Q. Will using the FutureFLEX
Air-Blown Fiber Optic Cable for my network project cost more
than conventional fiber optic cable?
Q. Does the lack of splice points
improve the network signal?
Q. Is FutureFLEX fiber any
different than the fiber used in conventional cable?
Q. How does FutureFLEX help
with moves, adds and changes?
Q. What standards does
Air-Blown Fiber meet?
Q. What applications or
industries is FutureFLEX used in?
Q. What are some examples where
FutureFLEX Air-Blown Fiber is currently being used?
Q. Does tube cable replace the
need for conduit?
Q. How does FutureFLEX
help me future-proof my network?
Q. Why does the FutureFLEX
fiber optic cable look different form conventional cable?
Q. Is there stress placed
on FutureFLEX fiber during installation, and what are the
chances of it getting damaged?
Q. What equipment is needed to
blow the fiber in?
Q. How fast can FutureFLEX be
installed?
Q. Can I use my regular
installers to install FutureFLEX?
Q. Will using FutureFLEX®
Air-Blown
Fiber® Optic Cable for my network project cost more
than conventional fiber optic cable?
A. FutureFLEX
ABF is price competitive with standard fiber optic cables. In
fact, in most cases it provides cost savings both initially and
in the future.
Normally, FutureFLEX Cabling takes just two people to
install, versus six to eight with conventional cable - so labor
costs are reduced. In addition, the time required to blow cable
is much less than the time needed to pull cable - a matter of
hours versus days with standard fiber optic cable. With
FutureFLEX, runs are point-to-point--it doesn't require splice
points or access areas, resulting in additional savings.
Conventional fiber often requires frequent splicing,
substantially increasing the labor involved and the cost. And,
in many installations, the FutureFLEX tubes can replace the need
for costly conduit or innerduct.
FutureFLEX takes the guesswork out of network planning. You
don't have to install more capacity than needed at the outset
and then have it lay dormant, perhaps never to be used. With
FutureFLEX, the cost of changing out fiber is extremely low.
Empty tube cells enable you to blow new fiber in or blow old
fiber out and blow new fiber in at the same time. Nothing could
be easier.
FutureFLEX continues to be cost-efficient well into the
future. Once the tube structures are in place, moves, adds and
even retrofitting a LAN is extremely simple. You can quickly
blow in new fiber, reroute or reuse existing fiber bundles
simply by reversing the blowing process.
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Q. Does the lack of splice points
improve the network signal?
A. Yes. The use
of conventional cable requires numerous splice points and
connections, which degrades the signal at each splice. Not only
do splice points degrade the signal but increase installation
labor costs at the rate of 15 to 30 minutes per connection. A
large installation could easily require 2,000 splices, or from
500 to 1,000 additional man hours to make the splices.
FutureFLEX ABF essentially removes labor for splicing as a
significant cost component.
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Q. Is FutureFLEX fiber any
different than the fiber used in conventional cable?
A. In a word:
No! FutureFLEX fiber uses the same type of glass and is provided
by the same suppliers as conventional fiber. However, because
it's aerodynamically designed to be blown in, FutureFLEX cable
looks different . . . it's thinner and lighter, typically 1/40th
the size. There's no pulling force with an air blown
installation, which eliminates the need for bulky strength
elements and fillers.
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Q. How does FutureFLEX help
with moves, adds and changes?
A. A recent
BICSI report revealed that about 50% of the work force moves
every year. Future Flex ABF is the mot cost-effective structured
cabling system to accommodate this reality. With FutureFLEX, you
can reroute the cables throughout a building or an entire campus
quickly and easily once the tube structures are in place. By
accessing the junction points in the Tube Distribution Unit,
fiber can be blown in or out for rerouting at rates up to 150
feet-per-minute. Generally, switching out a 1,500-foot run would
take only a few hours, as compared to a full day if conventional
cable were used. The short amount of time required to make
changes in the network configuration drastically reduces
employee and business downtime normally associated with MACs and
the much of the expense resulting from it. Hospitals, air
traffic control systems, and automotive assembly lines are just
some of the applications that benefit from minimal disruption to
their network.
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Q. What standards does
Air-Blown Fiber meet?
