TABLE OF CONTENTS Under the right conditions, an optical fiber will carry light thousands of kilometers almost instantly. If the cable is not installed properly, though, the light it is supposed to carry may not even travel from one part of an office building to another.
Proper installation depends on a thorough knowledge of the strengths and limits of a fiber optic cable, as well as the methods for protecting the cable both during the installation and over its lifetime. The cable must endure the pulling that is necessary for it to be put in place; environmental conditions that threaten to freeze, soak, or otherwise damage it; and the daily stresses that result from its location or position.
The rules governing fiber optic cable installation are designed to minimize the short-term and long-term stresses on the cable as well as ensure that the installation conforms to codes governing fire safety. Some of these requirements were discussed in Chapter 7, Fiber Optic Cables, with regard to the structure of the cable itself. The rules governing cable construction can only be effective, though, if the cable is installed properly.
This chapter describes the requirements for a successful fiber optic cable installation. It describes the conditions affecting fiber optic cable and the methods for installing the cable so that the effects of those conditions are minimized. The chapter describes regulations concerning electrical safety for cable installations as well as methods for routing cables in different situations. The chapter also discusses the ways in which cables...
