RUS BULLETIN 1724E-200

DESIGN MANUAL FOR

HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES

ELECTRIC STAFF DIVISION

RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents

U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402-9325
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service

RUS BULLETIN 1724E-200

SUBJECT: Design Manual for High Voltage Transmission Lines

TO: All Electric Borrowers, Consulting Engineers and

RUS Electric Staff

EFFECTIVE DATE: Date of Approval

OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST: Transmission Branch, Electric Staff Division

FILING INSTRUCTIONS: This bulletin replaces REA Bulletin 1724E-200, "Design

Manual for High Voltage Transmission Lines," revised September 1992.

AVAILABILITY: This bulletin can be accessed via the Internet at

http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric/bulletins.htm
PURPOSE: This guide publication is a reference containing fundamental engineering
guidelines and basic recommendations on structural and electrical aspects of transmission
line design, as well as explanations and illustrations. The many cross-references and
examples should be of great benefit to engineers performing design work for RUS
borrower transmission lines. The guide should be particularly helpful to relatively
inexperienced engineers beginning their careers in transmission line design.

CONTRIBUTORS: The following current and former members of the Transmission

Subcommittee of the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Engineering Committee of
NRECA

Ballard, Dominic, East Kentucky Power Coop., Winchester, KY

Burch, John, Florida Keys Electric Coop., Tavernier, FL
Heald, Donald, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, Washington, DC
Lukkarila, Charles, Great River Energy, Elk River, MN
McCall, Charles, Georgia Transmission Company, Tucker, GA
Mundorff, Steve, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Inc., Denver, CO
Nicholson, Norris, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, Washington, DC
Oldham, Robert, Southern Maryland Electric Coop., Hughesville, MD
Saint, Robert, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Washington, DC
Smith, Art, Burns and McDonnell Engineering Co., Atlanta, GA
Turner, David, Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin, TX
Twitty, John, Alabama Electric Coop., Andalusia, AL

_____________________________________ 09/23/2004
James R. Newby Date
Assistant Administrator
Electric Program
 Bulletin 1724E-200
Page i
TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL
CHAPTER 2 - TRANSMISSION LINE DOCUMENTATION
CHAPTER 3 - TRANSMISSION LINE LOCATION, ENGINEERING SURVEY AND
RIGHT-OF-WAY ACTIVITIES
CHAPTER 4 - CLEARANCES TO GROUND, TO OBJECTS UNDER THE LINE AND
AT CROSSINGS
CHAPTER 5 - HORIZONTAL CLEARANCES FROM LINE CONDUCTORS
TO OBJECTS AND RIGHT-OF-WAY WIDTH
CHAPTER 6 - CLEARANCES BETWEEN CONDUCTORS AND BETWEEN
CONDUCTORS AND OVERHEAD GROUND WIRES

