Insulated Cable Engineers Association, Inc

INSULATED CABLE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION, Inc.

P.O. Box 1568 • Carrollton, Georgia • 30117 • U.S.A. • Tel.770-830-0369

To: Mr. Dan Schultz - ASTM

From: Ken Chauvin, Editor of ICEA Working Group 718

Copy: Ray Lovie, Chairman of ICEA Working Group 718

July 17, 2003

Dan,

I am writing on behalf of ICEA (Insulated Cable Engineers Association) to again inform ASTM of our progress on the new performance Standard for optical fiber cables for sewer installation. ICEA offers the enclosed draft document, OPTICAL FIBER CABLE FOR PLACEMENT IN SEWER ENVIRONMENTS, currently being reviewed within Working Group 718. This document may be distributed amongst the active F36 membership for review and comment, subject to the conditions listed in "General Comments."

In an effort facilitate a focused review of this document you will also find a brief list of items within the document that are specific to optical fiber cables designed for a sewer environment (see "Targeted Review Guidance"). ICEA asks that such items be afforded special attention by the ASTM member technical experts reviewing the document to ensure the related specification requirements are relevant, meaningful, and viable. Finally, to support bringing this effort to closure expeditiously, the ICEA WG is requesting specific guidance or feedback from the ASTM F36 member experts on specific items as noted in "Requested Information."

General Comments

1) This is a draft document and may be changed at any time by formal ICEA committee or working group action without prior notification

2) Individual ASTM member wishing to comment must provide comments no later than September 1, 2003 in order for such to be addressed at the scheduled September ICEA meeting. Comments received after that date may not be considered. Comments should be sent to

WG 718 Chair:

WG 718 Editor:

3) All comments that are technical in nature must be accompanied by the following:

The name of the individual commenting.
The name of the company for which the individual works and a list of the ASTM committees in which they actively participate.
The specific concern clearly stated, including relevant text from the draft document as appropriate
A clear and concise recommended course of action and rationale for any proposed changes.
Relevant, factual and timely information to support the proposed change. Comments that are technical in nature, but for which additional research or analysis is required to resolve may not be addressed based on resource limitations.

Technical comments not meeting these criteria may not be given further consideration. For example, changes that are requested for change sake and for which there is no supporting technical information will not be considered.

4) ASTM members participating in this review must recognize and agree to the following

ICEA will attempt to give their comments due consideration, but that the ICEA is not legally bound to accept such comments, nor to justify any action, or inaction, taken on any comment.
The resolution of the ICEA WG is final.
The ASTM member recognizes that they are acting independently in the role of a technical expert, knowledgeable of the products covered by the document and of the applications in which they are intended to be used.
The ASTM member recognizes and agrees that they are providing their service free of charge or other encumbrances, on behalf of the ASTM.
The ASTM member recognizes and agrees that the primary purpose of this cable product performance standard is to develop minimum criteria that will ensure the viability of the products addressed by the document, when used in the intended application. Performance specifications in the document should necessarily be based on the completed product. The inclusion of material, design, dimensional and other such requirements in this document should be avoided except in cases where no viable product performance specification exists, and the requirement is deemed critical in preventing a safety hazard or significantly reduced operational system lifetimes.

Targeted Review Guidance: For ASTM subject matter experts, the following Paragraphs or Section should be carefully reviewed for accuracy, completeness and relevance.

SecTitleComment

1.1ScopeAll

1.4.1.4Sewer-only CableDefinition

5.3JacketsAll

6.2Optical Cable Identification All - Are there any special marking considerations for sewer cables.

6.3Length MarkingSame as above (SAA)

6.4Cable RemarkingSAA

7.8Weathering TestWill a portion of the cable system be exposed to the outside environment?

7.18External Freezing TestIs this relevant?

7.20Temperature Cycling TestAre the proposed temperatures appropriate?

7.22Impact TestAre the proposed energies appropriate?

7.24Tensile Loading & Bending Are the proposed loads appropriate?

Anx CSewer Cable ConsiderationsAll - Please verify that guidance provided is appropriate.

Requested Information

1) ASTM Reference - In the 3rd paragraph, the reference to the ASTM work needs to be formalized. What is the ASTM preference regarding this reference? Note that references to draft documents should be avoided. References to established working groups may suffice.

2) Tensile Requirements - What does the ASTM F36 group feel are the post-installation tensile requirements from a qualitative standpoint? For example, are there any specific concerns regarding the forces imparted on the cable by the action of viscous fluids (effluents) flowing along/across the cable surface? Conversely, will all or most cable be installed in such a way that such forces will be relatively low in magnitude and intermittent or infrequent?

