A new Qualification Scheme developed by the Fibreoptic Industry Association adopts a revolutionary, highly integrated approach to personal qualifications and training provision addressing three inter-related areas: learner development, training courses and training provision.

The qualifications comprise a base, Level I, award but concentrate on four higher level awards - Level II: Technician, Level III: Specialist, Level IV: Engineer and Level V: Expert. Learners can progress to higher levels of award by a combination of successful assessment on FIA Approved Course Units and, in the case of the highest levels, submission of a thesis and subsequent oral examination.

Organisations providing the principal courses/units are required to be FIA Approved Training Providers (ATPs) and use FIA Certified Trainers to deliver the training.

Certified Trainers have to be qualified, trained or experienced as trainers and practically experienced in the field of fibre optics and have to pass a written FIA examination. Each Certified Trainer is provided with a Photo ID Card that requires renewal every two years.

An FIA ATP is required to commit to using only FIA Certified Trainers on any course units leading to awards recognised within the FIA Qualification Scheme. An ATP also has to either be a City & Guilds Centre or be willing to undergo initial and subsequent annual audits by FIA staff.

Learners are required to provide feedback, covering the quality of both training and facilities to the FIA Qualification Scheme Directorate. This provides effective quality assurance controls for the entire system.

Details of the scheme, associated documentation and details of current Approved Training Providers and Certified Trainers can be found on FIA web-site at www.fia-online.co.uk/equals01.htm.

Fusion splicing is a long-established and well-proven technique for the provision of low insertion loss and high return loss joints in fibre optic cable. Unfortunately, unrealistic demands for splice loss performance, flawed in terms of what is specified and/or how it is specified, are often included in project specifications, causing problems for both installers and clients. To overcome this problem, a working group, chaired by the FIA's Technical Director, was convened. Key players from the installer and instrumentation sectors of the fibre industry worked together to produce a commercially viable set of splice loss specifications, which if followed, will ensure that the operation requirements of the system are not compromised. The document, TSD-2000-4-1-1, is a free download from www.fibreoptic.org.uk to FIA members and available to non-members for a nominal £75 from the Secretariat, 01763 273039, jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The TSD adopts the commonsense approach of placing most emphasis on the optical budget of the channel, with the loss level in any individual splice only being of interest if it is greater than 0.3dB, a level that will almost certainly indicate faulty workmanship or subsequent cable damage. However, particular problems arise in singlemode fibres, where the most significant cause of splice losses is mode field diameter mismatches, a problem compounded by the existence of 5 different types of fibre cable specified in IEC 60793-2-50 (and 13 sub-types within ITU-T specifications). The TSD allows for the various options likely to be faced in the real world by setting out splice loss limits for joints between "same product", "same generic type", "different type" and "unknown" types of singlemode cable.

For contractual and operational purposes, the TSD recommends splice loss averages for different cable types and also discusses technical and commercial issues associated with reworking.

The security industry is heavily reliant on optical fibre as the preferred carrier for video, voice and data signals associated with CCTV based security systems. The high bandwidth capabilities of fibre, its stability and low signal attenuation are important user benefits.

Fusion splicing is a long-established and well-proven technique for the provision of low insertion loss and high return loss joints in fibre optic cable. Unfortunately, unrealistic demands for splice loss performance, flawed in terms of what is specified and/or how it is specified, are often included in project specifications, causing problems for both installers and clients. To overcome this problem, a working group, chaired by the FIA's Technical Director, was convened. Key players from the installer and instrumentation sectors of the fibre industry worked together to produce a commercially viable set of splice loss specifications, which if followed, will ensure that the operation requirements of the system are not compromised. The document, TSD-2000-4-1-1, is a free download from www.fibreoptic.org.uk to FIA members and available to non-members for a nominal £75 from the Secretariat, 01763 273039, jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The TSD adopts the commonsense approach of placing most emphasis on the optical budget of the channel, with the loss level in any individual splice only being of interest if it is greater than 0.3dB, a level that will almost certainly indicate faulty workmanship or subsequent cable damage. However, particular problems arise in singlemode fibres, where the most significant cause of splice losses is mode field diameter mismatches, a problem compounded by the existence of 5 different types of fibre cable specified in IEC 60793-2-50 (and 13 sub-types within ITU-T specifications). The TSD allows for the various options likely to be faced in the real world by setting out splice loss limits for joints between "same product", "same generic type", "different type" and "unknown" types of singlemode cable.

