Aerial Telecommunications Construction: Pole Attachments, Strand, and Lashing

In telecommunications, aerial construction plays a pivotal role in ensuring reliable connectivity. From urban centers to remote regions, the deployment of robust infrastructure is essential for facilitating seamless communication networks. Within this realm, the intricacies of pole attachments, strand, and lashing techniques emerge as critical components in constructing resilient aerial telecommunications networks.

Pole Attachments: Building the Backbone of Connectivity

Pole attachments serve as the backbone of aerial telecommunications infrastructure, providing support for cables and facilitating their distribution across vast landscapes. In urban environments, where space is at a premium, leveraging existing utility poles for telecommunications purposes becomes imperative. However, this integration necessitates meticulous planning and adherence to regulatory guidelines to ensure safety and efficiency.

Initiating attachment to existing poles commences with securing an agreement with the pole owner, marking the inception of a collaborative endeavor. Subsequently, a formal request for attachment is generated, accompanied by a thorough inspection of the pole. This comprehensive assessment encompasses key characteristics such as size, age, class, and pole number, ensuring meticulous documentation of the pole's attributes.

The inspection entails cataloging all existing attachments on the pole and their respective locations. Once the data collection phase concludes, it is submitted to the pole owner's engineering department for evaluation and formulation of a tailored attachment and "make ready" prescription. This prescription may entail tasks such as repositioning existing communication lines or upgrading the pole to accommodate additional infrastructure.

Upon completion of the engineering process and the execution of necessary make ready measures, the pole owner issues a right to attach (RTA), complete with a specification for the point of attachment (POA). With all regulatory and logistical requirements fulfilled, the construction phase commences, involving the installation of strand and lashing for cable deployment.

Understanding Strand and Lashing: Ensuring Structural Integrity

Strand and lashing techniques play a pivotal role in securing telecommunications cables to utility poles, guaranteeing their structural integrity amidst various environmental conditions. Strand, typically composed of high-strength materials such as steel, forms the framework upon which cables are secured. Its resilience against tension and environmental stressors ensures the longevity of aerial networks. The most Common strands are 6.6M and 10M EHS (extra high strength)

?" EHS 6.6M Galvanized Strand (Guy or Messenger Wire) Break Strength [lb]: 6650

5/16" Class A 10M EHS Galvanized Strand (Guy or Messenger Wire) Break Strength [lb]: 11,200

Lashing, on the other hand, involves the meticulous binding of cables to the strand using specialized techniques and materials. This process demands precision and expertise to withstand the rigors of weather, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical stress. It involves securing a messenger wire to a fiber optic cable using a two external wires, typically stainless steel, using a lasher to ensure stability and reliability.

Lashing machines (lashers) are engineered to efficiently bind the cable and strand together by spinning typically two small diameter wire around them. The size of the lashing machine corresponds to the outer diameter of the cable, ensuring a precise and secure attachment.

In the telecom industry, stainless steel lashing wire is the preferred choice for its durability and resistance to environmental factors. Various types of lashing wire clamps and spacers, including temporary and permanent options, are utilized to secure cables to strands effectively. These clamping techniques are guided by industry standards like the RUS specifications to ensure uniformity and reliability across installations

.At each pole, the lashing process involves securing the cable and strand, creating a "drip loop" around the pole for added stability. Permanent clamping of the lashing wire is attached to a "bug nut" in a very specific way to maintain the integrity of the installation. This meticulous approach is repeated across each pole line span until the entire run is securely lashed and properly sagged, ensuring a robust and reliable aerial telecommunications infrastructure.

For more on this, there are many resources including the RUS guidelines. https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/UTP_Bulletins_1753F-152.pdf

Embracing Innovation for Enhanced Connectivity

Aerial construction represents a cornerstone of telecommunications construction, offering a versatile and cost-effective approach to network deployment. By leveraging pole attachments, strand, and lashing, network operators can quickly deploy telecommunications infrastructure.

In telecommunications, aerial construction stands as a key component of network deployment. Through meticulous attention to pole attachments, strand, and lashing techniques, stakeholders can construct robust networks capable of meeting the burgeoning demands of the digital age.