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HomeMy WebLinkAboutATTACHMENT C - FIBER OPTIC DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS Fiber Optic Network Construction Specifications FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FIBER-TO-THE-PREMISE FEEDER/DISTRIBUTION AND BACKBONE NETWORK PROJECT Waterloo Iowa Version 20230517 PREPARED BY: /   Table of Contents 1. General Guidelines 2.1 License 2.2 Insurance 2.3 Laws and Regulations 2.4 Materials and Equipment 2.4.A Submittals 2.5 Subcontractors 2.6 Permitting 2.7 Traffic Control 2.8 Warranties 2.9 Change orders 2.10 Restoration 2.11 Testing 2.12 Craftsmanship 2.13 Safety 2.14 Protection of Public 2.15 Storage of Equipment and Materials in Public Streets 2.16 Discrepancies 2.17 Inspections 2. Fiber-Optic Cable 3.1 General Guidelines 3.2 Fiber Optic Cable 3.3 Bend Radius 3.4 Reel Placement 3.5 Cable Slack 3.6 Cable Tags 3.7 Strength 3.8 Installation 3.9 Precautions 3.10 Cable Marking 3.11 Single-Mode Optical Fiber 3.12 Buffer Tubes 3.13 Central Member 3.14 Filler rods 3.15 Stranding 3.16 Core and Cable Water-Block Material 3.17 Tensile Strength Member 3.18 Ripcord 3.19 Outer Jacket 3.20 Quality Assurance 3.21 Fiber Characteristics 3.22 Color Coding 3.23 General Cable Performance Specifications 3.24 Microfiber Specifications Microfiber may be called out in certain locations of the plans. If micro fiber is specified in the plans the contractor shall blow in the fiber in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Microfiber shall not be pulled in due to its low tensile strength. 3. Splicing 4.1 General Guidelines 4.2 Labeling 4.3 Splicing 4.4 Splice Cases 4.5 Photos 4.6 Fiber-Optic Cable Termination Assemblies 4.7 Optical Fiber Connectors 4.8 Couplers 4.9 Pigtails 4.10 Fiber Termination Panels 4.11 Testing 4.11.A Post Installation Testing 4. Underground Construction 5.1 General Guidelines 5.2 Locates 5.3 Special Considerations 5.4 Conduit Placement 5.5 Depth of Placement 5.6 Grade Away from Buildings/Structures 5.7 Conduit Type 5.7.A Directional Boring/Plowing/Missile Bore 5.7.B Trenching 5.7.C Innerduct 5.8 Conduit Turns and Transitions 5.9 Conduit Proofing 5.10 Duct plugs 5.11 Trace Wire 5.12 Marker Posts 5.13 Conduit Entering Hand Holes/Man Holes 5.14 Locate Information 5.15 Building Entrances 5.16 Box Sizing 5.17 Box Spacing 5.18 Box Placement 5.19 Pedestals 6. Communication Plan 6.1 General Guidelines 6.2 Approved Materials 6.3 Provide Regular Updates 6.4 Website & Social Media 6.5 Townhall Meeting 6.6 Provide Resources 6.7 Requirements 6.7.A Door Hangers 6.7.B Signage 6.7.C Phone Number/Contact Information 6.7.D Magnets Aerial Construction (Optional Services) 7.1 General Standards 7.2 Installation Methods 7.3 Height of attachment 7.4 Sag 7.5 Down guys 7.6 Anchors 7.7 Snow shoes 7.8 Tags 7.9 Hardware 7.10 Grounding 3.11 Single-Mode Optical Fiber 3.12 Buffer Tubes 3.13 Central Member 3.14 Filler rods 3.15 Stranding 3.16 Core and Cable Water-Block Material 3.17 Tensile Strength Member 3.18 Ripcord 3.19 Outer Jacket 3.20 Quality Assurance 3.21 Fiber Characteristics 3.22 Color Coding 3.23 General Cable Performance Specifications 3.24 Microfiber Specifications Microfiber may be called out in certain locations of the plans. If micro fiber is specified in the plans the contractor shall blow in the fiber in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Microfiber shall not be pulled in due to its low tensile strength. 3. Splicing 4.1 General Guidelines 4.2 Labeling 4.3 Splicing 4.4 Splice Cases 4.5 Photos 4.6 Fiber-Optic Cable Termination Assemblies 4.7 Optical Fiber Connectors 4.8 Couplers 4.9 Pigtails 4.10 Fiber Termination Panels 4.11 Testing 4.11.A Post Installation Testing 4. Underground Construction 5.1 General Guidelines 5.2 Locates 5.3 Special Considerations 5.4 Conduit Placement 5.5 Depth of Placement 5.6 Grade Away from Buildings/Structures 5.7 Conduit Type 5.7.A Directional Boring/Plowing/Missile Bore 5.7.B Trenching 5.7.C Innerduct 5.8 Conduit Turns and Transitions 5.9 Conduit Proofing 5.10 Duct plugs 5.11 Trace Wire 5.12 Marker Posts 5.13 Conduit Entering Hand Holes/Man Holes 5.14 Locate Information 5.15 Building Entrances 5.16 Box Sizing 5.17 Box Spacing 5.18 Box Placement 5.19 Pedestals 6. Communication Plan 6.1 General Guidelines 6.2 Approved Materials 6.3 Provide Regular Updates 6.4 Website & Social Media 6.5 Townhall Meeting 6.6 Provide Resources 6.7 Requirements 6.7.A Door Hangers 6.7.B Signage 6.7.C Phone Number/Contact Information 6.7.D Magnets Aerial Construction (Optional Services) 7.1 General Standards 1. General Guidelines 2.1 License 2.2 Insurance 2.3 Laws and Regulations 2.4 Materials and Equipment 2.4.A Submittals 2.5 Subcontractors 2.6 Permitting 2.7 Traffic Control 2.8 Warranties 2.9 Change orders 2.10 Restoration 2.11 Testing 2.12 Craftsmanship 2.13 Safety 2.14 Protection of Public 2.15 Storage of Equipment and Materials in Public Streets 2.16 Discrepancies 2.17 Inspections 2. Fiber-Optic Cable 3.1 General Guidelines 3.2 Fiber Optic Cable 3.3 Bend Radius 3.4 Reel Placement 3.5 Cable Slack 3.6 Cable Tags 3.7 Strength 3.8 Installation 3.9 Precautions 3.10 Cable Marking 3.11 Single-Mode Optical Fiber 3.12 Buffer Tubes 3.13 Central Member 3.14 Filler rods 3.15 Stranding 3.16 Core and Cable Water-Block Material 3.17 Tensile Strength Member 3.18 Ripcord 3.19 Outer Jacket 3.20 Quality Assurance 3.21 Fiber Characteristics 3.22 Color Coding 3.23 General Cable Performance Specifications 3.24 Microfiber Specifications Microfiber may be called out in certain locations of the plans. If micro fiber is specified in the plans the contractor shall blow in the fiber in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Microfiber shall not be pulled in due to its low tensile strength. 3. Splicing 4.1 General Guidelines 4.2 Labeling 4.3 Splicing 4.4 Splice Cases 4.5 Photos 4.6 Fiber-Optic Cable Termination Assemblies 4.7 Optical Fiber Connectors 4.8 Couplers 4.9 Pigtails 4.10 Fiber Termination Panels 4.11 Testing 4.11.A Post Installation Testing 4. Underground Construction 5.1 General Guidelines 5.2 Locates 5.3 Special Considerations 5.4 Conduit Placement 5.5 Depth of Placement 5.6 Grade Away from Buildings/Structures 5.7 Conduit Type 5.7.A Directional Boring/Plowing/Missile Bore 5.7.B Trenching 5.7.C Innerduct 5.8 Conduit Turns and Transitions 5.9 Conduit Proofing 5.10 Duct plugs 5.11 Trace Wire 5.12 Marker Posts 5.13 Conduit Entering Hand Holes/Man Holes 5.14 Locate Information 5.15 Building Entrances 5.16 Box Sizing 5.17 Box Spacing 5.18 Box Placement 5.19 Pedestals 6. Communication Plan 6.1 General Guidelines 6.2 Approved Materials 6.3 Provide Regular Updates 6.4 Website & Social Media 6.5 Townhall Meeting 6.6 Provide Resources 6.7 Requirements 6.7.A Door Hangers 6.7.B Signage 6.7.C Phone Number/Contact Information 6.7.D Magnets Aerial Construction (Optional Services) 7.1 General Standards 7.2 Installation Methods 7.3 Height of attachment 7.4 Sag 7.5 Down guys 7.6 Anchors 7.7 Snow shoes 7.8 Tags 7.9 Hardware 7.10 Grounding Introduction The purpose of this document is to describe the guidelines and methods by which the physical components for the City of Waterloo Construction of a Fiber-to-the-Premise Feeder/Distribution and Backbone Network Project will be installed. The construction for the Project will follow the guidelines and principles outlined in this document, in addition to local rules, regulations, and specifications as they apply. Contractors will adhere to industry standard quality installation principles and provide quality installation services to ensure that the most reliable and cost-effective network is built. All fiber routes will be installed to fall within public right-of-way (ROW), existing utility easements, or other property to which the City has legal access. Any changes to this document will be provided in writing and a revised version will be disseminated to all stakeholders upon approval. Version Change Description Authors  20210505 Initial Release John Williams  20221114 V1 John Williams  20230104 V2 John Williams  20230111 V3 John Williams  20230207 V4 John Williams  20230214 V5 Warren Lyon  20230214 V5 Warren Lyon  20230228 V6 Warren Lyon  20230517 V7 John Williams   General Guidelines DEFINITIONS Where used in this documents the following terms shall mean as defined here. Other terms are as defined elsewhere in Contract Documents. PROJECT: Project shall mean construction of a fiber-to-the-premise feeder/distribution and backbone network in City of Waterloo, Iowa for the City of Waterloo. ENGINEER: Engineer shall mean the person in charge of managing the construction review services and construction inspection of the Project on behalf of the City of Waterloo. CONTRACTOR: Contractor shall mean the entity or entities hired to construct and install the Project in accordance with Contract Documents developed for the Project. These guidelines identify and define the City of Waterloo requirements and policies for the Construction of a Fiber-to-the-Premise Feeder/Distribution and Backbone Network Project. Use of, and compliance with these guidelines is mandatory for contractors including all subcontractors working on the Project. The City Infrastructure Standards are based upon the code requirements and telecommunications industry standards contained in the following guidelines. These guidelines will not duplicate the information contained in those references, except where necessary to provide guidance, clarification or direction. Contractors shall use sound judgement in order to comply with the requirements of the codes and standards in references and standards. 