3) Temperature - Outdoor optical fiber cables are generally specified for, and verified to operate in, a temperature of –40 deg C. Cable performance generally suffers with decreasing temperature. Is a –40 deg C temperature rating necessary for a cable installed in a sewer environment? Can sewers actually get this cold? Do sewers ever freeze up? What would be a good working value (for temperature) for the environment in a sewer where the outdoor ambient temperature is as cold as –40 deg C? We will consider, as well, the fact that portions of the cable may extend outside the confines of the sewer, and will thus see the –40 deg C temperature.

4) Chemical Exposure of the Cable Jacket - it will be important that cable plastic outer coverings (jackets) are resistant to fluids and gases that could be encountered in sewers. These would include materials found in the sewer during normal operation, and during periodic cleanings (jet-washing and other methods). We assume that the jacket would have to be resistant against a wide range of temperatures, pH values, etc.

Could the experts provide us with guidelines for test procedures, methods and reagents for jacket materials, to address concerns such as:

- Jacket swelling

- Environmental stress cracking

- Solvent resistance, corrosivity

- Temperature (heat) resistance (if applicable to cleaning fluids)

- Fungus resistance

- Chemical corrosion

Jacket materials are generally thermoplastic polyolefins (polyethylene or polypropylene). Cross-linked polyethylenes are sometimes used, although this would not be the preferred material.

This writer is sending this letter solely in the writer's capacity as a member of ICEA.

Sincerely,

Ken A. Chauvin

WG 718 Editor

Telephone: (828) 901-5569

Facsimile: (828) 901-5533

Draft of ANSI/ICEA S-XXX-718-2003

STANDARD FOR

OPTICAL FIBER CABLE FOR PLACEMENT IN SEWER ENVIRONMENTS

Publication S-XXX-718

First Edition – XXX 2003

Published By

Insulated Cable Engineers Association, Inc. (ICEA)

P. O. Box 1568

Carrollton, Georgia 30112, USA

(770) 830-0369

Approved xxxx, 2003 by

INSULATED CABLE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION, Inc.

Copyrighted by the ICEA

Contents may not be reproduced

in any form without permission of the

INSULATED CABLE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Copies of this publication may be ordered online from:

Global Engineering Documents ®

15 Inverenss Way East

Englewood, CO 80113-5776 USA

Telelephone: (800) 854-7179

NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

The information in this publication was considered technically sound by the consensus of persons engaged in the development and approval of the document at the time it was developed. Consensus does not necessarily mean that there is unanimous agreement among every person participating in the development of this document.

The Insulated Cable Engineers Association, Inc. (ICEA) standards and guideline publications, of which the document contained herein is one, are developed through a voluntary consensus standards development process. This process brings together persons who have an interest in the topic covered by this publication. While ICEA administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy or completeness of any information or the soundness of any judgements contained in its standards and guideline publications.

ICEA disclaims liability for personal injury, property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, application, or reliance on this document. ICEA disclaims and makes no guaranty or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and disclaims and makes no warranty that the information in this document will fulfill any of your particular purposes or needs. ICEA does not undertake to guarantee the performance of any individual manufacturer or seller’s products or services by virtue of this standard or guide.

In publishing and making this document available, ICEA is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity, nor is ICEA undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using this document should rely on his or her own independent judgement or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. Information and other standards on the topic covered by this publication may be available from other sources, which the user may wish to consult for additional views or information not covered by this publication.

ICEA has no power, nor does it undertake to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this document. ICEA does not certify, test, or inspect products, designs, or installations for safety or health purposes. Any certification or other statement of compliance with any health or safety-related information in this document shall not be attributable to ICEA and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement.

FOREWORD

ICEA Standards are adopted in the public interest and are designed to eliminate misunderstanding between the manufacturer and user and to assist the user in selecting and obtaining proper products for a particular need. The existence of an ICEA Standard does not in any respect preclude the manufacture or use of products not conforming to this Standard.

The user of this Standard is cautioned to observe any applicable health or safety regulations and rules relative to the manufacture and use of cable made in conformity with this Standard. This Standard hereafter assumes that only properly trained personnel using suitable equipment will manufacture, test, install and/or perform maintenance on cables defined by this Standard.

The Secretary can only accept questions of interpretation of ICEA Standards in writing at Headquarters at the address below, and the reply shall be provided in writing. Suggestions for improvements in this Standard are welcome. Questions and suggestions shall be sent to:

Secretary

Insulated Cable Engineers Association, Inc.

