Seed 2_Project 557-20-101_27 13 23_Comm Optical Fiber Backbone Cabling.pdf

This is a technical specification section for communications optical fiber backbone cabling, part of a larger VA Infrastructure Standard for Telecommunications Spaces.

The specification establishes requirements for single mode optical fiber backbone cables designated for both inside plant and campus backbone applications, including interbuilding and intrabuilding use. OS1 fiber optic performance category is specified for inside plant applications, while inside/outside rated OS2 is required where the pathway transits an outside plant path. All fiber optic backbone media must pass Tier 1 requirements including attenuation testing via Optical Loss Test Set (OLTS) with cable length and polarity verification, as well as Tier 2 requirements using Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) testing to verify cable attenuation uniformity and connector insertion loss. Fiber termination shall be field-terminated using fusion splicing when connecting computer rooms to Telecommunications Rooms (TRs) and other telecommunications spaces. Cable jacket color is specified as yellow. Communications Multipurpose Cable, Plenum (CMP) rating is required for any portion of cable passing through NEC-defined plenums, while Communications Multipurpose Cable, Riser (CMR) applies to all other applications; CMP may substitute for CMR. Cables must be dielectric and tight-buffered for OS1, or loose-tube gel-filled for OS2, with bundles consisting of multiples of subbundles containing 12 or 24 fiber strands. Implementation requires all cabling and equipment to be labeled per VA Infrastructure Standards, installation in overhead cable tray and fiber raceway systems within telecommunications spaces, and submission of Campus Fiber Backbone route shop drawings for Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) approval a minimum of 30 days prior to installation.