ADSS Cable Installation Guide

ADSS Cables

Installation Guide

This document presents Teldor Cables and Systems’ recommendations for installation of its ADSS cables.
Issues related to installing cables in the proximity of high voltage power cables are not discussed in this
document.
This document is intended for use solely by those with adequate and suitable experience, knowledge,
equipment and trained personnel to plan and execute any or all of the actions herein described.
The content of this document is intended as a service to Teldor Cables and Systems Ltd. customers. Teldor
disclaims any responsibility for any result or consequence of using the information contained in this document.
In no event shall Teldor Cables and Systems Ltd. or its employees, agents or affiliates, be liable for any direct,
indirect, actual, special or consequential damages resulting from following the instructions in this document or
from the information contained herein.

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1. General
• Read the entire guide before starting a cable
This document provides general information for installing installation. Thoroughly understand the procedure, its
Teldor Cables and Systems’ ADS Series ADSS (All-Dielectric precautions, as well as the tools and equipment
Self-Supporting) fiber optic cables. Every installation is required before starting work.
influenced by local conditions.
The reader should be experienced in aerial fiber optic cable 3. Cable Handling
placement.
This guide contains references to specific tools and
materials in order to illustrate a particular method. Such
references are not intended as product endorsements. Caution
Care must be taken to avoid cable damage during placement
and handling. Fiber optic cables are sensitive to excessive
pulling, bending, twisting, crushing and impact forces. Any
2. Safety Precautions such damage may alter the cable's characteristics to the
extent that the cable section may have to be replaced. To
This section discusses some basic safety considerations
ensure all specifications are met, consult the cable’s data
applicable to aerial cable installations.
specification sheet for the cable you are installing.

3.1 Installation Tension

Warning
There are two different tensions to keep in mind during
• Cable installation in general and ADSS cable installation installation of ADSS cables. One is the maximum pulling
in particular requires skill and know-how. Never attempt tension during installation; the other is the span tension.
to install ADSS cables with unskilled personnel.
The maximum tension during installation depends on the
• Use protective leather gloves and, if necessary, rubber cable construction and design. Values for standard Teldor
gloves. Use the leather gloves when climbing or ADSS cables are given in our data specification sheets.
descending a pole, and when working with sharp
instruments or materials. Wear rubber gloves when After the cable is pulled in, it is placed in the pole hardware
working near exposed electrical circuits. under tension. This tension, referred to as the span tension,
is calculated for each cable to achieve a 1% installation sag
• Use a safety harness on all bucket trucks and aerial lifts. at different environmental conditions. Such conditions are
A body belt and safety strap for the bucket or platform defined as Light, Medium and Heavy, reflecting different wind
must be used when the equipment is in operation to velocity and ice buildup on the cable.
minimize the chance of injury.
3.2 Minimum Bend Radius
• Before climbing a pole, inspect it for significant
deterioration and safety hazards; splintering, insect nests, Excessively sharp bends can damage the fibers in fiber optic
sharp protrusions, etc.). cables. The minimum bend radii for both tensioned and no-
tension conditions are found on the cable data specification
• Position all motorized equipment so that exhausts are
sheet. As a general rule, the minimum bend radius for a non-
directed away from the location where most work will be
armored cable is as follows:
done.
• Cable under load - 20 times the nominal outside
• Under extreme conditions a cable under tension may
diameter of the cable
snap free and cause injury. Therefore, unless absolutely
necessary, personnel should not remain in an area • Cable under no load -10 times the nominal outside
where a cable is being pulled around a piece of diameter of the cable.
hardware under tension. If needed, the installer can
remain in such an area if he or she stays clear of the
hardware under tension and has a clear path to safety.
• Keep hands free of tools or materials when climbing or
descending a pole or ladder. Do not step on cables,
cable enclosures, or suspended equipment which might
provide unsafe footholds.

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3.3. Installation • During installation, periodically inspect the reel to ensure

