50–91 (S–3), RUS Specifications for

Step-Down Distribution Substation Transformers (34.4–138 kV) (1–78)

Bulletin 1728F–700, RUS Specification for

Wood Poles, Stubs and Anchor Logs (8–93).

Bulletin 1728F–803, Specifications and Drawings for 24.9/14.4 kV Line Construction (10–

98).

Bulletin 1728F–810, Electric Transmission

Specifications and Drawings, 34.5 kV to 69

kV (3–98).

Bulletin 1728F–811, Electric Transmission

Specifications and Drawings, 115 kV to 230

kV (3–98).

[48 FR 31853, July 12, 1983, as amended at 52

FR 22289, June 11, 1987; 52 FR 48799, Dec. 28,

1987; 53 FR 39229, Oct. 6, 1988; 53 FR 44176,

Nov. 2, 1988; 55 FR 8909, Mar. 9, 1990. Redesignated at 55 FR 39395, Sept. 27, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 1563, Jan. 16, 1991; 58 FR 41398,

Aug. 3, 1993; 59 FR 66440, Dec. 27, 1994; 63 FR

11591, Mar. 10, 1998; 63 FR 72104, Dec. 31, 1998]

§ 1728.201 RUS Bulletin 1728H-701,

RUS Specification for Wood Crossarms (Solid and Laminated), Transmission Timbers and Pole Keys.

(a) General provisions. (1) This section

implements contractual provisions between RUS and borrowers receiving financial assistance from RUS. The contractual agreement between RUS and

its borrowers requires the borrower’s

system to be constructed in accordance

with RUS accepted plans and specifications. Each RUS electric borrower

must purchase only wood crossarms

produced in accordance with the specification in this section.

(2) Each RUS electric borrower shall

require each contractor to agree in

writing to furnish only materials produced in accordance with the specification in this section.

(3) This specification describes the

minimum acceptable quality of wood

distribution crossarms and transmission crossarms (hereinafter called

crossarms) that are purchased by or for

RUS borrowers. Where there is conflict

between this specification and any

other specification referred to in this

section, this specification shall govern.

(4) Various requirements relating to

quality control and inspection are contained in §1728.202 of this part, RUS

Specification for Quality Control and

Inspection of Timber Products. Section

1728.201 of this part and the American

National Standards Institute (ANSI)

05.2, 1983, American National Standard

for Wood Products—Structural Glued

Laminated Timber for Utility Structures, shall be followed exactly and

shall not be interpreted or subjected to

judgment by the quality control person

or an independent inspector.

(5) The borrower shall purchase from

producers only material that meets the

requirements of this specification.

Each purchaser shall use a written purchase order to purchase material for

use in RUS financed systems in order

to insure compliance with the standards and specifications of this part.

The written purchase order shall contain a provision that specifically requires the producer to comply with the

provisions of this part. The purchase

order shall contain a provision that

specifically requires the producer to

make the treating plant, and storage

areas available, during normal business

hours, in order for representatives of

either the purchaser or RUS to inspect

such to determine compliance with the

standards and specifications of this

part.

(6) The borrower shall insure that the

producer provides the inspectors with

full information (drawings, etc.) relating to the requirements contained in

purchase order which is supplementary

to this specification.

(7) The borrower shall insure that the

producer maintains, or has access to,

adequate laboratory facilities at or

very near the treating plant. All chemical tests, assays or analyses associated with the treatment shall be independently performed in this laboratory

by both the quality control designee

and the borrower’s inspector. If acceptable to RUS on a case-by-case basis,

the producer may use a central laboratory.

(8) Inspection and treatment of all

timber products produced under this

specification should be performed after

receipt of the order from the purchaser,

except as provided for reserve treated

stock.

(9) The borrower shall insure that

each inspection agency maintains its

own central laboratory with qualified

staff capable of completely analyzing

284

§ 1728.201 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

the preservative and treatments. If acceptable to RUS, this central laboratory may be used for the independent

inspector’s routine assays, with results

made available the next working day.

(10) The testing and inspection of the

lamination process shall be in accordance with American Institute of Timber Construction (AITC) 200–83, Inspection Manual.

(11) With the exception of reserve

treated stock, all invoices for treated

timber products shall be accompanied,

in duplicate, by a copy of the producer’s Certificate of Compliance and a

copy of either the Independent Inspection Report or a Quality Assurance

Plan Certificate. The certificate shall

be presented to the purchaser with the

invoice. For reserve treated stock, inspection reports shall be available from

the inspection agency. When shipped

from reserve stock, the invoice shall

bear an endorsement and a further certification by the producer that the material meets the requirements of this

specification and any supplementary

requirements cited in the purchase

order under which it is purchased.

(12) Crossarms shall be warranted to

conform to this specification. If any

crossarm is determined to be defective

or does not conform to this specification within 1 year after shipment to

the borrower, it shall be replaced as

promptly as possible by the producer.

In the event of failure to do so, the purchaser may make such replacement

and the cost of the crossarm, at destination, recoverable from the producer.

(b) Definitions.

Arm refers to structural wood member used to support electrical conductors.

Certificate of compliance is a certification by an authorized employee of

the producer that the material shipped

meets the requirements of this specification and any supplementary requirements specified in a purchase

order from a borrower or the borrower’s contractor.

Crossarm is a term used interchangeably with arm.

Independent inspection relates to examination of material by an independent inspector employed by a commercial inspection agency.

Inspection means an examination of

material in sufficient detail to insure

conformity to all phases of the specification under which it was purchased.

Lot is a quantity of crossarms of like

size, conditioning, and fabrication, usually making up one treating charge.

Producer is used to describe the party

who manufactures and treats crossarms.

Purchaser refers to either the RUS

borrower or contractors acting as the

borrower’s agent, except where a part

of the specification specifically refers

to only the RUS borrower or the contractor.

Quality control designee refers to an

individual designated by the producer

to be responsible for quality control.

Reserve treated stock consists of timber products treated in accordance

with this specification, prior to and in

anticipation of the receipt of specific

orders, and held in storage ready for

immediate shipment.

Supplier is a term used interchangeably with producer, or in some cases,

may be the distributor selling crossarms to the borrower.

Treating plant is the organization

that applies the preservative treatment

to the crossarms.

(c) Related specifications and standards

incorporated by reference. The following

specifications and standards are incorporated by reference. This incorporation by reference was approved by the

Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

part 51. Copies of each reference are

available for inspection during normal

business hours at RUS, room 1250-S,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250 or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Copies of these standards and specifications may be purchased from the addresses shown below.

(1) West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau, Standard No. 17, Grading Rules

for West Coast Lumber, September 1,

1991, available from West Coast Lumber

Inspection Bureau, P.O. Box 23145,

Portland, Oregon 97223, telephone (503)

639–0651, Fax (503) 684–8928.

(2) Southern Pine Inspection Bureau,

Standard Grading Rules for Southern

285

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.201

Pine Lumber, October 15, 1991, available from Southern Pine Inspection

Bureau, 4709 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, Florida 32504, telephone (904) 434–

2611.

(i) Southern Pine Inspection Bureau,

Special Product Rules for Structural,

Industrial, and Railroad-Freight Car

Lumber, October 15, 1991, available

from Southern Pine Inspection Bureau,

4709 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, Florida 32504, telephone (904) 434–2611.

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) American Wood Preservers’ Association (AWPA), Book of Standards,

1991 edition, available from AWPA,

P.O. Box 286, Woodstock, Maryland

21163–0286.

(i) A1–91, Standard Methods for Analysis of Creosote and Oil-Type Preservatives.

(ii) A2–91, Standard Methods for

Analysis of Waterborne Preservatives

and Fire-Retardant Formulations.