2.1 License Contractor shall possess any and all contractor licenses, in form and class as required by any and all applicable laws with respect to any and all work to be performed under this contract; in accordance with the provisions of the Contractor's License Law in the State of Iowa and rules and regulation adopted pursuant thereto. 2.2 Insurance The Contractor shall not commence work under this contract until he has obtained all insurance required per the contract with the City. Nor shall the Contractor allow any subcontractor to commence work on his subcontract until all insurance required of the subcontractor has been obtained. The Contractor shall take out and maintain insurance at all time during the life of the contract. The following policies of insurance: policies as required by the City of Waterloo. 2.3 Laws and Regulations The Contractor and all subcontractors shall follow all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations for the installation and maintenance in which the Contractor has been hired to perform. 2.4 Materials and Equipment The Contractor will be responsible for providing materials and equipment necessary to complete all work described in the plans and specifications to deliver a complete and working system. Contractor shall provide cut sheets with material specifications and shop drawings to the Engineer for all materials for approval prior to ordering. Where available, Engineer may accept material and equipment by approved vendor, approved test, approved brand and model, or approved source. 2.4.A Submittals The Engineer will review all cut-sheets, shop drawings related to the project. This includes, but is not limited to, relevant material specifications sheets that include manufacturer, part numbers, size, performance and shop drawings. Engineer will review all test results, preapproved certificates, and approved sources when applicable. Allow a minimum of one week (five working days) for the Engineer to review. All products seeking approval either as “approved equivalent” or otherwise, shall be submitted as a product substitution request prior to ordering. Failure to submit a product substitution request may preclude product from being utilized on the project. The burden of proof is on the Contractor to provide documentation that equivalent product meets the specifications and project requirements. Include in substitution request: product being replaced, reason for product substitution, full manufacturer specification sheet clearly indicating that all requirements in project documents have been met, and appropriate test reports or approvals as the case may be, such as Underwriters Laboratories tests. Failure to meet the above (Part 2.4A-4) requirements will result in the product substitution request being rejected as approved equal. All product substitution requests are to be reviewed and approved by the Engineer. It is possible that not all requests will be approved; all decisions are final, without recourse. 2.5 Subcontractors The Contractor shall provide the City a list of all the subcontractors the Contractor plans to use on the Project prior to start of any work. Subcontractors must be qualified to perform assigned work and are subject to these specifications. The City has the right to deny or approve use of subcontractors at the City’s discretion. The Contractor shall not use more than 50% subcontractor labor during any portion of the project unless pre-approved by City. 2.6 Permitting It shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to obtain all required permits from the City, Corps of Engineers (USACE), IDNR, Railroads and/or Iowa DOT and other permitting authorities prior to start of the contract work. The Contractor shall always keep a copy of approved permit and associated plans on the jobsite. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to coordinate notice of commencement, and coordinate with the permitting authority having jurisdiction on any requirements given as a conditional approval of the permitting. All fiber-optic network systems shall meet or exceed the latest requirements of all national, state, county, municipal, and other authorities exercising jurisdiction over the telecommunications systems and the Project. The Contractor shall furnish all labor or material required to comply with all local and other agencies’ permitting requirement having jurisdiction at no additional cost. Contractor shall obtain certificates of inspection and approval from all authorities having jurisdiction, and forward copies of the same to the City prior to request for Project acceptance inspections, final completion inspections, substantial completion inspections, and acceptance testing/demonstrations. All required permits and inspection certificates shall be made available at the completion of the fiber-optic system installation and commissioning. Any portion of the fiber network which is not subject to the requirements of an electric code published by a specific authority having jurisdiction shall be governed by the National Electrical Code and other applicable sections of the National Fire Code, as published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Installation procedures, methods and conditions shall comply with the latest requirements of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 2.7 Traffic Control It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to provide adequate temporary traffic control in conformance with the latest edition of the Iowa Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to ensure traffic safety during construction activities. The Contractor shall provide a copy of Contractor’s traffic control plan to the Engineer and have the plan approved prior to starting any work in the right-of-way. 2.8 Warranties The Contractor shall guarantee the entire work constructed by the Contractor under the contract to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of two years following the date of acceptance of the work by the City. The Contractor shall agree to make or cause to be made, at Contractor’s own expense, any repairs or replacements made necessary by defects in materials or workmanship, which become evident within the warranty period. The Contractor shall further agree to indemnify and save harmless the City and Engineer, and their officers, agents and employees, against and from all claims and liability arising from damage and injury due to said defects. The Contractor shall make all repairs and replacements promptly upon receipt of written order from the Engineer. If the Contractor fails to make the repairs and replacements promptly, the City may do the work and the Contractor, and his surety shall be liable to the City for the cost of the work. Manufacturers' warranties, guarantees, instruction sheets and parts lists, which are furnished with certain articles of materials incorporated in the work, shall be delivered to the Engineer before acceptance of the contracts. 2.9 Change orders No change orders will be paid for unless preapproved by the City. Any deviations or discrepancies in the plans or field conditions that result in a change of installed billable quantities shall be submitted for approval prior to commencement of work. 2.10 Restoration All work performed under the responsibility of the Contractor shall include full restoration of any disturbed area to like new condition. This includes, but is not limited to; asphalt, concrete, pavers, earthwork, compaction requirements, sod, plants, trees, landscaping, signage, irrigation systems, and all existing utilities. Sidewalk ramps shall be rebuilt to comply with ADA sidewalk ramp requirements. All work and materials within the Iowa DOT Right-of-Way shall be in accordance with the Iowa Road and Bridge Standards, latest edition. Any work on the DOT Right-of-Way will require an approved application to perform work within state highway right-of-way permit and an approved permit to place utility within the highway right-of-way from Iowa DOT before work begins. 2.11 Testing All systems shall be tested as defined within this document to include, conduit proofing, cabling continuity and splice loss, compaction of disturbed earth, and any additional requirements set forth as a conditional approval of permitting or as directed by permitting authority and the City of Waterloo. 