Reference · 40 Standards · 6 Groups
Standards Guide
The codes, regulations and industry standards behind OSP work, grouped by topic. Each one links to its official source, so you read the rule itself, not a summary of a summary.
Safety
13 standards
29 CFR 1910.67
OSHA Vehicle-Mounted Aerial Lifts
Bucket trucks and other vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms: inspection, operation, fall protection in the basket and outrigger use.
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 1 SOP Step:
- AE-04 Site Safety and Traffic Control for Aerial Work
29 CFR 1910.146
OSHA Permit-Required Confined Spaces
Permit-required confined spaces in general industry: atmospheric testing, entry permits, attendants and rescue. Applies to vaults and other spaces where the telecommunications manhole rules in 1910.268 do not cover the hazard. It does not apply to construction; confined-space entry during construction falls under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA.
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
29 CFR 1910.268
OSHA Telecommunications
The OSHA general industry rule for telecom field work: training, ladders, poles and climbing, overhead lines, vehicle-mounted equipment, and underground work in manholes and unvented vaults (paragraph (o)). It does not apply to construction work as defined in 29 CFR 1910.12 (1910.268(a)(2)); construction work falls under 29 CFR Part 1926.
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 19 SOP Steps:
- AE-02 Field Survey and Make-Ready Engineering, AE-03 Make-Ready Execution and Coordination, AE-04 Site Safety and Traffic Control for Aerial Work, AE-05 Framing Poles, AE-06 Anchors, AE-07 Down Guys and Guy Guards, AE-08 Strand Placement and Tensioning, AE-09 Cable Placement and Lashing, AE-10 Slack Storage Loops and Snowshoes, AE-11 Terminal Coils, Closures, Drops and Risers, AE-12 Labeling, Inspection and As-Builts, SPL-01 Job Preparation, SPL-02 Safety for Splicing, SPL-10 Closure Sealing, Grounding and Mounting, SPL-13 Emergency Restoration, UG-09 Handholes, Vaults and Pedestals, UG-10 Duct Proving and Pull Tape, UG-11 Cable Placement Underground, UG-13 Documentation and Closeout
29 CFR 1910.269
OSHA Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Work rules for qualified electrical workers on power lines and equipment, including minimum approach distances. It is the reason only qualified electrical crews do make-ready in the supply space.
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
29 CFR 1910.1200
OSHA Hazard Communication
Safety data sheets, labels and training for hazardous chemicals on the job, such as gel cleaners, isopropyl alcohol, drilling fluid additives and pulling lubricants.
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA
OSHA Confined Spaces in Construction
Confined-space entry during construction, such as setting or entering new vaults and manholes: hazard evaluation, permit-required space programs, entry permits, attendants, entry supervisors and rescue (1926.1201 to 1926.1213).
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
29 CFR 1926 Subpart M
OSHA Fall Protection (Construction)
Fall protection on construction work: scope and definitions (1926.500), duty to have fall protection (1926.501), fall protection systems (1926.502) and training (1926.503).
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
29 CFR 1926 Subpart P
OSHA Excavations
Trenches, bore pits and potholes: definitions (1926.650), specific excavation requirements such as spoil placement and inspections by a competent person (1926.651), and protective systems such as sloping, shoring and shielding (1926.652).
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
29 CFR 1926 Subpart V
OSHA Electric Power Transmission and Distribution (Construction)
Construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment (1926.950 to 1926.968), including minimum approach distances, work on poles and working near energized parts.
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
29 CFR 1926.453
OSHA Aerial Lifts (Construction)
Vehicle-mounted aerial devices used to raise workers during construction, such as bucket trucks: operation, inspection, and body belt or harness use in the basket.
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
29 CFR 1926.1153
OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica (Construction)
Dust controls for cutting, sawing and drilling concrete and asphalt, such as saw cuts for micro-trenching and restoration: water or vacuum controls, respiratory protection and exposure assessment.
- Official Source:
- osha.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 2 SOP Steps:
- UG-08 Other Placement Methods, UG-12 Restoration and Cleanup
ANSI Z136.2
Safe Use of Optical Fiber Communication Systems
Laser safety for optical fiber systems that use laser diode and LED sources: why you never look into a fiber end or connector and how to treat every fiber as live. The Laser Institute lists the 2012 edition as historical; check for the current edition.
- Official Source:
- lia.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 2 SOP Steps:
- SPL-02 Safety for Splicing, SPL-11 Testing and Acceptance
MUTCD Part 6
Temporary Traffic Control
The FHWA standard for work zones on public roads: traffic control plans, signs, tapers, flaggers, channelizing devices and pedestrian access. States adopt the MUTCD with their own supplements, so check the state edition.