(iii) A3–91, Standard Methods for Determining Penetration of Preservatives

and Fire Retardants.

(iv) A5–91, Standard Methods for

Analysis of Oil-Borne Preservatives.

(v) A6–89, Method for the Determination of Oil-Type Preservatives and

Water in Wood.

(vi) A7–75, Standard Wet Ashing Procedure for Preparing Wood for Chemical Analysis.

(vii) A9–90, Standard Method for

Analysis of Treated Wood and Treating

Solutions by X-Ray Spectroscopy.

(viii) A11–83, Standard Method for

Analysis of Treated Wood and Treating

Solutions by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.

(ix) C1–91, All Timber Products—Preservative Treatment by Pressure Processes.

(x) C4–91, Poles—Preservative Treatment by Pressure Processes.

(xi) C8–91, Western Red Cedar and

Alaska Yellow Cedar Poles—Preservative Treatment by the Full-Length

Thermal Process.

(xii) C10–91, Lodgepole Pine Poles—

Preservative Treatment by the FullLength Thermal Process.

(xiii) C12–90, Western Larch Poles—

Full-Length Preservative Treatment

by Thermal Process.

(xiv) M1–90, Standard for the Purchase of Treated Wood Products.

(xv) M2–91, Standard for Inspection of

Treated Timber Products.

(xvi) M3–81, Standard Quality Control

Procedures for Wood Preserving

Plants.

(xvii) M4–91, Standard for the Care of

Preservative-Treated Wood Products.

(xviii) P1/P13–91, Standard for Coal

Tar Creosote for Land and, Fresh

Water and Marine (Coastal Water Use).

(xix) P5–91, Standards for Waterborne

Preservatives.

(xx) P8–91, Standards for Oil-Borne

Preservatives.

(xxi) P9–91, Standards for Solvents

and Formulations for Organic Preservative Systems.

(4) American Institute of Timber

Construction (AITC) 200–83, Inspection

Manual, 1987 edition, available from

AITC, 333 West Hampden Avenue, Englewood, Colorado 80110, telephone (303)

761–3212.

(5) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 05.2–1983, American National Standard for Wood Products—

Structural Glued Laminated Timber

for Utility Structures, available from

ANSI, 1430 Broadway, New York, New

York 10018.

(6) American Society for Testing and

Materials (ASTM) D9–87 (1992), Standard Terminology Relating to Wood,

available from ASTM, 1916 Race Street,

Philadelphia, PA 19103–1187, telephone

number (215) 299–5585.

(d) Independent inspection plan. This

plan or a Quality Assurance Plan, as

described in paragraph (e) of this section, is acceptable for supplying crossarms. All crossarms produced under

the independent inspection plan for use

on an RUS financed system shall be inspected by a qualified independent inspector in accordance with §1728.202 of

this part.

(1) The borrower has the prerogative

to contract directly with the inspection agency for service. The borrower

should, where practical, select the inspection agency so that continual employment is dependent only on performance acceptable to the borrower

and in accordance with this specification. The selected inspection agency

shall not subcontract the service to

any other inspection agency without

the prior written consent by the borrower.

286

§ 1728.201 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

(2) The producer shall not be a party

to the selection of the inspection agency by the borrower and shall not interfere with the work of the inspector, except to provide notification of the

readiness of material for inspection. To

obtain the inspection services for reserve stock, the producer may deal directly with the inspection agency.

Under the Independent Inspection

Plan, the producer shall not treat material before it has been properly inspected in the white, as evidenced by

the inspector’s hammer mark.

(3) The methods of inspection described in this section and in §1728.202

of this part shall be used no matter

which plan crossarms are produced

under, i.e., Independent Inspection

Plan, or Quality Assurance Plans, as

described in this section. The number

of crossarms actually inspected by

monitors of quality control under a

Quality Assurance Plan may vary from

the number of crossarms inspected

under the Independent Inspection Plan.

(e) Quality assurance plans. The producer shall furnish crossarms conforming to this specification as monitored by a Quality Assurance Plan acceptable to RUS. RUS borrower groups

or agents for borrower groups endeavoring to operate Quality Assurance

Plans shall submit their plan for assuring quality control to the Director,

Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities

Service, Washington, DC 20250–1500, for

specific approval prior to contracting

with RUS borrowers under such plans.

(f) Material requirements—(1) Material

and grade. All crossarms furnished

under this specification shall be free of

brashy wood, decay, and insect holes

larger than 3/32 of an inch (0.24 cm),

and shall meet additional requirements

as shown on specific drawings. They

shall be made of one of the following:

(i) Douglas-fir which conforms to the

applicable crossarm provisions of paragraphs 170 and 170a, or the applicable

transmission arm provisions of paragraphs 169 and 169a of the 1991 Standard

Grading Rules for West Coast Lumber

No. 17. All references to Douglas-fir

shall be of coastal origin;

(ii) Southern Yellow Pine which conforms to the provisions of Dense Industrial Crossarm 65, as described in paragraph 31.2 in Southern Pine Inspection

Bureau 1991 Special Product Rules for

Southern Pine; or

(iii) Laminated wood crossarms shall

conform to ANSI 05.2–1983, and have at

least the same load carrying capacity

as the solid sawn arm it replaces. The

load carrying capacity of the laminated arms shall be determined by one

of the procedures outlined in ANSI 05.2.

(2) Borrowers may use alternative

wood crossarms that are listed in RUS

Bulletin 1728C-100, List of Materials

Acceptable for Use on Systems of RUS

Electrification Borrowers.

(3) Knots. Sound, firm, and tight

knots, if well spaced, are allowed.

(i) Slightly decayed knots are permitted, except on the top face, provided the decay extends no more than

3/4 of an inch (1.91 cm) into the knot

and provided the cavities will drain

water when the arm is installed. For

knots to be considered well spaced, the

sum of the sizes of all knots in any 6

inches (15.24 cm) of length of a piece

shall not exceed twice the size of the

largest knot permitted. More than one

knot of maximum permissible size

shall not be in the same 6 inches (15.24

cm) of length. Slightly decayed, firm,

or sound ‘‘Pin knots’’ (3/8 of an inch

(0.95 cm) or less) are not considered in

size, spacing, or zone considerations.

(ii) Knots are subject to the following

limits on size and location:

KNOT LIMITS FOR DISTRIBUTION ARMS

DRAWING M-19 (SEE FIGURE 1, EXHIBIT A)

ALL DIMENSIONS IN INCHES

Class of Knot and Location

Maximum

Knot Diame- ter

Close

Grain

Dense

Grain

Round Knots

Single Knot: Maximum Diameter ...........

Center Section* ...............................

Upper Half ............................... 3/4 1

Lower Half ............................... 1 1–1/4

Elsewhere ....................................... 1–1/4 1–1/2

Sum of Diameters in a 6-Inch Length: Maximum

Center Section ................................

Upper Half ............................... 1–1/2 2

Lower Half ............................... 2 2–1/2

Elsewhere ....................................... 2–1/2 3

287

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.201

Inch Cm

3/4 1.91

1 2.54

1–1/4 3.18

1–3/8 3.49

1–1/2 3.81

1–3/4 4.45

1–7/8 4.76

2 5.08

2–1/4 5.72

2–1/2 6.35

3–1/4 8.26

3–1/2 8.89

3–5/8 9.21

4–5/8 11.75

5–5/8 14.29

7–3/8 18.73

9–3/8 23.81

KNOT LIMITS FOR TRANSMISSION ARMS

(SEE FIGURE 2, EXHIBIT A)’

ALL DIMENSIONS IN INCHES

Pole Mounting Hole Zone* Maximum Diameter For

Single Knot

Upper Half (inner zone) 3/4

Upper Half (outer zone) 1 for close grain

1–1/4 dense grain

Other Locations Transmission Arm

Size**

Narrow

Face

Wide Face

(Two Sides)

Edge

Along

Centerline

4–5/8 x 5–5/8 or less 1 1–1/4 1–1/4

5–5/8 x 7–3/8 1–1/4 1–3/8 1–7/8

3–5/8 x 9–3/8 3/4 1–3/4 2–1/4

*No knot will be closer than its diameter to the pole mounting hole.

