FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1SECTION INCLUDES
A.Installation and testing of fiber optic communication systems.
1.2RELATED SECTIONS
A.Section 13553: ITS Conduit
B.Section 13595: ITS Integration, Inspection, Testing, and Acceptance
1.3REFERENCES
A.National Electrical Code (NEC)
B.Telcordia Guidance
C.Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and Electronic Industries
Association (EIA) Specifications
D.Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
E.USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Specifications
1.4DEFINITIONS
A.Backbone Fiber Optic Strands - Fiber optic strands in the fiber optic cable
that are the main data trunk line. They carry aggregated data between fiber hub buildings and the TOC.
B.Distribution Fiber Optic Strands - Fiber optic strands in the fiber optic
cable that carry data to and from pre-terminated drop cables and the nearest fiber hub building.
C.Fiber Distribution Unit (FDU) – A storage and management box for use in
cabinets and fiber hub buildings for the terminated ends and splice points of the fiber optic cable.
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D.Fiber Hub Building – A small building or an area located within a
government building that aggregates the data from individual devices onto fiber optic strands for transport to the TOC.
E.Fiber Optic Light Meter Test Form – Document that identifies the fiber
optic strands that are impacted by the construction activities and that need to be tested.
F.Splice – The physical connection of fiber optic strands between two fiber
optic cables.
G.Launch Cable – A cable designed to be used in conjunction with an
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) to measure light loss along the length of a fiber optic strand.
H.Microducts – Small conduits that are either bundled with an oversheath or
individual conduits within a larger conduit which provide more physical paths for fiber optic cables.
I.Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) – An instrument that
assesses the health of fiber optic cables.
J.Trace – A visual representation of the light transmitted through fiber optic
strands as produced by the OTDR test.
1.5SUBMITTALS
A.Fiber Optic Technician Resume and Fiber Optic Training Certificate for
review for fiber optic staff including installation, splice, and test technicians. Refer to this Section, Article 1.7.
1.Resume showing at least 2 years of fiber optic work experience.
2.Fiber Optic Training Certificate of Completion from nationally
recognized fiber optic training course.
3.Fiber Optic Training Certificate of Completion from Utah Learning
Portal.
B.Fiber Optic Cable
1.Factory test results showing the attenuation of each fiber optic
strand in dB/km measured at 1310 nm and 1550 nm for review.
2.Fiber Optic Cable Pre-Installation Test for review. Refer to this
Section, Article 3.1.
C.Pre-terminated Drop Cable
1.Submit pre-terminated drop cable product sheets to Engineer for
approval.
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D.OTDR calibration certificate dated within 12 months of beginning of
anticipated splicing for information.
E.Test Results – For Information
1.OTDR Test Results. Refer to this Section, Articles 1.8 and 3.7.
a.Include a cover sheet for each electronic PDF fiber optic
testing report indicating the following: 1) Test Date 2) Test Type 3) Cables Tested 4) Statement that the installation complies with the requirements of this Section 5) OTDR User’s Name and Signature 6) OTDR Reviewer’s Name and Signature
b.Include both electronic PDF and OTDR generated versions
of each test result.
c.Provide trace graphs that include the following:
1) Horizontal Axis – Distance in feet 2) Vertical Axis – Attenuation in dB 3) Identify fiber optic strands by strand number 4) Mark cable beginning and end
d.Sign or initial traces by the reviewer.
e.Provide an event table showing events with more than 0.05
dB loss containing the following: 1) Event type such as a splice or a mechanical connection 2) Distance from OTDR end 3) Light Loss (dB) 4) Reflectance 5) Identify fiber optic strands by strand number
2.Fiber Optic Light Meter Test Results. Refer to this Section, Article
3.7.
a.Include electronic PDF version of completed test form.
1.6SPLICE PLANS
A.Project Splice Plans
1.Request splice plans, testing forms, and device assignments to
fiber optic channels at least 30 calendar days before the desired start date of splicing, and after junction boxes have been placed.
B.Field Mapping
1.The Department will complete a field mapping review to initiate
development of the splice plans.
2.Provide onsite coordination during the field mapping review.
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1.7INSTALLER QUALIFICATIONS
A.Complete a three-day course on fiber optic cable installation, splicing, and
testing conducted by a fiber optic supplier or established education provider.
B.Two years total and one year continuous work experience with fiber optic
cable splicing, termination, and testing.
