RAILCORP - Telecommunications - Outdoor - Cabling - Standard

Engineering Standard
Telecommunications
Engineering Standard
ESM 102
COMMUNICATION OUTDOOR
CABLING STANDARD
Version 2.0
Issued July 2011
Owner: Chief Engineer, Telecommunications
Approved J Byron Authorised J Byron

by: Chief Engineer by: Chief Engineer
Telecommunications Telecommunications
Disclaimer
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UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED Page 1 of 18

RailCorp Engineering Standard — Telecommunications
Communication Outdoor Cabling Standard ESM 102
Document control
Version Date Summary of change
1.0 September 2007 First issue
2.0 July 2011 Application of TMA 400 format. Changes as noted in
summary of change table below.
Summary of changes from previous version

Summary of change Section
Scope and application 2
Optical fibre cable construction 5.3.2
Diverse cable routes 6.8
Update sections on number of conduits for new projects 7
Pit and pipe cable route construction 8
Incorporate deployment of pre-cast concrete pits for cable route construction (new) 8.2
Distance between pits (new) 8.2.5
Mandrelling (new) 8.3
Draw rope in conduits (new) 9.1
Recovery of de-commissioned cables (new) 9.2
© RailCorp Page 2 of 18
Issued July 2011 UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED Version 2.0
Contents
1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................5
2 Scope and application ............................................................................................................5
3 References...............................................................................................................................5
3.1 Australian standards .................................................................................................................5
3.2 International standards..............................................................................................................6
3.3 RailCorp documents..................................................................................................................6
3.4 RailCorp drawings.....................................................................................................................6
4 Terms and definitions.............................................................................................................7
5 Cables and cabling works - general......................................................................................7
5.1 Cables .......................................................................................................................................8
5.2 Composite cables......................................................................................................................8
5.3 Optic fibre cable ........................................................................................................................8
5.3.1 SMOF fibre specification............................................................................................8
5.3.2 Optical fibre cable construction .................................................................................8
5.3.3 Optical fibre cables sizes ...........................................................................................8
5.4 Copper communications cable..................................................................................................9
5.4.1 Copper cable (outdoor)..............................................................................................9
5.4.2 Fire safe copper cable (for tunnels)...........................................................................9
5.4.3 Cable identification codes........................................................................................10
6 Cable route – general............................................................................................................10
6.1 Compliance to SPG 0705........................................................................................................10
6.2 Cable route life span ...............................................................................................................10
6.3 Cable route construction types ...............................................................................................10
6.4 GLT .........................................................................................................................................10
6.5 Tracing of cable route location................................................................................................11
6.6 Aerial cable .............................................................................................................................11
6.7 Separation from other services ...............................................................................................11
6.7.1 Separation from HV - additional requirements ........................................................11
6.8 Diverse cable routes ...............................................................................................................12
6.8.1 Diversity via different rail line (ring diversity) ...........................................................12
6.8.2 Diversity via path off the rail corridor .......................................................................12
6.8.3 Diversity provided by parallel pit and pipe, GST troughing etc................................12
6.8.4 Aerial routes as diverse cable routes ......................................................................12
6.8.5 HV Power Cables route as diverse cable route.......................................................12
6.8.6 Signal cable route as diverse cable route................................................................12
6.9 Hazardous locations................................................................................................................13
6.9.1 Catch points.............................................................................................................13
6.9.2 High voltage locations..............................................................................................13
6.9.3 Construction rules for Hazardous EPR Zones ........................................................13
7 Cable route capacity .............................................................................................................13
7.1 Pit and pipe capacity ...............................................................................................................14
7.2 GST capacity...........................................................................................................................14
8 Pit and pipe cable route construction.................................................................................14

8.1 Conduits ..................................................................................................................................14
8.1.1 Open-cut trenching and conduit installation ............................................................15
8.1.2 Reference design drawings of typical installations..................................................16
8.2 Pre-cast concrete pits .............................................................................................................17
8.2.1 Compliance to SPM 0123 ........................................................................................17
8.2.2 Pre-cast concrete pit location ..................................................................................17
8.2.3 Identification of pits and pit ID numbers ..................................................................17
8.2.4 Where pits are required ...........................................................................................17
8.2.5 Distance between pits..............................................................................................17
8.2.6 Protection of pits and pit lids....................................................................................18
8.3 Mandrelling..............................................................................................................................18
9 Operation and maintenance of duct space ........................................................................18
9.1 Draw rope, cleaning and sealing of conduits ..........................................................................18
9.2 Recovery of de-commissioned cables ....................................................................................18
10 Historical names ...................................................................................................................18
11 Documentation ......................................................................................................................18
1 Introduction
This standard sets out minimum requirements for the provision, installation, termination
and management of outdoor communications cables within the RailCorp Communications
network.
The requirements of this standard are in addition to the Australian Standards, they do not
replace them. If there is a conflict between this standard and the Australian Standards,
then the Australian Standards shall be adhered to and the Chief Engineer,
Telecommunications, of Chief Engineers Division shall be notified immediately.
It applies to all new RailCorp Telecommunications outdoor cabling.
2 Scope and application

