DCD Design Note 125.1

Fixed Target Area Fiber Plant Extension:

Labs A-E

Darryl Wohlt

May 27, 1998

Since the completion of a fiber cabling installation in the Fixed Target Areas in 1996, new communications requirements have unfolded, specifically in Labs A, B, C and D, where no fiber had been pulled. These buildings are undergoing substantial remodeling and will be occupied by new offices and clean rooms within the next few months. Labs C and D, in particular, will be joined together and the area between them will become indoor workspace.

Recently a task order to pull new communications cable to Labs A and D was written, using conventional fiber cable consistent with the existing plant. This Design Note examines the option of using air blown fiber (ABF) technology instead of conventional fiber for these locations, with some forethought for future extensions to this initial ABF infrastructure, to reach other Fixed Target Areas facilities.

The Task Order on file, currently on hold, calls for pulling a 12-strand riser-type multimode fiber cable from to a new panel in Lab A to the fiber distribution panel in Lab F. The cable would run exposed in cable trays in Lab A, B, E, and F. Innerduct would be used in the conduit between Lab B and Lab E. A second cable would be pulled from the Lab A panel to a new panel in Lab D, near the existing datacomm rack. This cable would run through existing innerduct between Lab C and D, and in open cable tray elsewhere along its path.

Communications links in Labs A and D (one each, initially) would be patched through the Lab F panel to ethernet electronics in the EAD Operations Center. The Lab D link would consume a fiber pair on the Lab A-F cable, as well as connectors on the Lab A fiber panel.

Individual 1-pair fiber bundles would radiate from the Lab A datacomm rack to Labs B, C, D, and the Cross Connection Building, via a new air-blown fiber (ABF) cabling plant described below. A 3-pair fiber bundle would extend from Lab A to a new fiber panel in Lab E, in order to complete a fiber path from Lab A to EAD or FCC, as required.

We would install standard Tube Distribution Units (TDU) in Labs E and A, connected by 7-cell tube cable. The Lab E TDU would be located on the west wall, near the communications duct entrance from Manhole C-309. The Lab A TDU would be mounted at the north end of the Lab B-A hallway.

A new fiber distribution unit (FTU) with 144-fiber capacity would be positioned next to the Lab E TDU. It would be connected to the Lab E TDU with 19-cell tube cable.

The existing EAD-Lab F conventional fiber cable would be cut near the Lab E FTU, and its 24 multimode and 24 singlemode fiber strands from EAD and Lab F would be connected to SC connectors in the FTU, and the active circuits would be patched through.

Compact fiber distribution boxes (Siemon SM6), each containing 1 pair of SC-SC bulkhead connectors, would be positioned near datacomm equipment in Labs B, C, D, and the C-D Cross Connection Building ("Cross Building"). Single-cell tube cable would be pulled to each SM6 box from the Lab A TDU. See Figure 1.

A 24-port FTU would be installed in the Lab A datacomm rack. Fiber pairs to the other labs would emanate from this panel. A 7-cell tubecable would be pulled from this FTU to the Lab A TDU down the hall.

The central network electronics for Labs A, B, C, D, and Cross Building would be housed in the Lab A datacomm rack. Up to 3 fiber pairs would be available to EAD or FCC via Lab E.

This design note recognizes the eventual need for additional fiber cable from EAD to Lab E. The conduits from EAD to its nearest manhole are nearly full, but may accommodate one or two single cell tubes for the time being. With the decommissioning of the Control Room, it is likely that several cables are removable from those conduits. Information from the installer of the existing fiber cable plant revealed at least one innerduct path is available from manholes C-306 to C-309. Whether or not this innerduct should be used to enclose a 7-cell tube cable has been a subject of debate. If 7-cell tube cable can be pulled, waterproof TDUs could be placed in Manholes 306, 307 and 309, for future "branch" cabling and to couple in-line tube cable runs of different cell counts where necessary. See Figure 2.

In any case, while the tube cable infrastructure may be installed piece meal over time, it should abide by a general layout that accounts for future needs of all the Fixed Target work areas. Specific locations should be designated as fiber distribution hubs for local areas. With the inception of the conventional fiber cable laid in 1996, we have established EAD, PS3, PS6, Lab F/E, Meson Detector Building, and MS6 as cabling hubs, and should be able to continue building from that point.

Not all cabling hub locations should contain network electronics, however. Following the approach taken in Wilson Hall and FCC, we should endeavor to locate equipment in one central location which is readily accessible at all hours, and which provides a suitable environment for the electronics. EAD would appear to be the appropriate building to maintain FTA network equipment over the long term.

All of the structures to be occupied in this region of the Fixed Target Areas would be readily reached from the TDUs with minimal cabling expense.