CHAPTER 7 - INSULATOR SWING AND CLEARANCES OF CONDUCTORS

FROM SUPPORTING STRUCTURES
CHAPTER 8 - INSULATION AND INSULATORS
CHAPTER 9 - CONDUCTORS AND OVERHEAD GROUND WIRES
CHAPTER 10 - PLAN-PROFILE DRAWINGS
CHAPTER 11 - LOADINGS AND OVERLOAD FACTORS
CHAPTER 12 - FOUNDATION STABILITY OF DIRECT-EMBEDDED POLES
CHAPTER 13 - STRUCTURES
CHAPTER 14 - GUYED STRUCTURES
CHAPTER 15 - HARDWARE
CHAPTER 16 - UNDERBUILD
APPENDIX A - TRANSMISSION LINE DESIGN DATA SUMMARY SHEET
AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
APPENDIX B - CONDUCTOR TABLES
APPENDIX C - INSULATION TABLES
APPENDIX D - AMPACITY, MVA, SURFACE GRADIENT TABLES
APPENDIX E - WEATHER DATA
Bulletin 1724E-200
Page ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT)
APPENDIX F - POLE DATA
APPENDIX G - CROSSARM DATA
APPENDIX H - MISCELLANEOUS STRUCTURAL DATA
APPENDIX I - RI AND TVI
APPENDIX J - INSULATOR SWING TABLES
APPENDIX K - SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS
APPENDIX L - SELECTED SI-METRIC CONVERSIONS
APPENDIX M- INDEX
INDEX OF BULLETINS: Design, System
Transmission Facilities, Line Manual
ABBREVIATIONS
(See Appendix L for Engineering Symbols and Abbreviations)
AAAC All Aluminum Alloy Conductor
AAC All Aluminum Conductor
AACSR Aluminum Alloy Conductor Steel Reinforced
ACAR Aluminum Conductor Alloy Reinforced
ACSS Steel Supported Aluminum Conductor
ACSR Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced
ACSR/AW Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced/Aluminum Clad Steel Reinforced
ACSR/SD Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced/Self Damping
ACSR/TW Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced/Trapezoidal Wire
ANSI American National Standards Institute
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
AWAC Aluminum Clad Steel, Aluminum Conductor
BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs
BLM Bureau of Land Management
CEQ Council on Environmental Quality
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COE Corps of Engineers
DOE Department of Energy
DOI Department of Interior
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EHV Extra High Voltage
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
EPRI Electric Power Research Institute
Eq. Equation
FAA Federal Aviation Agency
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FHA Federal Highway Administration
FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act
 Bulletin 1724E-200
Page iii
ABBREVIATIONS
(continued from previous page)
(See Appendix L for Engineering Symbols and Abbreviations)
FS Forest Service
FWS Fish and Wildlife Service
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
M&E Mechanical and Electrical
LWCF Land and Water Conservation Fund Act
NEPA National Environmental Protection Act
NESC National Electrical Safety Code
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPS National Park Service
NRCS Natural Resource Conservation Service
OCF Overload Capacity Factor
OHGW Overhead Ground Wire
PL Public Law
RI Radio Interference
REA Rural Electrification Administration
ROW Right-of-Way
RUS Rural Utilities Service
SHPO State Historical Preservation Officers
SML Specified Mechanical Load
SPCC Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure
T2 Twisted Pair Aluminum Conductor
TVI Television Interference
TW Trapezoidal Wire
USC United States Code
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USDI United States Department of Interior
USGS United States Geological Survey

FOREWORD

Numerous references are made to tables, figures, charts, paragraphs, sections, and chapters. Unless
stated otherwise, the tables, figures, charts, etc. referred to are found in this bulletin. When the reference
is not in this bulletin, the document is identified by title and source.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Figures 9-6 and 9-7 of this bulletin are reprinted from IEEE Std 524-1992, “IEEE Guide to the
Installation of Overhead Transmission Line Conductors, Copyright 1992 by IEEE. The IEEE disclaims
any responsibility or liability resulting from the placement and use in the described manner.

Figures 4-2, 4-4, 5-2, 5-5 and 11-1 and the table on reference heights (page 4-3) of this bulletin are
reprinted from IEEE/ANSI C2-2002, National Electrical Safety Code, Copyright 2002 by IEEE. The
IEEE disclaims any responsibility or liability resulting from the placement and use in the described
manner.

Figures 11-2a to 11-2d, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, and Tables E-2 and E-3 of this bulletin are reprinted from
ASCE7-2002, “Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures,” American Society of Civil
Engineers, Copyright 2003. For further information, refer to the complete rest of the manual
(http://www.pubs.asce.org/ASCE7.html?99991330).
Bulletin 1724E-200
Page iv
LIST OF TABLES
Table
Number Table Name Brief Comment Page

3-1 Line Routing Considerations Routing 3-2

3-2 Summary of Potential Major Federal Permits Federal permits 3-6

or Licenses That May Be Required

4-1 RUS Recommended Design Vertical Vertical clearance 4-6

Clearances of Conductors Above Ground,
Roadways, Rails, or Water Surface

4-2 RUS Recommended Design Vertical Vertical clearance 4-8

Clearances from Other Supporting
Structures, Buildings and Other Installations

4-3 RUS Recommended Design Vertical Vertical clearance 4-12

Clearances in Feet Between Conductors
Where the Conductors of One Line Cross
Over the Conductors of Another and Where
the Upper and Lower Conductor Have
Ground Fault Relaying

