Why Underground Fiber Must Include a Locate Wire

A Real-World Example From the Field

Underground fiber optic cable is a long-term infrastructure investment. When installed correctly, it provides decades of reliable connectivity. When installed without proper locating measures, it becomes a hidden liability that often leads to costly outages, emergency repairs, and unnecessary downtime.

On a job completed today, we encountered a situation that unfortunately occurs far too often: private underground fiber was installed without a locate (tracer) wire, and subsequent contractors working on the property had no way to identify its location. The result was predictable — the fiber was damaged during unrelated work.

This scenario is avoidable, and understanding why locate wire matters is critical for anyone installing or owning underground fiber infrastructure.

The Problem: Underground Fiber That Cannot Be Located

Modern fiber optic cable is frequently all-dielectric, meaning it contains no metallic components. While this is beneficial for electrical isolation and corrosion resistance, it creates a serious challenge underground:

• All-dielectric fiber cannot be detected by traditional locating equipment

• There is no signal to trace

• Without accurate records or access points, the cable is effectively invisible

When no locate wire is installed alongside the fiber, future contractors — even those following proper excavation practices — have no reliable way to know where the fiber is buried.

What Happens Next (And Why Damage Is Common)

When underground utilities cannot be located:

• Excavation proceeds based on assumptions or incomplete drawings

• Other contractors may expose or damage the fiber unintentionally

• Outages occur unexpectedly

• Emergency repairs become necessary

• Liability disputes often follow

In many cases, the contractor performing the later work is not at fault. The underlying issue is that the fiber infrastructure was installed without the means to safely identify it in the future.

Why a Locate (Tracer) Wire Is Critical

A locate wire is a metallic conductor installed alongside underground fiber that allows the fiber path to be traced using standard utility locating equipment.

When installed properly, a locate wire:

• Makes underground fiber detectable

• Allows safe excavation near fiber routes

• Reduces accidental damage

• Protects network uptime

• Preserves the value of the infrastructure investment

In commercial and industrial environments, a locate wire is not optional — it is a best practice.

Real-World Impact From Today’s Job

In today’s case:

• The underground fiber had no locate wire

• No accurate as-built documentation was available

• Other work was performed on the property

• The fiber was unintentionally damaged

• Service was disrupted

• Emergency troubleshooting and repair were required

• This cost a contractor that was unaware of the Fiber a lot of expenses for repair that could've been prevented.

This situation could have been avoided entirely with a locate wire installed at the time of the original fiber placement.

Best Practices for Underground Fiber Installations

To avoid these issues, underground fiber installations should always include:

• A continuous locate (tracer) wire installed with the fiber

• Proper bonding and termination of the locate wire

• Accurate documentation of fiber routes

• Clear labeling at access points

• Professional testing and he verification after installation

These steps protect not only the fiber itself, but also the client, future contractors, and anyone performing work on the property.

The Takeaway

Underground fiber that cannot be located is not just inconvenient — it is high risk.

Whether you are installing new fiber, expanding an existing network, or inheriting private infrastructure, ensuring that underground fiber is properly locatable is essential to preventing outages, avoiding unnecessary repairs, and protecting long-term network reliability.

If you are unsure whether your underground fiber includes a locate wire, it is worth addressing before a problem occurs — not after.

Professional Underground Fiber Assessment & Remediation

We routinely evaluate existing underground fiber infrastructure, identify risks related to non-locatable cable, and help clients reduce the likelihood of accidental damage during future work.

Proper planning today prevents costly emergencies tomorrow.