sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Installing wire onto Roof

What is the proper way to install wire onto the roof of a building? One of my customers has been talking about extending their network to a new building that they bought, so now that it is very cold they want it done. I was able to come out on to the roof around a heating unit, for now. Is there a proper way, install a gum box run a piece of EMT pipe down to a something and install a weather head on the top end. I am sure that there are going to other wires on the roof in the future.
The IT dept. head wants a proper install done this summer, that can be re entered. Thanks for your help.

The best way would be fiber.

I agree with Mike, bad idea bringing a data cable outside, let alone on the roof!

Lightening hits roof top units all the time, could take out the entire network.

any time Ethernet leaves a building it should go to fiber

like mike said

Are they adjacent? Ariel span? Line of sight? Distance?

We are always wary of penetrating a roof surface. Whenever possible, we penetrate a wall near the roof and go up the outside. You DON'T want to be on the hook for a leak!
Mike

Any time you have to penetrate a roof just provide the conduit and sub out the work to a roofer. Like was said, you don't want to be responsible for any leaks.

-Hal

"Lightening hits roof top units all the time, could take out the entire network."

FYI, It does not need to hit the roof, anywhere in the area that lightning stikes will affect the network. EMF........same is also true for CCTV. Don't ask how I know this, very painful and costly lesson.

Walter

I put radios on poles stick them way up in the air and plug them into the network all the time. But always use lightning protectors.

You will probably find if the building gets a direct hit the cabling will be at risk if it’s on top of the roof or under it anyway. The likely hood of this happening is pretty low.

What about the carrier’s network that’s on poles and in the ground and connected to your network have you protected against lightning there?

If you’re still worried do one of two things

Use a fibre without a metallic armour or strength member.

Use UTP with lightning protectors at the building entry points.


If it were me I'd just get on with it and run an outdoor UTP copper cable on a catenary wire until you can replace it.

I agree with many others about the fiber. Its the way to go. I have installed several aerial Fiber drops at the hospital because the copper got hit constantly. I used non metalic water proof conduit,to a weather head and from there used of course aerial tension mounts to the wall ((Im under the roof line so no leaks, by the way))and this spans about 300ft to the other building. Fiber was multimode so can support years of added bandwidth needs by IT.

Theres 2 more cents for ya. =)

Good Luck