that the through-bolts do not loosen. Tightening them
will ensure that the cable pays off the drum correctly.
During aerial cable installation, the cable is pulled along the
cable route through temporary support hardware installed for
this purpose. This method is described in Section 5 below. 4. Planning and Preparation
A complimentary installation technique is often used where Prior to beginning an aerial cable installation, careful
the cable is coiled on the ground in a “figure-eight” planning and preparation are necessary. Representatives of
configuration. This technique is often used in order to pull each organization potentially affected by the installation
the cable in both directions from a central location. (utilities, street department, police, etc.) should be present
during the route survey. Approval by all necessary parties
The “figure-eight” configuration is shown in Figure 1. The should be secured before detailed planning begins. A few of
“Figure-Eight” coil should measure at least 10 m by 5 m and the issues to be considered are listed in the following
be protected from passersby. paragraphs. Planning should be undertaken jointly by
construction and engineering personnel. Hardware
requirements should also be considered at the planning stage.
4.1 Route Planning, Pole Selection and
Authorization
• Determine the ability of existing pole lines and guys to
support the new cable, as well as any restrictions
imposed by the pole owner. The anchoring and guying of
the cable is crucial for its safe operation. Ideally, the
guying should remove all of the lateral stress on each
pole so that the pole simply supports the weight of the
cables, hardware and equipment attached to it. Your
Figure 1: Laying down a cable in “figure eight” company’s normal specifications concerning anchoring
configuration and guying of poles should be followed.
When long lengths of cable need to be unreeled, there is a • Set new poles only when there is no existing utility and
danger that the weight of the coils may damage the cable at when a reasonable alternate route does not exist.
the bottom. This can be prevented by spreading the cable out Written permission must be obtained from the proper
into several figure-eight coils as shown in Figure 1. authorities before placing new poles, and all other
In order to pull from a figure-eight coil, it is sometimes utilities having underground plant in the area must be
necessary to turn it over to expose the cable end. This task contacted so they can locate and mark their facilities
usually requires three people, one at the center and one at prior to new pole placement.
each end. • Examine the ability of existing dead-end poles to
3.4 Cable Drum Care and Inspection withstand the temporary stresses of installation. Because
it is impractical to tension each of the spans along the
• Leave the protective covering on the drum intact until it route simultaneously, a dead-end pole will be subjected
arrives at the installation site. Upon removal of the to an unbalanced load as the cable is tensioned on one
protective covering, inspect the cable jacket for signs of end of the cable run before the other. This temporary
damage. unbalanced loading can be relieved by placing temporary
• If the covering has already been removed, secure the guy wires on tangent poles where there is no down guy.
cable end(s) during transit to prevent damage. Cable Determine whether temporary guying is needed
drums should be stored vertically on their flanges and according to your company’s standard route engineering
chocked to prevent rolling. guidelines.

• Teldor Cables and Systems recommends measuring the • Ensure proper clearance from electric power lines and
fiber attenuation in the cable just prior to installation other cables that may sag near the fiber optic cable.
using an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR). Determine the clearances between the proposed fiber
optic cable plant and existing facilities on a case-by-case
Make sure to have on hand the data sheet for the specific basis by referring to local safety codes, and your
cable to be installed in order to have first hand company’s standard operating procedures.
information about its mechanical properties.

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4.2 Installation Planning 4.4 Pole Hardware

Planning the actual installation should take place only after a ADSS cable installations require a special tangent assembly
thorough route survey. or a mechanical dead-end at each pole. Wedge type clamps
can be used as dead-ends in place of heliform designs. Use
the following guidelines to identify the hardware needs of
4.3 Splice Locations and Cable Slack each pole:
Requirements
• Line offsets of 0 to 20° (horizontal and/or vertical)
• Select splice locations during the route survey and make require fiber optic tangent assembly (Figure 2)
plans for slack and splice closure storage. Splice
locations should be placed to allow for the longest • Line offsets >20° (horizontal and/or vertical) or at the ends
possible continuous cable spans and a minimum number of the cable require dead-ends (see Figure 3).
of splices. The cable must be properly tensioned as described in Section
• The splice points should be chosen to facilitate later 7 before it is permanently secured into the tangent
splicing operation and should be easily and conveniently assemblies and dead-end fixtures. Section 8, ADSS Cable
accessible to a splicing vehicle. Hardware, provides guidance on installation of pole hardware.

• The amount of slack cable left at each splice point must

be sufficient to reach from the pole’s height to the
planned splicing vehicle location on the ground. An
additional 5 meters should be added onto this length to
allow for closure requirements (Figure 3). This slack
should be allowed for when planning the route and
ordering cable. Leave sufficient slack at each future drop
point to allow for splicing.

Figure 2: Fiberoptic Tangent Assembly

Figure 3: Dead-ends are needed for line offsets more than 20°

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Figure 4: Stationary Drum Installation Method

