Reference · Glossary · 33 Terms
Glossary: S
Outside plant terms that start with S, in plain language, with links to the OSP map and the operations steps.
Safe Pull Strength
Also Called: SPS · Allowable Tensile Load
The maximum pulling force one conduit can take without damage, from the conduit manufacturer, published per conduit and not per bundle. Breakaway links are rated below it. For a conduit bundle, get the basis for the pull limit and the link rating in writing from the conduit and pulling-head manufacturers or the engineer, and do not add the conduits' strengths together unless that basis says you can.
- SOP Steps: UG-05 Bore Planning and Rig Setup, UG-07 Reaming and Pullback
- See Also: Conduit Bundle, Breakaway Link, Pulling Tension
Safety Data Sheet
Also Called: SDS
The manufacturer's sheet that lists a chemical's hazards, safe handling and first aid, such as for gel cleaners and alcohol.
- SOP Step: SPL-02 Safety for Splicing
Safety Factor
Also Called: Load Factor · Strength Factor
The margins the NESC applies in a pole loading analysis. Load factors multiply the calculated loads, and strength factors reduce the rated strength of a pole, guy or anchor. Their names and values depend on the NESC edition.
- SOP Step: AE-02 Field Survey and Make-Ready Engineering
- See Also: Pole Loading, Grade of Construction, Pole Class
Sag
Also Called: Sag and Tension Chart
How far a strand or cable dips below a straight line between its supports. Crews tension strand to the owner's sag and tension chart for the span length and temperature.
Secondary
Also Called: Secondaries · Secondary Conductor
Energized low-voltage supply conductors, such as secondary mains and service drops, often the power conductors closest to the communications space, and they can sit below the neutral. They are not the neutral. Treat them as energized like all power facilities (OSHA 29 CFR 1926 for construction work or 29 CFR 1910.268 for telecom maintenance; employer safety program).
Setback
The distance from the rig to the point where the bore must reach depth or pass a crossing. Too little room forces a steep, risky entry.
Sewer Lateral
Also Called: Service Lateral · Sewer Main
The private pipe from a building to the sewer main, marked green when marked at all. Laterals are often unmarked by one-call, which makes them the main crossbore risk.
- On the Map: Sewer Main and Lateral
- SOP Steps: UG-04 Potholing (Daylighting), UG-06 Pilot Bore and Tracking
- See Also: Crossbore, Private Locate
Sidewalk Guy
Also Called: Push Brace Guy
A guy that uses a horizontal strut above head height so the guy can reach the ground beyond a sidewalk or driveway.
- On the Map: Span and Sidewalk Guys
- SOP Step: AE-07 Down Guys and Guy Guards
- See Also: Span Guy, Down Guy, Longitudinal Load
Silica Dust
Also Called: Respirable Crystalline Silica
Fine dust from cutting concrete, asphalt and rock that harms the lungs. Saw cutting uses water or vacuum controls per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153.
- SOP Step: UG-08 Other Placement Methods
- See Also: Micro-Trenching
Simple Make-Ready
Make-ready where existing attachments in the communications space can be rearranged without a reasonable expectation of a service outage or facility damage, and without splicing or relocating wireless equipment. The exact definition is in the FCC or state rules that apply.
Single-Mode Fiber
Also Called: SMF · Singlemode · G.652
Fiber with a small core that carries one light mode, used for nearly all OSP. ITU-T G.652 covers standard single-mode fiber.
- See Also: Bend-Insensitive Fiber
Slack Coil
Also Called: Handhole Slack
Cable stored in a handhole or vault in a coil that keeps bend radius, enough to reach a splicing vehicle per owner spec.
- On the Map: Handhole Slack Coil
- SOP Steps: SPL-10 Closure Sealing, Grounding and Mounting, UG-11 Cable Placement Underground
- See Also: Slack Loop, Bend Radius
Slack Loop
Also Called: Slack Storage · Storage Loop
Extra cable stored for future splicing, repair or relocation. Aerial slack is stored in a figure-8 between snowshoes; underground slack is coiled in enclosures.
- On the Map: Aerial Slack Loop
- SOP Steps: AE-10 Slack Storage Loops and Snowshoes, UG-11 Cable Placement Underground
- See Also: Snowshoe, Slack Coil
Snowshoe
Also Called: Slack Storage Bracket · Storage Loop Bracket
One of a pair of curved brackets on the strand; the aerial slack loop is stored in a figure-8 between the two without kinking it.
- On the Map: Snowshoe
- SOP Step: AE-10 Slack Storage Loops and Snowshoes
- See Also: Slack Loop, Bend Radius, Figure-8
Sonde
Also Called: Transmitter · Beacon
The transmitter in the drill head whose signal the walkover locator reads for depth, pitch and roll. It is calibrated to the locator before drilling, per the locator manufacturer's instructions.
