Above Ground Fiber Optic Route

[ThePunisher]

We running overhead multi-tier cable trays (4 tiers) along plant conveyors and open steel buildings. There is a requirement for running a fiber optic network for the conditioning monitoring through collector panels. The fiber optic will form a ring network and hence 1 fiber cable coming from the PLC building and another going back (return cable).

Our client's engineering standards do not have anything specified for above ground fiber optic installation. I am proposing running them in 2" or 4" rigid steel conduits along the side of the cable trays and install fiber loop boxes at 90 degree turns. To maintain some form of redundancy, "TO" fiber cable will be routed beside the top tier cable tray and the "Return" to a lower cable tray tier.

I would like to get opinion on professionals who had encountered above ground fiber optic routing on conveyors and open steel buildings (with crushers and vibrating screen equipment).

Thanks

 

[dik]

What we've done for fibre optic and conductors is to run them in a cable tray supported on pwf treated wood sleepers sitting on drained granular fill. The cable tray is secured to the pwf material with stainless steel screws and separated by a 6" strip of EPDM sheeting to prevent corrosion of the tray.

Has only been in service a couple of years and seems to be working fine.

Dik

 

[fsmyth]

IMHO, both methods are a bit of overkill.
Granted, most of our work is in ducts or
otherwise enclosed in walls or ceilings,
but FO cable is pretty tough. Seems to
me that PVC conduit or EMT would be
more than enough protection and support
in a tray. Or possibly run the stuff
rated for direct burial (which I have
never used - caveats apply).

 

[davidbeach]

Watch out for direct burial cable used indoors. Usually direct burial cable is going to have a gel filling to keep water out. Any filled cable has to be terminated as near the point of building entry as practicable and transitioned to an indoor cable.