TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0

SCOPE

2.0

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

3.0

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR CABLE REEL HANDLING

4.0

STORAGE SITES

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 2 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 02-01:

Reel Handling-Lifting

FIGURE 02-02:

Reel Handling Vehicular Transportation

FIGURE 02-03:

Typical Oil Pressure Versus Temperature Curves for Winter

FIGURE 02-04:

Typical Oil Pressure Versus Temperature Curves for Summer

FIGURE 02-05:

Oil Provision in LPOF: Panel Detail

FIGURE 02-06:

Oil Provision in LPOF Cable Expulsion Test Panel

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 3 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

1.0

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

SCOPE
This standard establishes the general requirements and guidelines for handling and
storage of XLPE or LPOF cable reels.

2.0

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
2.1

Cable reels shall be stored and maintained in a proper manner. Cable reels
shall be shipped with adequate physical protection to ensure that they can
be stored in an outdoor environment for the period of time between arrival
and installation.

2.2

All shipping reels for LPOF, EHV & HV cables shall be made of steel.
Reels for MV cables shall be made of steel or wood. Steel strapped
wooden lagging is required in all cases. The LPOF cable reels will include
a shipping/storage oil pressurization system for the testing and maintaining
of proper oil pressure on the stored cable.

2.3

LPOF cables, when prepared for shipment shall be subjected to expulsion

test to check the entrapped gas as per AEIC CS4. Figure 02-06 shows the
expulsion test panel.

2.4

When the LPOF cables are completed and ready for shipment, samples of
oil shall be taken from each length of cable as per AEIC CS4 to determine
the dielectric strength of oil samples.

2.5

The handling of cable reels during initial receiving, storage and

transportation to job site shall be performed in a manner, which will ensure
that no damage will occur to the cable reels or cables.

2.6

The selection and use of the proper equipment and tools used in cable reel
handling is essential. A thorough knowledge of the capabilities of
equipment, cable reels weight and physical dimensions are required prior
to moving or loading the cable reels.

2.7

For XLPE cables in reels, the inner end and the outer end shall be sealed
with heat shrinkable end cap after attaching a pulling eye to the conductor.
This sealing method will prevent ingress of moisture into the cable.

2.8

Care on reel deterioration should be taken if cable are to be stored for

extended period. Wooden reels shall be stored on concrete base or on
raised wooden stringers placed under the reel flanges.

2.9

Cable reels shall be stored in an upright position only. Laying cable reels
on their flat sides are not allowed.

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 4 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

3.0

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR CABLE REEL HANDLING

3.1

When lifting cable reels by crane, a steel shaft of proper length and
diameter shall be placed through the reel drum spindle. The steel shaft
shall be threaded at both ends and provided with circular plates and
retaining nuts to prevent the reel from falling in case of accidental tilt
during the lifting process.
A spreader bar shall be used with a lifting wire rope sling or chain. The
wire rope sling or chain used shall be in good mechanical condition and
capable of lifting the cable and reel weight. This lifting method is
indicated in Figure 02-01 and is required for all cable reel lifting to prevent
damage to the reel drum, lagging or cable itself. This method of lifting also
prevents flanges from being pressed together. Due to size and weight of
reels filled with high voltage power cables, only lifting by crane shall be
used.

3.2

When transporting cable reels on flat cars or cable dollies, the cable reels
shall be properly chocked and chained down. The cable reels are to be
chained by passing two chains through the reel spindle hole and securing
to a steel member of the transporter. See Figure 02-02 for an illustration.
Under no circumstances shall cable reels be dropped from the delivery
vehicle to the ground.
When rolling a cable reel from one location to another, care shall be taken
to remove any objects on the surface area that might contact the cable
surface. The marked rolling direction must be followed to prevent the
cable layers from becoming loose.

3.3

In cases of broken battens, the broken or damaged battens shall be

replaced immediately after ascertaining that the cable is not damaged by
the broken battens.

3.4

If nailing is required on the cable reel, the nails to be used shall be shorter
than the flange thickness to avoid damage to the cable.

3.5

The handling of cable reels on receipt for storage and transportation to the
work site shall be performed properly to avoid damage to the cable reels.

3.6

Prior to moving or loading the cable reels, thorough knowledge and

selection of proper equipment and tools for handling shall be made.