2.12 Craftsmanship All work, which is defective in its construction or deficient in any of the requirements of the plans and specifications, shall be remedied or removed and replaced by the Contractor in an acceptable manner at his own expense. No compensation will be allowed for any work done beyond the lines and grades shown on the plans or established by the Engineer. Upon failure on the part of the Contractor to comply with any order of the Engineer made under the provisions of this article, the Engineer and City may cause the defective work to be remedied or removed and replaced at the expense of the Contractor. The Engineer will issue a notice to the Contractor detailing any unauthorized or defective work, defective material or workmanship or any unfaithful or imperfect work is discovered before final acceptance of work by the Engineer and the contractor shall, within 24 hours, take immediate action to correct the defect and fix the problem at no extra charge even though it may have been overlooked in previous inspections and estimates or may have been caused due to failure to inspect the work. All cable and equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner. All methods of construction that are not specifically described or indicated in the contract documents shall be subject to the control and approval of the Engineer. Equipment and materials shall be of the quality and manufacture indicated. The equipment specified is based upon the acceptable manufacturers listed. Where “approved equal” is stated or a substitution is requested, equipment shall be equivalent or be superior in every way to that of the equipment specified. All substitutions are subject to the control and approval of the Engineer. The Contractor shall strictly adhere to all Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and BICSI recommended installation practices and manufacturer’s guidelines when installing communications components. 2.13 Safety Payment for performing all work necessary to provide safety measures or compliance with the provisions of the safety orders and all other laws, ordinances, and regulations shall be included in Contractor’s pricing. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing adequate safeguards, safety devices, protective equipment, confined space protections, flaggers, and any other needed actions to protect the life, health, and safety of the public and to protect property in connection with the performance of work covered by the contract. Any work within the traveled right-of-way that may interrupt normal traffic flow shall require a traffic control plan approved by DOT, and the County or City public works. All sections of the DOT Standard Specifications, Traffic Control, and the Iowa Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) shall apply. When a sidewalk is affected the sidewalk shall be properly closed. 2.14 Protection of Public Whenever the construction occurs within a developed residential area and/or through a school site, the Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to protect the public, especially children, from the hazards of open excavations. Trenches shall either be covered or adequately fenced at night and on weekends or whenever operations are not in actual process. Unusual conditions may arise on the project, which will require that immediate and unusual provision be made to protect the public from danger or loss or damage to life and property, due directly or indirectly to the progression of the work. It is part of the service required of the Contractor to make such provisions and to furnish such protection the cost of which will be addressed through a change order. The Contractor shall use such foresight and shall take such steps and precautions as the operations make necessary to protect the public from danger or damage, or loss of life or property, which would result from the interruption or contamination of public water supply, irrigation or other public service or from the failure of partly completed work. Whenever, in the opinion of the City, an emergency exists against which the Contractor has not taken sufficient precaution for the safety of the public or the protection of utilities or of adjacent structures or property or if immediate action shall be considered necessary in order to protect public or private personnel or property interest, or prevent likely loss of human life or damage on account of the operations under the contract, then and in that event the City may provide suitable protection to said interest by causing such work to be done and material to be furnished, as, in the opinion of the City may seem reasonable and necessary. The cost and expense of said labor and material together with the cost and expense of such repairs as may be deemed necessary shall be borne by the Contractor, and if he the Contractor shall not pay said cost and expense upon presentation of the bills therefore, duly certified by the Engineer, then said costs and expense will be paid by the City and shall thereafter be deducted from any amounts due, or which may become due said Contractor. Failure of the City, however, to take such precautionary measure, shall not relieve the Contractor of his full responsibility for public safety. 2.15 Storage of Equipment and Materials in Public Streets Construction materials shall not be stored in streets, roads, or highways for more than five days after unloading. All materials or equipment not installed or used in construction within five days after unloading, shall be stored elsewhere by the Contractor at Contractor’s expense unless authorized additional storage time in granted by the Engineer. Any damage to streets, roads, or highways as the result on the Contractor’s activities shall be repaired at the Contractors expense. Construction equipment shall not be stored at the work site before its actual use on the work or for more than five days after it is no longer needed. Time necessary for repair or assembly of equipment may be authorized by the Engineer. Excavated material, except that which is to be used as backfill in the adjacent trench, shall not be stored in public streets unless otherwise permitted. After placing backfill, all excess material shall be removed immediately from the site. The foregoing provisions are in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights or remedies available to the City. 2.16 Discrepancies If the Contractor discovers or becomes informed of a discrepancy or inconsistency in the plans, drawings, specifications or discrepancy and inconsistency in contract for the work in relation to any such law, ordinance, regulation, order or decree, the Contractor shall forthwith report the same to the Engineer in writing. 2.17 Inspections All craftsmanship and production from outside vendors and contractors shall be inspected for compliance to specifications by an inspector. The City of Waterloo and their Project Manager (Engineer) shall have the right to inspect the project and Contractor’s and subcontractors’ work while under construction and after any portion of the work is completed for compliance with plans and specifications, quality, quantity, workmanship, schedule, compliance with regulations, and other related matters. The Contractor shall coordinate and schedule work with the inspector. Inspector will review production quantities and craftsmanship. Any deficiencies identified by the inspector must be corrected by the Contractor prior to any permit close out or invoicing (pay estimate) of work. No pay estimate will be approved or processed until inspector signs off on work. Fiber-Optic Cable 3.1 General Guidelines All cable, unless specifically called out, shall be single-mode cable, rated for the environment in which it is installed. Installations shall be Outside Plant (OSP) rated dielectric. Pre-Approved Product Sets The following product sets are pre-approved for this project. Functionally equivalent alternate products will be accepted provided a substitution request is completed and approved as per these documents. The Engineer will reject product sets that have not been pre- approved or accepted as per the substitution request process. Fiber-optic cable and connection/termination products shall be manufactured by one of the following: Optical Cable Corporation Corning OFS CommScope Clearfield Or approved alternate 3.2 Fiber Optic Cable All cables shall be loose tube.Micro cable may be specified in some areas. If micro cable is called out on the plans the Bill of Materials will reflect the micro cable quantities to order along with required part numbers. 3.3 Bend Radius Bend radius shall exceed the minimum bend radius required by the fiber optic cable manufacturer. Fiber optic cable shall not be bent under stress which can result in damage.. The number of 90-degree turns on a pull shall not exceed four (4). 3.4 Reel Placement The Contractor should have the reel set adjacent to the hand hole and use a fiber-optic manhole pulling block assembly from Sherman & Reilly (or similar from another manufacturer/vendor). 3.5 Cable Slack For backbone and feeder cable coil a minimum of 100 feet of cable for Mid-Cable access (MCA) and 55 feet of cable for reel ends and butt splices. For distribution fiber cable coil a minimum of 50 feet of cable for Mid-Cable access (MCA) and 30 feet of cable for reel ends and butt splices. Coils are to be made only at splice locations or locations indicating a storage loop. 3.6 Cable Tags All cables shall be tagged and labeled at each splice location, fiber termination panel and building entrance. Tags shall read cable size, count and origin and end (to and from). 3.7 Strength The fibers in the cable will shatter under considerable impact, pressure or if pulling tensions exceed 600 lb., although not apparent from the outside of the cable. With fiber-optic cable the jacket of the cable and the Kevlar layer directly beneath give the cable its strength, note and repair all nicks and cuts. During installation of micro fiber the pulling tension is rated at 200lb. During installation of micro cable it shall be blown in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Microfiber shall not be pulled in only blown in accordance with manufacturer. 