Cabling Project Management

1. Cabling Project Management A Presentation from The Fiber Optic Association, Inc. (FOA) (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

2. What’s Involved In A Project? • What’s involved in a cabling project? • The process from end to end • Planning • Design • Install • Test • Operation • What ensures success? (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

3. Cabling Is Important! • Cabling is your communications connection • Cabling may be only a few percent of the budget but causes most of its problems • Cabling must be properly designed, installed and tested by knowledgeable personnel • Personnel who do MACs (moves, adds and changes) must understand cabling to protect the investment (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

4. What Is The Role Of Cabling? • Creates a communications system infrastructure connecting two or more points • May involve standard or proprietary systems • Usually involves more than one medium (copper, fiber and wireless) and protocol • Meet specific standards and codes • Must operate in the real-world environment Lecture 1 (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

5. Successful Cabling Projects Need… • Understanding the communications system needs and what is involved in a project • The contractor or installer understanding what the customer wants and/or needs and knowing how to provide that • A plan and paperwork that describes the project so everyone can agree upon what is expected from all parties involved (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

6. What About Standards And Codes? • Standards are written to ensure the performance of the cable plant and the communications systems and may require certification • Codes are written to ensure safety, generally fire and electrical safety, and as legal requirements may require inspections • Contractors and users must know both “FOA Standards” (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

7. Copper, Fiber or Wireless? • Today, probably all three • Do you need performance (distance, bandwidth, security), cheap cost or mobility? • What kinds of devices do you need to accommodate? • Are you willing to consider non-traditional cabling architectures and systems? Lecture 24 (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

8. Step 1: Define the Project • What kinds of communications systems are needed? • Where will the system connect to/from? • Create a “Scope of Work” (SOW) that defines what the finished project will include – in detail – and will lead to RFPs, RFQs and contracts • Think about who will build the cabling system (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

9. The Scope of Work (SOW) • Describes the work to be performed • Goals of the project • Tasks and methods • Performance and testing • Project timing • May be part of larger building document • Must be clear, precise and complete • Primary reference for RFP, RFQ and contract (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

10. Step 2: Pick Your Media • Copper, fiber or wireless as appropriate for each section of the network • Copper: UTP, ScTP, STP, coax • Fiber: MM (OM1,2,3,4), SM (OS1,2) • Wireless: WiFi, cellular, maybe other • Consider needs of communications equipment and where media converters may be needed • Talk to potential suppliers (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

11. Step 3: Find a Contractor • Evaluate contractors by their • Relevant experience • Appropriate certifications (e.g. FOA CFOT) • Financial stability • References • Use RFP/RFB to get bids but beware of really low or really high bids • Write a good contract • Will multiple contractors need to cooperate? (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

12. Step 4: Design The Network • Use the SOW as an overview • Customer working with contractor • Do the layout drawings • Walk the routes of the cables with a camera • Do you need building facilities to be constructed/modified? • Choose components Lectures 9-11 (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

13. Step 4: Design The Network • Consider network reliability and restoration during design phase • What is the vulnerability of the cable routing (indoors or out)? • Is everything identified so it is easy is it to find the cable and hardware for troubleshooting or repair? • Does the plan include excess cable and hardware for restoration? (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

14. Step 4: Design The Network • Choose components • Communications equipment • Cable type (fiber/copper, indoor/outdoor, aerial/underground/buried, etc.) • Cable plant hardware (terminations, splices, patch panels, etc.) appropriate for the environment in which the cable plant is to be installed (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

15. Step 5: Install The NetworkSafety First! • Safety is the first issue to consider • Have you written safety procedures into SOW? • Are all personnel trained in safety? • Does everyone have the proper safety equipment? • Are supervisors observing all procedures for safety? Lecture 2 (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

16. Step 5a: Install The Network • Several things go on simultaneously: • Purchase components and equipment • Prepare the facility • Get personnel and tools prepared • Requires continual coordination between customer and contractor – there MUST be designated persons responsible for working together on the project Lecture 8 (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

17. Issues: Abandoned Cable (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

18. Beware: Counterfeit Cable Premises Lecture 11 (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

19. Secure The Site(s) • Components must be delivered before installation can begin • Components are valuable and easily resold on the web • Lock up or provide guards when necessary Google (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

20. Step 5b: Install The Network • Locate and build the OSP cable facilities and hardware • Install cables using proper techniques • Terminate and/or splice • Test to requirements in SOW • Document the results (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

21. Step 5b: Install The Network • Build out the cable hardware (conduits, trays, racks, etc.) • Install cables “in a neat and workmanlike manner” • Terminate and/or splice • Test to requirements in SOW • Document the results Premises Lecture 5 (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

22. Step 5c: Install The Network • Test to requirements in SOW • Copper (UTP): certification testing to structured cabling standards • Fiber: continuity and polarity, insertion loss, sometimes OTDR testing either to industry standards or negotiated values • Wireless: coverage • Only test what’s needed • Document all test results Lecture 12 (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

23. Step 6: Document The Network • Documentation starts with the project concept • Documents tell the customer what they must know about the cable plant and comm network • Drawings of the cable plant • Data on each cabling run ( component types, length, performance test results) • Documentation is final proof of a proper installation and generally required for completion of the contract (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

24. Step 7: Use The Network • Install the communications hardware and verify its performance • Then the best advice we can give you about operating a cabling system is “leave it alone!” • Restrict access to the network to those who know how to work with it to ensure no damage during moves, adds and changes (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

25. Things You Don’t Want To Happen! (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

26. Step 8: Dealing With Problems • IBM used to say that most computer system problems were caused by cables • Mostly its caused by people or patchcords • Beware of counterfeit patchcords! • Be careful of mixing components – mismatched Category UTP or fiber sizes • Either have the knowledge and equipment to troubleshoot problems or the phone number of a good contractor (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

27. Summary • Start the project with a concept, create SOW and begin documentation • Hire a contractor (with a contract) • Design the cabling • Install and test • Update documentation at every step • Use don’t abuse the cable plant • Plan for problems – use the documentation! (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

28. Cabling Is Important! • Cabling may represent only a few percent of an IT budget but causes most of its problems • Cabling must be properly designed, installed and tested by knowledgeable personnel • Personnel who do MACs (moves, adds and changes) must understand cabling to protect the investment (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

29. For More Information • Go to the FOA website www.thefoa.org for hundreds of pages of free technical information • Free online self study programs at Fiber U www.fiberu.org • Many videos on FOA YouTube channel “thefoainc” (c) 2012 The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.