ASTM B979-12
(Specification)Standard Specification for Non-Specular (NS) Surface Finish on Overhead Aluminum Electrical Conductors
Standard Specification for Non-Specular (NS) Surface Finish on Overhead Aluminum Electrical Conductors
ABSTRACT
This specification covers non-specular surface finishes on overhead aluminum electrical conductors to establish a uniformity of conductor finish that is acceptable to the user. Such a specification will furnish a basis for consistent manufacturing process control. Overhead aluminum electrical conductors, when installed, tend to have a "reflective" or "specular" surface that can make a transmission line more noticeable in appearance against the background landscape. A factory treatment process of the outer surface of the aluminum wires can turn the surface finish into a dull, non-reflective, or "de-glared" matte grey finish that allows the conductor to become less visible when observed from a distance and enables the transmission line to blend in with the skyline or landscape background. This specification addresses ordering information, equipment, test procedure, requirements, and retest.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers non-specular surface finishes on overhead aluminum electrical conductors. Overhead aluminum electrical conductors, when installed, typically have a shiny surface appearance. This “reflective” or “specular” surface can make a transmission line more noticeable in appearance against the background landscape. A factory treatment process of the outer surface of the aluminum wires can render the surface finish into a dull, non-reflective, matte grey finish. This non-reflective or “de-glared” surface finish allows the conductor to become less visible when observed from a distance and enables the transmission line to blend in with the skyline or landscape background.2
1.2 This specification is intended, by means of diffuse reflectance measurement, to establish a uniformity of conductor finish which is acceptable to the user. Such a specification will furnish a basis for consistent manufacturing process control.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation: B979 −12
Standard Specification for
Non-Specular (NS) Surface Finish on Overhead Aluminum
Electrical Conductors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B979; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.2 ASTM Standards:
B354 Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Electri-
1.1 This specification covers non-specular surface finishes
cal Conductors
on overhead aluminum electrical conductors. Overhead alumi-
num electrical conductors, when installed, typically have a
3. Terminology
shiny surface appearance. This “reflective” or “specular”
surface can make a transmission line more noticeable in
3.1 For definitions of terms relating to conductors, refer to
appearance against the background landscape. A factory treat- definitions found in Terminology B354.
ment process of the outer surface of the aluminum wires can
3.2 Definitions:
render the surface finish into a dull, non-reflective, matte grey
3.2.1 specular—a shiny, reflective appearance.
finish. This non-reflective or “de-glared” surface finish allows
3.2.2 non-specular—a matte, non-shiny appearance.
the conductor to become less visible when observed from a
distance and enables the transmission line to blend in with the
3.2.3 de-glared—another term for non-specular.
skyline or landscape background.
3.2.4 diffuse reflection—reflection in which light energy is
1.2 This specification is intended, by means of diffuse scattered in many directions by diffusion at or below the
reflectance measurement, to establish a uniformity of conduc- surface.
tor finish which is acceptable to the user. Such a specification
will furnish a basis for consistent manufacturing process
4. Ordering Information
control.
4.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded the following information:
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
4.1.1 Aluminum overhead electrical conductor to have a
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
non-specular, Type “NS” surface finish.
and are not considered standard.
4.1.2 Unless otherwise specified the default non-specular
grayfinishrequirementshallhaveanaveragemaximumdiffuse
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
reflectivity of not more than 32 %.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5. Equipment
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.1 To measure diffuse reflectance, a portable reflectance
meter shall be employed with search units “Y” or “T”,
2. Referenced Documents
equipped with a green tristimulus filter.
2.1 The following documents, in effect on the date of
5.2 For calibration, use a matte gray reference standard
material purchase, form part of this specification to the extent
having a diffuse reflection value between 23 and 29 %.
referenced herein:
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.02 on Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Methods of Test and Sampling Procedure. the ASTM website.
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2012. Published January 2013. DOI: 10.1520/ Thesolesourceofsupplyoftheapparatus(PhotovoltReflectanceMeter,Model
B0979-12. No. 577 or 577–A) known to the committee at this time is Photovolt Instruments,
The historical origin of this standard is based upon AA/ANSI Standard C7.69 Inc. If you are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to
originally developed by theAluminumAssociation, Inc. and adopted for recognition ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consider-
as an American National Standard in 1975. ation at a meeting of the responsible technical committee, which you may attend.
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B979 − 12
6. Test Procedure aperture of the mea
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