Inspections of fiber optic cable plant installation are not generally required, and practically nobody ever does one on a new fiber optic network. IEC 60794 is the international standard series governing the design, construction, and performance verification of fibre optic cables. As a result, some cables are not installed “in a neat and workmanlike manner” as described by the ANSI/NECA/FOA 301 installation standard for fiber. It is measured by the optical fiber (and cable) manufacturer but can also be field-tested and verified. However, individual fiber attenuation is not a requirement for evaluating overall system performance because it is implicitly included in any “end-to-end” insertion loss measurement that is. FOA continues to provide practical, one-page standards for insertion loss, OTDR testing, optical power measurement, and connector inspection. Using outdated methods can lead to compliance issues and costly rework.
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