INTRODUCTION

Lightning currents from nearby strokes to earth, trees, or grounded structures can arc to metallic members of a directly buried optical fiber cable. In high-resistivity soils, or where there is a conductive path (such as a tree root), a strike more than a hundred meters away from the cable can still arc to it. Serious damage to the cable can occur from the thermal and mechanical stresses produced by such events.

This procedure provides a method for electrical-impulse testing of fiber optic cable using specified current waveforms and peak-current levels. The purpose of the method is to simulate the effects of the lightning arc at the point where it attaches to the cable and to establish the relative susceptibility of fiber optic cables to damage from such arcing.

Lightning can result in cable damage that is not simulated by this procedure. Intermediate and continuing currents can produce extensive thermal damage. Secondary arcing between insulated metallic elements can cause damage away from the lightning attachment point. Furthermore, local conditions (e.g., soil resistivity and geological structure) can be important factors affecting the lightning damage susceptibility of cables. The test method in this procedure does not attempt to simulate any of these effects or the variety of other conditions unique to specific real field environments.

This test method may involve hazardous operations and equipment. The procedure does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of whoever uses this procedure to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautions are given in 5.10.1.

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