This standard establishes requirements for all new outdoor RailCorp telecommunications
network cables, including re-configuration of the existing outdoor cabling network. For the
purpose of this standard, cabling in tunnels is considered to be outdoor cabling.
Additional requirements to those specified in this standard also apply for special
situations such as cables in tunnels, aerial cable, cables associated with high voltage
installations.
3 References
3.1 Australian standards

AS/CA S008 Requirements for customer cabling products
AS/ACIF S009 Installation requirements for customer cabling (Wiring Rules)
AS/NZS 1660.5.2 Test methods for electric cables, cords and conductors - Fire tests -
Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions
Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas evolved during the combustion of
polymeric materials taken from cables
Determination of degree of acidity of gases evolved during the combustion of materials
taken from electric cables by measuring pH and conductivity
AS/NZS 3000 Electrical Installations (Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)
AS/NZS 3085.1 Telecommunications installations - Administration of communications
cabling systems. Part 1 Basic requirements
AS/NZS 3500.2 Plumbing and drainage Part 2: Sanitary plumbing and drainage
SAA HB 100 (CJC 4) Coordination of Power and Telecommunications – Manual for the
establishment of safe work practices and the minimization of operational interference
between power systems and paired cable telecommunications systems
SAA HB 101 (CJC 5) Coordination of Power and Telecommunications – Low Frequency
Induction (LFI) – Code of practice
SAA HB 102 (CJC 6) Coordination of Power and Telecommunications – Low Frequency
Induction (LFI) – Application guide
SAA HB 243 Communications Cabling Manual Module 1: Australian regulatory
arrangements
SAA HB 29 Communications Cabling Manual Module 2: Communications cabling
handbook
3.2 International standards

ITU-T G652 Characteristics of a single-mode optical fibre & cable
ITU-T G655 Characteristics of a non-zero dispersion-shifted single-mode optical fibre &
cable
ITU-T G657 Characteristics of a bending loss insensitive single-mode optical fibre &
cable for the access network
3.3 RailCorp documents

EP 00 00 00 08 SP Safe Limits of DC Voltages
EP 90 10 00 03 SP Co-ordination of Communications and Power Systems - Earth
Potential Rise
ESC 540 Service Installations w the Rail Corridor
ESM 105 Signalling Bungalow Communications Cabling Standard
ESM 107 Communications Equipment Rooms
ESM 109 Communications Earthing and Surge Suppression Standard
SPC 207 Track Monitoring Requirements for Under Track Excavation
SPG 0705 Construction of Cable Route & Associated Civil Works
SPM 0123 Reinforced Pre-cast Concrete Cable Pits
SPM 0677 Single-Mode Optical Fibre Cable
SPM 0885 Aerial Non-Metallic Single-Mode Optical Fibre Cable
SPM 1178 Single Mode Optical Fibre Termination, Management and Patching Equipment
SPM 1179 Single Mode Optical Fibre Jointing Equipment
SPM 1181 40mm Class 9 High Density Polyethylene Cable Conduit
STM 0073 Communications Data Collection Requirements
TMM C001 Telecommunications Design Process for Design Projects Delegations &
Descriptions
TMM P001 Copper Cable Termination
TMM P021 Optic Fibre Cable Jointing, Termination & Management
3.4 RailCorp drawings

MET-CA0242 Bollard Installation
MET-OT0042 Mounting of Pit ID Tags for Half & Full Size Pits Arrangement
MET-OT0043 Pit ID Tag Arrangement
MET-OT0048 Coordination of Signals and Communications Pits and Pipes Part 1
SK0128 Typical Fibre Jointing Arrangement Layout
XXX-CA0294 Conduits Buried in Platform or Sealed Vehicular Area
XXX-CA0311 40mm HDPE Conduit Joint
XXX-SK0105 Buried Cable Route
XXX-SK0106 Cable Route Construction by Rock Sawing
XXX-SK0107 Galvanised Steel Trough Route to Pit Transition
4 Terms and definitions

