How to Secure Telephone Wiring

[Billy]

I realized that the outside telephone wire that our alarm uses is venerable.
We have above-ground utilities and the tele company box is easily accessible
via a standard screw driver and the line runs openly along the siding just
3' from the ground - then into the basement wall of the home. How does one
protect the wire from simple clipping?

Since we also have smoke alarm detection, I also thought that it is also
venerable to fire. How can I ensure that the station will be called if a
fire starts and burns the telephone wire before the alarm is tripped?

I'm thinking that I may need get a dedicated fire-protected line (if one
exists) from the pole that runs higher off the ground (or underground) to
also protect from cutting. Is calling the phone company to do this the
solution, or is there a simpler way?

 

[Billy]

Where can I find out more about the cellular backup? I own a GE Simon v3 (if
that matters).

 

[Sp]

This is one of the better posts on how to resolve this. I would like to add
a couple of comments. Use either PVC or IMC conduit between the pole and the
home. EMT or regular steel conduit does not hold up well underground. Do not
run the conduit up the pole just stub it out a few inches above ground level
and have the Telco install a metal U-guard up to the 12 foot level (two
pieces of standard 1 inch u-guard.) Do have the Telco install a NID on the
pole at the top of the u-guard the tech may grumble but this is why they
have ladders on the truck. DO NOT install any foreign attachments
(protectors etc) on any joint use pole both the power company and the Telco
have the right to remove these without any warning. Between the pole and the
home be sure to use gel filled cable or have the Telco pull in a buried
service wire. There will be a charge for this but compared to the cost of
obtaining a roll of gel filled cable the charge may be substantially lower.
Inside the home install an additional properly grounded and bonded protector
per NEC again you can have the Telco do this or DIY as it is beyond the
DEMARC. And speaking of which keep in mind all of this wiring will be beyond
the DEMARC and is the responsibility of the building owner to maintain.

SP

 

[Billy]

I thought there was a way to supervise lines. For example, my AC plug for
the Simon v3 came with a small resistor that apparently attaches between
both wires, so that if snipped, it will trip the control panel and alert the
CMS. I think that's how it works.

How does this resistor work, and can I use this method to supervise
telephone wire too?

 

[Billy]

Well, anyway, the alarm can't call me if the line is cut anyway. Duhhh to
me.

 

[thesatguy]

I don't know what I was thinking about - I haven't used steel conduit in
years... use the electrical pvc pipe.
I also didn't mention to do this on private poles; on a telco pole or
electric co owned pole they do need to
install U-guard on THEIR poles. I don't know what the situation is in other
areas but many poles here are
private poles.

 

[Billy]

Oh yea, that's the idea - to get the siren to blow.

 

[Sp]

Almost anything goes on spot poles as they are installed on the owners land
at the owners expense and while they may or may not belong to the owner he
is pretty much to free to do with as he pleases.

SP

 

[Sp]

If one is trying to provide protection from hand operated tools such as
shovels PVC will provide moderate protection, while IMC and rigid provide
the best protection. When mechanized digging machines are in the mix nothing
short of reinforced poured concrete will provide protection. In underground
utility locating a backhoe wins every time.

SP