IEC TR 62691:2016(E) which is a Technical Report, gives recommendations for handling and installing optical fibre cables on metropolitan communication networks. Installation methods covered by this document include underground ducts, trenchless technique, blowing in microducts, aerial installation on poles, lashed aerial in metropolitan networks, direct buried and use of trenches. Special installation situations such as tunnelling and lead-in installations, on-bridges, underwater, use of sanitary sewers, high pressure gas pipes and drinking water pipes are commented and detailed. Installation and maintenance of optical fibre cables on overhead power lines including the following are not covered by this document and are referred to in IEC TR 62263:
- optical ground wire (OPGW) fibre cable;
- optical phase conductor (OPPC) fibre cable;
- optical attached fibre cable (OPAC);
- all dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) optical fibre cable. IEC TR 62263 includes an extensive coverage on recommendations to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment when installing or maintaining these types of optical fibre cables on overhead power lines. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2011. It constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- more details have been added on cables for lashed applications (transferred from IEC 60794-3-10);
- more details have been added on cables for storm and sanitary sewer applications (transferred from IEC 60794-3-40);
- more details have been added on cables for high pressure gas pipe applications (transferred from IEC 60794-3-50);
- more details have been added on cables for drinking water pipe applications (transferred from IEC 60794-3-60);
- a reference to IEC TR 62263 has been included, concerning optical cables installation on high voltage power lines;
- a revision, and an update when applicable, has been done on the referred documents. Keywords: metropolitan communication networks, underground ducts, trenchless technique, blowing in microducts, aerial installation on poles, lashed aerial in metropolitan networks, direct buried and use of trenches.