- Official Source:
- mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 21 SOP Steps:
- AE-01 Pole Attachment Applications, AE-02 Field Survey and Make-Ready Engineering, AE-04 Site Safety and Traffic Control for Aerial Work, AE-05 Framing Poles, AE-06 Anchors, AE-07 Down Guys and Guy Guards, AE-08 Strand Placement and Tensioning, AE-09 Cable Placement and Lashing, AE-11 Terminal Coils, Closures, Drops and Risers, AE-12 Labeling, Inspection and As-Builts, SPL-01 Job Preparation, SPL-13 Emergency Restoration, UG-01 Permits and Right-of-Way, UG-02 Pre-Construction Survey, Staking and White-Lining, UG-04 Potholing (Daylighting), UG-05 Bore Planning and Rig Setup, UG-08 Other Placement Methods, UG-10 Duct Proving and Pull Tape, UG-11 Cable Placement Underground, UG-12 Restoration and Cleanup, UG-13 Documentation and Closeout
Clearances and Strength
2 standards
NESC (IEEE C2)
National Electrical Safety Code
Clearances, separations, strength and loading of overhead lines, grounding and bonding, and work rules for supply and communication lines. FAHMY pages cite Rule 232 and Table 232-1 (vertical clearances), Rules 235 and 238 (separations on the pole) and Rule 250 (loading). Check which edition your state has adopted.
- Official Source:
- standards.ieee.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 11 SOP Steps:
- AE-02 Field Survey and Make-Ready Engineering, AE-04 Site Safety and Traffic Control for Aerial Work, AE-05 Framing Poles, AE-07 Down Guys and Guy Guards, AE-08 Strand Placement and Tensioning, AE-10 Slack Storage Loops and Snowshoes, AE-11 Terminal Coils, Closures, Drops and Risers, AE-12 Labeling, Inspection and As-Builts, SPL-03 Closure and Cable Preparation, SPL-04 Mid-Span Access and Expressing Tubes, SPL-10 Closure Sealing, Grounding and Mounting
NFPA 70 (NEC)
National Electrical Code
Premises wiring. For OSP it governs where cable enters a building: listing, bonding and entrance protection (Article 770 for optical fiber cables and Chapter 8 for communications systems). Chapter 9 is also the source of conduit fill limits.
- Official Source:
- nfpa.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Used By:
- Duct Fill
- Cited in 1 SOP Step:
- AE-11 Terminal Coils, Closures, Drops and Risers
Fiber, Cable and Hardware
13 standards
ANSI/SCTE 77
Underground Enclosure Integrity
Performance tests and load tiers for grade-level handholes, pedestals and lids that hold telecom equipment in areas without deliberate vehicle traffic. Enclosures in roadways fall under highway (AASHTO) loadings instead.
- Official Source:
- account.scte.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 1 SOP Step:
- UG-09 Handholes, Vaults and Pedestals
ANSI/TIA-568.3
Optical Fiber Cabling and Components
Cable, connector and splice requirements, including the maximum loss allowances used in acceptance testing, the pull rating and bend radius for OSP cable, and the reference methods for light source and power meter tests.
- Official Source:
- tiaonline.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Used By:
- Optical Loss Budget
ANSI/TIA-598
Optical Fiber Cable Color Coding
The twelve-color sequence for fibers, buffer tubes and fiber units (blue, orange, green, brown, slate, white, red, black, yellow, violet, rose, aqua), the tracer marks for positions above twelve, and printed legends on ribbons.
- Official Source:
- tiaonline.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Used By:
- Fiber Color Locator
ANSI/TIA-758
Customer-Owned Outside Plant
OSP infrastructure owned by the customer, such as campus pathways, spaces and cabling between buildings: aerial, direct-buried, underground duct and tunnel.
- Official Source:
- tiaonline.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
IEC 61300-3-35
Connector End-Face Inspection
Visual and automated inspection of fiber connector end faces: the zones and the scratch and defect criteria that decide whether a connector passes before it is mated. Current edition: 3.0 (2022), which replaced the 2015 edition and changed the inspection zones; confirm which edition the owner specifies.
- Official Source:
- webstore.iec.ch (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 1 SOP Step:
- SPL-11 Testing and Acceptance
ITU-T G.652
Single-Mode Optical Fiber
Characteristics of standard single-mode fiber and cable. G.652.D is the common low-water-peak OSP fiber.
- Official Source:
- itu.int (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 1 SOP Step:
- SPL-07 Fusion Splicing (Single Fiber)
ITU-T G.657
Bend-Insensitive Single-Mode Fiber
Characteristics of bending-loss insensitive single-mode fiber, used in drops, terminals and tight spaces. Splicers select the right splicer program when joining it to G.652 fiber, per the splicer manufacturer's instructions.
- Official Source:
- itu.int (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 1 SOP Step:
- SPL-07 Fusion Splicing (Single Fiber)
Telcordia GR-20
Optical Fiber and Optical Fiber Cable
Generic requirements for outside plant optical fiber cable: mechanical, environmental and installation performance.
- Official Source:
- telecom-info.njdepot.ericsson.net (external site)
- Link Checked:
Telcordia GR-326
Single-Mode Connectors and Jumpers
Performance and reliability of single-mode optical connectors and jumper assemblies.
- Official Source:
- telecom-info.njdepot.ericsson.net (external site)
- Link Checked:
Telcordia GR-771
Fiber Optic Splice Closures
Generic requirements for fiber splice closures: sealing, mechanical and environmental performance, and the tests closures are qualified against.
