Project Procedure CONTINUOUS COUNTERPOISE ON POLES 07/25/2011 PAGE 1 OF 5 1.0 PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to provide guidance and direction for the installation of continuous counterpoise on poles to improve structure footing resistance. Pole footing resistance measurements shall be taken on each pole prior to making counterpoise connections. 2.0 SCOPE The scope of this procedure applies to Pike construction activities. This procedure may also be applied to Contractors when invoked by Contract documents. 3.0 REFERENCES 3.1 Project Procedure P-1-4, Quality Control Functions and Responsibilities (Construction Site) 3.2 Project Procedure P-1-5, Quality Control Personnel Assignments (Construction Site) 4.0 DEFINITIONS None 5.0 RESPONSIBILITIES Personnel responsibilities are as defined in the procedures P-1-4, Quality Control Functions and Responsibilities (Reference 3.1), and P-1-5, Quality Control Personnel Assignments (Reference 3.2). 6.0 PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLING CONTINUOUS COUNTERPOISE ON POLES 6.1 Notify the underground locating service if underground facilities cannot be located. 6.2 Load reel of wire into the wire cart using the sideloader. 6.2.1 The sideloader transports wire to the job site. 6.3 Transport the wire and cart to the counterpoise site using a bulldozer.
PAGE 2 OF 5 6.4 Set up the wire cart facing the desired direction of pull and 6 to 8 from the centerline of the pole using a bulldozer. See Attachment 8.1, Excavation and Connection Processes, for details. 6.5 If counterpoise will be plowed in two directions, excavate a 4 deep hole for splicing using a backhoe. Note: Depending on terrain it may be necessary to set up reel so wire can be pulled in both directions, e.g., pull from the top of the hill to valleys in both direction. See Attachment 8.3, Counterpoise Installation in Two Directions, for an example. Set wire cart up close enough to pole so wire cart ground lead can be connected to down pole ground. 6.6 Place the rubber mat on the ground under the wire cart brake. 6.6.1 Place a rubber blanket on the rubber mat for the technician to stand on. 6.7 Loosen the wire cart brake. 6.8 Attach the ground lead from the wire cart to the closest pole ground and tighten the ground clamp. 6.9 Feed the wire off the wire cart through the wire guide. 6.9.1 Feed enough wire off the wire cart to reach and attach to the plow foot. 6.9.2 Cut pasture fences if necessary, but repair the before leaving. See Paragraph 6.47. 6.9.3 If the distance is impeded by an obstruction, do not plow in less than 75 of counterpoise. 6.10 Attach rolling ground to the counterpoise wire. 6.11 Connect rolling ground to the wire cart with a rope. 6.12 Make a dry run (a plowing trench without wire), using a bulldozer if necessary, parallel to overhead conductor and as close to the poles as possible for the entire length of the pull. 6.12.1 A dry run may be necessary due to power of equipment or terrain. 6.13 Return to the wire cart with the bulldozer after completing a dry run. 6.14 Feed wire up through bottom and second eye of plow foot and then into come-along. 6.14.1 Wire Cart Attendant shall wear rubber gloves and stand on rubber blanket when tending wire cart.
PAGE 3 OF 5 6.15 Start to plow in counterpoise wire. 6.16 Lower plow foot to the desired depth (30 for uncultivated land and 36 for cultivate land). 6.17 Adjust brake on the wire cart until the wire pays out without backlash. Note: Bulldozer Operator must have a radio with a headset and be prepared to stop if a joint in the wire hangs on the reel, if rolling ground occurs, or if wire must be spliced. 6.18 Plow the counterpoise wire into the trench as far as terrain, obstruction, or wire length will allow. See Attachment 8.3, Counterpoise Installation in Two Directions, for details. Note: If the distance of the pull is impeded by an obstruction, do not plow in less than 75 of counterpoise. 6.19 Bulldozer Operator stops at the end of the pull and backs up enough to remove tension from the wire. 6.20 Bulldozer Operator releases the come-along. 6.21 Bulldozer Operator notifies the Wire Cart Attendant to lock the reel brake. 6.22 Wire Cart Attendant locks the reel brake and notifies Bulldozer Operator. 6.23 Bulldozer Operator moves the bulldozer forward until the wire is free from the plow foot. 6.24 Bulldozer Operator notifies Wire Cart Attendant when the wire clears the plow. 6.25 Wearing rubber gloves, Wire Cart Attendant cuts the wire with ratchet bolt cutters. Note: If plowing counterpoise wire in two directions, cut the wire long enough to connect both leads together. See Attachment 8.1, Excavation and Connection Processes, for details. 6.26 Bulldozer Operator returns to the wire cart, using the weight of the bulldozer to compact earth disturbed by the plow. 6.27 Roll up running ground lead on the wire cart. 6.28 Remove the wire cart ground from the pole ground and roll up on the wire cart. 6.29 Bulldozer operator relocates wire cart to next counterpoise installation. 6.30 If wire must be plowed in opposite direction, use bulldozer to turn wire cart around and repeat Paragraphs 6.8 through 6.29. 6.31 Set up the backhoe over the top of the buried counterpoise adjacent to the pole. See Attachment 8.1, Excavation and Connection Processes, for details.