**For cross sections not shown, refer to grading rules.

(iii) Knot clusters shall be prohibited

unless the entire cluster, measured on

the worst face, is equal to or less than

the round knot allowed at the specific

location.

(iv) Spike knots shall be prohibited

in deadend arms. Any spike knot

across the top face shall be limited to

the equivalent displacement of a knot

3/8 of an inch (0.95 cm) deep on one face

and the maximum round knot for its

particular location on the worst face,

with a maximum width of 1 inch (2.54

cm) measured at the midpoint of the

spiked section. Elsewhere across the

bottom or side faces, spike knots shall

not exceed 1/2 the equivalent displacement of a round knot permitted at that

location, provided that the depth of the

knot on the worst face shall not exceed

the maximum round knot allowed at

that location.

(v) Loose knots and knot holes shall

drain water when the arm is normally

installed. In the center section, upper

half, they shall not be greater than 1/2

the dimensions of round knots. Elsewhere, they shall not be greater than

the round knot dimension. They shall

be prohibited in deadend arms.

(vi) All knots except those ‘‘spike’’

knots intersecting a corner shall be

measured on the least diameter of the

knot.

(vii) A knot shall be considered to occupy a specific zone or section if the

center of the knot (i.e. pith of knot) is

within the zone or on the zone’s boundary.

(viii) If a round or oval knot appears

on two faces and is in two zones, each

face shall be judged independently.

When this does not occur, average the

least dimension showing on both faces.

Knots which occur on only one face of

a free of heart center (FOHC) arm shall

be permitted to be 25 percent larger

than the stated size.

(ix) Knot spacing. Two or more knots

opposite each other on any face shall

be limited by a sum not to exceed the

size of a maximum single knot permitted for the location. On all four

faces, all knots shall be well spaced.

(x) Knots which have a maximum of

5/8 inch (1.59 cm) diameter may intersect pin holes in the center section.

One inch (2.54 cm) diameter knots may

intersect pin holes elsewhere.

(4) Miscellaneous characteristics, features and requirements. (i) The top face

of distribution crossarms shall not

have more than four medium pitch and

bark pockets in 8 foot (2.4 m) arms, and

not more than five pitch and bark

pockets in 10 foot (3.0 m) arms. Elsewhere a maximum of six medium pockets in 8 foot (2.4 m) arms and eight in

10 foot (3.0 m) arms shall be permitted.

Equivalent smaller pockets shall be

permissible. An occasional large pocket is permissible.

(ii) Shakes shall be prohibited.

(iii) Checks. Prior to treatment on

properly seasoned arms, single face

checks shall not exceed an average

penetration of 1/4 the depth from any

face and shall be limited to 10 inches

(25.40 cm) long on the top face, and 1/3

the arm length on the other faces.

Checks shall not be repeated in the

same line of grain in adjacent pin

holes. The sum of the average depths of

288

§ 1728.201 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

checks occurring in the same plane on

opposite faces shall be limited to 1/4

the face depth.

(iv) Compression wood shall be prohibited on any face. It is permitted if

wholly enclosed in the arm, more than

six annual rings from the surface, and

not over 3/8 of an inch (0.95 cm) in

width.

(v) Insect holes larger than 3/32 of an

inch (0.24 cm) shall be prohibited. Pin

holes (i.e. holes not over 1/16 of an inch

(0.16 cm) diameter) shall be allowed if

scattered and not exceeding 10 percent

of the arm girth.

(vi) Wane shall be allowed on one

edge, limited to approximately 1 inch

(2.54 cm), measured across the corner.

Outside of the top center section, an

aggregate length not to exceed 2 feet

may have wane up to 1–1/2 inches (3.81

cm) on an occasional piece on one or

both edges. Bark shall be removed.

(vii) Prior to preservative treatment,

crook, bow, or twist shall not exceed 1/

2 of an inch (1.27 cm) in 8 foot arms (2.4

m) and 5/8 of an inch (1.59 cm) in 10 foot

(3.0 m) arms.

(g) Manufacture. (1) All dimensions

and tolerances shall conform to those

shown on the drawings in this section

or drawings supplied with the purchase

order. Drawings supplied shall meet or

exceed minimum dimensions and tolerances shown on the drawings in this

section. Cross-sectional dimensions

shall be measured and judged at about

1/4 the arm length, except when the defects of ‘‘skip dressing’’ or ‘‘machine

bite or offset’’ are involved.

(2) Lamination techniques shall comply with ANSI 05.2–1983.

(3) Pin and bolt holes shall be

smoothly bored without undue splintering where drill bits break through

the surface. The center of any hole

shall be within 1/8 of an inch (0.32 cm)

of the center-line locations on the face

in which it appears. The holes shall be

perpendicular to the starting and finishing faces.

(4) Shape. The shape of the arms at

any cross section, except for permissible wane, shall be as shown on the respective drawings in this section or

supplied with the order. The two top

edges may be either chamfered or

rounded 3/8 of an inch (0.95 cm) radius.

The two bottom edges may be slightly

eased 1/8 of an inch (0.32 cm) radius for

the entire length.

(5) Incising. The lengthwise surfaces

of Douglas-fir crossarms shall be incised approximately 1/4 of an inch (0.64

cm) deep. The incision shall be reasonably clean cut with a spacing pattern

that insures uniform penetration of

preservative.

(6) Workmanship. All crossarms shall

be first quality workmanship. Crossarms shall be dressed on four sides, although ‘‘hit and miss skips’’ may occur

on two adjacent faces on occasional

pieces. Five (5) percent of a lot or shipment may be 1/8 of an inch (0.32 cm)

scant in thickness or width at the ends

for a length not exceeding 6 inches

(15.24 cm), or may have 1/8 of an inch

(0.32 cm) machine bite on offset.

(h) Conditioning prior to treatment. (1)

All solid sawn crossarms shall be made

of lumber which has been kiln-dried.

Douglas-fir arms shall have an average

moisture content of 19 percent or less,

with a maximum not to exceed 22 percent. Southern Yellow Pine arms shall

have an average moisture content of 22

percent or less, with a maximum not to

exceed 30 percent.

(2) Moisture content levels shall be

measured at about 1/4 the length and at

a depth of about 1/5 the crossarm’s

thickness. Additionally, the moisture

content gradient between the shell (i.e.

1/4 of an inch (0.64 cm) deep) and the

core (i.e. about 1 inch (2.54 cm) deep)

shall not exceed 5 percentage points.

(3) A minimum of at least 20 solid

sawn crossarms per treating charge

shall be measured to verify moisture

content and shall be duly recorded by

the quality control designee or independent inspector.

(4) The moisture content of lumber

used in laminating shall, at the time of

gluing, be within the range of 8 to 12

percent, inclusive.