5-1 RUS Recommended Design Horizontal Horizontal clearance 5-2

Clearances from Other Supporting
Structures, Buildings and Other Installations

5-2 Typical Right-of-Way Widths Right-of-way 5-7

6-1 RUS Recommended Vertical Separation in Vertical separation of 6-3

Feet Between Phases of the Same or conductors
Different Circuits Attached to the Same
Structure

7-1 RUS Recommended Minimum Clearances Clearances for insulator 7-4

in Inches at Conductor to Surface of swing
Structure or Guy Wires

7-2 Insulator Swing Angle Values in Degrees Angles of swing 7-6

8-1 Recommended RUS Insulation Levels at Sea Insulation 8-2
Level (Suspension at Tangent and Small
Angle Structures)
 Bulletin 1724E-200
Page v
LIST OF TABLES
(Continued from previous page)
Table
Number Table Name Brief Comment Page
8-2 Recommended RUS Insulation Levels at Sea Insulation 8-3
Level (Posts at Tangent and Small Angle
Structures)
8-3 Reduced Shielding Angle Values Shield angles 8-5
8-4 Suggested Leakage Distances for Leakage distances 8-10
Contaminated Areas
8-5 Summary of Recommended Insulator Insulator load limits 8-11
Loading Limits
9-1 Recommended Minimum Conductor Sizes Min. conductor sizes 9-5

9-2 Constants to be Added to the Total Constants 9-8

Load on a Wire for NESC District Loads
9-3 Recommended RUS Conductor and Tension and temp. 9-9
Overhead Ground Wire Tension and limits
Temperature Limits
9-4 Direction of Deviation of Sags from Ruling span and sags 9-12
Predicted Values when Actual and Assumed
(Design) Ruling Span Values are
Significantly Different
11-1 NESC Loading Districts Loading Districts 11-2
11-2 Wire Velocity Pressure Exposure Wire kZ 11-3
Coefficient (kZ)

