General maintenance requirements#

6.1Maintenance programs#

Ownership of the road lighting installation is to be confirmed as Rate 3 before any maintenance is undertaken. There are four road lighting tariffs:

  • Rate 1 (non-contributed) – Public Lighting is supplied, installed, owned and maintained by the Electricity Entity – (EQL NPL1 tariff).
  • Rate 2 (contributed) – Public Lighting is supplied by Transport and Main Roads and owned and maintained by the Electricity Entity – (EQL NPL2 tariff). This is generally the preferred tariff.
  • Rate 3 – Public lighting is supplied, owned, installed and maintained by Transport and Main Roads. The Electricity Entity only provides electrical energy to the installation. The primary areas for Rate 3 road lighting are on freeways and high-speed arterial roads – (EQL NPL3 tariff).
  • Rate 4 – New tariff where Transport and Main Roads funds the replacement of Rate 1 luminaire with an LED luminaire and gifts the LED luminaire to the Electricity Entity. The associated pole and cabling remain owned, operated and maintained by the Electricity Entity – (EQL NPL4 tariff).

Where road lighting installation ownership / tariff is in doubt, the District / Region concerned is to resolve this with the relevant Electricity Entity.

The programming of maintenance for Rate 3 road lighting is the responsibility of the Districts / Regions and is generally carried out under the Road Maintenance Performance Contract (RMPC). Refer to Element Management Plan No. 15.

6.2Applicable standards#

All work is to be carried out in accordance with Transport and Main Roads Technical Specifications, the Queensland MUTCD Part 3 and the Electrical Safety Act 2002, Regulations and Codes of Practice (the Act). This document does not detail all activities that must be undertaken to comply with the requirements of the Act; however, all works, processes and procedures used in maintenance activities associated with the electrical works described herein is be in accordance with the Act.

Maintenance is not to be carried out live except as permitted under the Act.

6.3Installation drawings#

Installation drawings are required for the safe maintenance of electrical and lighting installations. Districts / Regions are to work with the maintenance provider to ensure that electrical installation drawings are current and reflect the actual state of the installation. Where drawings are incorrect and/or non-existent, Districts / Regions are to arrange for accurate drawings to be produced. This is to include single line diagram complete with distances between light poles. Drawings are to conform to the requirements of the current Transport and Main Roads Technical Specifications. Final 'As Built' drawings need to be readily available for the department's road lighting maintenance reference.

6.4Maintenance personnel#

All personnel undertaking Rate 3 road lighting maintenance activities (including the Superintendent's Representative) are to have the appropriate qualifications, training and experience necessary to undertake their designated activities in a safe and considered manner. These are to include working in a high-speed road environment, formal electrical qualifications and knowledge of MUTCD Part 3 and the relevant Technical Specifications.

The possession of a valid Occupational Health and Safety Construction Induction card (also known as a ‘White Card’ or the previous ‘Blue Card’) and a current adult First Aid Certificate are also prerequisites for all persons working on Rate 3 installations.

Appropriate training of personnel is the responsibility of the organisation providing the maintenance service. Districts / Regions are to undertake random audits to ensure compliance.

6.5Maintenance plant and equipment#

Due to the height of road lighting installations, Elevated Work Platform (EWP) vehicles are to be used. Every operator is to possess a valid EWP operator ticket, relevant driver’s licence and is to have an appropriate level of experience in EWP operation. Operators are to have training in safe work procedures and evidence of such training.

Vehicles are to have safety checks and have valid current certification in accordance with the relevant parts of:

AS/NZS 1418.10
Cranes, hoists and winches, Part 10 Mobile elevating working platforms
AS 2550.10
Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use, Part 10: Mobile elevating working platforms
AS 4748
Acoustic emission testing of fibreglass-insulated booms on elevating work platforms

Equipment used for maintenance is to comply with relevant safety legislation and standards and be appropriate for the application. Testing equipment calibration is to be current with calibration evidence included in the maintenance report. Districts / Regions are to undertake random audits to ensure compliance.

6.6Maintenance waste disposal#

Disposal of lamps after they are removed from service is to be undertaken in an environmentally safe manner. Breakage of lamps before disposal is to be avoided.

Other maintenance waste is to be disposed of appropriately. Disposal records are to be kept in accordance with record keeping requirements and asset disposal information updated accordingly.

6.7Replacement parts#

All replacement parts are to comply with current Transport and Main Roads Technical Specifications.

The current rating and characteristics of electrical circuit protection devices are to be no greater than those specified on the Standard Drawings. Installations that do not comply with the requirements of the Act are to be rectified.

The photometrics and electrical characteristics of replacement luminaires are to be such that the lighting and electrical integrity of the installation are not compromised. Where identical luminaires are not available, design verification for compliance with the standards is to be carried out by an appropriately qualified and experienced electrical Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ).

6.8Traffic management#

Safety and traffic control plans are to be approved by the District / Region before maintenance work is conducted.

All signage used during road lighting maintenance is to be in accordance with the Queensland MUTCD. Where road lighting is expected to be non-operational for more than three days from when the fault is identified, the temporary sign TC1639 'STREET LIGHTING UNDER REPAIR' is to be displayed (refer to Appendix C).

6.9Reporting requirements#

The progress of any maintenance regime being undertaken is to be continually tracked and reported.

Periodic maintenance meetings are to be scheduled between the maintenance service provider and the District / Region.

The meetings are to cover as a minimum the following items:

  • review of performance of the road lighting installation
  • review of performance of the road lighting service provider
  • reporting of current progress against expected – for example staffing levels / changes, budgeting / expenditure, and
  • discussion of issues / problems and how they are being addressed.

The Districts / Regions are to report systemic issues to Traffic Engineering Technology and Systems (TETS). For lighting and illumination issues, the information is forwarded to Director (ITS Technologies). For electrical and related issues, the information is forwarded to Program Director (ITS Asset Services).

6.10Record keeping#

All road lighting maintenance activities are be logged in order to monitor road lighting performance and to trend failure and outage rates. Data to be collected are defined in Appendices A and B.

Minimum details required to be logged and reported include:

  • item maintained – pole, pit, switchboard, lamp, luminaire, re-openable junction box, ducting, and so on
  • identification number of pole
  • identification number of switchboard
  • date installed
  • date maintained
  • date last electrically verified
  • type of maintenance service – damage / fault, bulk lamp replacement, routine spot, and so on
  • name of maintenance service provider (Contractor company name and maintenance personnel)
  • name of road and/or road number, and
  • light source replacement date.

Asset and site information pertaining to the road light and maintenance activities are to be stored electronically in the Transport and Main Roads ITS and Electrical Road Operations Asset Register.

Source: TRUM Vol 4 Part 2 · pages 6–9 Open PDF at this page Search this document