(i) Preservatives. (1) The preservatives

shall be:

(i) Creosote which conforms to the

requirements of AWPA Standard P1

when analyzed in accordance with the

methods in AWPA Standard A1, sections 2, 3, 4, either 5 or 9, and 6;

(ii) Pentachlorophenol which contains not less than 95 percent

chlorinated phenols and conforms to

AWPA Standard P8 when analyzed in

289

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.201

accordance with AWPA Standard A5 or

A9. The hydrocarbon solvents for introducing the preservative into the wood

shall meet the requirements of AWPA

Standard P9 Type A; or

(iii) Waterborne preservatives, which

may only be one of the following:

(A) Ammoniacal Copper Arsenates

(ACA) and Ammoniacal Copper Zinc

Arsenate (ACZA) which shall meet the

requirements of AWPA Standard P5,

when analyzed in accordance with

methods in AWPA Standards A2, A9, or

A11; and

(B) Chromated Copper Arsenates

(CCA) which shall meet the requirements of one of the formulations given

in AWPA Standard P5, sections 4, 5 or

6, and 10. Tests to establish conformity

shall be made in accordance with

AWPA Standards A2, A9, or A11.

(1) The pH of treating solutions of

the waterborne preservatives shown in

AWPA Standard P5, section 10, shall be

determined in accordance with AWPA

Standard A2, section 8.

(2) Waterborne preservatives are

available either as oxides, which form

non-ionizing chemical compounds in

the wood, or as salts, which leave ionizing compounds as well as non-ionizing compounds in the wood. Salt formulations of a waterborne preservative

are more corrosive to metal than the

oxide formulation and may cause surface deposits. Unless otherwise specified in the purchase order, the oxide

formulations of waterborne preservatives shall be supplied.

(3) Douglas-fir crossarms shall not be

treated with CCA preservatives.

(4) Materials treated with waterborne

preservatives shall be free of visible

surface deposits.

(iv) Copper Naphthenate (CuN) concentrate used to prepare wood preserving solutions shall contain not less

than 6 percent nor more than 8 percent

copper in the form of Copper

Naphthenate and shall conform to

AWPA Standard P8 when analyzed in

accordance with AWPA Standard A5.

The hydrocarbon solvents for introducing the preservative into the wood

shall meet the requirements of AWPA

Standard P9 Type A.

(2) [Reserved]

(j) Preservative treatment. (1) All timber products treated under this specification shall be treated by either a

pressure or a thermal (nonpressure)

process.

(2) These materials may be further

conditioned by steaming, or by heating

in hot oil (Douglas-fir), within the following limits:

Time

Hours

(max.)

Temperature Deg. F

(max.)

Steam 3 220 (104.4C)

Heating in Preservative 3 210 (98.9C)

(3) A final steam or hot oil bath may

be used only to meet cleanliness requirements of paragraph (k) of this section. Total duration of the final steam

bath shall not exceed 2 hours and the

temperature shall not exceed 240 degrees Fahrenheit (115.6C).

(k) Results of treatments. (1) The quality control designee shall test or supervise the testing of each treated charge

for penetration and retention.

(2) Method of sampling. When testing

penetration and retention, a borer core

shall be taken from not less than 20

crossarms in each treating charge. The

borings shall be taken from any face

except the top face at a point as close

to the end as possible, being at least 3

inches (7.62 cm) from the end of the

arm and no closer than 3 inches (7.62

cm) from the edge of the holes. The

bored holes shall be plugged with preservative-treated plugs driven into the

arm. Borings from laminated arms

shall not be taken from the same laminate unless there is an end joint separation.

(3) Penetration by the preservative,

as determined in accordance with

AWPA Standard A3, shall be 100 percent of the sapwood in crossarms. In

the heartwood of Douglas-fir crossarms, the penetration shall be not less

than 3 inches (7.62 cm) longitudinally

from the edge of holes and ends, and at

least 3/16 inch (0.45 cm) from the surface of any face.

(4) Retention of preservative in the

outer 6/10 of an inch (1.52 cm) for Douglas-fir and one inch (2.54 cm) for Southern Yellow Pine assay zones at the

treating plant shall be not less than:

290

§ 1728.201 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

Preservative Retention

(pcf)

AWPA Analysis Method

Creosote 8 A6

Pentachlorophenol 0.4* A5

ACA, ACZA, or CCA 0.4 A2, A7, A9, or

A11

Copper Naphthenate 0.04 A5, A9, or

A11

*This retention is for the lime ignition method. The copper

pyridine method, retention 0.36 pcf, is required when timbers

may have been in contact with salt water, and for all species

native to the Pacific coast region. It is not required when it

specifically states on the rough sawn material invoice that this

material has not been in contact with salt water or is shown

by analysis to have no additional chlorides present in the

wood before treating.

(5) Cleanliness of lengthwise surfaces

of all crossarms shall be free from

tarry, greasy, or sticky material, and

from oil exudation and

pentachlorophenol crystallization

(blooming).

(6) Re-treatment of materials which

do not meet the penetration and retention requirements of this specification

may be done only twice. Initial treatment steaming time plus re-treatment

steaming time, combined, shall not exceed time allowed in paragraph (i) of

this section.

(l) Marks and brands. (1) All crossarms shall be branded (hot brand) or

die-stamped legibly and to a depth of

approximately 1/16 of an inch (0.16 cm)

before treatment.

(2) The letters and figures shall be

not less than 1/2 of an inch (1.27 cm) in

height. The top of the brand shall be

oriented to the top of the arm.

(3) The brand or die-stamp shall include:

(i) The manufacturer’s identification

symbol;

(ii) Month and year of manufacture;

(iii) Species of timber such as DF for

Douglas-fir and SP for Southern Yellow Pine; and

(iv) The preservative notated with a

C for creosote, P for penta, S for salts,

or N for Copper Naphthenate.

(4) An example is:

M-6–72 Manufacturer—Month—Year

DF-P Douglas-fir—penta treated

(5) The brand or stamp shall be

placed on either of the wide surfaces of

the arms, oriented with letters right

side up towards the top of the arm and

preferably about 1 foot (30.48 cm) from

the midpoint of the arm.

(6) The mark should be approximately the same location on each type

of crossarm of each producer.

(7) Brands, inspection marks, or quality assurance marks shall be removed

from arms that do not meet these specifications

(m) Storage. (1) Producers may treat

crossarms for reserve stock under any

of the RUS approved plans. Prior to

treating reserve stock, and annually

thereafter, producers shall notify the

Director of the Electric Staff Division

of their intent to treat reserve stock.

The letter of notification shall be addressed to the Director, Electric Staff

Division, Rural Utilities Service,

Washington, DC 20250–1500.

(2) RUS shall acknowledge, by letter,

each notification of intent to treat material for reserve stock under the RUS

specification.

(3) RUS’s letter acknowledging the

plant’s advance notice of intent to

treat material for reserve treated stock

for the calendar year in question shall

be evidence of compliance with the notification requirements.

(4) Producers shall notify RUS of:

(i) The locations of all storage or distribution yards where reserve treated

stock will be maintained;

(ii) The designation of the RUS-approved plan;

(iii) The name of the selected inspection agency, where applicable; and

(iv) Any changes that occur during

the year.

(5) Crossarms treated with oil-borne

preservatives which have been held in

storage for more than 1 year before

shipment to the borrower, shall be reassayed before shipment and shall be

re-treated if found nonconforming for

retention on orders placed in accordance with this section.

(6) The crossarms shall meet the

assay after re-treatment in accordance

with paragraph (k) of this section.

(7) Crossarms which are held in storage after final acceptance shall be

stacked in piles or on skids in such a

manner as to assure good ventilation.

The stacks shall be covered or stored

indoors for protection from the sun and

weather to reduce checking, bending,

and loss of preservative.

(8) Borrowers or their contractors

shall not purchase reserve treated

stock from plants that fail to comply

with the notification requirements.

