Direct-buried_cable

Cross-section of direct buried cable

Direct-buried cable (DBC) is a kind of communications or transmissions cable which is especially designed to be buried under the ground without any kind of extra covering, sheathing, or piping to protect it. Sterling, Donald J. (2000). Premises Cabling. Thomson Delmar Learning. ISBN 0766817350. 

Description

Most direct-buried cable is built to specific tolerances to heat, moisture, conductivity, and soil acidity. Unlike standard telecommunications and power cables, which have only a thin layer of insulation and a waterproof outer cover, DBC consists of multiple layers of heavy metallic-banded sheathing, reinforced by heavy rubber covers, shock absorbing gel, wrapped thread-fortified waterproof tape, and stiffened by a heavy metal core.

Benefits

Most cable of this kind is coaxial or bundled fiber-optic in nature. Direct-buried cable is cheaper and easier to lay than other kinds of cable that require protection from the earth. Sterling, Donald J. (2000). Premises Cabling. Thomson Delmar Learning. ISBN 0766817350.  However, DBC is also easily cut during digging or other excavations. As a result, most direct-buried cable is found on side roads, not main thoroughfares. Highhouse, John (1997). A Guide for Telecommunications Cable Splicing. Thomson Delmar Learning. ISBN 0827380666. 

DBC is preferable in some areas since it is more resistant to being the focus of lightning discharges. Rakov, Vladimir A.; Uman, Martin A. (2003). Lightning: physics and effects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521583276. 

Power cabling

Some power cabling is also direct-buried. This kind of cabling must follow strict regulatory procedures regarding installation and backfilling. This is usually used in areas where overhead cabling is impractical or dangerous.

See also

• Protected distribution system

External links

• Guide to direct buried cabling procedures

References

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia