Cable Management and
Slack Storage
WHITE PAPER
Taking Up the Slack in Cable Management
Over the years, more and more people have become experienced in working with optical
fiber, particularly in the central office (CO) environment. One bit of knowledge obtained
quickly through experience is the importance of fiber cable management and how it can
dramatically affect the operational costs of a network. ADC has a wealth of experience
in the areas of cable management and slack storage systems that are time-tested and
continually improved – but it all begins with pure awareness.
Storing excess fiber cable is an often overlooked area within the fiber-to-the-premise
(FTTP) network’s outside plant (OSP) architecture, yet it is critical when it comes to
preventing cable management problems. For example, excess patch cord fiber is usually
necessary for reconfiguring a fiber circuit, but the slack must be managed to prevent
damage. At the same time, all fibers should remain as accessible as possible during day-
to-day operations of the network.
Accessibility and the amount of time required to reconfigure a network will be optimized
in a system that maintains a continuous non-coiled or twisted routing of the fibers. The
successful slack storage system provides flexible storage capacities, permanent bend
radius protection, and easy access to individual fibers. It will also mitigate many potential
problems that non-managed systems could face over time.
Keys to Unlocking Fiber Management
Good fiber cable management can be broken down into a few key principles. The first
principle is to develop clear routing paths that are obvious to any technician at a
glance. In other words, routing the fiber correctly should be intuitive and easily
accomplished. Next, fiber cable should be physically protected to prevent damage as a
result of technicians working on other parts of the cabinet or cable management
device. Measures should be taken to avoid damaging, pulling, stretching, crushing or
pinching existing fibers in the vicinity of the work area.
Another key to cable management is bend radius protection. As fiber is bent, the
radius can become too small and allow light to escape the core and enter the

Since the fiber distribution hub in the access network’s
outside plant is very similar to a CO’s fiber frame device,
it makes sense that the same cable management
techniques should be put into practice. But since the
fiber distribution panel is located in the middle of a
neighborhood, environmental issues must also be
considered. Additionally, a single technician is likely to
have many different responsibilities while not specializing
in how a particular piece of equipment operates. This
scenario generates an even greater need for effectively
dealing with fiber cable management issues.
For example, when the technician arrives at the
distribution cabinet, he may not be familiar with exactly
how previous fiber cables and connections have been
made. In fact, it could be the first time he’s opened this
particular cabinet. With that in mind, it’s easy to see the
importance of a system that not only achieves routing
paths that are intuitive, easy to find, and clear, there
should also be documentation right at the point of use
that enables the technician to remember and implement
standard cable management techniques.
Outside temperature variations also can cause fiber cable
management issues. Although the fiber isn’t affected by
fluctuating temperatures, the jacketing materials can
shrink and expand, causing bend radius problems.
Technicians must ensure all fiber cables are constrained
around the bend radius while permitting shrinkage in
cold temperatures.
Other less common scenarios, yet still worthy of
consideration, might include the possibility of having to

and contaminants to raise the probability of an exposed
endface attracting debris. Therefore, cleaning both the
front and rear connections in the panel is necessary and
requires adequate access. Dust covers on the connectors
and adaptors are designed for keeping debris off the
endface, but they are always dependent on how
technicians use them. Dust covers never negate the need
for cleaning each time a connection is made.
Typically, some slack fiber is left on the backside of a
patch panel in the event of a failed or broken connector
or fiber. This enables the opportunity to restore service to
the cabinet by having extra fiber to use. There should be
a place for storing a number of splices and a way to
access that area – along with extra slack cable that
enables quick restoration when necessary.
Fiber cable management techniques play as important a
role in the access network as they have traditionally
played in the CO. The fiber distribution hub is a
particularly crucial area due to the large number of
connections and fibers present.
However, other areas that deserve consideration for cable
management include the fiber access terminals farther up
the access network. Here again, the same key techniques
apply for cable routing, slack storage, physical protection,
and bend radius considerations. Additionally, the
optical network terminal (ONT) at the extreme end
of the network, although only dealing with one or
two fibers, is also a candidate for bend radius and
physical protection issues.
ADC believes that proper cable management