GLT Ground Level Troughing
GST Galvanised Steel Troughing
Hazardous EPR Zone zone where the earth potential rise exceeds 430 V AC under
power system fault condition;
High voltage as defined in AS/NZS 3000 and AS/ACIF S009. Note that in this standard
the high voltage shall also include the 1500VDC positive and negative feeders that supply
the overhead traction power, as these feeders regularly exceed 1500VDC.
Pipe continuous or jointed pipe forming a sealed conduit between two terminations.
Pipe, conduit and duct are interchangeable terms in this standard.
RailCorp Cable Identification Number to be issued as per SPM 0073.
Route Asset or containment to support or carry cables.
Trunk route A route that interconnects two or more communications equipment rooms or
main communications nodes, or between train stations.
Non-trunk route A feeder route to an equipment site, usually less than 500m, not
designed to house trunk cables.
ULX Under Line Crossings
URX Under Road Crossings
5 Cables and cabling works - general

Unless dispensation is obtained from the appropriate Engineering Design Approval
Authority as specified in TMM C001, cables and all cabling work shall be in accordance
with the following documents, in precedence order:
AS/ACIF S009 and AS/ACIF S008
Other AS/ACIF Standards
This document
TMM P001 Copper cable termination,

TMM P021 Optic Fibre Cable Jointing, Termination and Management
SPM 0677 Single Mode Optical Fibre Cable
SPM 1178 Single Mode Optical Fibre Termination, Management and Patching Equipment
SPM 1179 Single Mode Optical Fibre Jointing Equipment,
SPM 1181 40mm Class 9 High Density Polyethylene Cable Conduit,
Annex 1: Typical and Reference Drawings
SPG 0705 Construction of Cable Route and Associated Civil Works
Other RailCorp standards
Standards Australian Handbooks
5.1 Cables
All cables used and the method of construction shall be in accordance with specifications
quoted in this standard.
5.2 Composite cables

Communications Trunk Optic Fibre Cables shall not incorporate multi-mode fibres.
Where different grades of single-mode fibre are incorporated into a cable, each tube shall
contain one grade only. Where non-zero dispersion shifted fibres (ITU G.655) are
incorporated, they shall occupy the first tube(s) of that cable.
Note that ESM 105 prohibits the use of communications trunk optic fibre cables for
interconnecting local signalling equipment between adjacent signalling bungalows, relay
rooms and location cases.
5.3 Optic fibre cable
5.3.1 SMOF fibre specification

Optic fibre cable used externally within the rail corridor shall comply with the requirements
of SPM 0677.
The sizes of optical fibre cables shall be 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 144, cores or higher. Optical
fibre cable construction types shall be used in the environment it was designed for.
5.3.2 Optical fibre cable construction

There are three types optical fibre cable construction described by specification
SPM 0677 for use externally in the rail corridor. Each type is designed for a particular
purpose as detailed below:
• General Installation - Cable suitable for general installation in the rail environment
by way of hauling into underground ducts, hauling into above Ground Steel
Troughing (GST) and laying in Ground Level concrete Troughing (GLT). Can be
used in all locations except for underground tunnels or stations or other
underground facilities.
• Fire Safe - Cable for installation in underground stations or other underground
facilities and tunnels. Can be used in all locations however not practical to use in
long section of small diameter HDPE pipe.
• Blown Cable - Cable for installation by way of air/gas blowing through small
diameter HDPE continuous conduits. This cable may only be used where the route
is predominantly small diameter HDPE continuous pipe and installation is by way
of blowing.
5.3.3 Optical fibre cables sizes

All the cables mentioned in this section are optical fibre cables.
At the completion of a cable installation project, all cables shall have a minimum 75% of
fibres that are unused (dark fibres) and available for service restoration and future
expansion. The size of any trunk (or long haul) cable shall not be less than 96 cores.
With regard to trunk cable, if there is no existing cable or no ring cable to provide
diversity, two new trunk cables in different routes shall be installed at the time of
construction. Diversity provided by a fibre swap arrangement with other organisations or
carriers is deemed to meet this requirement so a second new cable is not required. See
Section 6.8 for diverse cable routes.
Route Type Minimum Cores of Fibers
Trunk cable >3km 96F (may require G.655 fibres)*

