Lineman Technical Standards and Specifications 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the standard frequency of the US electrical grid as specified by ANSI C84.1?
- 50 Hz
- 60 Hz (Correct answer)
- 400 Hz
- 120 Hz
Correct answer: 60 Hz
ANSI C84.1 specifies that the nominal frequency of the US electrical supply system is 60 Hz.
Question 2: Under NESC Section 23, what is the required burial depth for a 15 kV underground cable in a non-traffic area?
- 12 inches
- 18 inches
- 24 inches (Correct answer)
- 36 inches
Correct answer: 24 inches
NESC requires a minimum burial depth of 24 inches for cables rated 0–22 kV in non-traffic areas.
Question 3: Which specification standard defines the requirements for porcelain and glass insulators used on distribution lines?
- ASTM C29
- ANSI C29.2 (Correct answer)
- IEEE 1048
- NEMA RN-1
Correct answer: ANSI C29.2
ANSI C29.2 defines the dimensional and electrical requirements for wet-process porcelain and toughened glass suspension insulators.
Question 4: What is the maximum allowable voltage deviation from nominal per ANSI C84.1 Range A at the point of delivery to a customer?
- ±3%
- ±5% (Correct answer)
- ±8%
- ±10%
Correct answer: ±5%
ANSI C84.1 Range A specifies that steady-state voltage at the customer delivery point should remain within ±5% of nominal.
Question 5: When a lineman uses a hot stick (live-line tool), what ASTM standard governs its dielectric testing?
- ASTM F711 (Correct answer)
- ASTM D1676
- ASTM B8
- ASTM F496
Correct answer: ASTM F711
ASTM F711 covers the standard specification for fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) rod and tube used in live-line tools.
Question 6: In IEEE Std 80, what determines the tolerable step and touch voltage limits for a grounding system design?
- Soil resistivity only
- Body weight, shock duration, and soil resistivity (Correct answer)
- Conductor size and fault current only
- System voltage and pole spacing
Correct answer: Body weight, shock duration, and soil resistivity
IEEE Std 80 calculates tolerable step and touch voltages based on body weight, fault clearing time, and soil surface resistivity.
Question 7: Which document provides the standard for qualifying the design of personal protective grounding equipment used by linemen?
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.137
- ASTM F855 (Correct answer)
- IEEE 1048
- NESC Rule 441
Correct answer: ASTM F855
ASTM F855 is the standard specification for temporary protective grounds (personal protective grounding cables) used during electrical utility work.
Lineman Technical Standards and Specifications 3
What is the standard frequency of the US electrical grid as specified by ANSI C84.1?