FTTP installation requirements

Hello all,

FTTP has finally reached my area and an OpenReach engineer will be here soon to install it, I am with Zen.

Unfortunately I don't have power where the telephone line enters the building and I also want my main network to be wired and not to rely on WiFi only.

I've seen some shocking work done in my area with FTTP so I am planning to prepare for the installation myself so the engineer won't have to drill random holes in my property.

The plan is to run a wiring conduit from where the telephone line enters the property to a small nearby cupboard. There I will have power and the router waiting for the fiber box. I reckon the distance is going to be 5 meters from the original point of entrance.

Now, the above requires opening my walls so I was hoping Zen could confirm that OpenReach are going to be happy with the setup - in particular whether a 32mm ducting is enough for their wiring - but as usual nobody can give me an answer. I could wait for the engineer to arrive but that would mean having to re-schedule the visit if I wait to do the work until I get the green light or having to re-do it if they're not happy.

I know I won't be 100% sure until the engineer is here but could someone please advise on this? Would 32mm ducting be enough and will OpenReach be ok to route their cables an additional 5 metres to reach my desired point of installation? I will prepare everything for them, so they'll only have to use the pull-wire I will leave in place for them

Thank you!

32mm is ample. The cable diameter is a smidge over 3mm in diameter. You could actually use a smaller conduit if that’s easier. The cable is pre-connectorised at the ONT end, but they will pull through the raw end to the CSP to splice it with the drop cable from the street. If you you have a draw cord in place, the engineer will be very happy.

+1

As already mentioned 32mm will be ample.

I installed standard 20mm conduit which ultimately was used for the heavier main fibre feed as they instlled the CSP internally. Do NOT use corners or elbows, use swept bends as it will pull through easily. I did not solvent weld mine, just in case but all was fine. Also, use a pipe slice to cut the conduit rather than a hacksaw to avaoid any rough ends where snagging may occur.

Thanks all for the advice. I was indeed concerned that there might be some pre-installed termination which might not fit in a pipe.

I'm planning to have a flexible conduit, so no sharp bends and yes I will leave a pull-wire behind! I think I'll still go for the 32mm, it fits "whatever the future throws at me"

Cheers!!

Flexible can be a problem - recently when trying to pull a draw tape with a rounded end through, it was continually catching on even the slighttest bends.

In my experience a proper flexible wire conduit is smooth inside or not bumpy enough to catch on things. I'll try to select a proper one. Failing that there is wire lubricant which I really recommend to anybody struggling with that task - it turns what looks like an impossible task into a 5 minutes job

thanks for the feedback!

Is it? All the ones I come across are ridged: Delta, Tower, Adaptaflex, Univolt, Flexicon and more. Which brand are you proposing?

I wouldn't be able to mention a brand but something like this

That said, if the ridges are not too big with small dips between them, they shouldn't interfere with the pulling. It's when you have those large and rubbery ones which might become difficult.

The issue is not only the ridges, but that the conduit itself moves overall, so if what’s being pulled through meets some resistance, then the whole shebang moves.