PAGE 4 OF 5 6.32 Excavate a 3 to 4 deep hole using backhoe to expose the counterpoise wire. 6.33 Extend a trench over to the down pole ground wire on the pole. 6.33.1 Do not damage the pole during excavation. Trench should be a minimum of 12 deep at the pole and slope away from the pole to reduce moisture. 6.33.2 Excavations deeper than 5 must have shoring installed. 6.34 Remove soil from around the down pole ground to a depth of 12 using a shovel. See Attachments 8.1, Excavation and Connection Processes, and 8.2, Counterpoise Connection to Steel Pole, for details. 6.35 Clean the down pole ground (wooden or concrete poles only) and counterpoise using a steel brush. 6.36 Install personal protective grounds. 6.37 Connect two counterpoise wires together in excavation using a galvanized three boltparallel groove clamp. 6.38 Cut a piece of 5/16 copperweld wire to extend from the down pole ground or the ground flange to the counterpoise conductor. 6.39 Install a terminal lug connector on the light duty steel pole, and insert 5/16 copperweld wire into the connector and tighten. See Attachment 8.2, Counterpoise Connection to Steel Pole, for more details. 6.40 Install a wire-to-wire grounding clamp onto counterpoise, and insert 5/16 copperweld wire from the pole and tighten. 6.41 Wearing rubber gloves, remove the ground(s) from the counterpoise and pole. 6.42 Backfill excavations with a backhoe or a bulldozer, and compact the soil by moving a backhoe back and forth across the backfill. 6.43 Repeat Paragraphs 6.33 through 6.44 for counterpoise connections in other excavations. See Attachment 8.1, Excavation and Connection Processes, for details. Note: A pole footing resistance measurement shall be taken on initial counterpoise connection only. No measurements are required on additional poles in pull. 6.44 Seed all areas disturbed by the excavations. 6.44.1 Use wildlife mix seed for general open right of way. Use Fescue seed for pasture and residential lands. Do not sow seed on cultivated lands. 6.45 Repair any fences.
PAGE 5 OF 5 7.0 DATA COLLECTION 7.1 Data collection forms are always required with this procedure. 7.1.1 See QF-6.5-2-A, Counterpoise Installation Record for Poles (see Form 9.1). 8.0 ATTACHMENTS 8.1 Excavation and Connection Processes 8.2 Counterpoise Connection to Steel Pole 8.3 Counterpoise Installation in Two Directions 9.0 FORMS 9.1 Quality Form QF-6.5-2-A, Counterpoise Installation Record for Poles 10.0 REVISIONS AND APPROVALS Revision Level Revision Date Revision Description Department Head (Approver) 0 09/10/2010 Original Issue Audie Simmons 1 07/25/2011 Updated logo and company name N/A
ATTACHMENT 8.1 EXCAVATION AND CONNECTION PROCESSES PAGE 1 OF 1
ATTACHMENT 8.2 COUNTERPOISE CONNECTION TO STEEL POLE PAGE 1 OF 1 STEEL POLE Counterpoise Material Item Quantity Description 2 lbs. Wire, Copperweld, 5/16 1 Clamp, Grounding, Wire-to-Wire 1 Connector, Terminal Lug 1 Washer, Round 9/16 Hole
ATTACHMENT 8.3 COUNTERPOISE INSTALLATION IN TWO DIRECTIONS PAGE 1 OF 1
FORM 9.1 PAGE 1 OF 3 COUNTERPOISE INSTALLATION RECORD FOR POLES Project: Client: Data Sheet/Rev: Description: Meter Type Used (Check one) Note: To be completed for each structure Job Number: Location: Date: Recorded By: Contractor: Megger Structure Number: Clamp-on Smart Meter Structure Type: Notes: 1. If the initial ground reading is less than 15 ohms, no additional action is required. 2. If the initial ground resistance reading is greater than 15 ohms, install 200 ft. runs of counterpoise. 3. After installing a length of counterpoise, if the next ground resistance reading does not drop by 10 ohms or greater STOP. 4. If counterpoise is required, but it cannot be installed due to site conditions, skip to Step 10. List # Units Installed Step 1 2 3 Description Record original ground reading made. Refer to the notes above. If additional counterpoise is required, go to Step 2. Install 5/16 copperweld counterpoise and connect to the structure. Make a new TG ground reading and record. If the difference between his reading and the last reading is less than 10 ohms STOP. If the new reading is less than 15 ohms STOP. If the new read is greater than 15 ohms, continue to Step 4. TG Reading CP 100 4 Install 5/16 copperweld counterpoise and connect to the structure. Quality Form QF-6.5-2-A, Rev. 1 Last Revised: 07/25/2011 Project Procedure P-6.5-2 Page 1 of 3
FORM 9.1 PAGE 2 OF 3 COUNTERPOISE INSTALLATION RECORD FOR POLES Project: Client: Data Sheet/Rev: Description: Step 5 Description Job Number: Location: Date: Make a new TG ground reading and record. If the difference between this reading and the last reading is less than 10 ohms STOP. If the new reading is less than 15 ohms STOP. If new reading is greater than 15 ohms, continue to Step 6. List TG Reading # Units Installed CP 100 6 7 Install 5/16 copperweld counterpoise and connect to the structure. Make a new TG ground reading and record. If the difference between this reading and the last reading is less than 10 ohms STOP. If the new reading is less than 15 ohms STOP. If the new reading is greater than 15 ohms, continue to Step 8. Install 5/16 copperweld counterpoise and connect to the 8 structure. 9 Make new TG ground reading and record. If counterpoise cannot be installed, install 4 double ground rods 10 and tie together with counterpoise. Repeat Step 9. Quality Form QF-6.5-2-A, Rev. 1 Last Revised: 07/25/2011 Project Procedure P-6.5-2 Page 2 of 3
FORM 9.1 PAGE 3 OF 3 COUNTERPOISE INSTALLATION RECORD FOR POLES Project: Client: Data Sheet/Rev: Description: Job Number: Location: Date: Draw as-built below showing counterpoise installed and step number. R/W Edge Higher Number Structure Lower Number Remarks: R/W Edge Signature Print Name Date Performed By: Approved By: Accepted By: Quality Form QF-6.5-2-A, Rev. 1 Last Revised: 07/25/2011 Project Procedure P-6.5-2 Page 3 of 3