For contractual and operational purposes, the TSD recommends splice loss averages for different cable types and also discusses technical and commercial issues associated with reworking.

Optical fibre technology has long been central to rail industry communications infrastructures, whether as the transmission medium for signalling and alarm systems, or as the carrier for retail telecommunications such as Public Address, CCTV and Passenger Information. The fact that fibre is by definition inert is a leading factor in safety-critical rail applications, as is the cable's ability to run trackside for long distances with minimal attenuation. For bandwidth hungry applications such as CCTV and video, fibre-based transmission infrastructures really come into their own.

Fusion splicing is a long-established and well-proven technique for the provision of low insertion loss and high return loss joints in fibre optic cable. Unfortunately, unrealistic demands for splice loss performance, flawed in terms of what is specified and/or how it is specified, are often included in project specifications, causing problems for both installers and clients. To overcome this problem, a working group, chaired by the FIA's Technical Director, was convened. Key players from the installer and instrumentation sectors of the fibre industry worked together to produce a commercially viable set of splice loss specifications, which if followed, will ensure that the operation requirements of the system are not compromised. The document, TSD-2000-4-1-1, is a free download from www.fibreoptic.org.uk to FIA members and available to non-members for a nominal £75 from the Secretariat, 01763 273039, jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The TSD adopts the commonsense approach of placing most emphasis on the optical budget of the channel, with the loss level in any individual splice only being of interest if it is greater than 0.3dB, a level that will almost certainly indicate faulty workmanship or subsequent cable damage. However, particular problems arise in singlemode fibres, where the most significant cause of splice losses is mode field diameter mismatches, a problem compounded by the existence of 5 different types of fibre cable specified in IEC 60793-2-50 (and 13 sub-types within ITU-T specifications). The TSD allows for the various options likely to be faced in the real world by setting out splice loss limits for joints between "same product", "same generic type", "different type" and "unknown" types of singlemode cable.

For contractual and operational purposes, the TSD recommends splice loss averages for different cable types and also discusses technical and commercial issues associated with reworking.

Key issues that have considerable commercial implications and risks to those involved in specifying and installing networks will be addressed at seminars at The Building Centre in London and the IOD Manchester facility on 25 and 27 May respectively, organised by the Fibreoptic Industry Association, the not for profit organisation devoted to the interests of the fibre community.

BS 6701:2004 is the envy of Europe - a single UK installation standard that ties together all the other requirements and recommendations and puts them in one place. Moreover, it clearly defines who is responsible for what - installer or the client. This paper charts the progress of the new UK standard and details its implications for all involved in the installation process. The paper, presented by Rob Cardigan, Molex Premise Networks and Secretary of BSI TCT7/-/3, will also describe the use of the BSI BIP0007, sponsored by the FIA, which provides a useful guide to the new standards and how they relate to each other.

Fusion splicing - the risk of over-specification!
Extremely low splice insertion losses can be specified, but acceptance of such specifications can put project managers and installers at unquantifiable commercial risk. The FIA was asked by members to address this issue and formed a Splicing Project team involving the very best specialist companies including Fujikura, Furukawa, Sumitomo and Tritec. The results of this work, which forms the latest Technical Support Document, TSD-2000-4-1-1, Optical Fibre Installation Practices: Splicing, will be presented by Mike Gilmore, FIA Technical Director. The FIA TSD sets out a commercially neutral framework, detailing the most appropriate way in which to specify and verify the performance of optical fibre fusion splices; it will also define reasonable and commercially acceptable limits for the splices under specific conditions.

High bandwidth multimode optical fibre - is it worth the investment?
Cables containing high bandwidth multimode (OM3) optical fibre command a price premium. Is their use justified in all circumstances? This presentation shows that the true benefit of such products is not only transmission distance for applications such as 10GBASE-SR, but also increased network resilience and resistance to contamination at connections. This paper provides useful guidance for installers and users alike.

To learn by experience may cost considerably more than the £75 for members and their guests or £125 for non-members. For further information on the seminars, and to reserve a place, contact the FIA Secretariat, 01763 273039, jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

Company membership fees range from £250 per annum for companies with turnover of less than £500,000, to £750 a year for operations with sales in excess of £5 million; individuals are charged £75 per year. Membership is open to any organisation or business involved in the fibre optics market: end users, manufacturers, distributors, resellers, consultants, installers, system integrators and training providers. Most members are UK based but companies located elsewhere are also welcome to join.

