Reference · Glossary · 23 Terms
Glossary: P
Outside plant terms that start with P, in plain language, with links to the OSP map and the operations steps.
Passings
Also Called: Homes Passed
The homes and businesses a network route passes and could serve. Planning prices routes per foot and per passing.
Pedestal
Also Called: Ped
An above-grade enclosure for buried-plant splices or terminals, set at grade and bonded per spec.
- On the Map: Pedestal
- SOP Step: UG-09 Handholes, Vaults and Pedestals
- See Also: Flowerpot, Handhole
Pilot Bore
Also Called: Pilot Hole
The first hole drilled along the planned path in horizontal directional drilling (HDD). It is steered and tracked from the surface, then enlarged by reaming during pullback.
- On the Map: Directional Bore Path
- SOP Step: UG-06 Pilot Bore and Tracking
- See Also: HDD, Bore Log, Pullback
Pitch
The up or down slope of the drill head, read by the locator. Pitch changes rod by rod set the bore's depth profile.
- SOP Step: UG-06 Pilot Bore and Tracking
- See Also: Roll, Sonde, Bore Log
Plowing
Also Called: Vibratory Plow · Static Plow · Direct Burial
Placing duct or cable with a vibratory or static plow blade that opens the ground and feeds the product in one pass. Suited to long rural runs in suitable soil. Several ducts can go in on one pass where the design calls for it and the plow is built for that count.
- SOP Step: UG-08 Other Placement Methods
- See Also: Open Trench, Potholing
Pole Attachment Agreement
Also Called: Attachment Agreement · Pole License
The contract or license between a pole owner and an attacher that sets the rules, rates and application process for attaching to the owner's poles.
- SOP Step: AE-01 Pole Attachment Applications
- See Also: Joint Use, Make-Ready
Pole Class
A rating of a pole's strength set by its dimensions. Class and height come from the birthmark and feed the pole loading analysis.
- SOP Step: AE-02 Field Survey and Make-Ready Engineering
- See Also: Birthmark, Pole Loading, Safety Factor, Ground-Line Moment
Pole Loading
Also Called: Pole Loading Analysis
Analysis of a pole's strength against the forces from attachments, wind and ice, using NESC loading criteria for the district and the owner's criteria. It decides whether a pole needs a guy or replacement.
Pole Tag
Also Called: Pole Number
The owner's numbered tag on a pole, used to identify it on applications, prints and as-builts.
- On the Map: Pole Tag and Birthmark
- SOP Steps: AE-01 Pole Attachment Applications, AE-02 Field Survey and Make-Ready Engineering
- See Also: Birthmark, Utility Pole
PON
Also Called: Passive Optical Network · GPON · XGS-PON
Passive optical network. Point-to-multipoint fiber that uses passive splitters, such as GPON and XGS-PON.
- See Also: Splitter, OLT, ONT, Loss Budget
PON Power Meter
A meter that reads live downstream and upstream PON power at a terminal or ONT location, to confirm it is within the ONT's receive range.
- SOP Step: SPL-11 Testing and Acceptance
- See Also: ONT, PON
Positive Response
A system where each utility on a ticket reports back that it has marked, cleared or has a conflict, so the excavator can confirm everyone responded before digging. Availability varies by state.
- SOP Step: UG-03 One-Call Locates (811) and Ticket Management
- See Also: Locate Ticket
Potholing
Also Called: Pothole · Test Hole
Exposing an existing utility, usually by vacuum excavation, to confirm its type, size, depth and direction before crossing it. Also called daylighting.
- On the Map: Pothole
- SOP Step: UG-04 Potholing (Daylighting)
- See Also: Daylighting, Vacuum Excavation, Tolerance Zone
Pre-Ream
Also Called: Pre-Reaming
An extra reaming pass before pullback to open the hole in stages, used for large products or difficult soil as the engineer directs.
- On the Map: Backreamer
- SOP Step: UG-07 Reaming and Pullback
- See Also: Backreamer
Preformed Guy Grip
Also Called: Guy Grip · Big Grip
A helical dead-end that wraps onto guy strand to terminate it at the pole and the anchor.
- On the Map: Preformed Guy Grip
- SOP Step: AE-07 Down Guys and Guy Guards
- See Also: Down Guy, Dead-End
Private Locate
Also Called: Private Locator
Locating by a hired locator for lines one-call members do not mark, such as private electric, irrigation, propane, sewer laterals and private cable on private property.
Product
Also Called: Product Pipe
In a bore, the conduit or conduit bundle pulled into the hole on pullback. The reamer is sized for the product. Safe pull strength belongs to each conduit, not to the bundle as a whole, so the breakaway link is rated to protect each conduit, on a written basis from the conduit and pulling-head manufacturers or the engineer.
- SOP Steps: UG-05 Bore Planning and Rig Setup, UG-07 Reaming and Pullback
- See Also: Conduit Bundle, Pullback, Backreamer, Breakaway Link
Protection Sleeve
Also Called: Heat-Shrink Sleeve · Splice Protector
A heat-shrink sleeve, usually with a steel rod, that protects a finished splice. It goes on one fiber before splicing and is centered over the splice.
Protective System
Also Called: Shoring · Trench Box
Sloping, benching, shoring or a trench shield that protects workers from cave-ins (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.652).
- SOP Steps: UG-04 Potholing (Daylighting), UG-08 Other Placement Methods
- See Also: Competent Person
Pullback
Also Called: Pull Back
Pulling the product (one conduit or a conduit bundle) back through the bore from the exit pit to the rig, behind a backreamer, swivel, breakaway link and pulling head.
- SOP Step: UG-07 Reaming and Pullback
- See Also: Product, Backreamer, Swivel, Breakaway Link, Pulling Head
Pulling Head
Also Called: Pulling Grip · Pulling Eye
The fitting or grip that connects the pullback string to the conduit or conduit bundle and seals the duct ends. For a bundle, it is sized for the conduit size and count, per the manufacturer.
- On the Map: Pulling Head or Grip
- SOP Step: UG-07 Reaming and Pullback
- See Also: Conduit Bundle, Pullback
Pulling Tension
Also Called: Pull Rating · Rated Tension
The force on a cable during a pull. It must stay below the cable's rated tension; TIA-568.3 sets a minimum rating for OSP cable, and the cable's own rating governs.
- SOP Steps: AE-09 Cable Placement and Lashing, UG-11 Cable Placement Underground
- See Also: Capstan Effect, Dynamometer, Breakaway Swivel
Punch List
Also Called: Punch Walk
The list of items an owner or inspector finds still wrong or unfinished at the final walk. Clearing it is part of closeout.
- SOP Step: AE-12 Labeling, Inspection and As-Builts
- See Also: As-Built, Bill of Materials