3.8 Installation During installation of standard loose tube cable, use a swivel eye for pulling the fiber-optic cable and conduit system including use of a 600 lb. breakaway. Microfiber shall not be pulled in but blown in. During installation of micro cable it shall be blown in accordance with manufacturers instructions. 3.9 Precautions Contractor should review the manufacturer's installation instructions prior to commencing with the installation. If any questions arise during installation, Contractor should refer to the manufacturer's installation instructions or notify the Engineer. All fibers in the cables shall be usable fibers and shall be free of surface imperfections and occlusions, in order to meet or exceed all the optical, mechanical, and environmental requirements contained in this specification. All cables shall be free of material or manufacturing defects and dimensional non-uniformity that would: Interfere with the cable installation employing accepted cable installation practices. Degrade the transmission performance and environmental resistance after installation. Inhibit proper connection to interfacing elements. Otherwise yield an inferior product. Each fiber optic outside plant cable for this project shall be all-dielectric, dry water-blocking material, duct type, with loose buffer tubes, and shall conform to these special conditions. Fiber-optic cables shall be supplied in the configurations shown on the plans and specified in these special conditions. The optical fibers shall be contained within buffer tubes. The buffer tubes shall be stranded around an all-dielectric central member. Aramid yarn and/or fiberglass shall be used as a primary strength member and a medium or high-density polyethylene outside jacket shall provide for overall protection. All fiber-optic cable on this project shall be from the same manufacturer who is regularly engaged in the production of optical fiber material. The cable shall be qualified as compliant with Chapter XVII, of Title 7, Part 1755.900 of the Code of Federal Regulations, “REA Specification for Filled Fiber Optic Cables.” 3.10 Cable Marking The optical fiber cable outer jacket shall be marked with manufacturer's name, the month and year of manufacture, the words "Optical Cable," telecommunications handset symbol as required by Section 350G of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC®), fiber count, fiber type and sequential meter marks. The markings shall be repeated every two feet. The actual length of the cable shall be within -0/+1% of the length marking. The marking shall be in a contrasting color to the cable jacket. The marking shall be approximately –0/+1% of the actual length of the cable in height and must be permanent and weatherproof. The fiber-optic cable shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following components: Single-mode optical fiber Buffer tubes Central member Filler rods (as needed per cable type) Stranding Dry-filled, water blocking tape and water blocking yarn Tensile strength member Ripcord Outer jacket 3.11 Single-Mode Optical Fiber Each optical fiber shall be glass and consist of a doped silica core surrounded by concentric silica cladding. All fibers in the buffer tube shall be usable fibers and shall be sufficiently free of surface imperfections and occlusions to meet the optical, mechanical, and environmental requirements of these specifications. The coating shall be a dual layered, UV cured acrylate. The coating shall be mechanically or chemically strippable without damaging the fiber. 3.12 Buffer Tubes The loose buffer tubes shall be single or dual layered in construction. For single layer, use polypropylene. For dual layer, the inner layer shall be made of polycarbonate and the outer layer shall be made of polyester. Buffer tubes shall provide clearance between the fibers and the inside of the tube to allow for expansion without constraining the fiber. The fibers shall be loose or suspended within the tubes and shall not adhere to the inside of the tube. Each buffer tube shall contain 12 fibers based upon the total fiber count in the cable and the fiber assignment table as shown on the plans and these special conditions. No individual fiber tube shall contain more than 12 fibers. The number of buffer tubes for the fiber-optic cable shall be approved by the Engineer before ordering. The loose buffer tubes shall be extruded from a material having a coefficient of friction sufficiently low to allow free movement of the fibers. The material shall be tough and abrasion resistant to provide mechanical and environmental protection of the fibers yet designed to permit safe intentional "scoring" and breakout, without damaging or degrading the internal fibers. Buffer tube filling compound shall be a homogenous, hydrocarbon-based gel with anti-oxidant additives. It shall be used to prevent water intrusion and migration. The filling compound shall be nontoxic and dermatologically safe to exposed skin. It shall be chemically and mechanically compatible with all cable components, non-nutritive to fungus, non-hygroscopic and electrically non-conductive. The filling compound shall be free from dirt and foreign matter and shall be readily removable with conventional, nontoxic, solvents. Buffer tubes shall be stranded around a central member by a method such as the reverse oscillation stranding process that will prevent stress on the fibers when the cable jacket is placed under strain. Each buffer tube shall be distinguishable from other buffer tubes in the cable by using the same color coding as specified for fibers elsewhere in this document. 3.13 Central Member The central member, which functions as an anti-buckling element, shall be a glass reinforced plastic rod with similar expansion and contraction characteristics as the optical fibers and buffer tubes. To provide the proper spacing between buffer tubes during stranding, a symmetrical, linear, overcoat of polyethylene may be applied to the central member to achieve the optimum diameter. 3.14 Filler rods Fillers may be included in the cable cross-section. Filler rods shall be solid medium or high-density polyethylene. The diameter of filler rods shall be the same as the outer diameter of the buffer tubes. 3.15 Stranding The buffer tubes shall be helically wrapped using the reverse lay stranding process around the central member in order to decouple the buffer tubes and optical fibers from the mechanical forces experienced during installation. Completed buffer tubes shall be stranded around the central member using stranding methods, lay lengths, and positioning such that the cable shall meet mechanical, environmental, and performance specifications. A polyester binding shall be applied over the stranded buffer tubes to hold them in place. Binders shall be applied with sufficient tension to secure the buffer tubes to the central member without crushing the buffer tubes. The binders shall be non-hygroscopic, non-wicking, and dielectric with low shrinkage. 3.16 Core and Cable Water-Block Material The cable core shall use a dry, water-blocking material to block the ingress and migration of water. The water-blocking performance shall be equivalent to flooded optical cables when tested in accordance with industry standards (ICEA, RUS). Dry, water-blocking material is used in optical cables to enhance the ease of handle ability while maintaining reliable water-blocking performance. 3.17 Tensile Strength Member Tensile strength shall be provided by high tensile strength Aramid yarns and/or fiberglass which shall be helically stranded evenly around the cable core and shall not adhere to other cable components. 3.18 Ripcord The cable shall contain at least one ripcord under the jacket for easy sheath removal. 3.19 Outer Jacket The all-dielectric cables (no armoring) shall be sheathed with medium or high-density polyethylene. The minimum nominal jacket thickness shall be 1.4 mm. Jacketing material shall be applied directly over the tensile strength members and shall not adhere to the Aramid strength material. The polyethylene shall contain carbon black to provide ultra-violet light protection, and it shall not promote the growth of fungus. The jacket shall be free of holes, splits and blisters. The cable jacket shall contain no metal elements and shall be of a consistent thickness. The jacket or sheath shall be marked with the manufacturer's name, the words "Optical Cable", the number of fibers, fiber type, month and year of manufacture, and sequential measurement markings every meter. The actual length of the cable shall be within ±1 percent of the length marking. The marking shall be in a contrasting color to the cable jacket. The print height of the marking shall be approximately 2.5 mm and must be permanent and weatherproof. The cable shall contain at least one ripcord under the sheath for easy sheath removal. 3.20 Quality Assurance The manufacturer(s) of supplied optical cable, optical cable assemblies and hardware shall be TL 9000 registered. 