When new/additional/different fiber is required for areas already cabled with tube cable, it can be quickly and inexpensively installed.

This is a structured cabling plant which can be extended as new requirements arise.

The cost to provide initial communications using ABF is typically higher than the conventional cable option. The installation of ensuing communications links through an existing infrastructure would be lower in cost, however.

ABF requires installers with specialized skills beyond those associated with the installation of conventional fiber cable, which limits the availability of outside subcontractors to provide this service.

Placing TDU’s in Labs E, B, A, C, "Cross", and D, connected by 7-cell would cost $5K-$6K more, and would achieve essentially the same result but with extraneous hardware.

In Lab E, a 16"x16"x4" TDU would be mounted on the west wall near the entrance of the communications ducts from Manhole C-309. The TDU would be oriented vertically and secured to unistrut supports.

A Siemon RIC fiber distribution panel (FTU) would be installed on a 19" wall bracket near the TDU. A 19-cell tube cable would be run from the TDU to the FTU. Nine 12-port SC-SC panels (RIC-SA12) would be installed in the FTU.

A second TDU would be mounted at the north end of the Lab B-A hallway, near ceiling height, on the west wall.

From the Lab E TDU, a 7-cell water blocking tube cable would be pulled, following cable tray along the west side, into one of four conduits that lead to Lab B. No innerduct would be used. Emerging from the conduit at the south end of Lab B, the tube cable would follow cable tray northward along the hallway and terminate in the Lab A TDU.

In the Lab A Conference Room datacomm rack, a Siemon RIC FTU would be mounted, with two 12-port SC-SC panels (RIC-SA12) inserted (enough connectors for 8 fiber pairs plus 4 spare pairs). A 7-cell tube cable would extend from this FTU to the Lab A TDU.

A 3-pair multimode fiber bundle would be blown from the Lab E FTU, through the tube cable, to the Lab A FTU. The fibers would be terminated with SC connectors at both ends, and connected to SC bulkheads in the respective FTUs.

In Lab B, a Siecor SM6 outlet box would be mounted centrally on the east wall of the new office area. A 1-cell tube cable would be run from the Lab A TDU to the SM6, following the same path as the 7-cell tube cable. The SM6 would be fitted with one dual-SC bulkhead.

A 1-pair multimode fiber bundle would be blown from the Lab A FTU, through the tube cable infrastructure, to the Lab B SM6 outlet. The fibers would be terminated with SC connectors at both ends, and connected to SC bulkheads in the FTU and SM6.

In Lab C, a Siecor SM6 outlet box would be mounted on the south wall. A 1-cell tube cable would extend from the Lab A TDU to the SM6 outlet box. The SM6 would be fitted with one dual-SC bulkhead.

A 1-pair multimode fiber bundle would be blown from the Lab A FTU, through the tube cable infrastructure, to the Lab C SM6 outlet. The fibers would be terminated with SC connectors at both ends, and connected to SC bulkheads in the FTU and SM6.

In the Cross Building, a Siecor SM6 outlet box would be mounted centrally on the south wall. A 1-cell tube cable would be run from the Lab A TDU to the SM6. The SM6 would be fitted with one dual-SC bulkhead.

A 1-pair multimode fiber bundle would be blown from the Lab A FTU, through the tube cable infrastructure, to the Cross Building SM6 outlet. The fibers would be terminated with SC connectors at both ends, and connected to SC bulkheads in the FTU and SM6.

A 1-cell tube cable would be run from the Lab A TDU to a Siecor SM6 outlet box wall-mounted near the data communications rack at the south end of Lab D. The SM6 would be fitted with one dual-SC bulkhead.

A 1-pair multimode fiber bundle would be blown from the Lab A FTU, through the tube cable infrastructure, to the Lab D SM6 outlet. The fibers would be terminated with SC connectors at both ends, and connected to SC bulkheads in the FTU and SM6.

The following table lists the estimated cable lengths (in feet) between locations. These estimates do not include cable waste that normally occurs during installation.

Structural Systems:

The existing structural systems of the mentioned buildings will not be altered.

Utilities and Services:

Utilities and services, primary power, data and telecommunications will be connected to existing utilities and services located within buildings mentioned herein.

Roads, Parking, Walks, and Landscaping:

Access to buildings and exterior conditions will not be affected by this project. No trenching is required.

The cost of installing two TDU’s, four SM6’s and two FTU’s with tube cable and fiber as described above is summarized in Table 1 below. The cost is split into Infrastructure and User categories for budgeting purposes. Infrastructure is defined as that part of the plant that would serve as a foundation for providing connectivity to users in general, and would therefore be funded, installed, maintained and controlled by a central authority. User costs pertain to that part of the plant that would serve a particular end user group without additional benefit to the general community, and therefore should be borne by the end user.