Successful Fiber Optic
Installation
A Free Resource From
PURPOSE
This web site contains information on the requirements and
methods for achieving a successful fiber optic installation. With this
information, the installation manager can choose a plan of action that results
in successful installation of fiber optic networks and systems.
First, we must define successful: successful means low cost,
high installed reliability, and low power loss. Low cost means: high yield
during installation [or low cost of mistakes]; low total installed cost; low installation
labor cost [or low man hours]; and low maintenance cost, which results from
high reliability. We address these subjects:
Requirements for successful installation
Methods for achieving low labor cost
Requirements for high installed
reliability
Methods for achieving low total installed cost
Methods for achieving low maintenance cost
We add material to this site at least every other week. To stay current, you should bookmark this site and visit it frequently.
OUR PURPOSE
As you read the information herein, you will appreciate the
talents, knowledge and skills of Pearson Technologies Inc. With this
appreciation, you will contact
Pearson Technologies Inc. when your firm or your company decides to
undertake a fiber optic network installation, when you decide to train fiber
optic installers, or when you wish to evaluate potential installation
organizations.
You will benefit by applying our 27 years of experience in fiber
optics and our 17 years of providing more than 400 fiber optic training
programs to more than 7000 people. Like our clients, many of whom have ordered multiple
training programs, you will receive the benefit of this extensive and diverse
experience.
Requirements for
successful installation
Successful installation has four characteristics:
Low power loss
Low labor cost
Low product cost
High
reliability
For data networks, low power loss is the only concern of all
fiber optic installers. All the rules and instructions that the installer
follows are designed to minimize the loss of optical power in a link. During
the installation, errors can, and often do, result in increased power loss.
Such increases reduce the power delivered to the receiver. If these increases
are excessive, the link will not function properly. Regardless of their size,
these increases reduce the reliability of the link.
For DWDM and the highest bit rate networks, reflectance becomes a concern.
We discuss the last three characteristics below.
Low labor cost results from personnel who minimize installation time and errors. Such minimization requires understanding the capabilities and limitations of the products they install. For example, cables can be stretched and bent during installation, but only to certain well-defined limits. The installers need to know these limits. Some of these limits, like maximum cable installation load, are specific to the cables being installed. Other limits, like bend radii, may be defined by rules of thumb. Again, other limitations, such as connector installation conditions, are defined by the method.
Personnel can gain the understanding they need from three methods:
Product data sheets
Fiber optic installation manuals
Fiber optic installation training
Manufacturers provide product data sheets, either in printed
form or as web pages. These sheets contain a wealth of information on the
products, but rarely contain installation methods. Application notes and installation
recommendations provide such installation information.
Fiber optic installation manuals, such as Successful Fiber Optic Installation, provide general capabilities and instructions. While such manuals can be highly useful, as is Successful Fiber Optic Installation, they require personnel who are disciplined and organized in their self-training activities. In addition, some personnel benefit more from hands on training than from book training.
Fiber optic installation training provides the focus, organization, and discipline that installers may need for successful training. This training comes in four forms:
- Information training
- Hands on training
- Advanced hands on training
- Certification training
Information
training is useful, but has its limits. Knowledge of the rules,
capabilities and limitations without hands on experience does not enable installers
to avoid the errors that damage products, increase installation time, and
reduce reliability. To be comprehensive, such training takes one or two days. Information
training requires a comprehensive text, such as Successful Fiber Optic
Installation.
Hands-on training can help installers to avoid some of the major errors. Such training has two levels: basic training and advanced, or skill development, training. Basic training, such FiberPro 1, The Essentials for Success, provides the knowledge training, just presented. In addition, basic programs train installers in the methods and techniques they will use during installation.
Basic training tends to be like a smorgasbord. That is,
basic training allows the installers to attempt the installation activity, such
as cable end preparation or connector installation, once or twice. Successful installation
is not the goal. Introduction of the method or technique is. FiberPro 1, The Essentials for
Success is slightly more than a basic program, in that it includes
repetition during connector installation and testing activities.
To be comprehensive, such information and basic training
takes four or five days. Training programs shorter than four days tend to
eliminate information and hands on activities that are
essential to successful installation.
Hands-on advanced, or skill development, training helps installers
to avoid both the major and subtle errors that increase cost and reduce reliability.
In addition, such training results in reduced installation cost and reduced installation
time. Being repetitive, such training allows the installer to climb the
learning curve. For example, during advanced connector installation training,
we find that most trainees make all their errors during the first 20 connectors.