Post Office Box 1568

Carrollton, GA 30112, U.S.A

United States of America

This Standard was approved by ICEA on XXXXXXX. The members of the ICEA Communications Cable Division, Working Group 718 who participated in this project were:

Ray Lovie, Chairman

Ken Chauvin, Editor

D. K. BakerG. L. DornaM. D. KinardN. Jones

J. StruharJ. RoskoJ. ShinoskiD. Taylor

CONTENTS

PARAGRAPHPAGE

Part 1: INTRODUCION1

1.1Scope...... 1

1.2General...... 3

1.3Units...... 4

1.4Definitions...... 4

1.5References...... 5

1.6Information to Be Supplied by the User...... 5

1.7Modification of this Standard...... 5

1.8Quality Assurance...... 5

1.9Fire Resistance Codes...... 6

1.10Safety Considerations...... 6

Part 2: OPTICAL FIBERS7

2.1General...... 7

2.2Optical Fiber Classes...... 7

2.3Optical Fiber Requirements...... 7

2.4Optical Fiber Coating and Requirements...... 7

Part 3: OPTICAL FIBER CORE UNITS9

3.1General...... 9

3.2Loose Buffer Tubes...... 9

3.3Optical Fiber Ribbons...... 10

3.4Tight Buffer...... 11

Part 4: CABLE ASSEMBLY, FILLERS, STRENGTH MEMBERS, AND

FIBER AND UNIT IDENTIFICATION12

4.1Cabling of Multi-Fiber Optical Fiber Cables...... 12

4.2Identification of Fibers within a Unit...... 12

4.3Identification of Units within a Cable...... 12

4.4Strength Members...... 12

4.5Assembly of Cables...... 14

4.6Filling and Flooding Materials...... 14

PARAGRAPHPAGE

Part 5: COVERINGS15

5.1Binders...... 15

5.2Shielding, Armoring, or Other Metallic Coverings...... 15

5.3Jackets...... 17

5.4Other Coverings...... 18

5.5Jacket Repairs...... 18

5.6Ripcords...... 18

Part 6: OTHER REQUIREMENTS19

6.1Identification and Date Marking...... 19

6.2Optical Cable Identification and Other Markings...... 19

6.3Length Marking...... 20

6.4Cable Remarking...... 21

6.5Packaging and Marking...... 21

Part 7: TESTING AND TEST METHODS23

7.1Testing...... 23

7.2Extent of Testing...... 23

7.3Standard Test Conditions...... 23

7.4Testing of Conductive Wires in Composite Optical Cables...... 24

7.5Verification of Physical Construction, Color Code and Identification24

7.6Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance Test...... 24

7.7Jacket Shrinkage Test...... 25

7.8Weathering Test...... 25

7.9Verification of Cable Length and Marking Accuracy...... 26

7.10Dimensions of Fibers, Tight Buffered Fibers, and Buffer Tubes...... 26

7.11Ribbon Dimensions...... 27

7.12Ribbon Separability Test...... 27

7.13Ribbon Twist Test...... 29

7.14Ribbon Residual Twist Test...... 29

7.15Tight Buffer Strippability Test...... 30

7.16Material Compatibility and Cable Aging Test...... 30

7.17Cable Low and High Temperature Bend Test...... 31

7.18Cable External Freezing Test...... 32

7.19Cable Compound Flow (Drip) Test...... 32

7.20Cable Temperature Cycling Test...... 33

PARAGRAPHPAGE

7.21Cable Cyclic Flexing Test...... 33

7.22Cable Impact Test...... 33

7.23Cable Cold Impact Test – Fire Resistant Cable Only...... 34

7.24Cable Tensile Loading, Bending and Fiber Strain Test...... 34

7.25Cable Compressive Loading Test...... 36

7.26Cable Twist Test...... 37

7.27Cable Sheath Adherence Test...... 37

7.28Cable Water Penetration Test...... 37

7.29Cable Fire Resistance...... 38

7.30Cable Lightning Damage Susceptibility Test (optional)...... 38

Part 8: FINISHED CABLE OPTICAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS39

