Grounding a fiber cable may seem odd since the fiber itself doesn’t conduct electricity.Yet many fiber cables also contain metal – for cable location, as a strength member, for protection (metallic armor or sheathing), or for messenger wires in aerial installations.These metallic elements conduct electrical energy which, left unprotected, can harm equipment, people, or network resiliency. The ground exists to safely control the electrical energy and route it away from equipment and people.

The National Electrical Code® covers this in Article 770 which requires that fiber cables with any conductive metal must be properly grounded and bonded. The Fiber Broadband Association and cable manufacturers support the NEC requirement. Compliance with the NEC® is mandatory, of course, but what if cables were already installed without a ground? If only there was a way to apply the ground without costing a fortune or risking service interruption.

“Any cable that includes any conductive metal must be properly grounded and bonded per the NEC for safety. Indoor cables rated OFC, OFCG, OFCR or OFCP and outdoor cables with metallic strength members or armor must be grounded and bonded. All composite cables must be properly grounded and bonded also.”

-Fiber Broadband Association

Introducing, InstaGround,™ the easy-to-use Fiber Grounding Clamp!

This innovative design grounding without removing the cable jacket. Our patent pending technology features specially engineered ground screws that pierce the cable jacket at just the right depth to contact the metal but stop short of harming the fiber. They can be applied in minutes with no risk to interrupting the circuit.

For more information, go to www.akstamping.com/telecom/instaground