UL Listing for underground optical cable?
- Thread starter 99cris
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Why would fiber optic cable need a listing? Its not electric, and there isn't any safety concerns that I am aware of.
Or is it installed in the same conduit with electric power? That might make a difference.
Thank you all for your comments. My question was about UL listed for the direct burial installation. NEC-2008, art.770 does not address any outdoor fiber optic cable installation. Still 110.3A1 should still apply? The cable is an German cable with different testing and marks but is not UL listed.
Thanks. This could be a path, but in case the cable is not foun in the list.....my question still apply. NEC-2008 art 770.48 is talking about unlisted optical cable entering the building. Can I suppose that the outdoor cable are exempt from listing...and if so...where is this article?
What about the 50 feet you are allowed?
Anyway, here is an article:
http://m.csemag.com/index.php?id=2832&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=24244&cHash=7b7c2f67fc
Yes, I would say its exempt.
Its not electric, and its not inside the building. Its outside the scope of any building inspection, because its not safety related. (Although, there could be "right of way legal" issues that could be within the scope of the AHJ's review.)
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
If the cable in question is not owned by a communications utility, it is covered by the NEC and is subject to permiting and inspection per the rules of the local AHJ. While there is no specific code section that would require this cable to be a listed product, 110.2 lets the AHJ require the use of a listed product.
Don_esqcapt19, I think you are wright. Even I would like.. NOT!
NEC-2008 art 770.
?II.Cables Outside and Entering Buildings.
770.48 Unlisted Cables and Raceways Entering Buildings.
(A)Conductive and Nonconductive Cables.
Unlisted conductive and nonconductive outside plant optical fiber cables shall be permitted to be installed in locations as described in 770.154(C), where the length of the cable within the building does not exceede 50 ft".
They talk here about UNLISTED cables entering the building. Even though the article is still addressing an interior the building case.(as 770.154(C), do)
Now you can see why I thought that the outside the building I could use the UNLISTED cable.
NEC-2008 art 770.
?II.Cables Outside and Entering Buildings.
770.48 Unlisted Cables and Raceways Entering Buildings.
(A)Conductive and Nonconductive Cables.
Unlisted conductive and nonconductive outside plant optical fiber cables shall be permitted to be installed in locations as described in 770.154(C), where the length of the cable within the building does not exceede 50 ft".
They talk here about UNLISTED cables entering the building. Even though the article is still addressing an interior the building case.(as 770.154(C), do)
Now you can see why I thought that the outside the building I could use the UNLISTED cable.
Don:
How can 110.2 apply to a non-electric installation outside a building?
770.48 is titled "Unlisted cables and Raceways Entering Buildings", and since unlisted cables are allowed to go 50' into a building, it seems obvious to me that the intent is to allow unlisted cables outside since the paragraph doesn't place any limitation on outside cables.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The NEC covers this non-electric installation, therefore 110.2 applies.
As far as 770.48 goes that does appear to permit the use of optical fiber cables that are not listed. That does not change the rule that says everything that is installed must be "approved" The AHJ does the "approving".
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