Customer cable,1km 24F
DTRS cables 12F
* Note 1: to be determined by as per TMM C001.
Both station cable and customer cable are access cables.
5.4 Copper communications cable

Copper, twisted pair communications cable used externally in the rail environment falls
into two categories:
a) Cable for general outdoor use
b) Fire safe cable used within tunnels and underground stations
This standard does not cover:
• Fire rated cable used for emergency systems in tunnels

• Internal fire safe cable used in underground stations
• Internal cable used in aboveground stations and buildings
5.4.1 Copper cable (outdoor)

External copper communications cable shall be protected against mechanical damage,
vandalism and/or theft by being installed within properly constructed cable routes and
shall comply with the following requirements:
• The cable shall have 10, 20, 30, 50, or 100 pairs as required.
• The cable shall have:
– ▪ Conductors of solid annealed copper

– ▪ Conductor diameter of 0.64mm or 0.9mm
– ▪ Insulated with cellular polyethylene
– ▪ Colour coded
– ▪ Unitized twin configuration
– ▪ Jelly filled
– ▪ Black polyethylene moisture barrier sheathed
– ▪ Hard nylon jacket
– ▪ Metre marked
The cable shall conform to the requirements of AS/CA S008.
5.4.2 Fire safe copper cable (for tunnels)

Copper communications cable that is to be installed within underground tunnels shall be
protected against mechanical damage, vandalism and/or theft by being installed within
properly constructed cable routes and shall comply with the following requirements:
• The cable shall have 10, 20, 30, 50, or 100 pairs as required.
• The cable shall have:
– ▪Conductors of solid annealed copper

– ▪Conductor diameter of 0.64mm or 0.9mm
– ▪Insulated with solid polyethylene
– ▪Colour coded
– ▪Unitized twin configuration
– ▪Black polyethylene moisture barrier sheathed
– ▪Over sheathed with a low smoke, halogen free, flame retardant jacket
The cable shall conform to the requirements of AS/CA S008 and the relevant fire safe
specifications, including AS/NZS 1660.5.2, AS/NZS 1660.5.3, and AS/NZS 1660.5.4.
5.4.3 Cable identification codes

RailCorp cable identification codes shall be provided on each cable within each pit, at
cable joints and at each cable terminations. These codes shall display clearly the cable
identification number, type, size, conductor diameter and destination of the cable as per
SPM 0073, TMM P001, and TMM P021.
6 Cable route – general
6.1 Compliance to SPG 0705

Cable route construction shall be in accordance with SPG 0705, with the additional
requirements as per this standard.
6.2 Cable route life span

Cable route (includes conduits, joints and pits, GST etc) shall be designed and
constructed for a minimum life expectancy of forty years.
6.3 Cable route construction types

Except where installation conditions would make it impractical, pit and pipe construction
shall be used for all new cable routes,
Except for cable ladder, rack or cable tray which is acceptable in tunnels etc, cable route
construction type shall be in the preference in order of:
a) Pit and conduit,
b) GST,
c) Aerial cables.
No new direct buried cable is allowed, except for the last 5m accessing existing direct
buried cable network.
6.4 GLT
GLT shall only be used as a last resort.
Where used GLT sections:
a) Shall not exceed 5m, unless with the written acceptance of the as per
TMM C001.
b) Shall not be used in vehicle accessible areas
6.5 Tracing of cable route location

For new communication cable routes, facilities to trace and locate the cable route shall be
provided including but not limited to the following:
• SPG 0705 metallic trace wire except in Hazardous EPR zone.

• RF Identification System, with GPS locations of the cable routes
6.6 Aerial cable

The material used for aerial cable installation shall comply with RailCorp specification
where applicable.
• SPM 0885
• The aerial cable shall be at least 5m clearance from ground level.
• The aerial cable shall be at least 4.5m clearance from GST.
• The aerial cable shall be installed in accordance with the specifications required by
RailCorp Chief Electrical Engineer.
6.7 Separation from other services

