FOA Installation Standard
Back in the late 1990s when fiber optics was really taking off
commercially to support the new and fast-growing Internet, FOA was
involved in creating a standard for the installation of fiber optics.
ANSI/NECA/FOA 301 Installing and Testing Fiber optic Cables was
published in 2000 and has been revised several times, with the last
publication date of 2016.
Since standards are expected to be updated every 5 years, the next
revision fell in the middle of the pandemic. We worked with some of the
FOA technical advisors to create an update. Revisions of ANSI standards
must be submitted for public comments and require consensus before
publication. What we learned from the comments was that fiber optics had
changed so much in 25 years that it would be difficult to create a
simple standard to cover all the different applications of fiber optics
around the world.
After the comments period, it was decided to withdraw the 301 Standard
and rethink the concept of a fiber optic installation standard. It was
time to step back and reconsider what such a standard should be.
FOA decided to use the expertise of our worldwide network of technical
advisors, many of whom are also FOA instructors, whose knowledge and
experience is unmatched. Many of them have contributed to the FOA
knowledge base - textbooks, web pages, videos and Newsletter articles.
The FOA knowledge base provided a basis for development of the standard
and our advisors contributed much more. Drafts were circulated until we
felt we had covered most of the applications.
Now it's ready: The FOA Standard For Installing Fiber Optic Cable Plants.
This is not your usual standard.
- It recognizes that every fiber optic project is different. OSP or premises. Underground or Aerial. Backbone or FTTX.
- It provides guidelines for various installations, relying on the
user to interpret these guidelines for their actual installation.
- It covers most installation types except submarine cables.
- It includes an Annex of references to FOA technical material.
- It's open source. Users are free to choose the sections that apply
to their project, modify those sections to fit their project and
incorporate that into their SOW (Scope of Work) or other project
paperwork.
- It will be updated to reflect fiber optic technology and applications in real time.
- And it's free! FOA does not charge for its technical materials and
standards, it is our charter to provide assistance to the industry!
Using the FOA Installation Standard
Download a copy of the FOA Installation Standard and compare its
content to the your project. Determine the relevant sections and add
them to your documentation to define how to install your fiber optic
cable plant in "a neat and workmanlike manner." Provide copies to your
planners, designers, contractors, installers and suppliers. In the end,
reference "The FOA Standard For Installing Fiber Optic Cable Plants" as the source of that material.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 7
1.1. Foreword 7
1.2. Open Source 7
1.3. Scope 7
1.4. Workforce 8
1.5. Regulatory and Other Requirements 8
1.6. About The FOA 9
2. Definitions, Abbreviations, and Acronyms 10
3. Fiber Optic Installation Safety 14
3.1. General 14
3.2. Eye Protection 15
3.3. Protection from Fiber Scraps 15
3.4. Underground Utility Location During Construction 15
3.5. Other Safety Issues 16
4. Cleanliness 16
4.1. Work Rules For Cleanliness 16
5. Fiber Optic Cable Plant Topologies 16
5.1. Outside Plant 17
5.2. Premises Cabling 17
6. Fiber Optic Cable Plant Components 18
6.1. Fiber Optic Cables 18
6.2. Cable Types 18
6.3. Cable Markings 18
6.4. Cables by Fiber Types 19
6.5. Fiber Optic Cables by Construction Type 19
6.6. Premises Cables 19
6.7. Outside Plant Cables 20
6.8. Prefabricated Cable Assemblies 23
6.9. Flammability - Cable Ratings and Markings (Premises) 23
6.10. Fiber Optic Cable Color Codes (Premises) 24
7. Construction Guidelines 26
7.1. Outside Plant Construction 26
7.2. Premises Construction 29
8. Installation 29
8.1. Receiving Fiber Optic Cabling and Equipment on Site 29
8.2. Handling Fiber Optic Cables 30
8.3. Support Infrastructure 30
8.4. Removal of Abandoned Cables 31
8.5. Fire Stopping (Premises) 31
8.6. Grounding and Bonding 31
9. Installing Fiber Optic Cable 31
9.1. General 31
9.2. Installation Guidelines 32
9.3. Pulling Tension 32
9.4. Minimum Bend Radius Or Diameter 32
9.5. Twisting cable 34
9.6. Installation Guidelines 35
9.7. Guidelines For Underground Installations 35
9.8. Guidelines For Aerial Installations 36
9.9. Cable Plant Hardware 37
9.10. Service Loops 38
10. Fiber Optic Splicing 39
10.1. Types of splices 39
10.2. Splice Performance 40
10.3. Splice Protection 40
11. Fiber Optic Termination 41
11.1. General 41
11.2. Fiber Optic Connectors 41
11.3. Connector Color Codes 41
11.4. Termination Processes 42
11.5. Connector performance 42
11.6. Fiber Connection Polarization 42
11.7. Connector Cleaning and Inspection 43
12. Testing the Installed Fiber Optic Cable Plant 43
12.2. Continuity Testing And Polarization 44
12.3. Microscope Inspection Of Connectors 44
12.4. Insertion Loss 45
12.5. OTDR Testing 45
12.6. Fiber Characterization 45
13. Administration, Management, and Documentation 45
13.1. General 46
13.2. Checklists 46
Annex A: Calculating the Loss Budget for a Fiber Optic Cable Plant 48
Annex B: Field Test Requirements 51
B.1. General 51
B.2. Optical Inspection Of Connectors with Microscopes 51
B.3. Insertion Loss Of Fiber Optic Cables 52
B.4. OTDR Testing 56
Annex C: References And Standards 59
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