- On the Map: Drill Head and Sonde
- SOP Steps: UG-05 Bore Planning and Rig Setup, UG-06 Pilot Bore and Tracking
- See Also: Walkover Locator, Pitch, Roll
SOR File
Also Called: .sor · Trace File
The standard OTDR trace file (Telcordia SR-4731), opened by any vendor's viewer. Owners usually want files named by fiber id.
- SOP Step: SPL-12 Documentation and Handoff
- See Also: OTDR, OTDR Trace
Span
The stretch of line between two poles. Span length sets sag, tension and loading.
- See Also: Sag, Midspan Clearance
Span Guy
Also Called: Head Guy · Pole-to-Pole Guy
A guy run from one pole to another pole instead of to the ground, used when an anchor cannot be placed in line with the load.
- On the Map: Span and Sidewalk Guys
- SOP Step: AE-07 Down Guys and Guy Guards
- See Also: Down Guy, Sidewalk Guy, Longitudinal Load
Splice Closure
Also Called: Closure · Splice Case
A sealed enclosure that protects splices, mounted on the strand, in a handhole or vault, or in a pedestal. Closures are qualified to Telcordia GR-771 where the owner specifies it.
Splice Loss Estimate
Also Called: Splicer Estimate
The splicer's calculated loss for a splice from its camera image. It flags bad splices but is not an acceptance measurement; OTDR testing against the owner's acceptance criteria decides acceptance.
- SOP Step: SPL-07 Fusion Splicing (Single Fiber)
- See Also: OTDR, Bidirectional Average
Splice Matrix
Also Called: Splice Sheet · Fiber Assignment
A table that defines which fibers are spliced to which at each splice point. Splicers confirm it matches the field before cutting any fiber.
Splice Trailer
Also Called: Splice Van · Splice Tent · Splicing Workstation
A trailer, van or tent that gives the splicer a clean, dry, lit workspace.
- On the Map: Splicing Workstation
- SOP Step: SPL-01 Job Preparation
- See Also: Fusion Splicer
Splice Tray
Also Called: Tray
A tray that holds protection sleeves in order and routes fibers within bend radius inside a closure. Trays are labeled by tray number and fiber range, per owner spec.
Split Architecture
Also Called: Centralized Split · Distributed Split · Cascaded Split
Where the PON splitters sit. A centralized design puts them together in a cabinet; a distributed design cascades them closer to customers.
Splitter
Also Called: Optical Splitter · Splitter Module
A passive device that divides optical power, for example 1×32, to serve several customers from one fiber. Each split adds loss to the budget.
- On the Map: Splitter Module
- SOP Step: SPL-11 Testing and Acceptance
- See Also: PON, FDH, Loss Budget, OTDR Trace
Spoils
Also Called: Spoil Pile
Soil dug out of an excavation. OSHA requires spoils and equipment to be kept back from the edge so they do not fall in or overload the wall.
- SOP Steps: UG-04 Potholing (Daylighting), UG-12 Restoration and Cleanup
- See Also: Competent Person
Statement of Work
Also Called: SOW
The document that sets out the work on a job before it starts: scope, deliverables, milestones, who is responsible for what, how the work is accepted and how changes are handled. It is often part of, or attached to, the contract between the parties.
- See Also: Bill of Materials
Stationing
Also Called: Station · STA
Distance along a route written in the survey format, for example STA 2+00. Prints, photos, potholes and bore logs are tied to stationing so anyone can find a point in the field.
- SOP Step: UG-02 Pre-Construction Survey, Staking and White-Lining
- See Also: As-Built
Strand
Galvanized steel strand strung between poles to support cable (messenger) or used for guys. It is not wire rope, which is a different product with different construction and ratings. See messenger.
- On the Map: Messenger Strand
- SOP Step: AE-08 Strand Placement and Tensioning
- See Also: Messenger, Down Guy
Strand Clamp
Also Called: Suspension Clamp · Three-Bolt Clamp
Hardware that holds the messenger strand to the pole. It is placed hand-tight, then tightened after the strand is tensioned, per the owner's construction standard (AE-08).
- On the Map: Strand Clamp
- SOP Steps: AE-05 Framing Poles, AE-08 Strand Placement and Tensioning
- See Also: Through-Bolt, Messenger
Strength Member
Also Called: Central Strength Member · CSM
The central rod or aramid yarn in a cable that carries pulling load. It is clamped in the closure's strength-member clamp.
- On the Map: Closure Interior
- SOP Step: SPL-03 Closure and Cable Preparation
- See Also: Aramid Yarn, Closure Basket
Supply Space
Also Called: Power Space
The upper section of a pole for power conductors and equipment. Only qualified electrical workers enter it (OSHA 29 CFR 1926 for construction work or 29 CFR 1910.268 for telecom maintenance; NESC; owner attachment agreement).
Swivel
A rotating link between the reamer and the product so rod rotation does not twist the conduit. Check that it turns freely before every pull, per the tooling manufacturer's instructions.
- On the Map: Swivel
- SOP Step: UG-07 Reaming and Pullback
- See Also: Pullback, Breakaway Link