Where communications cables are installed in a combined service route, they shall be
separated from signalling and power conduits/cables in accordance with AS/ACIF S009.
See also SPG 0705.
Where communications cables are in the same trench as signalling and power cables, it
is mandatory that Communications cables shall be housed in conduits.
Unless special dispensation is provided by TMM C001, signalling and electrical conduit
shall not pass through or enter pits dedicated for communications cabling, nor shall
communications conduits pass through or enter pits dedicated for electrical or signalling
cables except for the exemption provided below.
In locations where there are no dedicated communications cable pits or where it would be
uneconomical to provide such a pit for a single service, and it is required that a service be
run to a signalling location, then a communications cables designated for signalling
services may pass through a signalling pit but shall do so with in a subduct so as to
comply with AS/ACIF S009.
Examples of such a service are signalling post phones and data links to signal locations.
Refer to drawings: MET-OT0048, MET-OT0049, MET-OT0050 and MET-OT0051.
6.7.1 Separation from HV - additional requirements

Communications pits and communications cable routes shall be separated from HV
electrical pits and cable routes such that the inside wall of a HV electrical pit and or
conduit shall be not less that 450mm separated form the inside wall of a communications
pit and that communications conduits shall not pass closer that 450mm from the inside
wall of a HV electrical pit. This is to ensure that compliance with AS/ACIF S009 will not
depend on the location of a cable with in a pit.
For the purposes of separation, both negatives and positives of the1500 volt DC traction
feeders shall be considered as HV cables.
Refer to drawings: MET-OT0048, MET-OT0049, MET-OT0050 and MET-OT0051.
6.8 Diverse cable routes

New trunk cable routes and nominated locations shall have a primary and an associated
diverse path (or paths) for the protection of important communications services such as
DTRS, Elec. SCADA, ATP, CCTV and similar systems. This diverse path is generally only
required for optical fibre and shall be provided by one or more of the following means.
6.8.1 Diversity via different rail line (ring diversity)

An example would be providing diversity for a cable route between North Sydney and
Gordon via Hornsby, Strathfield and Central.
This is the preferred diversity option.
6.8.2 Diversity via path off the rail corridor

This would normally be achieved by a fibre swap with another communications
organisation. Another option is to lease capacity from other carrier(s).
6.8.3 Diversity provided by parallel pit and pipe, GST troughing etc
Diversity may be provided by parallel cable routes of GST / Troughing / Pit and Pipe with
an acceptable separation between the different routes. Such separation shall be
approved by the design approval authority. As a guide, the normal requirement would be:
Less than 5m of separation between routes is allowed for
• Up to 1% of the route length; or

• 20 meter of route length
whichever is greater.
Cables attached to two adjacent tunnels of the same route, are deemed to comply as
diverse cable routes. Cables attached to opposite sides of a single tunnel are not
considered as diverse cable routes.
6.8.4 Aerial routes as diverse cable routes

Aerial route provides an alternative route to buried, existing GLT and GST routes. Where
the risk (such as bush fire) is low, aerial route may be considered as a diverse cable
route.
6.8.5 HV Power Cables route as diverse cable route

Where no other diversity option as specified in Section 6.8.1 to Section 6.8.4 is feasible
and subject to the approval of Chief Electrical Engineer, where the communications cable
route runs parallel to the HV cables route, the HV route shall have an extra conduit for
communications cables, which shall be reserved for optical fibre cables to be installed as
diverse communications cables. Cable joints shall be installed in communications pits
(preferably dedicated to the diverse path) linked to the HV pit via conduit.
6.8.6 Signal cable route as diverse cable route

Where no other diversity option as specified in Section 6.8.1 to Section 6.8.5 is feasible
and subject to the approval of Chief Signal Engineer, diversity may be achieved by
installing communications optic fibre cable in the signal cable route. A dedicated conduit
is not necessarily required. Cable joints shall be installed in communications pits

(preferably dedicated to the diverse path) linked to the signal pit via conduit.
6.9 Hazardous locations
6.9.1 Catch points

The cable routes, pits, cabinets and buildings shall not be positioned where they may be
damaged by a train derailed by catch points.
6.9.2 High voltage locations

Where copper communications cables pass through the Hazardous EPR Zone of a high
voltage location such as traction substations, pad-mount transformers, pole mounted
transformers and the like, they shall do so in accordance with the requirements of
AS/ACIF S009. In addition copper communications cables coming within 15 metres of a
High Voltage Location earth grid shall do so in a in a continuously sealed, non-metallic
conduit regardless of the level of EPR.
High voltage locations located outside the rail corridor, owned and operated by others
such as Energy Australia, must also be taken into consideration.
Joints in copper communications cables shall not be permitted within a Hazardous EPR
Zone.
6.9.3 Construction rules for Hazardous EPR Zones

Within Hazardous EPR Zones, the construction of cable routes, pits, communications
rooms and equipment shall comply with the rules below.
• Only plastic-sheathed cables shall be used.