291

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.201

(n) Drawings. (1) The drawings of Exhibit B of this section, Crossarm Drilling Guide, have a type number and

show in detail the hole size, shape, and

pattern desired for crossarms ordered

under this specification.

(2) Purchase orders shall indicate the

type required.

(3) Crossarms shall be furnished in

accordance with the details of these

drawings or in accordance with drawings attached to the purchase order

(4) Technical drawings for transmission crossarms are published in

RUS Bulletin 1728F-T805B (formerly 50–

1), Electric Transmission Specifications and Drawings, 115kV through

230kV, and RUS Bulletin 1728F-T805A

(formerly 50–2), Electric Transmission

Specification and Drawings, 34.5kV

through 69kV.

(5) Appropriate drawings for transmission arms are to be specified and included with purchase orders.

(o) Destination inspection. (1) When

cross-sectional tolerances are measured at destination, average shrinkage

allowance shall be considered using the

arm’s current moisture content and actual size.

(2) Using the average shrinkage allowances for Douglas-fir and Southern

Yellow Pine as 1 percent size change

for each four point moisture content

change below the fiber saturation

point, calculations can be made to determine if the arm met the minimum

size at time of manufacture, when the

arm was to meet the average moisture

content.

292

§ 1728.201 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

EXHIBIT A TO §1728.201—DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSMISSION ARMS

293

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.201

EXHIBIT B TO §1728.201—CROSSARM DRILLING GUIDE

[58 FR 41396, Aug. 3, 1993]

294

§ 1728.202 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

§ 1728.202 RUS Bulletin 1728H-702,

RUS Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of Timber Products.

(a) Scope. This specification describes

in more detail the responsibilities and

procedures pertaining to quality control for crossarms, as specified in

§1728.201 of this part, and poles, covered in RUS Bulletin 1728F-700, incorporated by reference in §1728.97 of this

part and in §1755.97 of 7 CFR part 1755.

(b) Related specifications and standards

incorporated by reference. The following

specifications and standards referenced

throughout this section are incorporated by reference. This incorporation by reference is approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

part 51. Copies of each are available for

inspection during normal business

hours at RUS, room 1250-S, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington,

DC 20250 or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street,

NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. Copies

of these standards and specifications

may be purchased from the addresses

shown below.

(1) American Wood-Preservers’ Association (AWPA), Book of Standards,

1991 edition, available from AWPA,

P.O. Box 286, Woodstock, Maryland

21163–0286.

(i) A1–91, Standard for Coal Tar Creosote for Land and Fresh Water Use.

(ii) A2–91, Standard Methods for

Analysis of Waterborne Preservatives

and Fire-Retardant Formulations.

(iii) A3–91, Standard Methods for Determining Penetration of Preservatives

and Fire Retardants.

(iv) A5–91, Standard Methods for

Analysis of Oil-Borne Preservatives.

(v) A6–89, Method for the Determination of Water and Oil-Type Preservatives in Wood.

(vi) A7–75, Wet ashing Procedure for

Preparing Wood for Chemical Analysis.

(vii) A9–90, Standard Method for

Analysis of Treated Wood and Treating

Solutions by X-Ray Emission Spectroscopy.

(viii) A11–83, Analysis of Treated

Wood and Treating Solutions by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.

(ix) C1–91, Standard for Preservative

Treatment by Pressure Processes All

Timber Products.

(x) C4–91, Standard for the Preservative Treatment of Poles by Pressure

Processes.

(xi) C8–91, Standard for the FullLength Thermal Process Treatment of

Western Red Cedar Poles.

(xii) C10–91, Lodgepole Pine Poles—

Preservative Treatment by the FullLength Thermal Process.

(xiii) C12–90, Western Larch Poles—

Full-Length preservative Treatment by

Thermal Process.

(xiv) M1–90, Standard for the Purchase and Preservation of Forest Products.

(xv) M2–91, Standard Instructions for

the Inspection of Preservative Treatment of Wood.

(xvi) M3–81, Standard Quality Control

Procedures for Wood Preserving

Plants.

(xvii) M4–91, Standard for the Care of

Preservative-Treated Wood Products.

(xviii) P1/P13–91, Standard for Coal

Tar Creosote for Land and, Fresh

Water and Marine (Coastal Water Use).

(xix) P5–91, Standards for WaterBorne Preservatives.

(xx) P8–91, Standards for Oil-Borne

Preservatives.

(xxi) P9–91, Standards for Solvents

for Organic Preservative Systems.

(2) American Institute of Timber

Construction (AITC) 200–83, Inspection

Manual, 1987 edition, available from

AITC, 333 West Hampden Avenue, Englewood, Colorado 80110.

(3) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 05.2–1983, American National Standard for Wood Products—

Structural Glued Laminated Timber

for Utility Structures, available from

ANSI, 1430 Broadway, New York, New

York 10018.

(4) American National Standards Institute/American Institute of Timber

Construction (ANSI/AITC) A190.1–1983,

American National Standard for Wood

Products—Structural Glued Laminated

Timber, available from ANSI, 1430

Broadway, New York, New York 10018.

(5) American Society for Testing and

Materials (ASTM) D9–87 (1992), Standard Terminology Relating to Wood,

available from ASTM, 1916 Race Street,

295

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.202

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103–1187,

telephone number (215) 299–5585.

(c) General stipulations. (1) Each RUS

electric borrower shall submit to the

Director, Electric Staff Division, Rural

Utilities Service, room 1250-S, 14th and

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–1500, in January of

each year a list of plants from which it

obtained poles or crossarms during the

preceding calendar year.

(2) Ultimate quality control is the responsibility of the producer’s management; however, a member of the producer’s staff shall be designated quality control designee and charged with

the responsibility for the exercise of

proper quality control procedures. The

requirements in American Wood Preservers’ Association (AWPA) Standard

M3, covering records, adequate laboratory, plant gauges, and other plant facilities including proper storage, shall

be followed.

(3) The methods of inspection described in this section shall be used no

matter which plan timber products are

purchased under, i.e., Insured Warranty

Plan, Independent Inspection Plan, or

Quality Assurance Plans as described

in §1728.201 of this part or RUS Bulletin

1728F-700. The number of poles and

crossarms actually inspected by monitors for quality control under a Quality Assurance Plan or the Insured Warranty Plan may vary from the number

of poles and crossarms inspected under

the Independent Inspection Plan.

Under the Independent Inspection

Plan, each pole and a sample number of

crossarms shall be inspected.

(4) Under the Independent Inspection

Plan, the RUS borrower should designate in the purchase order which inspection agency it has selected. Unless

the RUS borrower contracts for inspection as a separate transaction, the

treating company shall obtain the

services of the RUS borrower’s designated inspection agency. For reserve

treated stock for purchase under the

Independent Inspection Plan, the treating company shall obtain the services

of an inspection agency. Selection of

and changes in inspection agencies for

reserve treated stock shall be promptly

reported to the Director, Electric Staff

Division, Rural Utilities Service,

Washington, DC 20250–1500, in accordance with RUS Bulletin 1728F-700, and

§1728.201.

(5) Individual inspectors in the employ of Independent Inspection Agencies shall be experienced and competent. The inspector shall perform all

phases of the inspection personally and

in the proper sequence. The primary responsibility of the inspector is to determine, for the borrower, by careful

inspection and verification, that the

timber products, preservative, and

treatment meet the requirements of

RUS Bulletin 1728F-700 and Bulletin

1728H-701 and that the methods, storage

facilities, and production equipment

conform to applicable RUS specifications. For details of the recommended

inspector’s qualifications see appendix

A of this section.