3.21 Fiber Characteristics One hundred percent (100%) of the optical fibers shall meet or exceed the requirements contained in this specification. The cable shall be tested in accordance with TIA/EIA-455-3A (FOTP-3), "Procedure to Measure Temperature Cycling Effects on Optical Fiber, Optical Cable, and Other Passive Fiber-Optic Components." The average change in attenuation at extreme operational temperatures (-40C to +70C) will not exceed 0.05 dB/km at 1550 nm. The magnitude of the maximum attenuation change of each individual fiber will not be greater than 0.15 dB/km at 1550 nm. This figure includes an allowance of up to 0.05 dB/km for measurement repeatability. All fibers within the finished cable shall be composed primarily of silica and shall have a matched clad index of refraction profile as well as the physical and performance characteristics that shall meet the requirements in the following table: Table 1 – Field Characteristics Parameters Value  Mode Single  Type Corning SMF-28 or approved equal  Core diameter 8.3 µm (nominal)  Cladding diameter 125 µm ± 1.0 µm  Core to Cladding Offset  0.8 µm  Coating Diameter 245 µm ±10 µm  Cladding Non-circularity defined as: [1- (min. cladding dia ÷ max. cladding dia.)]x100  1.0%  Proof/Tensile Test 100 kpsi, min.  Attenuation:    @ 1310 nm  0.4 dB/km   @ 1550 nm  0.3 dB/km  Attenuation Uniformity No point discontinuity greater than 0.1 dB at either 1300 nm or 1550 nm  Attenuation at the Water Peak  2.1 dB/km @ 1383 ±3 nm  Attenuation at Extreme Operational Temperatures  +0.05 dB @ 1310 nm or 1550 nm  Chromatic Dispersion:    Zero Dispersion Wavelength (λо) 1301.5 < λо  1321.5 nm   Zero Dispersion Slope  0.092 spy/(nm2km)  Maximum Dispersion:  3.5 peso/(nmkm) for 1285 - 1330 nm  18 spy/(nmkm) for 1550 nm  Cut-Off Wavelength <1260 nm  Mode Field Diameter (Petermann II) 9.3 ± 0.5 µm at 1310 nm 10.5 ± 1.0 µm at 1550 nm  3.22 Color Coding Optical fibers shall be distinguishable from others in the same buffer tube by means of color-coding according to the following: 1. Blue (BL) 7. Red (RD)  2. Orange (OR) 8. Black (BK)   3. Green (GR) 9. Yellow (YL)  4. Brown (BR) 10. Violet (VL)  5. Slate (SL) 11. Rose (RS)  6. White (WT) 12. Aqua (AQ)   The colors shall be targeted in accordance with the Munsell color shades and shall meet TIA/EIA-598B "Color Coding of Fiber Optic Cables" and RUS 7 CFR 1755.900. The color formulation shall be compatible with the fiber coating and the buffer tube filling compound and be heat stable. It shall not fade or smear or be susceptible to migration, it shall not affect the transmission characteristics of the optical fibers and shall not cause fibers to stick together. 3.23 General Cable Performance Specifications The fiber-optic cable shall withstand water penetration when tested with a one-meter static head or equivalent continuous pressure applied at one end of a one-meter length of filled cable for one hour, no water shall leak through the open cable end. Testing shall be done in accordance with TIA/EIA-455-82 (FOTP-82), "Fluid Penetration Test for Fluid-Blocked Fiber Optic Cable." The cable shall exhibit no flow (drip or leak) for 24 hours at 80C. The weight of any compound that drips from the sample shall be less than 0.05 grams (0.002 ounce). A representative sample of cable shall be tested in accordance with TIA/EIA-455-81B (FOTP-81), "Compound Flow [Drip] Test for Filled Fiber Optic Cable". The test sample shall be prepared in accordance with method A. Crush resistance of the finished fiber-optic cables shall be 220 N/cm applied uniformly over the length of the cable without showing evidence of cracking or splitting when tested in accordance with TIA/EIA-455-41 (FOTP-41), "Compressive Loading Resistance of Fiber Optic Cables." The 220 N/cm (125 lbf/in) load shall be applied at a rate of 2.5 mm (0.1 in) per minute. The load shall be maintained for a period of 1 minute. The load shall then be decreased to 110 N/cm (63 lbf/in). Alternatively, it is acceptable to remove the 220 N/cm (125 lbf/in) load entirely and apply the 110 N/cm (63 lbf/in) load within five minutes at a rate of 2.5 mm (0.1 in) per minute. The 110 N/cm (63 lbf/in) load shall be maintained for a period of 10 minutes. Attenuation measurements shall be performed before release of the 110 N/cm (63 lbf/in) load. The change in attenuation shall not exceed 0.4 dB during loading at 1550 nm for single-mode fibers and 1.0 dB during loading at 1300 nm for multimode fiber. The repeatability of the measurement system is typically 0.05 dB or less. No fibers shall exhibit a measurable change in attenuation after load removal. The cable shall withstand 25 cycles of mechanical flexing at a rate of 30 ±1 cycles/minute with a sheave diameter not greater than 20 times the cable diameter. The cable shall be tested in accordance with Test Conditions I and III of TIA/EIA-455-104A (FOTP-104), “Fiber Optic Cable Cyclic Flexing Test.” The magnitude of the attenuation change will be within the repeatability of the measurement system for 90% of the test fibers. The remaining 10% of the fibers will not experience an attenuation change greater than 0.1 dB at 1550 nm. The repeatability of the measurement system is typically ± 0.05 dB or less. The cable jacket will exhibit no cracking or splitting when observed under 5X magnification. Impact testing shall be conducted in accordance with TIA/EIA-455-25B (FOTP-25) "Repeated Impact Testing of Fiber Optic Cables and Cable Assemblies." The cable shall withstand 20 impact cycles. The magnitude of the attenuation change will be within the repeatability of the measurement system for 90% of the test fibers. The remaining 10% of the fibers will not experience an attenuation change greater than 0.1 dB at 1550 nm. The repeatability of the measurement system is typically ± 0.05 dB or less. The cable jacket will not exhibit evidence of cracking or splitting at the completion of the test. Using a maximum mandrel and sheave diameter of 560 mm, the finished cable shall withstand a longitudinal tensile load of 2700 N (608 lbs.) applied for one hour (using "Test Condition II" of the test plan). The test shall be conducted in accordance with TIA/EIA-455-33 (FOTP-33), "Fiber Optic Cable Tensile Loading and Bending Test." The measured fiber tensile strain shall be < 60% of the fiber proof strain. The cable will not experience a measurable increase in attenuation when subjected to the rated residual tensile load, 890 N (200 lbf). The repeatability of the measurement system is typically ± 0.05 dB or less. The cable shall be capable of withstanding a bending radius of 15 times the cable diameter under tensile loading and 10 times the cable diameter under a no-load condition 3.24 Microfiber Specifications Microfiber may be called out in certain locations of the plans. If micro fiber is specified in the plans the contractor shall blow in the fiber in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Microfiber shall not be pulled in due to its low tensile strength. Splicing 4.1 General Guidelines This section describes minimum requirements for splicing and connecting of the specified optical fiber cables. Fiber-optic cable shall be installed without splices except where specifically allowed on the plans or described in these special conditions. The single-mode fiber-optic cables used for distribution shall be spliced in pull boxes as shown on the plans or at aerial slack locations as shown on drawings. When splicing into a distribution cable, only those fibers associated with the count transferring onto the distribution cable shall be severed. All other fibers shall remain intact. The Engineer may allow additional splices between these specified locations. At no point shall cables be severed out of the convenience of the installation contractor. Splices shall only be performed at planned locations. Any situation where this can be accomplished shall be pre-approved prior to adding any additional splices to the network. 4.2 Labeling All splice cases, trays and fiber termination panels shall be properly labeled as to identify cable size, fiber count and routing of each fiber strand. 4.3 Splicing Optical fibers shall be spliced using the fusion splice method and the insertion loss shall not exceed 0.20 dB of loss per splice when tested using a bi-directional average. All closures shall include all necessary hardware items to support the cable adjacent to the closure and to terminate the lashing wire (if aerial). The fiber organizer trays shall be supplied as part of the Splice Case Closure. Cable closures shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Splicing shall be performed in accordance with RUS Splicing Standard Bulletin 1753F-401 (PC-2). Field splicing is permitted for the following: Connection of cable reel sections. Connection of a mainline service distribution cable to a service drop cable or a breakout cable. Connection of service drop cable or breakout cable to an optical fiber pigtail at cabinets or the patch panels. Connection of the backbone cable to an optical fiber pigtail at a hub patch panel. The Contractor shall not exceed the maximum number of field splices permitted as shown in the plans. Completed splices shall be placed in a splice tray. The splice tray shall then be placed in a water tight splice enclosure. Field splices shall be conducted only at locations as shown in the plans as an approved splice location. All splicing equipment shall be in good working order, properly calibrated with calibration certificate showing proof of calibration within the past 12 months. Craftsmanship shall meet all industry standards and safety regulations. Cable preparation, closure installation and splicing shall be accomplished in accordance with accepted and approved industry standards. All splices shall