The
FOA
is involved in several groups that write standards for fiber optic
components, network design, installation and testing and some FOA
personnel have been involved in writing standards for over 25
years, so we understand standards. Many FOA members are
contractors, designers and installers who work in the field
everyday and need to work to industry standards, but don't always
know which standards are appropriate for their jobs, have copies
of the applicable standards or can afford to purchase some of them
which are often so expensive. The FOA has a solution: 1
Page Standards.
FOA's Standards
are concise standards created by FOA with the participation of
experts in the field for the most common issues affecting fiber
optic network owners, contractors, designers and installers. Each
standard summarizes what the reader needs to know in just 1 page.
Each of the FOA's
Standards
will reference other industry standards that are similar in scope
and which are used as the basis of the FOA standard, allowing FOA
standards to be substituted for them. These FOA standards
can be used for reference in project paperwork when the user and
contractor need to be certain they agree what is being specified
for the project.
You may wonder what
is a standard anyway? Here is one definition by the world's
biggest standards organization that precisely defines what the FOA
is doing:
ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996, definition
3.2 defines a standard as:
'A document established by
consensus and approved by a recognized body that provides for
common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for
activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the
optimum degree of order in a given context'.
FOA standards
are developed by FOA members whose expertise is in the technical
areas covered by the standards and whose experience in the
industry ensures FOA standards being accurate, relevant and
current. Many of these people have been contributing to industry
standards themselves for decades.
Guidelines for FOA
standards are explained here for FOA members working on the
standards and users who are interested in how standards are
developed. Just to be complete, where appropriate, FOA 1
Page Standards
will be backed up by information that explains issues like
appropriateness of the test, measurement uncertainty, and provide
references to other similar industry standards.
And best of
all, FOA Standards
are free!
FOA
1
Page Standards Downloads
All are 1
page PDFs. References in (...) are other similar industry
standards. Click on "More" at the end of each description for
additional information and links.
FOA
Standard FOA-1:
Testing Loss of Installed Fiber Optic Cable Plant, (Insertion
Loss, TIA
OFSTP-14, OFSTP-7, ISO/IEC 61280, ISO/IEC 14763, etc.) More
FOA
Standard FOA-2:
Testing Loss of Fiber Optic Cables, Single Ended, (Insertion
Loss, TIA
FOTP-171, OFSTP-7, ,
ISO/IEC 14763)
More
FOA
Standard FOA-3:
Measuring Optical Power (Transmitter and Receiver Power, FOTP-95,
Numerous ISO/IEC standards) More
FOA
Standard FOA-4: OTDR Testing of Fiber Optic Cable Plant (TIA
FOTP-8/59/60/61/78, ISO/IEC 14763, etc.) More
Free
For FOA Members: NECA/FOA 301 Fiber Optic Installation
Standard
Because
of its importance to users, contractors and installers of fiber
optic networks, The FOA and NECA have agreed to make the NECA/FOA
301 Fiber Optic Installation Standard
available free to FOA members.
Standards
usually cover components and systems and how to test them, but
rarely get into installation issues. This standard is derived from
FOA educational material put in standards form and approved by
ANSI as an American National Standard. It's specifically written
to be used in contracts to define "installation in a neat and
workmanlike manner." Go
here for instructions on how to download your free copy.
When
referring to FOA Standards in project
paperwork, such as when including in a Statement of Work,
RFQ, RFP or contract, it should read something like this: "Testing
the installed fiber optic cable plant shall be done according to FOA
Standard FOA-1:
Testing Loss of Installed Fiber Optic Cable Plant."
While
FOA standards are copyrighted, feel free to download the files to
include in your own project documents or print copies for your
associates, customers, students, etc. Do not post these documents
on your own website, but you are free to link to this page.
Like
all standards, FOA's Standards are only guidelines for
design, installation and testing of fiber optic networks. The
owner, contractor, designer or installer are always responsible
for the work involved. FOA assumes no responsibility or liability
for the use of these standards nor for any projects using them.
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