• Copper communications cables that pass through a Hazardous EPR Zone shall do
so in rigid plastic conduit - in pit and conduit construction route using white class 12
UPVC conduits or class 9 HDPE conduits.
• Any joints in copper cables shall be housed in a suitable pit well outside the EPR
hazard zone and labelled with an EPR hazard warning that such copper cables
pass through a Hazardous EPR Zone.
• Any existing pit within the proposed Hazardous EPR Zone shall be relocated.
Subject to RailCorp’s approval, if such pit cannot be re-located, it must be labelled
with an EPR hazard warning on all walls and lids.
• No communications earthing or arresting shall be done within the Hazardous EPR
Zone.
• No metallic trace wire shall be installed into any Hazardous EPR Zone.
• See AS/ACIF S009:2006 clauses 18, 20.5 and Section H.
7 Cable route capacity

At the completion of a given project there shall be reserved for communications
purposes, a minimum unused capacity of 50% of the total capacity for each and every
section of new cable route such that a second set of identical cables could be installed
within each such section of route without the need for additional route construction works.
Where a trunk cable route consists of pipes, the unused capacity shall not be less than
one additional unused pipe, or 50% of the total capacity, which ever is greater. For trunk
route under line crossings this shall be increased to two unused pipes or 60% of the total
capacity whichever is greater.
7.1 Pit and pipe capacity

For trunk routes, the minimum installed capacity shall be 2 x 100mm conduits.
7.2 GST capacity

For trunk routes using GST, the GST installed capacity shall be a minimum of 250% of
the initial required capacity for the whole project.
Either a complete trough with individual lid or white pipe in a shared trough shall be
dedicated for the sole use of RailCorp’s’ communications.
A communications GST trough shall be at least 150mm x 150mm.
A GST communications route shall be capable of being duplicated by fitting additional

GST trough to the existing supports.
8 Pit and pipe cable route construction

The separation of signals from communications route shall comply with Section 6.7 .
• White conduit to be used for communications. All white conduits shall be in

accordance with Section 8.1
• In some cases, arrangement will allow shallow burial conduits with a reinforced
concrete cover (see drawing XXX-CA0294), refer to AS/ACIF S009 for minimum
depth under road ways.
• Excavation works shall be in accordance with ESC 540 and AS 3500.2.
8.1 Conduits
This section specifics the type of conduits to be used for cable route construction.
• Except where installation conditions would make it impractical, pit and conduit
construction shall be used for all new cable routes.
• Where possible, 100mm conduit shall be used for all new projects
For all pit and conduit cable route, the following conduits are approved for use.
40mm HDPE 40mm OD HDPE Class 9 conduits as per

1
conduit RailCorp Specification no. 1181
100mm HDPE 100mm OD HDPE Class 9 conduits with a
2
conduit normal wall thickness not less than 9.5mm
50mm UPVC Class 12 pressure Conduit
3 50mm Conduit with a normal wall thickness not less than
3.0mm
6.0mm
8.0mm
Table 1
Conduits joints and installation shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s

instructions.
PVC conduits shall be jointed by solvent welding, with the ends forced well into the
socket.
HDPE conduits shall be jointed by either a pressure fitting such as shown in drawing
XXX-CA0311 (see Section 3.4 or Section 8.1.2) or by thermal welding using purpose
designed thermal welding couplers. Conduit ends shall be cut cleanly and at right angles
with all burrs removed and forced well into the coupler socket before the heating or
clamping process. The finished joint shall be gas tight.
Where size of conduit is not specified, it is deemed to be 100mm UPVC class