(6) Laminated materials for use on

RUS borrower systems shall follow

manufacturing and quality control requirements as specified in ANSI 05.2—

1983, American National Standard for

Wood Products—Structural Glued

Laminated Timber for Utility Structures, and ANSI/AITC A190.1–1983,

American National Standard for Wood

Products—Structural Glued Laminated

Timber. The product shall be marked

and certified.

(i) Laminated material shall be inspected by a qualified inspection and

testing agency.

(ii) Quality control of material shall

be performed to determine conformance with §1728.201 of this part and

AITC 200–83, Inspection Manual.

(d) Quality control and inspection procedures for product acceptance. It is the

responsibility of the plant quality control designee to perform the following

procedures to insure that a particular

lot of material conforms to the requirements of the applicable RUS specification prior to treatment. After the

plant quality control designee has performed these procedures, a particular

lot of material shall be released to the

inspector for verification of conformance.

(1) Poles can be purchased under any

of the three purchase plans. These

plans are Insured Warranty Plan, Independent Inspection Plan, or a Quality

Assurance Plan. Under the Independent

Inspection Plan, all poles in a lot shall

296

§ 1728.202 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

be inspected. Under the Insured Warranty Plan and a Quality Assurance

Plan, the number of poles in a lot actually inspected may be less than every

pole, depending on the terms of the

plans.

(i) Ample space and assistance shall

be provided by the treating plant for

handling and turning to insure that the

surfaces of all items can be adequately

inspected.

(ii) Under the Independent Inspection

Plan, all poles shall be inspected for

conformance to the requirements of

RUS Bulletin 1728F-700. If a pole is rejected and the cause of rejection is corrected, the rejected pole may be offered

again for inspection as new material.

(iii) Dimensions, length, and circumference shall be measured by a standard steel pole tape to determine that

they are in agreement with the details

for class and length in the brand and

butt stamp. If it is obvious by visual

comparison with a measured pole that

the brand information is correct, individual poles need not be measured.

Pole circumference dimensions made

prior to treatment shall govern acceptance. Reduction in dimension due to

treatment and shipping shall be not

more than 2 percent below the minimum for the pole class.

(iv) If 15 percent of the poles in a lot

offered for inspection are defective, the

inspector shall terminate the inspection. Re-examination of an entire lot

by plant quality control shall be required when the number of rejected

poles equals or exceeds 15 percent of

the lot inspected. All defective or nonconforming poles either shall be removed from the lot or marked out.

(v) Poles in a lot inspected for decay

shall be of the same seasoning condition. If the independent inspector suspects that decay has occurred, he shall

cut a slice from both ends for closer examination. If 5 percent of the inspected

poles in a lot shows evidence of decay,

the entire lot shall be unconditionally

rejected without further sorting.

(vi) Moisture content, when limited

by the purchaser, as stated on the borrower’s purchase order, shall be measured by calibrated electric moisture

meter. Calibration of the meter shall

include not only the zero settings for

the X and Y readings, but also two resistance standards for 12 and 22 percent

moisture content.

(vii) Material failing to conform for

moisture content may be retested upon

request after a recalibration of the instrument. The results of the second

test shall govern disposition of the lot.

(viii) Re-examination for any mechanical damage or deterioration and

for original acceptance shall be conducted on timber products not treated

within 10 days after original inspection.

(2) Crossarms can be purchased only

under either of two purchase plans.

These plans are the Independent Inspection Plan or Quality Assurance

Plans. Under the Independent Inspection Plan, crossarms are to be inspected prior to manufacture, during

manufacture, and after treatment.

Under a Quality Assurance Plan, crossarms are monitored according to the

terms of the quality assurance program

acceptable to RUS.

(i) Inspection prior to treatment

shall include:

(A) Surface inspection of all ends of

all arms. This is usually done on the

stacks of arms prior to manufacture.

Particular attention shall be paid to

defects commonly found in the ends,

such as compression wood, red heart

and other forms of decay, shakes,

splits, through checks, scantiness, honeycomb, and low density, determined

by rings per inch (centimeter) and percent of summerwood. Whenever the

number of nonconforming arms is

found to exceed 0.5 percent of the lot or

one arm, whichever is greater, the entire lot shall be rejected for excess

number of defective ends. After the

producer has removed or marked out

the defective material, the arms may

be resubmitted for inspection.

(B) Surface inspection of the lengthwise sides performed on a random representative sample. The sample size

shall equal 20 percent of a lot size or

200 arms, whichever is smaller. The inspector shall examine side surfaces as

they are slowly rotated. When necessary, the rotation may be stopped for

closer inspection. Whenever the number of nonconforming arms is found to

exceed 2 percent of the sample size, the

entire lot shall be rejected. After the

producer has removed or marked out

297

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.202

the defective material, the arms may

be resubmitted for inspection.

(C) Check of moisture content of the

random sample by a calibrated moisture meter.

(D) Check of crossarm dimensions of

the random sample measured after surfacing.

(ii) Inspection during manufacture

shall consist of:

(A) Checking bolt and insulator pin

holes for squareness and excessive

splintering;

(B) Checking brands for completeness, location, and legibility; and

(C) Checking arms for conformance.

(iii) Under the Independent Inspection Plan, there shall be a final inspection during and after treatment for

preservative retention and penetration

and for damage.

(3) Structural glued laminated timber shall be tested and inspected in accordance with AITC 200–83, Inspection

Manual. Grade of lumber shall be inspected by a qualified grader for specified quality, and so marked, in accordance with grading rules of the American Lumber Standards. Adhesives used

for all structural arms shall meet requirements of ANSI 05.2–83, paragraph

5.2. Melamine urea adhesives shall not

be used. End joint spacings and limitations shall be in accordance with ANSI

05.2–83.

(e) Preservatives. (1) Creosote shall

conform to the requirements of AWPA

Standard P1 when analyzed by AWPA

Standard Al, sections 2, 3, 4, either 5 or

9, and 6.

(i) Each occasional charge, all material treated in a cylinder at one time,

shall be analyzed.

(ii) The first charge and one of every

five charges randomly selected in consecutive charges shall be analyzed.

(2) Solutions of waterborne preservatives shall be analyzed for components

in accordance with AWPA Standards

A2, A9, or A11, and shall meet the requirements of P5 for composition.

AWPA A2 shall be used as a referee

method.

(3) Pentachlorophenol shall contain

not less than 95 percent chlorinated

phenols and conform to AWPA Standard P8 in hydrocarbon solvent AWPA

P9 Type A.

(4) Copper Naphthenate in hydrocarbon solvent (AWPA P9 Type A) shall

contain not less than 6 percent nor

more than 8 percent copper in the form

of Copper Naphthenate and conform to

AWPA Standard P8 when analyzed in

accordance with AWPA Standard A5.

(f) Plant facilities and inspection during

treatment. (1) Manufacturing and treating plant facilities shall conform to

AWPA Standard M3, paragraph 3. Pressure plants shall be equipped with recording instruments to register time,

pressure, temperature and vacuum during each cycle of treatment. They shall

also be equipped with indicating thermometers and pressure and vacuum

gauges to check the accuracy of the recorders. Work tanks shall be equipped

with a thermometer. Thermal treating

vats shall be equipped with a time and

temperature recorder and with an indicating thermometer. Temperature recording devices are not mandatory for

plants treating exclusively with waterborne preservatives.

(2) Under the Independent Inspection

Plan, the inspector shall be present

during the treatment procedure, except

at times when it may be impractical,

such as during late night or early

morning treatments. At such times,

temperature, pressure, and vacuum

data shall be taken from the recording

charts.