C.Complete Fiber Optic Training through Utah Learning Portal. Refer to:
http://www.udot.utah.gov/go/standardsreferences
1.8OTDR ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
A.Maximum Insertion Loss – 1 dB
B.Maximum attenuation for fiber optic cables less than 3,300 ft (1 km) – 1 dB
C.Maximum attenuation at 1310 nm excluding splices as shown - 0.4
dB/3,300 ft (1 km)
D.Maximum attenuation at 1550 nm excluding splices as shown - 0.3
dB/3,300 ft (1 km)
E.Maximum Event Loss - 0.3 dB
F.Fiber optic strand trace lengths from the same fiber optic cable are within
50 ft
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1GENERAL
A.Provide materials that are UL listed.
B.Provide all incidental materials including labels, hook and loop wraps, and
consumables.
C.Outside plant materials meet Fluid Penetration Test standards (TIA/EIA-
455-82B).
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2.2FIBER OPTIC CABLE
A.Meets the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) requirements.
B.Outside Plant (OSP) type, loose tube, single-mode fiber optic cable.
1.All-dielectric cable
2.Meet requirements of Table 1.
Table 1 Fiber Optic Cable Specifications PARAMETERS SINGLE MODE Type Step Index Core Diameter 8.2 µm (Nominal) Cladding Diameter 125µm ± .7 µm Core to Cladding Offset ≤ 0.8 µm Coating Diameter (OSP) 245 µm ± 5 µm Coating Diameter (IP) 900 µm ± 15 µm Cladding Non-circularity ≤ .7% Proof Tensile Test 100 kpsi (0.7 GN/m²) Attenuation (Maximum Allowed) @ 850nm(MM) N/A @ 1300nm(MM) N/A @ 1310nm(SM) 0.40 dB/km @ 1550nm(SM) 0.30 dB/km Bandwidth @ 850nm(MM) N/A @ 1300nm(MM) N/A Chromatic Dispersion Zero Dispersion 1301.5/1321.5 nm Wavelength Zero Dispersion Slope ≤ 0.092 ps/(nm²·km) Maximum Dispersion 3.3 ps/(nm·km) for 1285-1330nm < 18 ps/(nm·km) for 1550nm Cut-Off Wavelength 1260 nm Numerical Aperture (EIA-455-47) N/A
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C.Use gel free fiber optic cable complying with Telcordia GR20-CORE and
TIA/EIA-4720000-A.
1.Use gel filled microfiber optic cables.
D.Use cable with individual buffer tubes and individual fiber optic strands
color coded in compliance with EIA/TIA-598 Color Coding of Fiber Optic Cables.
1.Individual buffer tubes may contain 6 or 12 fiber optic strands only.
E.Outer Jacket Labeling
1.Date of manufacture and the manufacturer’s name.
2.A numerical sequence at intervals no greater than 10 ft.
3.“Utah Department of Transportation” or “UDOT” or “DOT” at an
interval of no greater than 10 ft.
4.Marking height ⅛ inch nominal.
F.Solvent requirements
1.Must not remove any color from individual fiber optic strands. Refer
to TIA/EIA-598-A or buffer tubes.
2.Not harmful to the polyethylene cable jacket.
G.Provide reels of fiber optic cable from the same manufacturer.
2.3CONNECTOR TYPES
A.Standard Connectors - SC-APC. Refer to TIA/EIA 568B.
1.Used on FDU in cabinets or fiber hub buildings
2.Factory or field installed single-mode SC-APC or compatible
connectors
3.Ceramic ferrules
4.Maximum insertion loss 0.30 dB
5.Connector back reflection greater than 40 dB
B.Ethernet Switch Connector – LC-UPC. Refer to TIA/EIA 568B.
2.4PRE-TERMINATED DROP CABLE
A.Cable
1.Six single mode fiber optic strands
2.All dielectric, non-armored cable
3.Single buffer tube
4.Gel free or gel filled
5.Central core construction
6.Rated at least 400 lb pulling tension
7.Meets RUS requirements
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B.Pre-Terminated Unit
1.Factory assembled.
2.Pre-terminated with a 6-strand port molded patch panel unit that
acts as a cabinet FDU.