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 5 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

3.7

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

Conductors and Ground Wire Handling

Conductors and ground wires are usually shipped on steel or wood reels.
These can be unloaded or loaded by using a steel axle and a sling made of
steel wire rope attached to a spreader bar. The spreader bar holds the sling
on each side of the reel and prevents damage to the conductor reel and
possible damage to the conductors or ground wires.

4.0

STORAGE SITES
4.1

4.2

The criteria for selecting the cable reel storage site is the same for both
XLPE and LPOF cables. However, additional consideration is given for
LPOF cable reels due to their oil pressurization system. The following are
the factors to be considered in the selection of site and storage:
4.1.1

The cable storage site shall be an elevated flat surface and must
not be reached by flood or sea water.

4.1.2

Reels shall be stored on a solid support or hard and regular

surface that will not allow the flanges to sink into the earth.

4.1.3

Storage areas shall be free of construction equipment, flying or

falling objects, chemical or petroleum spill or sprays, open fires
or other heat sources and far from heavy vibration areas.

4.1.4

The conductor or ground wire in reel shall be protected by wood

lagging to prevent damage. The conductor reels are set or stored
on ground blocking. It is advisable to store the different types of
conductors in separate locations. Blocking shall be used to
prevent movement or rolling of reels. When the conductor or
ground wire is not protected by wood lagging, in no case, shall
the blocking touch the conductors or ground wire.

The primary considerations which form the basis for storage site location
particularly for LPOF cables are listed below:
4.2.1

Vulnerability to External Damage

Precautions shall be taken to safeguard cable reels from accidental
damage caused by mechanical equipment operating in the
vicinity. Reels shall be stored in a location with restricted access
to authorized personnel only. Location of the cable reel storage
shall be sufficiently away from energized switchyard equipment
in order to avoid consequential damage in case of adjacent oil
filled equipment failure during operation.

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 6 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

4.2.2

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

Environmental Temperature Range

One of the essential requirements governing all operations in the
storage of oil filled cable is the consideration that the oil in the
cable must be kept under positive pressure at all times in order to
eliminate possibility of ingress of air or moisture due to a leak in
the cable sheath or piping. During shipment and storage, it is
inevitable that changes in the temperature will occur which will
result in expansion and contraction of the cable/oil. In order to
prevent the pressure in the cable from exceeding permissible
minimum or maximum conditions at any time, each length shall
be provided with an oil pressure reservoir of sufficient capacity to
maintain positive pressure under the most extreme weather
conditions which may be experienced during shipment.
Consideration of the temperature range to be encountered during
storage is necessary to ensure that the reel reservoir oil capacity is
sufficient. The cable manufacturers RESERVOIR OIL vs.
VOLUME curve shall be used for this determination. It may not
be practical to install sufficient oil reservoir capacity in a cable
reel to cover the extreme ranges of temperature which may be
experienced in all seasons, i.e. -5 C winter to +50 C summer. If
such conditions are likely to be encountered, the cable shall be
stored indoors to avoid the extreme temperature fluctuations.
Figure 02-03 & Figure 02-04 shows typical curves of oil pressure
versus temperature for different reservoirs in summer and winter
seasons.

4.2.3

Accessibility for Inspection

Adequate space shall be provided so that the oil gauge can be
inspected. Figure 02-05 shows the inspection panel details inside
LPOF cable reels. It is recommended that oil pressures be
recorded at least once in every three (3) months. Oil pressures
shall be related to ambient temperature and checked with the
reservoir oil/volume curve. The reel reservoir is inspected before
shipment to ensure that pressures are correct and that valves are
open to the cable. A similar inspection shall be made when they
are received as a precaution against the possibility of low pressure
resulting from leakage caused by accidental injury during
handling.

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 7 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

DWG # TC-0402-0100-00

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 8 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

DWG # TC-0402-0200-00

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 9 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

DWG # TC-0402-0300-00

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 10 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

DWG # TC-0402-0400-00

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 11 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

DWG # TC-0402-0500-00

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 12 OF 13

TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

TCS-P-104.02, Rev. 0

DWG # TC-0402-0600-00

TCSP10402R0/YM

Date of Approval: October 9, 2007

PAGE NO. 13 OF 13