5. Stationary Drum Installation Method

o Avoid pulling across sharp turns.
Using the stationary drum method of aerial cable installation, o Maintain a line-of-sight along the entire cable route to account
the cable is pulled along the cable route through temporary for obstacles
support hardware installed for this purpose (Figure 4). When
the cable is in place between splice points, the cable is o Provide cable slack at designated points to allow for
future drops.
tensioned and terminated at each dead-end pole along the
route. The cable spans are then lifted out of the temporary o Compensate for insufficient temporary support
support hardware and placed in tangent clamps at each hardware or personnel to cover the entire route.
intermediate pole.
o Installation time will be minimized if drums can be
5.1 General Considerations set up for continuous pulls in both directions from a
splice point.
• Determine the cable drum and pull locations, each of
which can be at any point along the route. The location o Prevent damage to the cable during payoff:
of the cable drum and any subsequent intermediate pull
o Keep the cable drum leveled to avoid cable
points must be determined during the route survey.
rubbing against the drum flanges.
Some of the factors to consider are:
o Orient the cable drum so that the natural payoff
o Where a significant elevation change occurs along the
direction is directly towards the first pole.
route, it is usually best to pull downhill.
o Pay out the cable from the top of the drum as
o The cable drum location should be accessible by the
shown in Figure 4 to eliminate possible cable
drum carrying truck, but removed from vehicle and
contact with the ground.
pedestrian traffic.
• By using the “figure-eight” coiling procedure, cable from 5.2 Temporary Support Hardware
one drum can be pulled in both directions from a central
point. The route can be subdivided into shorter pulls to: • Temporary support hardware must be selected and
placed so as to maintain the cable’s minimum bend
radius throughout the route and to prevent the cable’s
o Keep the pulling tension below the cable’s rated entanglement on obstructions in the right-of-way.
installation strength.

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5.3 Stringing Block Placement • During the pull, sufficient personnel should be on hand
to monitor the entire pull route. Two-way
• Hang the proper stringing block on each pole or support communication should be established between the pull
structure. 50 cm (or greater) blocks should be used for point, the cable drum location, and each of the route
Any offset poles. The stringing block wheel should observers.
have a semi-circular profile suitable to the cable
outer diameter • Start the pull very slowly as the cable is drawn from the
• 10° and 20 cm blocks are utilized for straight line drum at ground level up through the temporary support
poles (Figure 5). hardware located atop the first pole. Once the cable end
is past the first pole, the pulling speed can be gradually
• On poles with an offset greater than 10°, elevate the and steadily increased. If sufficient support hardware is
block by securing a rope to the shackle to ensure proper in place, pulling speeds on the order of 50 m per minute
retention of the cable in the block. Attach the rope to are typical.
one bottom pin of the shackle, bring the rope above the
attachment point and back down to the opposite shackle • Observers at the pull point drum location and along the
pin. pull route must be alert for any condition which might
cause cable damage and be able to stop the pull
immediately if any damaging conditions are observed:
o Avoid exceeding the cable’s rated pulling strength
and bending the cable beyond its minimum bend
radius.
o Control the unreeling of the cable either by hand or
with a cable drum brake in order to prevent free-
running or jerking of the cable.
o At the pull point, winch the cable so as to prevent
either free-running or jerking of the cable. If either
is observed, the pull must be halted until the cause is
eliminated.
• Excessive oscillation or surging of the cable can be
damaging. Reduce the pulling speed or add additional
temporary support hardware to minimize these
conditions.
• When the cable reaches the pull point, do not allow it to
engage the winch unless the winch maintains the cable’s
Figure 5. Stringing Blocks minimum bend radius.

5.4 Pulling Operation • Pull the amount of cable specified in the route plan and
pull plan. This amount should include all slack
• The pull can be accomplished by using a cable pulling requirements as outlined above.
winch. Care must be taken not to exceed the cable’s
rated pulling strength. The cable should be coupled to • When the cable has been pulled into place as specified
the pulling line with a double swivel eye and basket or by the route plan:
“Kellam’s” grip.(Figure 6). o Install a dead-end on one end of the cable span at
the cable drum end as outlined in Section 8.
o Complete any pole modifications or additional
temporary / permanent guying, as well as the
installation of the dead-end and tangent clamp pole
fixtures (see Section 8).
o Proceed to Section 7 for instructions on tensioning
and terminating the cable.