be protected with a thermal shrink sleeve. All fibers shall be labeled in the splice tray with permanent vinyl markers. Pigtail ends shall also be labeled to identify the destination of the fiber. Upon completion of the splicing operation, all waste material shall be deposited in suitable containers, removed from the job site and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner. 4.4 Splice Cases All splice cases used on this project shall be CommScope FOSC 450 Gel sealed fiber-optic splice closure or approved equal. The following sizes shall be used: FOSC 450A – Holds up to 96 fiber splices FOSC 450B – Holds up to 144 fiber splices FOSC 450C – Holds up to 192 fiber splices FOSC 450D – Holds up to 576 fiber splices All cases shall be sized to accommodate cable sizes that are housed in the splice case. Contractor shall include splice trays, label all fiber coming in and out of splice case, and protect each fusion splice with heat shrink protectors. For microfiber installations the following splice cases shall be used: For network access points (NAP) the following closures may be used. Micro fiber sizes 12-96 use Commscope CSC100 closures Micro fiber sizes 144-288 use Commscope CSC150 closures (OFDC-B8G) may be used if CSC150 closures are not available. All ring cut and butt splices for micro closures shall used FOSC 450B closures 4.5 Photos Contractor shall take a photo of each splice tray and document as part of the deliverables with the test results. All photos shall be labeled with location, date, tech name, company and description of the completed splice. 4.6 Fiber-Optic Cable Termination Assemblies Cable termination assemblies (connectors, pigtails and couplers) shall be products of the same manufacturer. The cable used for cable assemblies shall be made of fiber meeting the performance requirements of these special conditions for the F/O cable being connected, except that the operating temperature shall be modified to -20°C to +70°C. Manufacturer’s attenuation test results shall be provided for all cable assemblies. 4.7 Optical Fiber Connectors All optical fiber termination components shall meet or exceed the applicable provisions of TIA/EIA-455-B, Standard Test Procedure for Fiber-Optic Fibers, Cables, Transducers, Sensors, Connecting and Terminating Devices, and Other Fiber-Optic Components. All backbone optical fiber connectors shall be of industry standard LC Ultra polished UPC, all PON applications shall be of industry standard SC Angle polished APC, type for single-mode optical fiber and shall meet or exceed the applicable provisions of TIA/EIA-455-2C (FOTP-2), Impact Test Measurements for Fiber-Optic Devices, TIA/EIA-455-5B (FOTP-5), Humidity Test Procedure for Fiber-Optic Components, and TIA/EIA-455-34A (FOTP-34), Interconnection Device Insertion Loss Test. When tested in accordance with FOTP –2, the connector assembly will be subjected to ten impact cycles by being dropped from a height of 1.5 m. The maximum insertion loss measured before and after the impacts shall be < 0.50 dB. The mean insertion loss of the before and after impacts shall be < 0.30 dB. The insertion loss increase measured before and after the impacts shall be < 0.30 dB. The maximum reflectance measured before and after the impacts shall be <  40 dB. When tested in accordance with FOTP – 5, the connector assembly will be subjected to test conditions of 75 °C and 95% relative humidity for 7 days. Measurements of loss and reflectance will be made at the beginning of the test, at a minimum of six-hour intervals during the test, and at the end of the test. The maximum insertion loss measured before, during or after the test shall be < 0.50 dB. The mean insertion loss of the before, during or after the test shall be < 0.30 dB. The insertion loss increase measured before, during or after the test shall be < 0.30 dB. The maximum reflectance measured before, during or after the test shall be <  40 dB. Optical fiber connectors shall satisfy all interface parameters of equipment components as may be defined by the transmission equipment specifications. All optical fiber connector assemblies shall be machine angle polished for low back-reflection and low insertion losses at both 1310 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths. Single-mode pigtails shall be provided with factory pre-connectorized single-mode connectors of the "LC-UPC" type for backbone applications. Single-mode pigtails shall be provided with factory pre-connectorized single-mode connectors of the "SC-APC" type for PON applications. Connectors shall have maximum insertion loss of 0.5 dB or better. Connectors shall have a composite barrel with a “push-pull” connection design, ceramic (zirconia) ferrule. Each connector shall be capable of 200 repeated matings with a total maximum additional increase in insertion loss after 200 matings limited to 0.30 dB. Each connector shall have a return loss (back reflection) equal to or better than .50 dB. All connectors shall be factory-assembled and tested. There shall be no fabrication of connectors in the field. All unmated connectors shall have protective caps installed. 4.8 Couplers Couplers shall be made of nickel-plated zinc or a glass reinforced polymer that is consistent with the material forming the associated lC connector body. The design mechanism for mounting the coupler to the connector panel may be flanged or threaded but shall coincide with the connector panel punch-outs. All coupler sleeves shall be ceramic of the split clamshell or clover leaf design. The temperature operating range for couplers shall be the same as that specified for the SC connectors. 4.9 Pigtails Pigtails shall be of simplex (one fiber) construction, in 900 m tight-buffer form, surrounded by Aramid for strength, with a connector on one end. The outer jacket shall be yellow PVC with a nominal diameter of 3 mm, marked with the manufacturer’s identification information. All pigtails shall be of adequate length for the intended connection purpose, but not less than two meters in length. Pigtails installed in conduit shall follow the installation procedures outlined for fiber-optic cables, except that the pulling tension shall not exceed 500 N (110 lbf.). 4.10 Fiber Termination Panels Fiber terminations shall be housed in a rack mounted fiber termination panel, sized appropriately for the cable size installed. All materials including fiber panel housing, pigtails, splice cassettes, trays, connector panels and all other materials required for a complete working system shall be provided by the Contractors and shall be included in Contractor pricing. 4.11 Testing The contractor shall perform fiber testing on 100% of all fiber strands installed. Testing shall be completed using the following standards using equipment calibrated within the past 12 months. Test resulted shall be submitted to the Engineer for review. Engineer will decide the methods and means of verifying the accuracy of the test results. 4.11.A Post Installation Testing All fiber strands shall be tested once they are in their final configuration. Test documentations shall be provided to the City as part of the project deliverables. Acceptance testing shall be completed utilizing two wavelengths of 1310 and 1550nm. Acceptance testing shall utilize both OTDR and Powermeter testing. OTDR test shall be delivered to the City in both raw trace format as well as .pdf copies. Powermeter test shall be documented and delivered on a Powermeter test form. All backbone and fedder cable splicing shall have a bi-directional dB loss no greater than -.20dB at each patch panel port. Testing for PON cabinets shall be uni-directional dB loss no greater than -.20dB. All connectors shall have a dB loss no greater than -.50dB. In the event any fiber splice or termination test with a dB loss higher than the maximum loss, fiber splices shall be broken and re-spliced until allowable dB loss can be achieved. In the event a fiber stand has been re-spliced three different times and cannot meet these standards, an exception document shall be provided identifying the fiber, splice locations, and documentation showing the three attempts of re-splicing. Underground Construction 5.1 General Guidelines Governing Iowa Department of Transportation indexes and regulations will be used as well as all applicable codes in force. No construction shall begin without authorization or permit from the authority having jurisdiction. 5.2 Locates Contractor shall follow all state laws pertaining to the Locates rules and regulations. Contractor shall call 811 at least two business days and not more than 10 business days prior to excavations. Notification can be completed by utilizing one of the following methods: Call 811 Contractor shall utilize sound judgement when completing underground utility excavations and installations. No guess work as to where existing utilities are located. All practical means necessary shall be utilized to locate existing utilities to include locates, soft digs and spot holes, and ground penetrating radar shall be considered to avoid conflicts. Contractor’s pricing shall include these in their pricing as a cost of doing business. 