11-3 Wire Gust Response Factor, GRF Wire GRF 11-3

11-4 Combined Factor kZ*GRF for Common RUS Wire kZ*GRF 11-4
Wire Heights
11-5 Structure kZ, GRF , and Combined kZ GRF kZ, and GRF for 11-4
Factor structures
11-6 RUS Recommended Overload Factors and Load factors and 11-11
Strength Factors to be Applied to NESC strength factors
District Loads
Bulletin 1724E-200
Page vi
LIST OF TABLES
(Continued from previous page)
Table
Number Table Name Brief Comment Page
11-7 RUS Recommended Overload Factors and Load factors and 11-12
Strength Factors to be Applied to Extreme strength factors
Wind Loads
12-1 Classification of Soils Based Soil description 12-2
on Field Tests
12-2 Presumptive Allowable Bearing Bearing capacity 12-7
Capacities, ksf
12-3 Suggested Ranges of Presumptive Bearing capacity 12-7
Ultimate Bearing Capacities, psf
13-1 Designated Stresses for Poles Wood characteristics 13-3
13-2 Designated Stresses for Crossarms Wood characteristics 13-3
13-3 Crossbrace Capacities X-brace 13-15
14-1 Application of Overload and Strength Overload factors 14-2
Factors for Guyed Structures (Guys and
Anchors)
14-2 RUS Recommended Minimum Clearances Clearance to guys 14-3
in Inches from Conductor to Surface of
Structure or to Guy Wires
15-1 Strengths for ANSI C135.1 Machine Bolts, Bolt strengths 15-9
Double Arming Bolts and Double End Bolts
15-2 Strengths of ASTM A325 Heat Treated, Bolt strengths 15-11
High Strength Bolts
15-3 Galvanic Table of Various Metals Galvanic table 15-12
16-1 RUS Recommended Minimum Vertical Clearance to 16-3
Clearances to Distribution or underbuild
Communication Underbuild on
Transmission Lines in Feet
C-1 Flashover Data for Porcelain String C-2
5-3/4” x 10” Standard Suspension Insulators
C-2 Flashover Data For Suspension Polymers C-3
(ANSI C29.12-1997)
C-3 Approximate Weights and Lengths of C-4
Insulator Strings Using Standard 5-3/4” x 10”
Suspension Bells with a Ball Hook
 Bulletin 1724E-200
Page vii
LIST OF TABLES
(Continued from previous page)
Table
Number Table Name Brief Comment Page
D-1 Ampacity of ACSR Conductors D-2
D-2 MVA Limits D-3
E-1 Wind Velocities and Pressures E-2
E-2 Conversion Factors for Other Mean E-3
Recurrence Intervals
E-3 Probability of Exceeding Design Wind E-3
Speeds During Reference Period
F-1 Moments (ft-k) at Groundline Due to a 1 psf F-2
Wind on the Pole
F-2 Moment Capacities (ft-k) at Groundline F-3
F-3 Pole Classes F-4
F-4 Pole Moment (ft-k) Reduction to Bolt Holes F-21
for 1000 psi Fiber Stress
F-5 Volumes for Douglas Fir and Southern F-22
Yellow Pine Poles, (cu. ft.)
F-6 Pole Weights for Douglas Fir (Treated) F-22
F-7 Pole Weights for Southern Yellow Pine F-22
(Treated)
G-1 Crossarm Sizes and Moment Capacities G-2
H-1 Properties of Common Sections H-2
H-2 Strengths for Machine Bolts, Double H-4
Arming Bolts, Double End Bolts
H-3 Strengths of ASTM A325 Heat Treated, H-4
High Strength Bolts
H-4 Strength of Guy Strands H-4
I-1 RIV Levels I-2
I-2 Surface Gradient for Typical Designs I-5
J-1 Insulator Swing Values for Standard RUS J-2
Tangent Structures
Bulletin 1724E-200
Page viii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
Number Figure Name Brief Comment Page

4-1 Clearance Situations Covered in This Vertical clearances 4-1

Chapter
4-2 NESC Figure 234-5 Clearance to rail cars 4-4
4-3 Simplified Clearance Envelope Clearance to rail cars 4-5
4-4 Swimming Pool Clearances Vertical clearances for 4-5
swimming pools
5-1 Horizontal Clearance Requirement Horizontal clearances 5-1