The main services and benefits of the FIA, available to all grades of member, are:
Technical Advice: Members can seek advice from Council members who have a wealth of knowledge and are specialists in their respective fields.
Technical Support Documents: reader-friendly interpretation of existing national and international standards and, possibly more importantly, FIA TSDs are being increasingly used by standards organisations as the starting point for new standards. For example, the FIA has recently started a working group on the problems arising from over-specifying splice losses in system requirements, particularly in the railway industry, a source of increasing concern to those members active in this field.
Website: The FIA website was originally part funded by the DTI and has formed the basis for considerable information on related industry topics, members have access to a restricted area were documents and other information can be easily downloaded at no extra charge.
Standards Forum: Members have the chance to comment on draft standards to the Standards Director, who will take their comments to appropriate body. Every member has an equal voice to be heard at national, European and international level. Updated information on standards can be accessed via the website.
SkillsMatch is an online database that enables suitably qualified individuals to promote themselves to FIA members.
Government Representation: The FIA represents the industry on many different initiatives and continues to put forward proposals that reflect the needs and requirements of the industry, the FIA is well established in engaging national agencies over such issues of training qualifications.
Listings of Approved Training Providers and Approved Installers are held for the benefits of members, a regular PDF newsletter is mailed to as many contacts as required in each member company, seminars and conferences are organised in venues across the UK and a very good insurance scheme is available to members.

All this from a small committed Council of volunteers!

To find out more, visit www.fibreoptic.org.uk, call 01793 273039 or mail jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The FIA, committed to raising standards throughout the fibre optic industry, has started to develop a new Technical Support Document to address the increasing problem of over-specification of splice losses. To be launched at a seminar in May 2004, the TSD will establish, in a commercially neutral manner, the most appropriate way in which to specify and verify the performance of optical fibre fusion splices; it will also define reasonable and commercially acceptable limits for the splices under specific conditions.

Fusion splicing is a long-established and well-proven approach for the provision of low loss, low return loss and environmentally stable connections both internal and external to buildings. Over the years, the capability of fusion splicing equipment has improved substantially, as has the control over the tolerances of optical fibres themselves, resulting in a steady reduction in achievable splice loss to the point where further significant performance improvements can no longer be made without direct influence over the optical fibres.

Unfortunately, unrealistic demands for splice loss performance, flawed in terms of what is specified and/or how it is specified, are often included in specifications. The impact of specifying overly ambitious or incorrectly defined splice loss requirements must concern both the client and the installer. The installer may be faced with a considerable degree of rework that can have dramatic commercial consequences, while the client may be faced with considerable project delays, the resolution of which will add further costs.

Over-specification can arise from a number of causes. Clients may be influenced by the claims of fusion splicing equipment manufacturers, who rightly provide favourable, best case specifications for their machines; no account may be taken of the tolerances of the optical fibres that are seen in the field or clients fail to recognise the range of, and differences between, optical fibres that may be encountered and their influence on the performance of splices made between them. IEC 60793-2-50 specifies five different single mode optical fibres between which fusion splicing will result in modified performance when compared with splicing between singlemode optical fibres of the same type.

The security industry is heavily reliant on optical fibre as the preferred carrier for video, voice and data signals associated with CCTV based security systems. The high bandwidth capabilities of fibre, its stability and low signal attenuation are important user benefits.

Fibre's exceptional capabilities mean that performance specification and verification has become a fine art. Too fine, in fact. There are definite signs, says the FIA, that some specifiers are demanding such impossibly low levels of signal attenuation in fusion splices that they are tying themselves and their suppliers up into knots. To provide a commercially neutral framework that will benefit both specifiers and installers, the FIA, a non-profit organisation committed to raising standards throughout the fibre optic industry, is developing a new Technical Support Document to address the increasing problem of over-specification of splice losses. To be launched at a seminar in May 2004, the TSD will establish the most appropriate way in which to specify and verify the performance of optical fibre fusion splices; it will also define reasonable and commercially acceptable limits for the splices under specific conditions.

