Fiber Optic Cable Installation Standards

The foa and neca national electrical contractors association in 2001 cooperated to develop the first ansi standard american national standard covering the installation of fiber optic cable plants.

Fiber optic cable installation standards. Optical cable is a high capacity transport medium that is sensitive to excessive pulling force tight bends and crushing forces therefore proper care must be taken during the. The standards for multimode cables are as follows. A fiber optic cable also known as an optical fiber cable is an assembly similar to an electrical cable but containing one or more optical fibers that are used to carry light. An incorrectly installed fiber cable can result in broken fibers and structural damage to the cable not a good outcome since service providers pay for and expect an uncompromised cable.

N eca foa 301 is a standard for installing fiber optic cable plants. And testing cabling networks that use fiber optic cables and related components to carry signals for communications security control and similar purposes. Cable s optical and mechanical performance specifications. The optical fiber elements are typically individually coated with plastic layers and contained in a protective tube suitable for the environment where the cable will be deployed.

Generally speaking they are usually made of heavy jackets and strong metal or aramid strength members. Familiarizing yourselfwith standard 301 is a smart step to avoid such problems up until a little over a year ago an installation standard for optical cable didn t exist. Introduction and classification of aerial fiber optic cables aerial fiber optic cable refers to a kind of fiber optic cable that is designed and used for outside plant osp installation between poles by being lashed to a wire rope messenger strand with a small gauge wire. A fiber optic cable should be tested three separate times during an installation.

When installing optical cable what you don t know could really hurt you or damage your cable. The neca foa 301 standard is unique in the standards world as it was written by contractors and installers for contractors and installers to provide guidelines on how fiber optics should be. Download a free copy. Fiber optic cables are available in a wide range that varies according to use length diameter etc.

A new fiber optic installation standard. The methods used to place fiber optic cables in ducts are similar to those used to place copper cable. Extreme caution should be observed when performing an aerial installation. Manufacturers contribute to the standards so they can have as a participant who headed one of these committees once said mutually agreed upon specifications for product development.

1 1 products and applications included this standard covers fiber optic cabling installed. Fiber optics color standards. Giving each one a specific color allows better and faster recognition of the cable in use and avoids issues due to bad connections or confusions.