8.1Optical Performance...... 39

8.2Attenuation Coefficient...... 40

8.3Multimode Optical Bandwidth...... 41

8.4Measurements of Optical Point Discontinuities...... 41

8.5Cable Cutoff Wavelength Measurement (Single-Mode Fibers)...... 42

PART 9REFERENCES43

ANNEX AORDERING INFORMATION47

ANNEX BMULTIMODE RML BANDWIDTH INFORMATION48

ANNEX CSEWER CABLE CONSIDERATIONS49

ANNEX DICEA TELECOMMUNICATIONS CABLE STANDARDS 59

TABLES

TABLEPAGE

1-1Cable Normal Temperature Ranges...... 2

2-1Optical Fiber Specification Requirements – Multimode Fiber...... 8

2-2Optical Fiber Specification Requirements - Single-mode Fiber...... 8

4-1Individual Fiber, Unit and Group Identification...... 13

6-1Year of Manufacture Marker Threads...... 20

7-1Maximum Dimensions of Optical Fiber Ribbons (m)...... 27

8-1Attenuation Coefficient Performance Requirements...... 39

8-2MultimodeBandwidth Coefficient Performance Requirements...... 39

8-3Point Discontinuity Acceptance Criteria...... 39

8-4Optical Attenuation Measurement Methods...... 40

8-5Multimode Optical Bandwidth Measurement Methods...... 41

FIGURES

FIGURESPAGE

7-1Ribbon Dimensional Parameters...... 27

7-2Ribbon Preparation...... 28

7-3Ribbon Separation...... 29

ICEA STANDARD

FOR

OPTICAL FIBER CABLE FORPLACEMENT IN SEWER ENVIRONMENTS

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1Scope

1.1.1General

This Standard covers optical fiber communications cables intended for installation in underground sewers, specifically storm and sanitary sewers. Materials, construction, and performance requirements are included in this Standard, together with applicable test procedures. Additional applications based considerations are discussed as well.

Refer to ICEA S-87-640 for optical fiber communications cables intended for general outside plant use, ICEA S-XXX-717 for optical fiber cables intended for aerial, duct and buried outdoor and indoor/outdoor drop applications, and ICEA S-104-696 for optical fiber communications cables intended for indoor/outdoor use.

1.1.2Applications Space

Products covered by this Standard are intended for use in metropolitan, urban, and suburban communications networks via use of underground infrastructures, in the last portion of all-optical networks, such as storm and sanitary sewers. These products convey communications signals (voice, video, and data) in metropolitan network rings and serve as point-to-point connections to the subscriber’s premises via sewer laterals, in the last portion of the optical network.

These products are intended for use in sewer lines, using man-entry and non-man entry techniques. Such installations are intended to have no adverse effect on the efficiency of the sewer system. These cables are generally placed manually in pre-installed trays or conduits or may be secured to the sewer pipe wall by means of hooks, adhesive beds, sewer pipe liners, or may be tensioned intermittently, in order to maintain the cable and/or conduit out of the flow of the effluent.

The successful application of optical fiber cables in sewer systems requires that all-necessary maintenance to or rehabilitation of the sewer pipes be conducted prior to cable installation, in accordance with procedures under development by ASTM.

1.1.3Temperature Ranges

The normal temperature ranges for cables covered by this Standard are given in Table11

Table 1-1

Cable Normal Temperature Ranges

Sewer 1)
°C (°F)
Operation / -20 to +70 (-4 to +158)
Storage and Shipping / -40 to +70 (-40 to +158)
Installation / -20 to +60 (-4 to +140)

1) See section 1.4.1.4 for information on sewer-only cables.

1.1.4Tensile Rating

For the purposes of this document, the standard tensile rating represents the maximum allowable installation load for the cable. The standard tensile ratings for products covered by this Standard are as follows:

1335 N (300 lbf) for cables designed for installation by pulling into ducts.
440 N (100 lbf) for cables designed for installation into ducts with the assistance of compressed gases or for installation under low tension using man-entry (i.e., hand-installation), or non-man entry (e.g., robotics), techniques.

For some sewer applications there may be additional considerations for tensile performance that need to be addressed to ensure that the cable design is appropriate for the installation, such as tensioning the cable to stay at the top of a sewer pipe. Some applications may require higher installation tensile ratings [e.g., 2670 N (600 lbf)] to support pulling of longer span distances or applications requiring larger OD cables. See AnnexC for information on additional sewer cable plant requirements and considerations.

The residual load is defined as a load equivalent to 30% of the standard tensile rating.

1.1.5Minimum Bend Diameter

The standard minimum bend diameters for cables covered by this Standard are:

ConditionBend Diameter

Unloaded (Installed):20 x Cable OD

Loaded (During Installation):40 x Cable OD

For very small cables, such as those installed in miniature ducts, manufacturers may specify fixed cable minimum bend diameters (e.g., 300 mm) that are independent of the cable OD.

For cables not having a circular cross-section, bend diameter requirements are to be determined using the thickness (minor axis) as the cable diameter and bending in the direction of the preferential bend.