12 pressure conduit.
8.1.1 Open-cut trenching and conduit installation

Voids being left between the conduit(s) and surrounding soil can lead to the deformation
or even the total collapse of a conduit.
Figure 1 - A poorly installed cable route with voids between conduits and surrounding
soil leading to the deformation or collapse of the conduit.
Conduits shall be placed in the trench and the fill placed around the conduits so that as
far as possible the fill and surrounding soil and or rock shall exert an even pressure on
the entire surface of the conduit. To this end installers shall insure that there are no voids
between the conduit(s) and/or surrounding soil and/or rock. This is best achieved by
laying conduits a layer at a time with spacers every 3 metres along the cable route and
between the conduits to ensure that the voids can be filled with sand or other suitable
material to completely fill any voids.
Figure 2 - A cross-section and prospective of a correctly installed cable route with pine
battens to ensure that there no voids between conduits and surrounding fill.
Crashed rock, finely divided road base, or sand shall bed and cover the conduits and fill
the spaces between conduits. The conduits shall be covered to a thickness of not less
than 100mm over the uppermost conduit. The remainder of the trench shall be filled with
clean fill, free of broken concrete, rubble, wood, glass, rubbish, steel or other metallic
objects and free of stones which would not pass through a 50mm sieve.
If a signal tracer wire is required, it shall be a white polyethylene insulated stainless steel
wire, installed in the trench over the conduits at a nominal depth of 500mm below finished
surface level.
Cable marker tape as per specification SPG 0705 shall be installed over the cable route
at a depth of 300mm. See drawings 112000/5/4, 112000/5/5 and 112000/5/6.
Trenches are to be excavated so that conduits can be laid with 300 mm clearance all
round from other obstructions, unless otherwise approved by RailCorp.
The trench shall be compacted in accordance with SPG 0705. This compaction of the soil
in the trench shall not cause the conduits to be deformed.
8.1.2 Reference design drawings of typical installations

Listed below are drawings showing typical and the preferred design arrangements for
cable route construction. These arrangements shall be complied with as far as
practicable.
• CA0242 - Bollard Installation

• CA0294 - Conduits Buried in Platform or Sealed Vehicular Area
• CA0311 - 40mm HDPE Conduit Joint
• SK0106 - Cable Route Construction by Rock Sawing
• SK0107 - Galvanised Steel Trough Route to Pit Transition
• SK0128 - Typical Fibre Jointing Arrangement Layout
8.2 Pre-cast concrete pits
8.2.1 Compliance to SPM 0123

All reinforced pre-cast concrete cable pits shall be rectangular and conform to
specification SPM 0123.
8.2.2 Pre-cast concrete pit location

All pits and pipes shall be installed in accordance with SPG 0705. However, if a waiver is
given to install pits closer to the track than specified in SPG 0705, then the pre-cast
concrete cable pits manufactured in accordance with specification SPM 0123 shall not be
installed closer than one (1) metre from the edge of a sleeper.
Pre-cast concrete cable pits manufactured in accordance with specification SPM 0123
shall not be installed closer than two (2) metres from any power pole or overhead wiring
structure, or the foot and/or the edge of a retaining wall.
Pits that are required to be closer to the track or structures than these limitations shall be
purpose designed and shall require the approval of Chief Engineer Civil or his appointed
representative.
8.2.3 Identification of pits and pit ID numbers

Each pit installed in the RailCorp Communications network shall be labelled on site, and
documented in accordance with SPM 0073, the information provided to the
Telecommunications Network Configuration group (TNC group) of Communications &
Control Systems Division.
As shown in drawing MET-OT 0042, two identical identification labels shall be mounted
on each pit; one on the pit lid and the other mounted on the inside wall of cable pits
approximately 50mm from top in an easily accessible location. Pit identification labels
shall be controlled by the TNC group
8.2.4 Where pits are required

Pits shall be installed at turning points, or where curves or bends occur. All pits shall be
installed outside any Hazardous EPR zone for the main cable route.
Pits shall be placed immediately at either side of the following
• Underline crossing
• Under road crossing
• Where a building, maintenance facility, paved area or station exists
• Where access to constructing a new cable route in future becomes high risk due to
limited access
8.2.5 Distance between pits

Distance between pits shall be 125m (maximum) unless:
a) The purpose of the route is for the installation of non metallic fibre cable only, in
the present and in the future; and
b) The route is, at all points, less than 2m deep
in which case the pits shall be no more than 250m apart, or less than 500m if the route
between the pits is straight.
8.2.6 Protection of pits and pit lids

With the exception of trafficable pit lids, all pits and pit-lids shall be located such that they
cannot be damaged by vehicles or they shall be protected with suitable barriers, such as
bollards. Such barriers shall be approved by the design authority and shall not block the
passage way for vehicles or force vehicles into the danger zone.
8.3 Mandrelling
All conduits installed shall pass the mandrelling test by pulling a mandrel of a diameter
90% of the internal pipe diameter, upon backfilling and compaction. The mandrelling test
shall be witnessed by an authorised RailCorp staff or representative.
The cable route, either pipe or GST, shall remain usable at all times, the cross sectional
area of the GST, pipe etc shall not be diminished by pressure or aging during the
maintainable period of the cable route, which shall include all GST, bores, pits and pipes
and others. Conduits shall not be deformed to less than 90% of the internal diameter of
the pipe. Similarly, for GST, less than 10% of the internal area is lost due to changes in
GST shapes.
9 Operation and maintenance of duct space
9.1 Draw rope, cleaning and sealing of conduits