Trainees tend to install the last 20 connectors successfully. Trainees who
learn quickly make their errors during the first 10 connectors. Such trainees
tend to install the last 30 connectors successfully.
Advanced training is focused on one installation activity, such as:
Testing and troubleshooting
Occasionally, two advanced training programs, such as connector installation and testing are combined. Such combination reduces total training time and cost. Such training takes 2-5 days, depending on the installation activity [connector, testing, or splicing] and whether or not certification is part of the program.
Certification can be part of the training program. Pearson Technologies recommends the Fiber Optic Association [FOA] certification process. We make this recommendation because the FOA process is generic and is the only certification process that includes development of advanced installation skills.
There are two benefits of certification. First, an installer
who passes a certification examination demonstrates that he has learned what he
needs to know to be successful. Second, from such examination results, the manager
of an installation group is able to predict who is likely to be successful.
From this presentation, it is clear that low labor cost
results from training.
High reliability
As indicated above, low product cost results from training.
More specifically, advanced training results in lower product cost than does
basic training.
Requirements
for high installed reliability
High reliability results from:
Products that are appropriate for the project
Proper installation of these products
Training
in proper installation methods
Appropriate products meet two requirements:
They can be installed with methods required
They will survive the environment in which the they are installed
Here are two examples.
Example 1: connectors that must be installed while the installer is on a bucket truck in all types of weather cannot require polishing or curing of adhesive.
Example 2: cables exposed to continuous moisture must be
moisture resistant.
The network or system designer determines the requirements
appropriate for these products. The designer can train himself in design
methods or he can take a training program, such as Successful Fiber Optic Network Design.
High reliability results from proper installation methods.
Installers can obtain knowledge of these methods, as indicated above. Pearson
Technologies Inc. provides training in the five major connector installation methods,
on both types of cables, on both types of splicing and for both data and FTTH networks.
For high reliability, the installer must use proper installation
methods. The installer can learn these
methods as indicated above.
Methods For achieving
low installed cost
To achieve low installation cost, the planner must choose products that provide lowest total installed cost. Because of the nature of fiber optic products, the lowest cost products may not provide the lowest total installed cost. Here are three examples.
Example 1: gel filled, grease blocked cables tend to have the lowest cost. However, the labor cost to prepare the cable ends is the highest of all cables. If the link is long, the reduction in cable cost is larger than the increase in labor cost. For such links, this cable type will have the lowest total installed cost. However, for short links, this cable will have the highest total installed cost.
Example 2: epoxy connectors tend to have the lowest cost. However, they have the longest installation time. If the labor cost is low, as it tends to be in cable assembly facilities, epoxy connectors have the lowest total installed cost. However, field labor rates are higher than assembly facility rates. For some field labor rates, epoxy connectors have highest total installed cost.
Example 3: cleave and crimp connectors have the lowest installation
time. As such, they have the lowest labor installation cost. However, these connectors
have the highest cost. If the savings in labor installation cost is less than
the premium price paid for these connectors, these connectors will have highest
total installed cost. However, for very high labor rates, the savings in labor installation
cost is greater than the premium price paid for these connectors. In this
situation, these connectors will have lowest total installed cost.
To achieve the lowest total installed cost, the network planner or installation manager must be able to determine field installation rates and calculate total installed cost for several types of products. Pearson Technologies provides a method for these calculations in Successful Fiber Optic Network Design. In addition, Pearson Technologies provides the outline of this method in Eye On Fiber, our complimentary fiber optic newsletter.
Methods For low
maintenance cost
Low maintenance cost results from two activities:
Proper installation
Use of testing acceptance values that result in high reliability
We address proper installation elsewhere on this page. The method for determining power loss acceptance values has a strong influence on maintenance costs. If this method allows acceptance of conditions of reduced reliability, maintenance cost will be increased. If this method prevents acceptance of these conditions, maintenance cost will be reduced. In Successful Fiber Optic Network Design and FiberPro 1, The Essentials for Success, we present a method of determining acceptance values that prevent acceptance of conditions of reduced reliability. As an alternative, we offer a telephone consultation on this method.
Other resources
The Best Way To Train
Contact Pearson Technologies Inc. to benefit from:
27 years in fiber optic communications
Basic and advanced training programs,
You will be confident in your choice, from the companies that have preferred
Pearson Technologies training and the organizations
that have requested multiple training programs.
27 Years of
Superior Fiber Optic Services
Pearson Technologies Inc.,
800-589-2549, www.ptnowire.com
7/3/06 3:26 PM