Cables should always be pulled with which component to prevent damage?

• A. Nylon rope
• B. Vellums grip on the jacket
• C. The Cable Strength Members
• D. Tension gauge

Answer: (C)

The component inside the cable that is meant to carry pulling force is the strength members. These parts (often aramid fibers like Kevlar) are designed to take tension, distributing it along the length of the cable so the delicate glass fibers and the outer jacket aren’t stressed or damaged. If you pull on the outer jacket, the fibers inside can experience microbends, crushing, or even break, which degrades performance or fails the installation. A nylon rope isn’t part of the cable’s load path and can slip or abrade the surface, while a grip applied directly to the jacket distributes force in a way the jacket isn’t designed to handle. A tension gauge is a tool for measuring force, not a structural element to pull with. So, using the strength members to apply the pull keeps the load within the designed strength path and protects the fiber.