3.SC-APC connectors
C.Stranded, green jacketed No. 14 AWG locate wire with each drop cable
2.5FIBER OPTIC JUMPER/PATCH CORDS
A.Factory made
B.Buffered
C.Strengthened with aramid yarn
D.SC-APC to LC-UPC connectors
E.No more than 1 m (3 ft) long in field cabinets and no more than 3 m (10 ft)
long in fiber hub buildings
F.Contain no splices or mid-length couplers
G.Inside plant (IP) Jumpers
1.Meet NEC jacketing requirements
2.Outer jacket color
a.Orange for multimode jumpers
b.Yellow for single mode jumpers
2.6HUB FIBER DISTRIBUTION UNIT (FDU)
A.Splice storage area with splice trays
B.One buffer tube per splice tray
C.Patch panel up to 144 terminations as shown.
D.Fiber optic SC-APC couplers installed within the patch panel
E.Cassette with 12 Single Mode Fiber (SMF) ports with pre-terminated
pigtails
F.Cover to protect the terminations and splices stored within the FDU
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2.7FIBER OPTIC CABLE SPLICE ENCLOSURE
A.Complies with Telcordia GR-771
B.Corrosion resistant shell
C.Allows re-entry without replacing the cable seals
D.Strength member tie-off
E.External ground lug
F.Enclosure must be bonded inside and outside
G.Mechanism to resist cable pull-out
H.All required accessories to complete the splice
I.Six cable ports and applicable hardware
J.Dome style enclosure
K.Accommodates up to 288 splices
L.Contains two or more 36-count splice trays
PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1FIBER OPTIC CABLE PRE-INSTALLATION TESTING
A.Test the fiber optic cable at the site storage area before installation.
B.Test two fiber optic strands from each buffer tube from one end with an
OTDR, compatible with 1310 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths and single mode fiber type.
C.Test for continuity, length, anomalies, and approximate attenuation.
D.Record each measurement with color, location, and type of fiber
measured.
E.Use at least 1,000 ft of launch cable.
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3.2FIBER OPTIC CABLE INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
A.Do not cut fiber optic cable or perform fiber optic splices in locations that
are not shown in Department furnished Splice Plans.
B.Restore contractor-caused damage to active fiber optic cable and conduit
within 24 hours of damage.
C.Lubricate cable with a manufacturer approved lubricant designed for fiber
optic cable installation.
D.Use shear pins or other failsafe means to prevent exceeding the maximum
cable pulling tension as rated by the cable manufacturer.
E.Maintain the following minimum bend radii:
1.Twenty times cable diameter during installation.
2.Ten times cable diameter installed.
F.Cable Slack Requirements
1.Pull and store cable slack at designated intervals, including at each
junction box, fiber hub building, and other building the fiber optic cable enters according to Table 2.
2.Slack at locations with splice enclosures is measured from
enclosure end plate to conduit.
3.Provide proper storage of cable slack, both long term and short
term.
a.Do not leave cable slack lying free on the ground or floor of a
Cabinet, Hub, or Building except during the pulling process.
b.Neatly bind cables to be spliced together from conduit to
splice enclosure with tape.
Table 2 Minimum Fiber Optic Cable Slack Requirements Location Slack Length (ft) Type II and III Junction Box (No Splice Enclosure) 100 Fiber Splice Junction Box or Vault 50 (each side of enclosure – 100 ft total) Vault Outside of Fiber Hub Building 75 Building Entrance 50 (max) Building Patch Panel 50 (max) Drop Cable at Cabinet Junction Box 65
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G.Damage to the fiber optic cable, defective cable, or nonconformance of
this Section must be resolved by removing and replacing entire segments of fiber optic cable between full splice points.
H.Install fiber optic cable into standard conduit sizes by jetting or blowing
method or by pulling method while adhering to the maximum cable pulling tension as rated by the cable manufacturer.
1.Install microfiber optic cable into standard-sized conduit or
microduct by jetting or blowing method as rated by the cable manufacturer.
I.Install fiber optic cables into conduits or microducts:
1.Install Department-owned cables according to the color-code order
in Section 13553.
2.Install third-party telecommunication entity-owned cables beginning
with the last available conduit color and proceeding in the opposite order as presented in Section 13553.
J.Install fiber optic cables continuously within one conduit or microduct color
throughout the entire cable run.
K.Terminate fiber optic strands as described in the Department-provided
splice plans.