(3) Recording instruments shall be

checked with indicating gauges and

thermometers. Inaccuracies shall be

referred to the treating company for

prompt correction. In the event of an

inaccuracy, indicating possible damage

to the material, the inspector shall reject the charge.

(g) Results of treatment. (1) Poles shall

be tested for retention and penetration

by means of a calibrated increment

borer 0.2 inches (0.51 cm) ± 0.02 inches

(0.05 cm) in diameter in accordance

with procedures in AWPA Standard M2,

paragraph 5.22. Under the Independent

Inspection Plan, all treating charges

shall be tested for retention and penetration. Plant quality control and independent inspection shall do their analyses separately. Under the Insured

Warranty Plan and Quality Assurance

Plans, the frequency of testing retention and penetration may vary according to the plan.

298

§ 1728.202 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

(i) Western red and northern white

cedars and western larch poles shall be

bored at any point of the periphery approximately 6–12 inches (15.24–30.48 cm)

above ground line and all other species

approximately 1 foot (30.48 cm) above

or below the brand.

(ii) Penetration shall be determined

in accordance with AWPA Standard A3.

Chrome Azurol S and Penta-Check

shall be used to determine penetration

of copper containing preservatives and

penta, respectively.

(iii) Retention sampling. (A) When

there are 20 or more poles in the treating charge, the retention sample for

creosote shall consist of 20 assay zones

from southern pine and Douglas-fir

poles. All poles in charges with fewer

than 20 poles shall be bored once.

Charges with less than 15 poles shall be

bored once and bored again on a random basis to obtain a minimum of 15

assay zones.

(B) Retention samples shall be taken

from 20 poles in charges of 20 or more

poles.

(C) Retention samples for Alaska yellow, western red, and northern white

cedars shall be comprised of a minimum of 30 assay zones for creosote and

waterborne preservatives. For penta

charges of fewer than 30 poles, the sample shall contain the assay zone from

each pole in the lot.

(D) Retention samples shall be comprised of borings, representative of pole

volumes for each class and length in

the charge. Further selection and

marking of poles of mixed seasoning,

volume, and location on the tram shall

be made as illustrated in the following

table:

Number of

Poles

Class/Length Vol. in

cu. ft.

Total

Volume

Number of

Borings

27 7/30(09.1 m) 232 15 3

26 4/35(10.7 m) 447 29 6

11 5/35(10.7 m) 163 10 2

55* 6/35(10.7 m) 704 46 9

Total 1,546

*If a portion of these poles were green and some partially

seasoned, then the number of borings should reflect the approximate percentage of each.

(iv) When material in a lot consists

of fewer pieces than the designated

minimum number of samples for assay,

additional borings shall be taken so as

to make up at least the minimum sample, and in such manner that the sample is representative of the lot of material with respect to any variations in

size, seasoning condition, or other features that might affect the results of

treatment.

(v) Analyses for preservative retention shall be performed.

(A) Creosote shall be analyzed by

AWPA Standard A6.

(B) Penta shall be analyzed by AWPA

Standard A5 or A9. Copper pyridine

method is required when timber may

have been in contact with salt water

and for all species native to the Pacific

coast region, unless the raw material

invoice specifically states that the material either has not been in contact

with salt water or has been shown by

analysis to have contained no additional chlorides before treating.

(C) Copper Naphthenate shall be analyzed by tests in accordance with

AWPA Standards A5 or A9.

(D) Waterborne preservatives shall be

analyzed by tests in accordance with

AWPA Standards A2, A7, A9, or A11.

(E) Prior to unloading a tram, the inspectors may take their own samples

and analyze them concurrently with

the quality control designee, but each

shall work independently, and quality

control data shall be presented before

acceptance of the charge.

(vi) Penetration sampling of poles. (A)

Group A poles consist of poles with a

circumference of 37.5 inches (95.25 cm)

or less at 6 feet (1.8 m) from butt.

(1) Bore 20 Group A poles or 20 percent of the poles, whichever is greater.

Accept if 100 percent of the sample conform; otherwise, bore all poles.

(2) Re-treat the charge if more than

15 percent of the borings are found to

be nonconforming.

(3) Re-treat all nonconforming poles

if 15 percent or fewer fail the requirement.

(B) Group B poles consist of poles

with circumference greater than 37.5

inches (95.25 cm) at 6 feet (1.8 m) from

the butt.

(1) For Group B poles 50 feet (15.2 m)

and shorter, bore each pole and re-treat

only those found to be nonconforming,

unless more than l5 percent fail; in

that case, re-treat the entire lot.

299

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1728.202

(2) For Group B poles longer than 50

feet (15.2 m), bore each pole twice at 90

degrees apart around the pole and accept only those poles conforming to the

penetration requirement in both borings. All nonconforming poles may be

re-treated only twice.

(vii) All holes (nominal 0.2 of an inch

(0.05 cm) diam. bit) shall be promptly

filled with treated, tight-fitting wood

plugs.

(2) Under the Independent Inspection

Plan, all treating charges of crossarms

shall be tested for retention and penetration. Plant quality control inspectors and independent inspectors shall

do their analyses independently. Under

the Quality Assurance Plans, the frequency of testing retention and penetration may vary according to the

plan.

(i) The penetration and retention

sample shall consist of 20 (48 for creosote) outer 6/10 of an inch (1.52 cm) for

Douglas-fir and 1 inch (2.54 cm) for

Southern Yellow Pine zones from borings taken from any face except the

top face at a location as close to the

end as possible being at least 3 inches

(7.62 cm) from the end of the arm and

no closer than 3 inches from the edge of

any holes. For laminated material, borings shall be taken from laminates on

a random basis.

(ii) Penetration shall be tested by

taking not less than 20 borings from 20

crossarms in each charge, determined

in accordance with AWPA Standard A3.

Chrome Azurol S and Penta-Check

shall be used to determine penetration

of copper containing preservatives and

penta, respectively.

(3) Laminated material shall be

checked for any evidence of

delamination due to treatment and for

the identifying quality stamp of AITC

or American Plywood Association

(APA).

(4) When x-ray fluorescence (XRF) instruments are used to analyze preservative or retention, Periodic Instrument

Checks (PIC) shall be made by the

treating plant and any outside inspection agency using the treating plant’s

instrument or its own. Appendix B of

this section outlines a recommended

procedure.

(5) At a minimum, treating plants

shall perform the PIC weekly and

record the results in the instrument’s

log, which shall be stored with the instrument. Independent inspection

agencies shall use their own samples to

perform the PIC on treater’s instrument once per visit, not to exceed one

PIC per week. Inspection agencies shall

record their results in the instrument’s

log and state the date of its latest PIC

on all treating reports.

(6) XRF instruments shall be accurate and reliable, and they shall generate reproducible results. Instruments

shall have thorough instructions which

should include recommendations on

drying techniques, equipment, and density calculations. These drying recommendations shall be followed when

using these instruments.

(h) Product acceptance. Under the

Independent Inspection Plan, the inspector shall signify acceptance by

marking each piece of accepted material with a clear, legible hammer

stamp in one end prior to treatment

and in the other end after treatment.

The inspector shall personally mark

each piece, and shall not delegate this

responsibility to another person.

(i) Charge inspection reports. (1) Inspection Reports shall cover the following:

(i) The total pieces in the lot, number

of and causes for rejection;

(ii) The conditioning of the material

prior to treatment;

(iii) The analyses of preservative

identified by the analyst’s signature or

certification;

(iv) The details of treatment; and

(v) The results of treatment. These

results shall include the following:

(A) The depth of penetration for retention sample and a summary of all

poles rejected for insufficient penetration;

(B) Worksheets for retention analyses, each identified by quality control

designee and independent inspector;

(C) The number of pieces offered and

rejected, together with the cause(s) for

rejection;

(D) The date of latest Periodic Instrument Check.