Over-specification can arise from a number of causes. Specifiers may be influenced by the claims of fusion splicing equipment manufacturers, who rightly provide favourable, best case specifications for their machines; no account may be taken of the tolerances of the optical fibres that are seen in the field or clients fail to recognise the range of, and differences between, optical fibres that may be encountered and their influence on the performance of splices made between them. IEC 60793-2-50 specifies five different single mode optical fibres between which fusion splicing will result in modified performance when compared with splicing between singlemode optical fibres of the same type.

Unfortunately, unrealistic demands for splice loss performance, flawed in terms of what is specified and/or how it is specified, are often included in specifications. The impact of specifying overly ambitious or incorrectly defined splice loss requirements must concern both the client and the installer. The installer may be faced with a considerable degree of rework that can have dramatic commercial consequences, while the client may be faced with considerable project delays, the resolution of which will add further costs.

Optical fibre technology has long been central to rail industry communications infrastructures, whether as the transmission medium for signalling and alarm systems, or as the carrier for retail telecommunications such as Public Address, CCTV and Passenger Information. The fact that fibre is by definition inert is a leading factor in safety-critical rail applications, as is the cable's ability to run trackside for long distances with minimal attenuation. For bandwidth hungry applications such as CCTV and video, fibre-based transmission infrastructures really come into their own.

The Rail sector has traditionally demanded the most stringent performance levels from suppliers right across the board - setting standards subsequently reflected in other industries, to the benefit of all. Fibre's exceptional capabilities mean that performance specification and verification has become a fine art. Too fine, in fact. There are definite signs, says the FIA, that the performance levels for optical fibre systems being set in some installation specifications are moving beyond that which is desirable or practically possible, and into the realms of the purely hypothetical. To provide a commercially neutral framework that will benefit both specifiers and installers, the FIA, a non-profit organisation committed to raising standards throughout the fibre optic industry, is developing a new Technical Support Document to address the increasing problem of over-specification of splice losses. To be launched at a seminar in May 2004, the TSD will establish the most appropriate way in which to specify and verify the performance of optical fibre fusion splices; it will also define reasonable and commercially acceptable limits for the splices under specific conditions.

Over-specification can arise from a number of causes. Specifiers may be influenced by the claims of fusion splicing equipment manufacturers, who rightly provide favourable, best case specifications for their machines; no account may be taken of the tolerances of the optical fibres that are seen in the field or clients fail to recognise the range of, and differences between, optical fibres that may be encountered and their influence on the performance of splices made between them. IEC 60793-2-50 specifies five different single mode optical fibres between which fusion splicing will result in modified performance when compared with splicing between singlemode optical fibres of the same type.

Unfortunately, unrealistic demands for splice loss performance, flawed in terms of what is specified and/or how it is specified, are often included in specifications. The impact of specifying overly ambitious or incorrectly defined splice loss requirements must concern both the client and the installer. The installer may be faced with a considerable degree of rework that can have dramatic commercial consequences, while the client may be faced with considerable project delays, the resolution of which will add further costs.

Nearly all local and wide area network technologies use separate optical fibres for transmit and receive signals; polarity maintenance is becoming a significant issue as duplex cables and array interfaces are increasing deployed throughout the network. The latest Technical Support Document, TSD-2000-3-3, from the FIA makes detailed recommendations for the termination practices to be followed to ensure known and repeatable channel polarity in optical fibre duplex cables and multi-element array interfaces with up to 12 optical fibres per row. By following the recommendations in the TSD, network designers, technicians, installers and network managers will be able to maximise channel reliability at all times.

Free to members, £50 to non-members, the TSD is available as a download from www.fibreoptic.ork.uk or from the Secretariat, 01763 273039, jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

This document is the latest in the series to be published by the FIA covering various aspects of designing, testing, installing and operating optical fibre networks. All the guides are prepared by acknowledged experts in their field and are free to members.The document provides definitive recommendations for all types and combination of cord and channel, ranging from simple duplex patch and equipment cords, configured as either straight-through or cross-over cords through to single and multiple row array interfaces with up to twelve optical fibres per row. Fixed cabling segments with duplex connectivity are also covered within the document.

Reliable testing of fibre optic cabling is an important issue. To assist users who need a ready reference to the test equipment available, the Fibreoptic Industry Association has published The Fibre Optic Test Equipment Selection Guide, a comprehensive listing of almost 90 different OTDR models produced by the 10 leading suppliers in the UK. The guide, which will be updated on a regular basis as new equipment is launched by the test equipment manufacturers, is available as a free Excel spreadsheet download for FIA members. Free access to such documents is just one of the many benefits of FIA membership: contact the FIA Secretariat, 01763 273039, jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk for details.

