In my May Code Comments column, I wrote about the NEC and NFPA 70E definitions of a “qualified person.” Test your memory and your knowledge of this NEC term in the quiz below.
My previous quiz focused on power meters and how they are used to make basic measurements. To measure loss, you need a test source in addition to a power meter. Are you familiar with the sources used for fiber optic testing? More information on optical power can be found in the Fiber Optics Association Guide at www.thefoa.org/tech/ref/testing/test/power.html.
May is Electrical Safety Month. How well do you know the standards and regulations that keep you safe on the job? To access resources and informational videos related to consumer and workplace electrical safety developed by the Electrical Safety Foundation International, visit ESFI’s website at esfi.org.
Most fiber optic techs are familiar with optical loss test sets, and many use optical time-domain reflectometers, but power meters may not be familiar to all of them. Are you knowledgeable about this instrument?
Working safely with cabling and cords in the electrical industry is a priority for all workers. OSHA has specific requirements for this. Whether it is temporary power cords or permanently installed cables, safety is a must for everyone.
Building and fire codes provide the “when” and “where” of how fire alarm systems are installed. How well do you know the fire alarm requirements of the 2018 International Building Code (IBC)? Here is your opportunity to find out.
Smart grid, smart cities, intelligent traffic signals, small cells—it seems like everything popular in new technology needs more fiber. That means installing more fiber optic cables, and that means more construction. How familiar are you with the outside plant (OSP) fiber optic construction process?
Handheld and portable power tools are used everyday in construction. Many of these tools have been engineered to be used safely in the field by authorized, competent and qualified people.
Multimode fiber has been around a long time and is still being used in many premises cabling applications. There also are continuous upgrades in multimode technology. How well have you kept up with multimode fiber technology and applications?
Mobile apps, online training and video conferencing have made managing safety and adhering to OSHA and NFPA requirements for safety documentation easier and more streamlined. What do you know about managing these safety requirements?
Fire Alarm Survivability Requirements
Life Safety Systems
Aug 29, 2018
| Thomas P. Hammerberg
Pathway survivability requirements are an often-misunderstood area of fire alarm systems. Test your knowledge of the requirements in NFPA 72, 2016 edition.
Grounding Electrical Systems
National Electrical Code
Aug 29, 2018
| Michael Johnston
These days, multiple power sources can be present in a single building or structure. Many of these are what the National Electrical Code (NEC) calls separately derived systems. Transformers, batteries, fuel cells and generators can supply these systems. An electrical system produced by a generator is either required to be grounded as a separately derived system or it is not, and the key to this is the transfer equipment.
As they say, the devil is in the details. Knowing the little things that count can help get the job done, and save time and money. Let’s look at some little things that matter for fiber optics.