5-2 Clearance to Grain Bins, NESC Clearance to grain bins 5-4

Figure 234-4a
5-3 Horizontal Clearance to Grain Bins, Clearance to grain bins 5-4
Conductors at Rest
5-4 Horizontal Clearance To Grain Bins, Clearance to grain bins 5-4
Conductors Displaced by Wind
5-5 NESC Clearance to Grain Bins with Clearance to grain bins 5-5
Portable Loading Equipment
5-6 RUS Simplified Recommendations for Clearance to grain bins 5-5
Clearances to Grain Bins with Portable
Loading Equipment
5-7 A Top View of a Line Showing Total Horizontal clearance 5-6
Horizontal Clearance Requirements
5-8 ROW Width for Single Line of Structures ROW width 5-8
(First Method)
5-9 ROW Width for Single Line of Structures ROW width 5-9
(Second Method)
5-10 Clearance Between Conductors of One Line Clearance between 5-10
to Conductor of Another Line lines
5-11 Clearance Between Conductors of One Line Clearance between 5-11
and Structure of Another lines
6-1 Example of Vertical and Horizontal Separation of 6-1
Separation Values conductors
6-2 Minimum Distance Between Conductors Distance Between 6-6
Conductors
 Bulletin 1724E-200
Page ix
LIST OF FIGURES
(Continued from previous page)
Figure
Number Figure Name Brief Comment Page
6-3 Guide for Preparation of Lissajous Ellipses Galloping ellipses 6-8
6-4 Single Loop Galloping Analysis Galloping 6-9
6-5 Proper Phase Arrangements for Crossarm to Vertical transition of 6-9
Vertical Construction conductors
7-1 Illustration of Structure Insulator Swing Insulator swing 7-3
Angle Limits and Conditions Under Which
They Apply (Excludes Backswing)
7-2 Forward and Backward Swing Angles Insulator swing 7-5
7-3 Typical Insulator Swing Chart for a TH-230 Example swing chart 7-6
Tangent Structure
7-4 Horizontal and Vertical Spans Span definitions 7-7
7-5 Typical Insulator Swing Chart for a Example swing chart 7-8
TH-233 Medium Angle Structure
7-6 Insulator Swing Chart for Example 7-9 Example swing chart 7-11
8-1 A Standard Porcelain Suspension Bell Suspension bell 8-1
8-2 A Typical Porcelain Horizontal Post Horizontal post 8-1
Insulator
8-3 Insulation Derating Factor vs. Altitude in Derating factor 8-3
1,000's of Feet
8-4 Shielding Angle, Pole and Overhead Ground Shielding angle 8-6
Wires
8-5 Contamination Breakdown Process of a Insulator contamination 8-8
Single Porcelain Insulator Unit
9-1 Typical ACSR Strandings ACSR conductor 9-1
9-2 1350 Aluminum Conductor Strandings 1350 conductor 9-2
9-3 Typical ACAR Strandings ACAR conductor 9-3
9-4 Typical ACSR/SD Strandings ACSR/SD conductor 9-3
9-5 Results of a Typical Economical Conductor Economic conductor 9-6
Analysis - 230 kV, 795 vs. 954 vs. 1272 analysis
kcmil ACSR
Bulletin 1724E-200
Page x
LIST OF FIGURES
(Continued from previous page)
Figure
Number Figure Name Brief Comment Page
9-6 Nomograph for Determining Level Span Level span equivalents 9-16
Equivalents of Non-Level Spans
9-7 Analysis for Application of Clipping Offsets Offset clipping 9-19
9-8 Line Section for Example 9-1 Example of ruling span 9-20
10-1 Sample of a Plan and Profile P&P sample 10-2
10-2 Conventional Symbols for Plan-Profile Symbols 10-3
10-3 Specimen Sag Template for Conductor Sag template 10-6
10-4 Application of Sag Template - Level Ground Level ground span 10-9
Span.
10-5 Check for Uplift Uplift 10-11
10-6 Sag Low Point, Vertical Spans and Uplift Vertical spans and 10-12
uplift
10-7 Sample Check List for Review of Plan and Checklist 10-15
Profile
11-1 NESC Loading Districts NESC districts 11-1
11-2a Extreme Wind Speed in Miles per Hour at Western states extreme 11-5
33 Ft. Above Ground (50-Year Mean wind loads
Recurrence Interval)
11-2b Extreme Wind Speed in Miles per Hour At Midwest and Eastern 11-6
33 Ft. Above Ground (50-Year Mean states extreme wind
Recurrence Interval) loads
11-2c, Extreme Wind Speed in Miles per Hour at Northeast and 11-7
11-2d 33 Ft. Above Ground (50-Year Mean Southeast extreme
Recurrence Interval) wind loads
12-1 Embedment Depths in Poor Soil Embedment depths 12-3
12-2 Embedment Depths in Average Soil Embedment depths 12-4
12-3 Embedment Depths in Good Soil Embedment depths 12-4
12-4 Embedment Chart for Medium Dry Sand Embedment depths 12-5
RUS Bulletin 1724e-205 “Embedment
Depths for Concrete and Steel Poles”
 Bulletin 1724E-200
Page xi
LIST OF FIGURES
(Continued from previous page)
Figure
Number Figure Name Brief Comment Page
13-1 Selection of Level Ground Span Level ground span 13-2
13-2 Structure Cost per Mile Related to Pole Economic pole height 13-2
Height

