With any technology there are bound to be some questions about its application. The following Questions and Answers were compiled by LiteAccess Technologies (distributor of MicroDuct Technology) that should answer many of your concerns.
If you have additional questions please contact us.
Quick Links - Have questions about Installation click here
Have questions about Maintenance click here
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Installation Questions
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Installation Answers
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Q1.
What governs the position of the fiber-optic cable in the roadway or footway?
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A1.
Consultation with the Cities/Municipalities Streets and Engineering Department
describes proposed location, description and depth of the network including proposed
timetable for commencement and completion of the works and the dates and times during
which the Company proposes to carry out such works. Further consideration will also be
given to accommodate roadway or footway improvement schedules and may assist with
optimal depth determination.
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Q2.
What depth should the microduct be installed?
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A2.
Minimum depth required within NRSWA, New Roads and Streets Work Act 1991, is
20mm into unbound layer. Target depth 150mm hard infrastructure, 250mm soft
infrastructure. Actual depth will be determined by the materials found within the
structure and depth of third party plant.
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Q3.
What is the recommended installation procedure for the microduct?
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A3.
Most deployments are engineered to be placed between gutter pan and road surface
and at a depth whereby the opportunity of network compromise is virtually non-existent.
The microduct is laid directly into the 12mm or 17mm slot, backfilled to approx. 10mm
above top edge of microduct with dry sand, limestone composite, flowable concrete or
City/Municipal recommended material. Final reinstatement follows guidelines as
determined by governing body and may include grade tarmac to approx 40mm of
finished surface level followed by hot bitumen to finished level.
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Q4.
Does the microduct network need to be grounded?
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A4.
Any cable with non-current carrying metal components must be grounded at the
building entrance or as soon as feasible. The 2002 NESC, section 31, under General
Requirements Applying to Underground Lines and sub-section 315, Communications
Protective Requirements, state that cable must be grounded if the following conditions
apply:
· Lightning
· Contact with supply conductors with voltages exceeding 300V
· Transient rise in ground potential exceeding 300V
· Steady –state Induced voltage of a level that may cause injury
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Q5.
How many fibers are deployed?
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A5.
The MicroDuct Technique provides for up to 96 fibers in a single
deployment. Depending on current requirements, clients are now able to purchase what is
immediately needed. No longer does a client have to spend large amounts of capital for
product and services that may never be used. Our future-proof solution enables clients to
control the growth of their network by allowing additional fibre to be blown at any time.
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Q6.
How easy does the microduct network integrate with existing infrastructures?
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A6.
Our fiber solution was designed to integrate with any type of existing
infrastructure and technology. Microduct fiber products are color coded in accordance
with TIAIEIA-598A, “Optical Fibre Cable Color Coding”, and terminate into traditional
splice enclosures most typically used within the Telecom Industry. Use of nonproprietary,
common access chambers, handholes, manholes etc. enables integration of
new and existing networks as well as availability and acceptability of product within
cities and Municipalities. MicroDuct is also fully compliant with the
requirements of CEI/IEC 60794-3-10, International Standard for Outdoor Cables
enabling direct bury and aerial application use.
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Q7.
What is the life of the installed cable?
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A7.
Based on the life of the infrastructure in which the cable is placed, we anticipate a
lifespan of greater than 20 years. Another consideration is that the cable can be
completely replaced without affecting customers (provided that redundancy is deployed),
giving the network a potentially endless life.
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Maintenance Questions
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Maintenance Answers
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Q1.
How susceptible to damage are microduct networks'?
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A1.
No damage has been experienced to networks to date. Consultation
with local authorities include consideration of existing route conditions including future
build possibilities, road improvements etc. enabling the design and engineering of the
network in the safest and least vulnerable route. Once installed, detailed documentation
including as-built drawings will be in the possession of the local authorities and client.
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Q2.
How can damage be avoided?
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A2.
Subscribing to 'call before you dig' services will prevent the majority of events. Also
some education may be required for city maintenance teams who deal with footway and
road repair to ensure detailed documentation and as built drawings have been obtained
and properly analyzed. 'Man-made' or events having an identical impact on any type of
deployment methodology - namely, related to utility maintenance and construction not
following the correct procedures and checking registered 'as-built' documentation may be
possible.
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Q3.
How does one locate a damaged or broken cable?
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A3.
In addition to as-built drawings and typical placement of the network between the
gutter pan and road, microduct contains an aluminum layer or tracer wire
that can be used to locate the damaged cable. An OTDR (Optical Time Domain
Reflectometer) can also be used to locate damaged fibers.
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Q4.
What happens if the fiber is damaged?
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A4.
In most cases, if the fiber has been damaged, the microduct network has also been
compromised. Using specially designed connectors providing an air tight and water tight
connection a new section of microduct is connected. The fiber can then be either spliced
at the break location or the broken strands blown out and new fiber blown in.
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Q5.
What happens in the event of frost heave?
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A5.
Microduct technology was designed as a one piece conduit system
containing full water barrier protection and conforming to or exceeding stringent crush
test and tensile load parameters. Placement of the network in existing expansion joints
such as gutter pan and road, and at depths within the unbound layer provides further
protection from varying external forces.
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