5.3 Special Considerations All railroad crossings shall be 6” SDR 11 conduit with (3) 2” corrugated innerducts per railroad requirements. Special considerations shall be made for any installation deemed as high profile or where a spare conduit for future use would be a significant financial benefit to the City. A spare conduit shall be considered at railroad, waterways and other areas of significant utility congestion, as well as environmentally sensitive areas and any installations with long permit lead times. Contractor will be responsible for applying for and obtaining all railroad permits. All bore pits shall be compacted to 95% density in roadways, roadway shoulders, roadway prism and driveways and 85% density in unpaved areas. The Contractor’s trench safety system shall be a protective system designed and maintained by a competent person and shall meet accepted engineering requirements or practices. This trench safety system may require the use of a support system in locations not designated in the contract as requiring a support system. 5.4 Conduit Placement The standard quantity for the City’s Backbone Network shall be a quantity of three (3) 1.25” conduits, Feeder network standard shall be (1) 2” conduit, and FTTH distribution shall be (1) 1” conduit. The conduit shall be placed as shown on the construction documents. If no offset measurement is identified or running line offset needs to be adjusted due to field conditions, conduit shall be placed at an offset from the roadway that meets the governing DOT regulations and indexes while still staying within the ROW. If this cannot be accomplished, raise issue to the Engineer. Warning Tape shall be required for all buried cable installation process except when directional boring or missle boreing operation are used and shall be as follows: Extra Stretch terra tape Minimum of six inches (6”) wide Orange in color with black lettering which reads “Caution Buried Fiber Optic Cable Below” Placed in the Trench a minimum of twelve inches (12”) above all conduit/ fiber 5.5 Depth of Placement Unless otherwise specified by the Engineer, above the depth of buried conduit, cable or wire placed, measured from the top of the conduit, cable or wire to the surface of ground or rock must be as listed below: Minimum depth in soil (Mainline) - 42 inch Minimum depth at ditch crossings - 42 inch Minimum depth in rock 24-inch rock to surface. Note: DOT or other authority having jurisdiction may require a deeper requirement for minimum depth. In the event of conflicting requirements, the more stringent depth requirement shall be used. In the case of a layer of soil over rock, either the minimum depth in rock, measured to the surface of the rock, or the minimum depth in soil, measured to the surface of the soil, may be used at the Engineer’s option. If called out in the plans 30 inch depths may be used and installed by missile bore. When rock excavating is required, width and depth requirements of the trench must be: Trench Width Trench Depth 10” (or greater) 24” Either the minimum depth in rock must be achieved or some other method may be employed by the Contractor to provide adequate protection to the cable or wire as agreed to by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), e.g. concrete cap. 5.6 Grade Away from Buildings/Structures The conduit shall be placed in such a way to as to maintain a gradual grade down away from buildings and other major structures. 5.7 Conduit Type 5.7.A Directional Boring/Plowing/Missile Bore Conduit for directional boring, plowing, or missile boring shall be HDPE with a minimum rating of SDR 11 type. 5.7.B Trenching Conduit type for open trench shall be PVC with a minimum rating of Schedule 40. 5.7.C Innerduct Inner duct, where required, shall be of the corrugated type and orange in color. Inner duct requirements (size and amount) will be determined by the Project Engineer. 5.8 Conduit Turns and Transitions All conduit turns shall be made with 45-degree bends or sweeps. At no time shall 90-degree bends be utilized in the outside plant arena, unless it is already existing conduit, and approved by the City. 5.9 Conduit Proofing All conduit installed shall be proofed utilizing a mandrel and shall include the installation of a continuous, jet-line pull-string. Duct proofing shall ensure new conduit is continuous, free from dirt and debris and conduit is in good usable condition. 5.10 Duct plugs All conduit ends shall be properly sealed with mechanical duct plugs. Duct plugs shall be Jack-moon type or equal. 5.11 Trace Wire A #12 AWG insulated solid trace wire shall be placed along with all conduit put in place or pulled through one of the conduits installed. This trace wire shall maintain continuity from end station to end station. It is acceptable to use vaults/hand holds for joining the trace wire, while keeping these joints visible and out of the way of the fiber cable. Tracer wire shall only be installed in new conduit. Tracer wire is not needed on existing duct. 5.12 Marker Posts Easily visible, marked, HDPE orange dome fiber-optic marker posts shall be placed above the conduit at all major transitions to said conduit (turns greater than 25 degrees, etc.). Fink plated marker posts are required where necessary. Marker posts will display the City of Waterloo logo and will be marked “Underground Fiber Cable.” Fink test locations shall be installed and properly grounded at every splice location. 5.13 Conduit Entering Hand Holes/Man Holes All conduits shall be stubbed up underneath the bottom of each manhole/hand hole leaving at least 8” but no more than 12” of visible conduit exposed. Conduit and inner ducts shall be capped until use. After use they shall be plugged appropriately to maintain the integrity of the conduit/inner duct from dirt and water. 5.14 Locate Information All splice points, vaults, hand hole/manhole, and conduit turns of 45-degrees or greater shall receive a GPS coordinate that is marked and labeled back onto the as-built drawings. Building Entrances All building entrances should be checked and approved with the Engineer or liaison. Preference is given in the following order (but dictated by the facility itself): use of existing entrance conduit, core drilling and bringing conduit up the outside of a facility, attaching a pull-box to the exterior of said building and entering through the wall of the building. 5.16 Box Sizing All boxes utilized MUST meet the DOT applicable indexes and be on the DOT approved equipment list. Handholes shall be polymer composite Quazite brand or approved equal with a minimum tier 15, 20k load rating. The following sizes are to be used unless specifically called out for in the design: 17x30x24 (20K Load) 24x24x24 (20K Load) 24x36x24 (20K Load) 30x48x24 (20K Load) If called out in the plans vaults used for naps and customer drops may have light duty lids if placed in grass. The following sizes may be used in these applications: 12x12x12 (light duty) 13x24x18 (light duty) 5.17 Box Spacing Hand holes and vault spacing on backbone shall be installed as designed. If any adjustments in location of hand holes needs to be made, new location needs to be pre-approved by the City or City representative authorized to approve any adjustments. As an overall guideline, hand hole spacing on the backbone shall be held to a maximum distance of 1,000’ between handholes to assist in pulling and access to the network. Any 90-degree turn, major intersection of place of future connectivity or splice locations will also require a hand hole or vault to be placed. 5.18 Box Placement All hand holes and vaults shall be installed flush with the existing grade unless otherwise specifically directed. Box installation shall include a 6” base or crushed stone or gravel for drainage purposes. Any earth disturbed in the immediate area surrounding the box shall be compacted to avoid any future wash outs. All box, hand holes, vault installations shall include all restoration. Box pricing shall also include placement of all bolts to secure lid. Have all boxes approved prior to purchasing/installation of said boxes per the material submittal requirements. All box lids shall have “FIBER” embedded on them. 5.19 Pedestals Pedestals shall be used for NAPs if called out in the plans for customer drops.Pedestals shall be installed in accordance to manufactures installation instructions. Communication Plan 6.1 General Guidelines This communication plan will outline the steps necessary to ensure effective communication with residents and businesses in Waterloo during the project. To ensure that all residents and businesses are kept informed, the following steps should be taken. The Contractor(s) shall provide and distribute all approved communication materials throughout the community to ensure that everyone is informed about the project, as mutually developed by the City of Waterloo and Contractor. By following these steps, the construction project can ensure that effective communication is maintained with residents and business owners leading to a smoother construction process and better relationships in the community, as well as providing the ability for the City to market and brand the service to each and every residential and commercial passing as construction commences. 6.2 Approved Materials Distribution of door hangers, flyers, stickers, magnets, etc., to residents’ businesses, schools, and other locations impacted by construction, in accordance with the material approved by the City of Waterloo. 