How to Protect Your Fiber Optic Cables During Extreme Weather Conditions

Snowstorms and thunderstorms might be fun to watch, but they can put significant stress on wires and cables. So can animals who like to nibble on them and humans who don't know how to handle them. While fiber optic cables are fairly robust, some situations can introduce threats beyond everyday wear and tear. When these conditions appear, they can damage the cable or interrupt the signal.

You can't eliminate these threats, but you can protect your fiber optic cables from extreme weather by using the right equipment and following some best practices for handling. Let's explore how to protect your optic cables from extreme weather conditions and animal or human intervention.

Why Is It Important to Protect Fiber Optic Cables?

Fiber optic cables are crucial components of continued network access. They may run indoors, through conduit or direct buried, but all installations require the right level of protection. Without it, you might face network interruptions and extensive repair or replacement costs.

On a residential level, fiber optic cable damage could mean going without Internet. Disconnection is certainly inconvenient, but many people now work or attend school from home. A lack of Internet connection could create significant disruptions, even affecting their livelihoods. Broken cables or enclosures also call for repairs and replacements, all of which take time and skilled labor. By protecting cables in the first place, you can avoid creating these problems for residents.

For businesses, an interruption could mean significant losses. Consumers use debit and credit cards for most of their payments, and many security systems rely on network connections. Just a few days without Internet can be an expensive problem. Businesses might be forced to pay premium prices to get a fiber optic network up and running again, but resilient cables can mitigate this need.

Fiber optic cables are built to stand up to normal indoor and outdoor conditions, but even small amounts of damage can interrupt a signal. Protecting them isn't too expensive or complicated, and it can save a lot of hassle. A damaged cable requires finding the problem area and having a skilled technician fix it. By being proactive and protecting cables, you can avoid this process entirely.

What Causes Fiber Optic Cable Damage or Disruptions?

A fiber optic cable is relatively resilient to high and low temperatures. Since these cables use light to transmit signals, extreme heat and cold don't interfere with transmissions. Instead, the primary danger lies in the likelihood of damage. Some dangerous situations include:

• Harsh winter weather: Extreme cold usually comes with snow and ice. Heavy snow can build up over a cable and add pressure, while ice can hang from an aerial cable and weigh it down. Plus, freezing temperatures can cause the cables to become stiffer and brittle, which makes cracking or breaking more likely. Ice can even make its way into improperly sealed connectors, interrupting signals.
• Moisture: Moisture is another potential threat to fiber optic cables. Poorly sealed connectors or cracked cables can cause water ingress. When temperatures drop, the water expands and causes breakage. Thankfully, fiber optic cables resist corrosion well, so they're a good choice near coasts or large bodies of water. Still, reliable connectors are a critical part of keeping water out of the inside of your cables.
• Animals: Many small creatures will gnaw on a cable if it's in their way or to prevent teeth overgrowth. Even rugged cables can benefit from extra protection, such as our Squirrel Guard sleeves that help keep sharp teeth away from the cables.
• Humans: Humans can purposely or accidentally damage fiber optic cables. They may vandalize connectors, enclosures or cables, or they could unknowingly dig in an area with buried cables.

How to Protect Fiber Optic Cables

You'll need to approach protection from a few angles to keep your fiber optic cables safe. Make sure you have reliable equipment in place and treat it with care.

1. Use the Right Equipment

Start by making sure your equipment is up for the task. Make sure you implement cables rated for the installation environment. For outdoor applications, use a ruggedized or direct burial cable if necessary. Any enclosures should offer reliable seals to keep moisture and critters out.

Only use components from trustworthy manufacturers, and look for features that may help in certain environments. For example, if you'll be installing cable in a place where snow can pile on top of it, consider something with extra crush resistance, like our Surelight® flat fiber optic cable.

2. Look for Certifications and Ratings

Depending on the application, look for equipment that carries the right ratings and certifications. Check for products rated for ultraviolet (UV) protection and water ingress, such as IP68. You can also look for adherence to standards, like those from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Multilink, for example, is ISO 9001-certified, which means we abide by a strict quality management system.

Products and companies that have these ratings offer peace of mind and reassurance. Extra quality can help avoid costly repairs and replacements down the line, too.

3. Handle Cables Properly

Harsh weather can make it harder to handle cables without breaking them. It may open up spaces for water to enter or make it easier for technicians to accidentally break a frigid, stiff cable.

During installation, don't twist or pull the cable. Know the cable's bend radius and don't go over it. If you exceed the bend radius, the cable may take damage. Treat your fiber optic cables carefully to avoid breakage, especially in cold conditions when the materials may be brittle. When working with connectors, be sure to avoid rubbing them against anything. Scratching the glass fibers could cause them to break or interrupt the signal.

It may seem unrelated, but using the right equipment can also ensure proper handling. For example, our Optima-T enclosure has a re-enterable section that allows technicians to access drops from within the field. The product — and our entire lineup of Optima's — is designed to offer easy access and installation, so technicians can quickly fix the problem, even if they're dealing with tricky conditions. Less time spent in the field means fewer interruptions, lower costs and a safer job site overall.

4. Use Raceways and Conduit

Raceways and conduits can offer an additional layer of protection with hard, plastic materials that can defend against the weight of ice and snow and provide another barrier against moisture. If necessary, use raceways and conduits to keep fiber optic cables better protected against the elements.

Use Multilink to Keep Fiber Optic Cables Safe

Rough weather, animals and people can cause problems for many types of infrastructure, including fiber optic networks. One of the most important parts of protecting fiber optic cables is starting with the right components. At Multilink, we offer a wide range of fiber optic products to keep your network secure. Our Optima T, U and S products are prime examples of our durable materials and easy-access designs.

Shop Multilink's fiber optic cable products today, and make sure your next installation stands up to threats from all angles!