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Criteria Files

The following links will download criteria files (*.CRI) for use in our PLS-CADD and PLS-CADD/LITE programs. These criteria files are generic and intended solely to provide you with the minimum requirements to meet the referenced codes. You may need to adjust some of the parameters for your geographic locations, such as the Extreme Wind and Extreme Ice cases, and add additional loading cases for your local and/or utility specific loadings. Use of these files is at the user's risk, and as with all projects, qualified Engineers should review them and modify them as necessary.

These files will work with Versions 8.10 and later of PLS-CADD and PLS-CADD/LITE. Should you need to upgrade, please contact us at info@powline.com.

To download a file, simply click on it and then save it to your computer when prompted.

1997 NESC Light	1997 NESC Light Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 155 and Table 261-1A, Page 163
1997 NESC Medium	1997 NESC Medium Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 155 and Table 261-1A, Page 163
1997 NESC Heavy	1997 NESC Heavy Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 155 and Table 261-1A, Page 163
2002 NESC Light	2002 NESC Light Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 173 and Table 261-1A, Page 182
2002 NESC Medium	2002 NESC Medium Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 173 and Table 261-1A, Page 182
2002 NESC Heavy	2002 NESC Heavy Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 173 and Table 261-1A, Page 182
2007 NESC Light	2007 NESC Light Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 170 and Table 261-1A, Page 182
2007 NESC Medium	2007 NESC Medium Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 170 and Table 261-1A, Page 182
2007 NESC Heavy	2007 NESC Heavy Criteria File	Grade B Construction "Method A" per Table 253-1, Page 170 and Table 261-1A, Page 182
Generic Wind and Ice	Generic Wind and Ice	Template for Creating non-NESC Criteria Files
Generic Extreme Wind	Generic Extreme Wind	Template for Creating non-NESC Criteria Files

Once you have downloaded the files into your criteria directory you should run PLS-CADD. Now, in PLS-CADD or PLS-CADD/LITE, simply select Criteria / Load CRI File (near the bottom of the menu), locate and open the criteria file you downloaded. Be sure and read the notes section by selecting Criteria / Notes to see if the criteria are applicable to your projects. We suggest that the descriptions of the existing weather cases not be changed, as that will impact other parts of the criteria file. Modifications to the existing weather cases can easily be made and additional cases can be added and applied as necessary.

A few points of clarification should be made to fully understand the NESC 2002 files (these do not apply to the 2007 NESC criteria files):

Automatic Sagging - Criteria / Automatic Sagging are based on code tension limitations (i.e. per Rule 261H2, Page 161, 1997 NESC or per Rule 261H1, Page 179, 2002 NESC). While not in violation of the code, lines installed at these tensions are susceptable to aeolian vibrations, and also may not be the optimum tensions to use on lines with many deadend or angle structures. The engineer should consult with damper manufacturers and properly assess the project to determine desirable tensions for use with automatic sagging.
NESC Strength Factors for Braces - The strength factors for braces assume that the braces are made of wood, and that the capacities used in the structural design are ultimate strengths. Should the braces be made of other materials, or should the user wish to justify other strength factors by proof testing, these factors will need to be modified accordingly.
NESC Strength Factors for Insulators - The insulator strength factors in these criteria files are 1.0. The applicable strength reduction factors in accordance to the codes (i.e. NESC Rule 277, Page 170, 1997 NESC or per Rule 277, Page 188, 2002 NESC) should be applied to the insulator strengths when modeling the insulators.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: These files are being provided on an "as-is" basis. Neither Power Line Systems, Inc., nor the various manufacturers accept responsibility for the accuracy herein, and the end user is ultimately responsible for the verification of all data.