The Guide has been compiled solely using manufacturers' published data sheets and specifications available in the public domain. While some equipment classes may be covered by specifications published by Bellcore, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Electronic Industry Association (EIA) or the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), care must be exercised when comparing detailed specifications as there are no rigid guidelines on how this information must be presented. While these standards provide some guidance, they do not all necessarily agree on some of the definitions used when describing test equipment form, function and specification.

Understandably, manufacturers will naturally use definitions that show their offerings in the best possible manner. To help the user to make an informed comparison between products from different manufacturers, the document includes a glossary of commonly used definitions.

The Fibreoptic Industry Association has published its latest Technical Support Guide, TSD-2000-4-2-2, "Optical Fibre Cable, Testing, Installed Cabling Using Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) Equipment". The guide is free to members, £150 to non-members.

An OTDR is arguably the most powerful analytical tool available; it can be used to perform inspection and testing of all types of MMF and SMF cabling at all stages of installation. It works by launching a series of short pulses of LASER light into the optical fibre and collecting and analysing the backscattered light to produce an attenuation profile along the length of the fibre under test. However, its very sophistication and versatility means that unskilled use can produce meaningless results.

The FIA Guide gives comprehensive coverage of the theory of the OTDR, its applications, equipment selection, operating parameters, measurement techniques such as the use of launch and tail cords the use of double-ended measurements; it also gives guidance on the interpretation of results.

The Guide is essential reading for anyone needing to understand testing of Optical Fibres using an OTDR; FIA members can download the PDF from the web site, www.fibreoptic.org.uk, non-members can purchase the document from the Secretary, 01763 273039.

The FIA’s Technical Support Document 2000-5-2 covers the procedures to be adopted and the precautions to be taken during the use and subsequent disposal of the potentially hazardous substances commonly used in the fibre optic industry. These range from filling compounds used during the manufacture of fibre cable, adhesives, polishing and cleaning compounds used during fibre termination and cleaning and degreasing compounds used during maintenance of the completed cables or patch cords.

Recommendations are made as to the best practices to be adopted, the review and implementation of COSHH programmes and appropriate Occupational Exposure Limits defined by the Health and Safety Executive and the RIDDOR reporting requirements. The guide will save time previously spent in cross referring to various different Standards.

Technical Support Document 200-5-3 deals specifically with the precautions to be taken to guard against injury from the fibre optic shards necessarily produced during the termination or splicing of fibre optic cables. Being very small and sharp, optical fibre shards can easily penetrate the skin, causing pain, irritation and inflammation; as they are transparent to X-rays they can be very difficult to locate and remove if they do penetrate the skin. The transparent shards can also be unknowingly carried on the skin and subsequently transferred to the eyes or mouth. The guide selects BS EN 50174 as the basis of the further recommendations set out as a Code of Practice to be followed to avoid injury to personnel. The FIA Code of Practice covers the handling precautions, protective equipment and disposal methods to be used when working with fibre optic cables.

The guides are available by download from the FIA website, www.fibreoptic.org.uk, on CD or as hard copy. They are free to FIA members; they cost £15 each to non-members who can order online or by contacting the Secretariat on 01763 273039 or by email jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The increased use of potentially dangerous optical power sources as fibre optic media becomes more prevalent in the LAN environment has prompted the Fibreoptic Industry Association to publish its latest Technical Support Document, 2000-5-1, Optical Power Safety Levels. The 850nm, 1300/1310nm and 1550nm wavelengths commonly used to power optical networks are all in the infra-red part of the electromagnetic spectrum; they are invisible to the naked eye, so consequently there is no blink reaction, even to high powered emissions. Exposure to such light sources can cause severe eye damage, including total loss of sight.

The guide describes the classification of sources into Classes 1, the safest, to Class 4; it defines unrestricted, restricted and controlled access areas and details the restrictions applicable to the use of different source Classes in each area, the precautions to be taken and the type of warning labels required. The responsibilities are quite specific: for example, it is the original installer’s duty to designate access areas and correctly to label them; however, if the layout is subsequently modified by the user, the responsibility and liability then pass on to the user. The TSD is an interpretation of the relevant BS Standard, BS EN 60825, and is intended to be read in conjunction with the published BS Specification.