All conduits shall contain draw wire or draw rope (minimum 10mm diameter nylon rope)
whether conduits are empty or cables are installed. Such draw rope shall facilitate the
hauling in of cable pulling device, which will be used to haul in copper or optical cables.
All spare pipes shall be cleaned by the mandrelling test (refer to “Mandrelling”, see
Section 8.3), each pipe shall have draw rope suitably anchored at each end of the pipe
and then sealed with proprietary end caps to stop the ingress of foreign particles.
9.2 Recovery of de-commissioned cables

Any cable that occupies space in a re-enterable cable route that has been
decommissioned shall be completely removed from the re-enterable cable route within
three months from date of decommissioning unless permission for an extension of time
has been granted from the General Manager, C & CS Division or his authorised
representative. All cable, conduit, MDF records and associated services records shall be
updated within one month from actual date of removal. A comment field shall be recorded
in the history of records or drawings.
10 Historical names
References to previous organisational names (viz “Rail Access Corporation”, “Rail
Infrastructure Corporation”, “Argus Communications” etc or their abbreviations) in
requirements for marking of cables, conduits etc specified in Annexes shall be replaced
by “RailCorp”.
11 Documentation
All cabling and cable route construction works shall be recorded in accordance with
SPM 0073.

RAILCORP - Telecommunications - Outdoor - Cabling - Standard

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RAILCORP - Telecommunications - Outdoor - Cabling - Standard

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Engineering Standard

Issued July 2011

Owner: Chief Engineer, Telecommunications

Approved J Byron Authorised J Byron

UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED Page 1 of 18

Summary of changes from previous version

8 Pit and pipe cable route construction.................................................................................14

It applies to all new RailCorp Telecommunications outdoor cabling.

2 Scope and application

3.1 Australian standards

3.2 International standards

3.3 RailCorp documents

3.4 RailCorp drawings

4 Terms and definitions

GST Galvanised Steel Troughing

RailCorp Cable Identification Number to be issued as per SPM 0073.

Route Asset or containment to support or carry cables.

ULX Under Line Crossings

URX Under Road Crossings

5 Cables and cabling works - general

AS/ACIF S009 and AS/ACIF S008

Other AS/ACIF Standards

TMM P001 Copper cable termination,

Other RailCorp standards

Standards Australian Handbooks

5.2 Composite cables

5.3 Optic fibre cable

5.3.1 SMOF fibre specification

5.3.2 Optical fibre cable construction

5.3.3 Optical fibre cables sizes

Route Type Minimum Cores of Fibers

Trunk cable >3km 96F (may require G.655 fibres)*

* Note 1: to be determined by as per TMM C001.

Both station cable and customer cable are access cables.

5.4 Copper communications cable

a) Cable for general outdoor use

b) Fire safe cable used within tunnels and underground stations

This standard does not cover:

• Fire rated cable used for emergency systems in tunnels

5.4.1 Copper cable (outdoor)

– ▪ Conductors of solid annealed copper

The cable shall conform to the requirements of AS/CA S008.

5.4.2 Fire safe copper cable (for tunnels)

– ▪Conductors of solid annealed copper

5.4.3 Cable identification codes

6 Cable route – general

6.1 Compliance to SPG 0705

6.2 Cable route life span

6.3 Cable route construction types

a) Pit and conduit,

Where used GLT sections:

b) Shall not be used in vehicle accessible areas

6.5 Tracing of cable route location

• SPG 0705 metallic trace wire except in Hazardous EPR zone.

6.6 Aerial cable

6.7 Separation from other services

Refer to drawings: MET-OT0048, MET-OT0049, MET-OT0050 and MET-OT0051.

6.7.1 Separation from HV - additional requirements

Refer to drawings: MET-OT0048, MET-OT0049, MET-OT0050 and MET-OT0051.

6.8 Diverse cable routes

6.8.1 Diversity via different rail line (ring diversity)

This is the preferred diversity option.

6.8.2 Diversity via path off the rail corridor