6.3 Provide Regular Updates The contractor shall provide updates to the Engineer about the progress and schedule of the construction project and any changes that may take place. In addition to progress updates and upcoming schedules, updates should also include information about the expected timeline for completion, the resources that are being used, and any safety concerns that have been identified (i.e., reports, logs, street sheets, project timelines, map of progress; upcoming schedule; etc.). This comprehensive information can help citizens better understand the project and its impact on the surrounding environment. It can also give citizens the opportunity to give feedback and suggestions about the project.  6.4 Website & Social Media The City of Waterloo will maintain a dedicated website and will utilize social media channels to provide project information provided by the contractor. 6.5 Townhall Meeting The Engineer will schedule townhall meetings in coordination with the contractor to provide more detailed information about the construction project, answer questions and address any concerns of residents and businesses. The Contractor shall make project managers or other staff available at the meetings to answer questions. 6.6 Provide Resources The City of Waterloo will approve all materials provided by the Contractor(s) to be utilized as construction begins, to be distributed in any given area/neighborhood of the city. 6.7 Requirements 6.7.A Door Hangers Door hangers shall be placed by the Contractor on all residential and commercial properties two weeks prior in any area to be constructed, to notify residents and businesses of the construction activities. The door hangers will include the City of Waterloo logo, phone number and web URL to the project page, and QR code for additional information to be provided by the Engineer. 6.7.B Signage The Contractor signage should be placed in a visible location near the construction site. This will help inform passersby of the construction and will also warn those who come too close to it. The signage will include the City of Waterloo logo, phone number, and web URL to the project page, and QR code for additional information to be provided by the city. 6.7.C Phone Number/Contact Information A dedicated phone number will be provided by the City of Waterloo in all communication pieces for residents and businesses to call if they have questions or concerns. The phone number will be staffed during business hours so residents and businesses can have their questions answered in a timely manner.  6.7.D Magnets Magnets should be displayed on all Contractor vehicles and equipment. The magnets will include City of Waterloo logo, phone number, and web URL to the project page, and QR code for additional information to be provided by the city. Aerial Construction 7.1 General Standards All aerial construction shall be completed per federal, state and local codes. All work shall be performed by qualified and experienced individuals in a safe manner. All pricing for aerial construction shall include worksite safety and traffic control plans for work crews. All installation shall comply with all pole owner requirements and conditions as listed on any pole attachment agreements. All aerial cables, and accessory materials used in the construction of the Project shall be handled with care. Each reel of aerial cable shall be inspected for damage. Any damage shall be repaired to the satisfaction of the Owner. If reel wrap is present, the reel wrap shall remain intact on the reel until the cable is ready to be placed. 7.2 Installation Methods All aerial construction shall be installed using the strand and lashing method. Strand, unless specifically directed, shall be 6m galvanized strand. Cable shall be double lashed to strand. Where physical obstructions make it necessary to pull cable along the line from a stationary reel, cable stringing blocks shall be used to support the cable during all placing and tensioning operations. Ladders, cable cars and other equipment shall not be placed on or against the cable. During installation, maximum pulling tension and minimum bending radius of the aerial fiber-optic cable shall not exceed the cable manufacturer's recommendations. Initial stringing tension, maximum permissible span length, and sagging shall be in accordance with the cable manufacturer’s recommendations. The cable shall be installed within a reasonable time after the strand is installed and tensioned. If a delay in installing cable in excess of 24 hours is encountered, temporary dampers shall be installed on the strand. When tensioning strand, the cable suspension clamps shall be loose enough to allow free movement of the strand. Suspension strand shall be placed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and shall be tensioned in accordance with same. The suspension strand shall be placed on the roadside of the pole line. In tangent construction, the lip of the suspension strand clamp shall point toward the pole. At angles in the line, the suspension strand clamp lip shall point away from the load. In level construction the suspension strand clamp shall be placed in such a manner that it shall hold the strand below the through-bolt. At points where there is an up-pull on the strand, the clamp shall be so placed that it shall support the strand above the through-bolt. When a thimble-eye bolt is used both to mount the suspension strand clamp and to make the guy attachment, the size of the suspension strand clamp shall be governed by the size of the thimble- eye bolt required for the guy. Tensioning the strand shall be in accordance with air temperature as per manufacturer’s instructions. The suspension strand shall be made electrically continuous throughout its entire length. Cable shall be lashed with lashing wire to the suspension strand by means of a suitable lashing machine. The pitch of the lashing wire may be from 10” – 15” but must be constant for any section of cable of the same size and gauge. For cables of 3⁄4” or larger in diameter, the lashing wire shall be placed with a tension of 35 to 40 lbs. Cables having a diameter less than 3⁄4” shall be lashed with a lashing wire tension of 18 to 25 lbs. 7.3 Height of attachment Cable shall be installed on poles at specific height and location as called out on construction drawings. Any deviation from this could result in Contractor having to correct attachment as the Contractor’s own expense. New aerial construction shall be located in the communication space on the poles. 40” minimum separation from pole neutral is required. Midspan cable height shall meet state regulations as to minimum height to allow safe passage of vehicular traffic. 7.4 Sag Installed aerial cables shall match sag of all existing communication of the poles to prevent midspan rubbing on contact with other cables. 7.5 Down guys All pole attachments requiring down guys shall be identified on the drawings. Down guy installations shall be at proper “rise and run” to support new pole attachment. Down guys shall be galvanized 6m strand and shall include yellow guy guards. 7.6 Anchors All anchors installed shall be either Manta Ray type or screw-in anchors. All material specification sheets shall be submitted for approval prior to ordering and installation. 7.7 Snow shoes Cable slack shall be installed per project plans. All aerial cable slack shall include the use of fiber-optic aerial slack organizers commonly referred to as snow shoes. 150’ of aerial cable slack shall be installed every 1500’ of aerial construction. Snow shoes shall be secured to the 6m strand per manufacturer installation instructions. The Contractor shall supply all the labor and material associated with installation of slack storage devices for aerial cable. The contractor shall use the Preformed FIBERLIGN® CLAS (Center-Lock Aerial Slack) storage system for All Dielectric Self Supporting (ADSS) cables and lashed messenger cable. 7.8 Tags Orange high-visibility cable tags shall be installed at every pole attachment. Cable tags shall be weather rated and read “City of Waterloo Fiber Optic Cable.” In addition, splice case shall be tagged per requirements as to identify cable size, routing and count. 7.9 Hardware All pole attachment hardware shall be galvanized, and adequately sized to support proposed attachment. All bolts employed for the mounting of hardware items on poles shall be long enough to fully engage the nut (including locknut, where applicable) but shall not extend more than 2” beyond the nut after the nut is tightened. The ends of bolts shall not be cut. 7.10 Grounding All pole attachments, down guys and splice cases shall be properly grounded utilizing #6 solid wire and 5/8”x8’ copper clad ground rods. The support messenger of fiber-optic cable shall be grounded in compliance with the pole owners, City standards and the NEC. Suspension strands shall be bonded to other bare cable suspension strands, and guys on the same pole and grounded by connection to ground leads. The lashing wire shall be terminated at each pole and the cable shall be supported and protected at the suspension clamp. Where the strand is to be grounded to a multi-grounded neutral on a pole which does not carry a vertical pole ground wire, a #6 AWG bare copper wire shall be left coiled and taped to permit it to be extended up the pole and connected to the multi-ground neutral by a representative of the servicing power company. This contract shall coordinate such bonding and grounding activities.