Phone lines...

Yeah law enforcement people from all levels show up pretty quik for that party lol

 

If your state is still at 14 foot they are out of compliance with the most recent National Electric Code, wireline height requirements are specified on a Federal standard, just as is all the other safety and installation codes for electrical work. Per the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) the NEC has been adopted by all 50 states. For more info on the NEC check out the link below.
http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-stand...list-of-codes-and-standards?mode=code&code=70

 

That applies to new lines. Just like any building code, you don't have to go back and update all existing stuff to meet new guide lines.

 

NEC overhead line clearances have been the same since at least the late 80's or early 90's, I can dig up a old copy of the NEC from when I was a local 81 IBEW apprentice in 1990 if you like.

 

Well ya. Just like any building code. No different than if someone was to add an addition to their house built in 1950 or replace the septic tank, or any other number of things.

 

I'll take your word for it. The exact date of the enactment of current code doesn't matter. What does matter is more of this country was built before that date than has been built or upgraded after that date. With that in mind, drivers need to be very careful of over head cables. It's really no different than watching out for low underpasses in old cities like chicago where the streets were built when trucking was done with model t fords.

 

Amen, always know and watch your overhead, excellent advice. Us east coast guys take for granted things will be low and tight, when I was in ABQ NM it was wonderful to have no real overhead concerns.

 

You seem to know what you are writing about. Still tons and tons of alleys and side roads that are impossible to pull in or back into without taking down some kind of utility line. I should take some pics. One road, the line was so low that it was just slightly higher than the top of my window. I had to back out of that alley or that line would have been gone.

 

Out on my road a telco line blew down, it had been a bit close already, was now just above car height. We put it up in a pole splinter so cars could drive under it without the driver wondering. When the telco came out they put it just high enough for UPS to get under it. First person to bring a moving truck out here is going to bag it.

I'm noticing with these outsourced companies that no one cares about standards. By the time it goes wrong the person who put it up will be outsourced to another company.