When commencing a fiber optic cable installation, two key issues require careful attention. The first is to be absolutely certain that the fiber cable is the proper length to reach from the starting point to the ending point, with a minimum of 30 ft. of excess (slack) cable at both ends. If the cable is found to be too short during installation, either a splicing point must be added, with extra cable connected to reach the end point, or the cable must be replaced with one of the proper length. These difficulties will be avoided if the pulling distance between the two points is measured carefully. It is always better to have more cable than necessary, as there may be unseen or unplanned detours in the planned cable path.
The second key issue is the method used for connecting the pulling string to the fiber cable. At no time should the pulling string be connected directly to the fiber strands. Pulling the cable by the fibers themselves will cause multiple fractures of the fibers, making them unusable.