The guide is available by download from the FIA website, www.fibroptic.org.uk, on CD or as hard copy. It is free to FIA members; it costs £75 to non-members who can order online or by contacting the Secretariat on 01763 273039 or by email jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The Fibreoptic Industry Association has published a new Technical Support Guide, 2000-4-2-1, covering the correct methods, equipment and cords to be used during testing of both singlemode and multimode cables when measuring link and channel attenuation in installed cabling systems using Light Source and Power Meter equipment. When the original standards such as BS 7718, IEC 61280-4-2 and, in the US, ANSI/TIA/EIA-526-7-A, were originally published, it was implicitly assumed that the links under test would be long haul interconnects. Since then, link lengths have reduced as multimode optical fibre cable is increasingly used in LANs; consequently, the inevitable measurement uncertainty can now be of sufficient magnitude to introduce spurious fail results in short links of less than 300m.

While there is considerable agreement between the various published International, European and British test procedure Standards, these are all relevant for testing in one direction only; this document extends the application of these standards to small form factor connectors, some of which are asymmetrical in construction.

The new FIA guide is easy to use, with comprehensive diagrams showing the relevant type of test equipment, test cords and the cabling configuration, together with the appropriate test regimes for component acceptance, legacy cabling acceptance, partial completion tests, installed cable acceptance and fault diagnosis.

The guide is available by download from the FIA website, www.fibreoptic.org.uk, on CD or as hard copy. It is free to FIA members; it costs £150 to non-members who can order online or by contacting the Secretariat on 01763 273039 or by email jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The Fibreoptic Industry Association is dedicated to raising the levels of professionalism across all aspects of the manufacture, installation, testing, maintenance and use of fibre optic based components and assemblies in the LAN environment. As an organisation, it is heavily involved with the development of new International, European and National Standards; Mike Gilmore, the FIA’s Technical Director, is also Chairman of BSI TCT7/-/1 and Convenor of CLC TC215 WG1. As the demand for additional bandwidth rises inexorably with the development of Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet protocols, the physical layer infrastructure has to keep pace. The latest Specifications reflect the fact that multimode fibre cable has distance limitations at very high bandwidths; a very important consideration for those involved in the specification and design of tomorrow’s high demand networks.

A major strength is in the provision of expert services to members. The FIA provides interpretations of published Standards, written in plain English and updated as the Standards evolve. Not only do the Technical Support Documents explain the Standards themselves, they also prescribe courses of action and suggested implementation plans to ensure full compliance to the Standards. The TSDs are available free to members from the web site, www.fibreoptic.org.uk; those currently in print cover procedures and techniques such as LAN design using fibre, cable selection and testing of installed cabling using light source and power meter. Safety matters are another major topic; TSDs have been prepared on optical power levels, the safe handling of processing chemicals and the safe disposal of optical waste. Many other guides are currently in development.

The FIA and ECA have recently joined forces to improve the services and knowledge base for members of both organisations. One of the first tangible benefits of the liaison is a full day seminar covering the latest developments in fibre and wireless LAN technology, automated infrastructure and Gigabit Ethernet, to be presented in Birmingham on 17 September and in London on 26 November.

The FIA is organising a full day seminar at Bisham Abbey, Bucks on 14 May, starting at 09.15, finishing at 16.30. The seminar, aimed at all contractors and installers involved with fibre optic media in LAN and WAN environments, is intended to give the delegates the vital tools and skill sets to enable them to stand out from the crowd in an increasingly competitive, almost commodity, market. It is the first in a planned series of events mixing commercial and technical topics of relevance and interest to those involved with the fibre optic market.

The seminar is in two halves. The morning “looking-out” session covers FIA services and how to use them; the use of browser-based technology and CD “soft” documentation to improve system quality assurance and perceived value. A session on network testing, an increasingly important – and much misunderstood – subject, rounds off the first part of the day.

In the afternoon, delegates will be treated to the client’s “looking-in” perspective. Two presentations, one from the key consultancy and the other from a major user, will give a detailed view of their criteria that separate the successful supplier from the also-rans. The afternoon sessions will bring fresh insight into what the customer and his advisors actually want and expect – and how to provide it to win the business.

