Introduction To Fiber Optic Cable Installation

It is absolutely critical to the long term stability and survival of fiber cables that the fiber optic cable installation is always done correctly and safely. These cables are exposed to environmental, chemical, mechanical and electrical elements, so fiber optic installation companies must always ensure that their installers know exactly what they are doing to prevent expensive failure and even human injury.

Fios cable installation must meet the NEC (National Electric Code) and nearby building codes. NEC indicates that fiber optic cables should be placed in the exact same raceway, cable tray or enclosure with CATV, telephone, communication circuits and Class 2 and 3 remote control signaling circuits. Be sure that you never install fiber optic cables within the same enclosure that houses electrical terminations!

Consider for a moment conduits. These are tubes that are used for protecting electrical or communication wires and cables. It might be a solid or flexible tube in which cables are run. They house and protect the fiber optic cables as well as other kinds of information or communication transmission lines. Underground conduits are also called ducts, and they consist of one or more conduits spaced closely together. They are frequently buried directly within the ground in concrete casings. Duct lines terminate in underground vaults known as manholes. Conduits are made of fiber, PVC, PE and other materials. Above ground conduits are made of metal or nonmetal supplies. They can be utilized in locations above ground that are either exposed or concealed.

So what are some of the characteristics of a good installation? The first is that it must have good mechanical properties to stand up to the forces imposed by cable installations. It also has to be compatible with the minimum bending radius of fiber optic cables. In addition, it is important that there are no sharp edges that touch the cables anywhere in the route, and there also should be no bends. When you are working on a fiber optic cable installation, you need to make sure that everything meets current and future expansion requirements.

You will need to become an expert with cable trays. These are assemblies of units that are created from metal (or another noncombustible material), which create a rigid support for the cables. Cable trays are available in a number of different types such as the ladder type, the trough type, the channel type and the solid bottom type. The trays are used to simplify the fios cable installation, keeping everything not only protected but also nice and neat as well.