(2) On each inspection report the

independent inspector and the plant

quality control designee shall certify,

in writing, that the material listed on

the report has been inspected before,

300

§ 1728.202 7 CFR Ch. XVII (1–1–00 Edition)

during, and after treatment, and that

the preservative used was analyzed in

accordance with the requirements of

this section.

(3) Each inspector or inspection agency shall retain for a period of 1 year a

copy or transcript of each report of inspection, together with laboratory

worksheets covering retention by assay

and preservative analyses for the purchaser, and on request shall furnish a

copy or transcript of any of these reports to the Director, Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities Service, Washington, DC 20250–1500.

(j) Charge numbers on re-treat poles.

The letter ‘‘R’’ shall be added to the

original charge number in the butts of

all poles that are re-treated for insufficient penetration or retention of preservative. All poles that fail to meet

treatment requirements after two retreatments shall be permanently rejected.

(k) Safety provisions. Poles intended

for RUS borrowers shall not be inspected when, in the opinion of the inspector, unsafe conditions are present.

APPENDIX A TO §1728.202—RECOMMENDED

INSPECTORS’ QUALIFICATIONS

(a) Inspection agencies should see that inspectors assigned to the inspection of timber

products and treatment for RUS borrowers

are competent and experienced.

(b) Recommended experience. In general, any

of the following examples are recommended

as minimum qualifying experience before a

new inspector may be permitted to inspect

timber products for RUS borrowers:

(1) Three years’ experience as an inspector

of timber and the preservative treatment of

timber.

(2) Three years’ experience in timber treating plant quality control work.

(3) Under the direct supervision of an experienced, well-qualified inspector, who has

performed the following:

(i) Inspected at least 2,500 poles and/or

crossarms ‘‘in the white.’’

(ii) Checked preservative penetration results on at least 500 poles and crossarms.

(iii) Made at least 35 wood assays for preservative retention.

(iv) Made at least 25 analyses of each type

preservative used on material the person is

assigned to inspect.

(v) In both (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this appendix

A, the experience should be not less than

that required in (b)(3)(i), (b)(3)(ii), (b)(3)(iii),

and (b)(3)(iv).

(4) Inspectors experienced in the inspections of one product, such as poles, should

not be qualified to inspect another product,

such as crossarms, until the above experience is gained.

(5) The inspector should be especially well

informed in wood preservation and the operation of a timber treating plant, and be competent in preservative analysis and other

laboratory work.

(6) In all cases, an inspector should be

thoroughly instructed in the application of

RUS specifications and the standards pertaining thereto before being permitted to

independently inspect timber products and

the treatments applied to them. Knowledge

of these specifications and standards, as well

as the inspector’s proficiency, may be

checked routinely by members of the RUS

staff.

APPENDIX B TO §1728.202—PERIODIC

INSTRUMENT CHECK X-RAY FLUORESCENCE

(a) General. The following sample calibration standards and procedures may be used

in lieu of comparison with analysis by wet

ash or lime ignition methods.

(b) Penta. Until such time as AWPA approves calibration standards for penta, the

following method should be used to run a

salt water solution to measure Cl (chloride).

(1) Standard Solution. Dry approximately 15

grams of reagent grade NaCl at 105°C for 1

hour. Weigh 10.00 grams into a tared beaker.

Add distilled water until the total weight is

100.00 grams. Stir until completely dissolved.

This will give a 10 percent weight to weight

solution of NaCl.

(2) Baseline Check. (i) Insure that the instrument is in good agreement with lime ignition.

(ii) Record any user correction factors.

(iii) Stabilize and standardize the instrument.

(iv) Run the salt solution five times using

the PENTA-OIL calibration mode.

(v) Record the average and standard deviation of the values for percent penta. The average value will now be considered the nominal value.

(3) Periodic Instrument Check. Run the salt

solution two times and average the results.

If the value is more than ± 5 percent of the

nominal value, the instrument needs further

calibration, following manufacturer’s recommendation.

(c) Waterborne preservatives. Treaters and

inspection agencies should purchase AWPA

Committee P-5 Standard Reference Materials to analyze on their instruments. Reference materials should be in the retention

range of the material being produced at the

plants. If the value is more than ± 5 percent

of the nominal value, the instrument needs

further calibration. AWPA Committee P-5

Standard Reference Materials may be purchased from:

301

Rural Utilities Service, USDA § 1730.4

American Wood Preservers’ Association,

P.O. Box 286, Woodstock, Maryland 21163,

Phone: (410) 456–3169.

[58 FR 41406, Aug. 3, 1993]

PART 1730—ELECTRIC SYSTEM

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Subpart A—General

Sec.

1730.1 Introduction.

1730.2 RUS policy.

1730.3 RUS addresses.

1730.4 Definitions.

1730.5–1730.19 [Reserved]

Subpart B—Operations and Maintenance

Requirements

1730.20 General.

1730.21 Inspections and tests.

1730.22 Borrower analysis.

1730.23 Review rating summary, RUS Form

300.

1730.24 RUS review and evaluation.

1730.25 Corrective action.

1730.26 Engineer’s certification.

1730.27–1730.99 [Reserved]

APPENDIX A TO SUBPART B TO PART 1730—REVIEW RATING SUMMARY, RUS FORM 300

AUTHORITY: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 1921 et seq.,

6941 et seq.

SOURCE: 63 FR 3450, Jan. 23, 1998, unless

otherwise noted.

Subpart A—General

§ 1730.1 Introduction.

(a) This part contains the policies

and procedures of the Rural Utilities

Service (RUS) related to electric borrowers’ operation and maintenance

practices and RUS’ review and evaluation of such practices.

(b) The policies and procedures included in this part apply to all electric

borrowers (both distribution borrowers

and power supply borrowers) and are

intended to clarify and implement certain provisions of the security instrument and loan contract between RUS

and electric borrowers regarding operations and maintenance. This part is

not intended to waive or supersede any

provisions of the security instrument

and loan contract between RUS and

electric borrowers.

(c) The Administrator may waive, for

good cause, on a case by case basis, certain requirements and procedures of

this part.

§ 1730.2 RUS policy.

It is RUS policy to require that all

property of a borrower be operated and

maintained properly in accordance

with the requirements of each borrower’s loan documents. It is also RUS

policy to provide financial assistance

only to borrowers whose operations

and maintenance practices and records

are satisfactory or to those who are

taking corrective actions expected to

make their operations and maintenance practices and records satisfactory to RUS.

§ 1730.3 RUS addresses.

(a) Persons wishing to obtain forms

referred to in this part should contact:

Program Support and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1522, 1400

Independence Ave., SW., Washington,

DC 20250–1522, telephone (202) 720–8674.

Borrowers or others may reproduce any

of these forms in any number required.

(b) Documents required to be submitted to RUS under this part are to

be sent to the office of the borrower’s

assigned RUS General Field Representative (GFR) or such other office as designated by RUS.

§ 1730.4 Definitions.

Terms used in this part have the

meanings set forth in 7 CFR Part

1710.2. References to specific RUS

forms and other RUS documents, and

to specific sections or lines of such

forms and documents, shall include the

corresponding forms, documents, sections and lines in any subsequent revisions of these forms and documents. In

addition to the terms defined in 7 CFR

Part 1710.2, the term Prudent Utility

Practice has the meaning set forth in

Article 1, Section 1.01 of Appendix A to

Subpart B of 7 CFR Part 1718—Model

Form of Mortgage for Electric Distribution Borrowers, for the purposes

of this Part.