The cost, which includes all refreshments and a buffet lunch, is to FIA members £99 + VAT; non members are welcome at a fee of £200 + VAT. Places can be reserved by contacting the FIA Secretariat on 01763 273039 or by e-mail, jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

For the first 2002 seminar in the Fibreoptic Industry Association’s popular series of breakfast seminars, Mike Gilmore, Technical Director of the FIA and Chairman of BSI TCT7/-/1 and Convenor CLC TC215 WG1, will give a presentation on the latest procedures and standards for testing fibre optic cables, an area of great importance as bandwidths rise inexorably.

Testing is becoming increasingly critical within the total installation process. Most importantly, cables must be tested to the appropriate specifications using the correct methods– not as easy as it might appear. Testing is logical and straightforward, providing the recommended procedures are followed; ignore the rules and all sorts of errors can creep in. Attend this seminar and learn how to test accurately, quickly - and reliably.

Gigabit Ethernet and other high bandwidth protocols place serious demands on the integrity of the physical infrastructure and the introduction by several manufacturers of LSPM testers, combined light source and power meters, can give very misleading results if deployed incorrectly.

As usual, the seminar will be held at Bisham Abbey, Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Starting at 0900 (breakfast from 0815) on 20 March 2002, the cost is £45.00 for members and £125.00 for non-members; to book a place please contact the FIA Secretariat on 01763 273039 or e-mail jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The next in the FIA's popular series of breakfast seminars, to be held at Bisham Abbey, Marlow, Bucks on 11 September, covers the choices facing today's network specifiers, who must balance the needs of the business now and in the future against the cost implications. With fibre migrating into the horizontal, mixed media applications, Gigabit Ethernet, the development of Categories for fibre cable, voice over IP and wireless networking, the networking infrastructure choice has never been so great - or so complex. There are rarely any "right" answers: much depends on the application and the company's current and future needs.

With a considerable experience in both fibre and copper installations, Rob Cardigan, Technical Manager for Molex Premise Networks, is able to provide an insight that will provide delegates with a suggested framework within which to work.

The seminar will start at 0900, with breakfast beforehand from 0815. The seminar will finish around 1100; it costs £45 for members and £125 for non-members. To book a place please contact the FIA Secretariat on 01763 273039 or e-mail jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk.

The latest publication from the Fibreoptic Industry Association is the LAN Application Support Guide, a comprehensive overview of all elements that should be considered when designing a fibre media LAN. The choice of fibre cable type, optical power and loss budgeting, maximum distances in different types of cable and at different wavelengths and bandwidths and overall system design rules are all covered. The LAN Guide is set to become the definitive publication for anyone involved in designing, installing, testing or extending a fibre media LAN network.

The demand for additional bandwidth shows no sign of reducing. LAN data rates have increased dramatically and are still doing so; network protocols have moved from loss- or attenuation-limited applications such as Token Ring and FDDI to bandwidth-limited applications such as 1000BASE-SX/LX and the emerging IEEE 802.3ae 10 Gigabit Ethernet. This evolution has brought with it new design rules and enhanced performance options for multimode optical fibre cabling, together with an increased emphasis on singlemode technology in the LAN environment. The objective of the LAN Application Support Guide is to provide an understanding of both the "old" and "new" design issues. For new installations, the key issues addressed are the specification of optical fibre performance, the selection of optical fibre type and the design of optical fibre cabling channels.

FIA membership costs are only a few hundred pounds per year for the largest companies, less for smaller; in addition to other benefits, members receive all publications free. The cost of the LAN Guide to non-members is £150: to order, or to apply for membership, telephone the FIA secretariat on 01763 273039 or visit the FIA website www.fibreoptic.org.uk