Figure 6. Swivel and pulling grip

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6. Cable Tensioning

• Set up the temporary dead-end, a chain hoist, an

in-line dynamometer, and other hardware as shown in
Caution Figure 7. Typically, the chain hoist is strapped to the
Proper measuring of tension is critical for a safe dead-end pole. Specific operation of the chain hoist should
installation of the aerial plant. Please read and understand follow manufacturer’s recommendations.
all of Section 7 before attempting to apply tension to the • Apply tension to the cable with the chain hoist.
cable. During the tensioning operation, do not exceed the
limits of maximum allowed pulling tension for the
cable and the strength of the poles themselves. For
6.1 General long spans under high tension, it may be necessary
to use two chain hoist temporary dead-end set-ups in
After the proper amount of cable has been placed in succession to take out the slack and achieve the
temporary support hardware between the dead-end poles, necessary tension.
the cable must be properly tensioned before it is
permanently secured into tangent assemblies. • The tension can be initially monitored at the dead-
end pole with the dynamometer shown in Figure 7.
With a dead-end fitting already in place on one end of the
When tensioning several straight spans (with few
span, the cable is tensioned by pulling on its opposite “free”
offsets), it may be necessary to use false dead-ends
end with a chain hoist, using the setup shown in Figure 7. even though the pole offset is less than 20° (Figure
Once the cable sections are under the required tension, the 13). This may be necessary to ensure that a 1% installation sag
“free” end of the cable is terminated into a dead-end is maintained for all spans.
described in Section 8. • The number of spans between false dead-ends will vary,
depending on the route and span lengths, but up to 20
straight pole spans are typical before false dead-ends
6.2 Tensioning Operation should be used.
Note: Before beginning this stage of the installation, • Once the cable section is under the required tension,
any pole modifications or additional temporary / terminate the cable into a dead-end as described in
permanent guying must be completed. Section 8. The dead-end should be placed on the
cable where it reaches the pole fixture, unless
• Proceed to the end of the cable section which does allowances are being made for grade changes or
not have a dead-end fitting already in place from turns.
the cable installation procedure. Pull out all cable
slack between the dead-end poles.
• Install a temporary dead-end (as described in
Section 7) approximately 3 to 4 meters away from
the pole.

Figure 7. Tensioning equipment

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6.3 Tensioning Across Turns and Grade a) Cable on inside of turn:

Changes As the cable in this situation is tensioned, the cable will
naturally tend to pull inside of the corner pole. A
horizontally mounted stringing block (per Figure 5) will
keep separation to a minimum.
Caution Tension the cable in stages:
As the cable is placed under tension, weaknesses in the
cable plant can cause failure of pole fittings, support • Tension the cable to the degree planned from the
hardware or even the poles themselves. dead-end pole.
The risk of death or injury due to such failures is best
minimized by keeping all but essential personnel clear of
the tensioning operation. Nobody should be allowed to b) Cable on the pole at a grade change:
climb intermediate poles as the span they support is
• The procedure used to tension the cable across a change
being placed under tension. If possible, passersby on the
of grade is similar to that used on an inside turn. The cable will
ground should be kept away from the poles during this
pull up or down, depending on the direction of the grade
operation.
change, rather than horizontally as in the case of an inside
turn. Temporary support hardware must be mounted
accordingly.

• While monitoring the tension, move the cable from

Spiral vibration dampers are recommended to be used on
the temporary support hardware at the inside turn to
all ADSS installations where voltages are below 230 kV.
the cable’s permanent support hardware on the pole.
These types of dampers are very effective in damping.
• As the cable is pulled out to the pole, tension will They do not cause damage to the ADSS cable sheath. Since
increase. Take care not to exceed the maximum they don't require patch rods they are easy to install and
pulling tension of the cable or the capacity of the are very economical.
poles and hardware. It may be necessary to relieve
tension by backing off with the chain hoist at the 8. Hardware
dead-end pole. Continue this process until the cable
is in place on the pole at the inside turn. Teldor Cables and Systems does not recommend a specific
hardware manufacturer. It is important, though, to use
high quality hardware from reputable manufacturers in
order to assure a long term reliable and safe ADSS cable
installation.
Caution
In order to select the proper product the installer must
Temporary support hardware used to restrain a cable
know the following:
being tensioned will be subjected to a significant portion
of the cable’s tensile loading and must be mounted • nominal outside diameter of the cable
accordingly.
• degree of offset from one pole to the next
Do not allow personnel on the inside turn pole while
• maximum cable tension under fully loaded conditions
tension is being increased at the dead-end pole. If
personnel are sent up the inside turn pole, they must stay • When ordering dead-ends, it is important to ensure
on the pole side opposite the cable. that all other necessary pole hardware is ordered.
(see Figure 8) These items include:
7. Vibration Damping o thimble clevis
o eye nuts
Vibration dampers must be installed at the same time the o extension links (to maintain cable minimum bend
cable is clipped in to suppress Aeolian vibration which can radius)
be induced by local environmental conditions. Experts in
• Determine the proper attachment location of the
the field state damage caused by Aeolian vibration is at its
cable on the poles. Mark the location of the
peak in the first 24 to 48 hours after sagging and dead
attachment point on the cable with a wrap of tape.
ending than during any other period in the life of the cable.
• Drill the appropriate holes in wooden poles or apply
Within the cable bend radius and limitations band attachments to concrete or metal poles and
discussed in Section 3, the cable section may extend mount supporting hardware accordingly.
across turns and grade changes in the pole line. Since
an ADSS cable is normally placed in the permanent • Refer to the manufacturer’s recommended
support hardware after tensioning, any change in procedures for installation.
pole line direction complicates the process. Two
• Use vibration dampers to minimize wind effects.
possible cases are discussed below.

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Figure 8. False dead-end

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