13-3 TS Type Structure 13-5

13-4 TSS-1 Structure 13-7

13-5 Application of Forces (Heavy Loading) 13-7
13-6 TSZ-1 Pole Top Assembly 13-10

13-7 TSZ-1 Example 13-10

13-8 HS vs. VS for TSZ-1 13-10
13-9 TU-1 Structure 13-11
13-9a Davit Arm 13-11
13-10 VS vs. HS for TUS-1 Structure of 13-12
Example 13-3
13-11 Assumed H-Frame Behavior H-frame behavior 13-13
13-12 Location of Point of Contraflexure Pt. of contraflexure 13-13
13-13 Crossbrace X-brace 13-14
13-14 Pole Top Bracing Arrangements Pole top for H-frames 13-15
13-15 Pole Top Assembly with Two Outside Two outside braces 13-16
Braces
13-16 Pole Top Assembly with Inside Braces Inside braces 13-17
13-17 Structure 1 13-19
13-18 Structure 2 13-20
13-19 Structure 3 13-21
13-20 Structure 4 13-21
13-21 Structure 5 13-22
13-22 Structure 6 13-22
Bulletin 1724E-200
Page xii
LIST OF FIGURES
(Continued from previous page)
Figure
Number Figure Name Brief Comment Page
13-23 Example of an H-Frame 13-23
14-1 Deadend Structure 14-1
14-2 Comparison of Rods to Show Stability Stability concept 14-4
Concept
14-3 Effective Unbraced Length for Various End Unbraced lengths 14-5
Conditions
14-4 End Conditions for Bisector and In-Line End conditions for 14-7
Guyed Structures guyed poles
14-5 Axial Loads Induced in a Pole 14-8
14-6 Representation of Axial Loads and Double 14-8
Accounting Loads
15-1 Suspension Clamp with Clevis or Ball and 15-1
Socket Type of Connection
15-2 Post Type Insulator with Straight Line 15-2
Trunion Clamps
15-3 Top Groove Hand Tie 15-2
15-4a Typical Bolted Deadend Clamp 15-3
15-4b Typical Compression Deadend 15-3
15-5 Suspension Insulators 15-5
15-6 Different Types of Hooks 15-5
15-7 Various Types of Ball and Clevis “Y” 15-5
Connections
15-8 Anchor Shackle; Chain Shackle 15-5
15-9 Armor Rods Used with Suspension 15-6
Insulators
15-10a Cushioned Suspension Unit 15-6
15-10b Double Cushioned Suspension (for Line 15-6
Angles Greater than 30o)
 Bulletin 1724E-200
Page xiii
LIST OF FIGURES
(Continued from previous page)
Figure
Number Figure Name Brief Comment Page
15-11 Typical Suspension Damper 15-7
15-12 Spiral Vibration Damper for Small 15-7
Conductors
15-13 Disc Weights, Ball Weights 15-8
15-14 Fasteners 15-9
15-15 Lag Screw 15-9
15-16 Grid Gains 15-10
15-17 Spacer Fitting, Reinforcing Plate 15-10
and Gain Plate
15-18 Small Angle Structure with Swing Angle 15-11
Brackets
16-1 Horizontal Separation Requirements 16-2
Between Transmission and Underbuild
16-2 Vertical Separation Requirements at 16-2
Structure for Underbuild
16-3 Transference of the Distribution Circuit to a 16-5
Separate Pole at a Large Angle
16-4 Use of a Separate Pole to Mount a 16-5
Distribution Transformer
16-5 Guying Distribution Underbuild 16-5
E-1, E-2, Uniform Ice Thickness Due to Freezing E-4 to
E-3, E-4 Rain With Concurrent 3-Second Gust Wind E-7
Speeds (50 yr. mean recurrence)
E-5 Isokeraunic Levels for the United States E-8
G-1 Crossarm Loading Chart-Maximum G-3
Permitted Vertical Loads of Various Sizes of
Douglas Fir Crossarms
H-1 Curve for Locating Plane of Contraflexure H-3
in X-Braced H-Frame Structures