The maximum distance for blowing optical cable through pipes

cablecablingfiberlayer1

What is the maximum distance for blowing optical fiber cable with compressed air through pipes?

The method known also as Cable jetting.

Taking into consideration no lubricant is used.

I am asking for the existence of a general rule or recommendation which is used by telecoms or if someone of you have personal experience in this field what is the distance for which there will be no problems with cable stuck in the middle of the pipe between two ducts. I am asking because I want to know at what distance will be placed the ducts.

Best Answer

I have no experience blowing cables but the subject got me intereted so that's results of my googling:

  1. From 1994 book "Fiber Optics Installations" about CABLEJET machine:

"With one such an installntion unit it is possible, using an 8 bar compressor, to install fibre-optic cables for the trunk-network (aluminum water barrier, 10 mm HDPE jacket) with lengths up to 1250 meter and with speeds up to 1 meter per second"

About blowing special cables to homes:

Cable contains 32 single-fiber cables has an aluminium water barrier and diameter of 4 mm. These cables are blown up to 400 meters.

Specific distances may be outdated in this book but we can still draw a conclusion that blowing distance depends on fiber cable type.

  1. Industrial suggestion from "Thorne and Derrick UK" - 1 km to 3 km per blowing unit: Three technics of blowing, each suggests 1 to 3 km distance

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with mentioned company in any manner.

Related Topic