5 June Bisham Abbey, 12 June Scotland.
Installation testing practices - are you in control?
Speaker Bernard Bush, Managing Director, Technical Network Support.
Testing has become far more sophisticated than just measuring forward and backward attenuation levels. As infrastructures become increasing complex and the options more varied, how do you know that what you see on the test meter is what you will achieve in practice? Are the test procedures in compliance with the latest developments in standards: what are the choices?
The seminar will be of interest both to the end user and those carrying out testing.
11 September, Bisham Abbey
Servicing the desktop - challenging approaches
With fibre migrating into the horizontal, mixed media applications, Gigabit Ethernet, voice over IP and wireless networking, the networking choice has never been so great. How do you ensure the right infrastructure is specified? How do you balance the needs of the business now and for the future against cost implications? If you are to provide a solution, which one is correct? There are rarely any "right" answers: much depends on the application and the company's current and future needs. This seminar will outline the different options, providing a framework from which to work.
4 December Bisham Abbey, TBA, Scotland
Singlemode: the new LAN Technology
To be fully defined in the fibre optic cable classifications currently in development, singlemode technology is becoming a serious contender for LAN high bandwidth applications. Singlemode may soon displace multimode as the de facto choice in Local Area Networks: the true enterprise environment may well be with us. As Gigabit applications are increasingly adopted, cable construction and variants will be made available to address bandwidth limitations. New developments in LEDs and lasers with VCSEL technologies are also expected. What are the options and how do they relate to network performance levels? The final seminar in this year's programme will bring delegates right up to date with current technologies and trends.

The seminar will be presented by Mike Gilmore, Technical Director of the FIA and Chairman of BSI TCT7/-/1, Convenor CLC TC215 WG1, who will be "hot-foot" back from the ISO/IEC meeting in Nice (February 12th-16th) where the future "Categorization" of optical fibre will have been discussed. The OM3 Category, offering high bandwidth for laser based LANs will be of significant interest both for what it offers and for what is does not!

This seminar will also coincide with the launch of the FIA LAN Application Support Guide, (free to members, £150 to non-members), a comprehensive technical reference document covering all aspects of both singlemode and multimode fibre-based LAN installations. The guide introduces the concept of optical fibre cable categories in support of the international and European standards.

The seminar costs £45.00 for members and £125 for non-members; to book a place please contact the FIA Secretariat on 01763 273039 or e-mail jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk

The RCDD Training programme, qualifications and training trends will be discussed by Andrew Stevens, Sales and Marketing Director, of CableNet while, at the same event, Mike Gilmore, Technical Director of the FIA, will introduce the FIA's SkillsMatch Scheme and the Association's Approach to Training and Qualifications.

Costs are very favourable to member companies and include breakfast. Starting at 8.15am with breakfast, and finishing around 11.00am with coffee, there will be plenty of time to share ideas with other delegates from the industry. After the seminar, delegates' business can be continued with minimum of disruption.

Editors are obviously very welcome to attend as the Association's guest, either for their own information or with a view to publication. To reserve a place, contact Jane Morrison at the FIA Secretariat. Telephone 01763 273039, e-mail jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk, website: www.fibreoptic.org.uk

The fibre optics industry, in common with other "hi-tech" areas, suffers from a critical shortage of skilled expertise in certain areas. In a rapidly growing market, finding skilled people can be a major growth limitation for many companies. Conversely, when compared with other industries, for example, the copper IT cabling market, there is abundance of fibre optic installation training schemes and qualifications. Many FIA members have difficulty in accessing the right people - who not only have the basic qualifications, but also have the necessary proven ability to manage teams and interface with clients.

The latest initiative from the FIA is its SkillsMatch Scheme, an online database where any individual, can submit details of their relevant qualifications to the FIA who will post them on its online database at www.fibreoptic.org.uk for a small fee. The applicant does not necessarily have to be a member of the FIA, but must have attained City of Guilds qualifications in the 3466 series or National Vocational Qualifications in IOL or SVC series. SkillsMatch is constrained to UK national qualifications; however, with many of the major networking and cable manufacturers running well-regarded training courses, there is space on the database for individuals to note qualifications gained from proprietary schemes. FIA member companies will be able to access this database on-line at anytime bringing prospective employers together with potential employees.

For an annual fee of £25.00, (including VAT) an individual can register on the "Record Only" section of the SkillsMatch web-base. This will list full name and qualifications. This allows employers to check credentials and the FIA will provide information regarding further training and education opportunities in our technology area.

Alternatively, "Full Access" registration via the payment of an associated upgrade fee of £15.00, (including VAT) displays more information including the general location (city, county etc) and enables FIA member companies to access the individual's selected contact point. This information is available to all FIA members, all the time, from the web site. In addition, a list will be e-mailed to all FIA members once per month. Over a year, this equates to an individual paying an additional 11p per day for advertising to more than 200 prospective employers.

With a severe shortage of skilled people, particularly those with project supervisory and management skills, access to SkillsMatch is a major advantage to member companies - and it is just one of the many services available for an annual subscription of just a few hundred pounds.