L.Label and tag all fiber optic cables 6 inch from each splice enclosure end
plate and on the slack loop using Electromark, ACP International or Panduit PST-FO (2 inch x 3.5 inch) with the following information:
1.Strand count
2.Location of cable termination (cabinet or hub location)
3.Type of circuit such as drop cable or distribution,
4.Direction of Fiber (North, South, East, or West)
5.Example:
48 ct SMFO Hub 2-10 3500 S Distribution East
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3.3ENTRY AND REENTRY OF FIBER OPTIC SPLICE ENCLOSURES
A.Perform all work in an environmentally controlled atmosphere.
1.Acceptable environments include office type environments in
buildings, splice trailers, and splicing tents with floors.
2.Do not splice, test, connect, or open fiber optic strand ends in
locations with freezing temperatures, rain, snow, or wind-blown dust.
3.Verify connectivity and test according to this Section before closing
the splice enclosure.
3.4FUSION SPLICING
A.Use fusion splice method for fiber optic strand splicing.
B.Perform fusion splices as follows:
1.Use equipment with automatic fiber optic strand alignment and
automatic light injection with detection devices or profile alignment algorithms to estimate splice losses.
2.Provide splice enclosure as a protection for splices and stripped
cable.
3.House splices in splice trays.
4.Use heat shrink tubing containing internal strength member to
provide additional protection and strain relief for each fusion splice inside of the splice tray.
5.Comply with maximum splice loss allowance of 0.05 dB as
measured with a fusion machine.
3.5SPLICE ENCLOSURE AND TRAY LABELING REQUIREMENTS
A.Provide a minimum of 3 ft of buffer tube slack from end plate.
B.Provide label for each buffer tube located 1 inch from the splice tray.
1.Identify which fiber optic cable and direction cable is coming from
on label.
2.Include device type such as CCTV, VMS, or TMS.
3.Label distribution buffer tubes with tags marked “Distribution” and
include direction of path such as westbound or eastbound.
C.Provide 3 to 4 ft of fiber optic strands outside of buffer tube from each
cable before splicing.
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D.Store all excess splice enclosure parts and hardware within the
manufacturer supplied plastic bag and place inside of the enclosure for future use.
1.Verify parts and hardware are securely fastened inside of the
enclosure to prevent damage of fiber optic buffer tubes and strands.
a.Loose parts and hardware inside of the enclosure are strictly
prohibited.
3.6PRE-TERMINATED DROP CABLE
A.Clean jumper cable connectors prior to installation using manufacturer-
approved cleaning equipment.
B.Secure pre-terminated end in cabinet with hook and loop wraps.
3.7POST INSTALLATION ACCEPTANCE TESTING
A.Notify the Engineer to schedule testing with the Fiber Supervisor no more
than seven calendar days after installing fiber optic cable and splicing fiber optic strands.
1.The Engineer will coordinate testing with the Department Fiber
Supervisor and provide the proper test forms (Post Termination and Splicing OTDR and Fiber Optic Light Meter).
B.Use certified technicians to test fiber optic cables.
C.Perform testing in the presence of the Engineer or authorized UDOT Fiber
Group designee.
D.OTDR Testing Requirements
1.Perform testing with an OTDR capable of producing output files that
are compatible with EXFO software or furnish to the Department the software necessary for viewing the OTDR data.
2.Test every fiber optic strand within the fiber optic cable and drop
cable before the 30-day burn-in test. Refer to Section 13595.
a.Test unterminated fiber optic strands from both ends.
3.Conduct each test with at least a 1000 ft launch cable.
4.Conduct each test at both 1310 nm and 1550 nm.
5.Take corrective action such as re-splicing if requirements are not
met and reperform OTDR test until no discrepancies exist.
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E.Fiber Optic Light Meter Testing Requirements
1.Connect light source and power meter to the fiber ports at the
locations identified on the Fiber Optic Light Meter Test Form provided by the Engineer.
2.Perform test before the 30-day burn-in test. Refer to Section
13595.
3.Use light frequencies of 1310 nm and 1550 nm or as indicated in
test forms.
4.Perform testing using two qualified fiber optic technicians with
cabinet access and two vehicles.
END OF SECTION
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Utah revises spec sections through supplementals and new editions. We check this one every week and email you the day it changes. Free, no account.
Source: Utah Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2026 Edition. Pages 1270–1282 of 1,331.
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