- Official Source:
- telecom-info.njdepot.ericsson.net (external site)
- Link Checked:
Telcordia GR-1209
Passive Optical Components
Generic performance requirements for passive branching components such as PON splitters.
- Official Source:
- telecom-info.njdepot.ericsson.net (external site)
- Link Checked:
Telcordia GR-1221
Reliability of Passive Optical Components
Generic reliability assurance requirements for passive optical components such as splitters.
- Official Source:
- telecom-info.njdepot.ericsson.net (external site)
- Link Checked:
Telcordia SR-4731
OTDR Data Format
The standard OTDR record format (the .sor file) that lets traces from one OTDR be opened in another vendor's software. Owners often require test files in this format.
- Official Source:
- telecom-info.njdepot.ericsson.net (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 1 SOP Step:
- SPL-12 Documentation and Handoff
PON Optics
3 standards
ITU-T G.984
GPON
Gigabit-capable PON. G.984.2 defines the physical layer, including the optical budget classes such as B+ and C+ used in loss budgets.
- Official Source:
- itu.int (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Used By:
- Optical Loss Budget
ITU-T G.9804
Higher-Speed PON
The G.9804 series for next-generation, higher-speed PON such as 50G-PON. G.9804.1 sets the requirements.
- Official Source:
- itu.int (external site)
- Link Checked:
ITU-T G.9807.1
XGS-PON
Ten-gigabit symmetric PON, with the N1, N2, E1 and E2 optical budget classes used in loss budgets.
- Official Source:
- itu.int (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Used By:
- Optical Loss Budget
Design and Construction Practice
1 standard
BICSI OSPDRM
Outside Plant Design Reference Manual
BICSI's design manual for OSP pathways, spaces, cabling, bonding and grounding, used for campus and carrier designs.
- Official Source:
- shop.bicsi.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
Damage Prevention and Access
8 standards
23 CFR 645 Subpart B
Accommodation of Utilities on Highway Right-of-Way
The federal rule behind state DOT utility accommodation policies: how utilities may occupy and cross highway right-of-way. Each state DOT publishes its own policy with depth, offset and crossing rules.
- Official Source:
- ecfr.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 1 SOP Step:
- UG-01 Permits and Right-of-Way
47 CFR 1.1401 and following
FCC Pole Attachment Rules
Rates, access, make-ready and one-touch make-ready for poles in FCC-regulated states; 47 CFR 1.1411 sets the timeline for access to utility poles. States that certify their own rules regulate attachments themselves. FCC pole attachment rules do not cover poles owned by electric cooperatives, municipalities or other government bodies, or railroads (47 U.S.C. 224(a)(1)); on those poles the attachment agreement and any state law that covers them set access terms and timelines.
- Official Source:
- ecfr.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
49 CFR Part 196
Protection of Underground Pipelines from Excavation
The federal rule for excavators working near gas and hazardous liquid pipelines: use one-call, respect the marks, dig carefully, and report any damage or release by calling 911 and the operator.
- Official Source:
- ecfr.gov (external site)
- Link Checked:
811
Call Before You Dig
The national one-call number. A call or online request to 811 reaches your state one-call center, which notifies member utilities to mark their lines.
- Official Source:
- 811beforeyoudig.com (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 3 SOP Steps:
- AE-06 Anchors, SPL-13 Emergency Restoration, UG-03 One-Call Locates (811) and Ticket Management
APWA uniform color code
Uniform Temporary Marking of Underground Facilities
The locate color code: orange communications, red electric, yellow gas and oil, blue potable water, green sewer and drain, purple reclaimed water and irrigation, pink temporary survey, white proposed excavation. Uses ANSI Z535.1 safety colors.
- Official Source:
- apwa.org (external site)
- Link Checked:
CGA Best Practices
Common Ground Alliance Best Practices Guide
Consensus practices for damage prevention, including one-call, white-lining, locating and marking, excavation, potholing and horizontal directional drilling near buried facilities.
- Official Source:
- commongroundalliance.com (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 9 SOP Steps:
- AE-06 Anchors, SPL-13 Emergency Restoration, UG-02 Pre-Construction Survey, Staking and White-Lining, UG-03 One-Call Locates (811) and Ticket Management, UG-04 Potholing (Daylighting), UG-05 Bore Planning and Rig Setup, UG-06 Pilot Bore and Tracking, UG-07 Reaming and Pullback, UG-08 Other Placement Methods
NJUNS
National Joint Utilities Notification System
The system pole owners and attachers use to coordinate transfers, make-ready and pole replacements.
- Official Source:
- web.njuns.com (external site)
- Link Checked:
- Cited in 2 SOP Steps:
- AE-01 Pole Attachment Applications, AE-03 Make-Ready Execution and Coordination
State one-call law
State Damage Prevention Laws
Each state sets its own notice period before digging, ticket life, tolerance zone, positive response, white-lining, emergency locate and penalty rules. Look up your state one-call center from this page and read its law.
- Official Source:
- 811beforeyoudig.com (external site)
- Link Checked: