The Fiber Optic Association (FOA) offers a standard it co-created with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) for free download. The standard, NECA/FOA-301 Installing and Testing Fiber Optics, “was created to be a document that could be used as a guide to installation practices and also be quoted in project paperwork to define what was meant by installation in a ‘neat and workmanlike manner,’” the FOA explains. “This was the first standard to approach the issues of installation of fiber optics in a document that could be used by network owners, project managers, contractors, installers, test techs, maintenance personnel and even the manufacturers making the products being installed following this standard,” the association continued.

The two organizations—FOA and NECA—initially collaborated to produce the standard in 2001. It has been revised periodically since then, most recently in 2016. The FOA continues, “The NECA/FOA-301 standard is unique in the standards world as it was written by contractors and installers for contractors and installers to provide guidelines on how fiber optics should be installed properly. This standard was written to clarify the meaning of the National Electrical Code (NEC) that calls for the installation of equipment in a ‘neat and workmanlike’ manner. The standard covers the installation and testing of fiber-optic cable plant and is intended to be complementary to other appropriate component and testing standards, such as those written by TIA and ISO/IEC.”

The FOA points out that the standard can be used effectively by installers and contractors outside the United States, as it “covers basic practices used worldwide and is an excellent document to use for creating the proper project documents such as a statement of work, request for proposal, or request for quote on any fiber-optic project.”

It is part of NECA’s National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS) series.

You can find more information and download a free electronic copy from the FOA here.