A. While no
standards have yet to be written specifically for Air-Blown
Fiber, FutureFLEX fiber optic cabling does meet all required
standards to qualify as an installation option for structured
cabling systems. This includes TIA/EIA-568A, Underwriters
Laboratories Riser and Plenum Rated, and ICEA-S-83-596.
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Q. What applications or
industries is FutureFLEX used in?
A. FutureFLEX
is really a mainstream networking solution that is currently
being utilized for a wide range of applications and is ideal
for:
- Manufacturing or processing plants . . . or anyone who
uses a network in an industrial environment
- Commercial industries including banking, finance and
retailing
- Large structures such as retail stores and buildings
subject to tenant changes
- Universities and educational institutions
- Government or municipal buildings and facilities, even
shipboard applications
- Large healthcare facilities such as hospitals and
medical centers
- The gaming and casino industry for both security and
networking
- Convention centers and exhibit halls
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Q. What are some examples where
FutureFLEX Air-Blown Fiber is currently being used?
A. Since being
introduced, FutureFLEX ABF has been proven in government,
defense, education, manufacturing, public works, healthcare and
business installations. It is currently being used for voice,
data, and video systems as well as for HVAC and security
systems.
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Q. Does tube cable replace the
need for conduit?
A. Yes, in many
applications, FutureFLEX is capable of replacing conduit and
innerduct. Tube cable is rugged and can be installed indoors or
outdoors. Armored and direct burial tube cable is available, as
well as version protecting against water ingress. Both plenum
and riser-rated versions are offered for use inside the
building.
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Q. How does FutureFLEX
help me future-proof my network?
A. Until
FutureFLEX, future-proofing a network meant installing more
capacity than needed at the outset and then hoping the
guesstimates were correct. With FutureFLEX, you don't have to
overbuy. FutureFLEX takes the guesswork out of planning your
network down the road. Changing out FutureFLEX, because it
requires minimal personnel and time, is extremely cost
efficient. In addition, the timesavings offered by FutureFLEX
result in minimal downtime for your people and your operation.
A further benefit of FutureFLEX is that you don't have to let
an incredibly expensive cable plant become dormant and install
an entirely new cable to replace it inside your structure. The
existing tubing infrastructure can provide extra empty cells
into which additional fiber can be blown at any time. Fiber can
be quickly and easily rerouted or changed as technology
advances.
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Q. Why does the FutureFLEX
fiber optic cable look different form conventional cable?
A. While the
fiber in FutureFLEX ABF is the same type of glass as
conventional fiber, ABF bundles are vastly different in
appearance. They contain 2 to 18 strands of singlemode or
multimode fiber, and are typically 1/40 the size of comparable
conventional cable. This is because no strength members or
fillers are required to protect fibers from the
performance-damaging stresses of installation. In fact, 90% or
more of the physical elements of a conventional fiber cable
exist just to help the product through its installation.
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Q. Is there stress placed
on FutureFLEX fiber during installation, and what are the
chances of it getting damaged?
A. The
FutureFLEX system uses a patented blowing method to blow a fiber
bundle through a tube, so it's stress free. Because there is no
stress placed on the cables, there is very little chance of the
cables being damaged during installation.
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Q. What equipment is needed to
blow the fiber in?
A. Air blowing
equipment is comprised of several components. The pressure
source can be either compressed air or bottles of compressed
nitrogen. Through a system of tubing and fittings, pressured
nitrogen is delivered to the blowing system. This system
consists of a payoff stand on which reels of ABF bundles are
placed, and a blowing head used to direct fiber bundles and
nitrogen into the ABF infrastructure. Electric power is not
needed.
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Q. How fast can FutureFLEX be
installed?
A. The fiber
bundles can be blown into tube cells at rates of up to 150 feet
per minute, and with minimal contact with the tube cell walls.
Generally, switching out a 1,500-foot run would take only a few
hours, as compared to a full day if conventional cables were
used. Splice-free runs have reached 6,000 feet, depending on the
network configuration. Remember that splice-free runs also
enhance network performance, because each fiber splice can cause
signal degradation.
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Q. Can I use my regular
installers to install FutureFLEX?
A. As long as
they are a FutureFLEX Licensed FutureFLEX Installer (LFI) who has
completed the official training program for installing
FutureFLEX ABF; they are permitted to install the system.
Training is available through Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Corporation.
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