SPL Splicing SPL-03 Step 3 of 13
Closure and Cable Preparation
Prepare each cable to the closure maker's dimensions, clamp the strength member, bond the armor and clean the tubes.
Crew
- Lead Splicer
- Splicer Helper
Hazards
- Cuts from Sheath and Armor
- Sharp Armor Edges
- Glass Fiber Shards
- Solvent Exposure
Purpose
Prepare every cable to the closure manufacturer’s dimensions, with the strength member clamped, the armor bonded and the tubes clean. This is the foundation of the splice. A nicked tube, a loose strength member or an unbonded armor shows up months later as a broken fiber or a safety hazard.
When to Do It
- After SPL-02 Safety for Splicing controls are in place and the SPL-01 hold point is cleared.
- For cables that end in the closure (butt splice). For a cable that passes through with only some fibers accessed, also follow SPL-04 Mid-span access for the window cut; strength-member clamping and armor bonding still apply.
- Next step: SPL-04 Mid-Span Access and Expressing Tubes or, if there is no mid-span cable, SPL-05 Fiber Identification and Routing.
Roles
- Lead splicer: marks lengths, makes the cuts, secures strength members and bonds the armor.
- Splicer helper: holds and supports the cable, cleans tubes and keeps scraps and gel off the bench.
Equipment and Materials
- Closure manufacturer’s instructions and its dimension template, if supplied.
- Sheath cutter or ring tool, armor cutter and aramid shears.
- Buffer-tube cutter sized for the tubes.
- Gel cleaner approved by the cable manufacturer or owner and lint-free wipes, or tools to remove dry water-blocking material.
- Closure grounding and bonding hardware.
- Tape and markers for length marks.
Safety
Procedure
- Mark the sheath removal length per the closure instructions.
- Measure from the reference point the closure instructions or template give (for example, where the cable enters the closure seal).
- Use the manufacturer’s length for the closure model: per manufacturer instructions.
- Ring-cut and remove the jacket.
- Set the ring tool depth so it scores the jacket without cutting into the tubes.
- Flex the cable at the score to break the jacket, then slide it off. Use the ripcord where the cable has one.
- Remove the armor on armored cable.
- Cut the armor to the marked length, leaving the length the closure’s bond clamp needs.
- File or cover sharp armor edges, so they do not cut the tubes.
- Bond the armor to the closure’s grounding hardware.
- Install the bond clamp per the closure instructions and the owner’s bonding spec.
- Secure the strength member.
- Clamp the central or peripheral strength member in the closure’s strength-member clamp at the length the instructions give.
- Tighten the clamp per the manufacturer, so cable movement pulls on the closure and not on the fibers.
- Trim aramid yarn with aramid shears to the length the closure needs.
- Remove binders and ripcords, then clean the tubes.
- Clean gel from buffer tubes with gel cleaner approved by the cable manufacturer or owner and lint-free wipes, or remove dry water-blocking tape and yarn.
- Route the tubes to the trays per the matrix.
- Keep the bend radius the cable and closure manufacturers specify: per manufacturer instructions.
- Secure tubes at the tray entry with the closure’s ties or clips.
- Open each buffer tube at the correct length.
- Ring-cut the tube with a tube cutter at the length the tray needs, then slide the tube off to expose the fibers.
- Clean the gel off the fibers with gel cleaner approved by the cable manufacturer or owner and a lint-free wipe.
Hold Points
Records to Keep
- Photo of the prepared cables in the closure: strength-member clamps and bond clamps visible.
- Cable ids and directions noted on the matrix as you prepare each cable.
Common Mistakes
- Nicked tubes. A ring tool set too deep scores the tubes, and fibers break later. Set the depth on a scrap first.
- Unbonded armor. It looks finished but leaves a shock hazard. Bond every armored cable.
- Strength member not clamped. Any pull on the cable then goes straight to the fibers.
- Gel left on the fibers. Gel ruins cleaves and splices. Clean until no gel remains on the fibers or your wipe.
Standards and References
-
Telcordia GR-771 -
NESC (IEEE C2) - Closure manufacturer’s instructions (dimensions, clamps, bonding).
- Cable manufacturer’s instructions (bend radius, gel removal).
- Owner bonding and grounding standard.
On the Map
- Closure Interior: express basket, trays, strength-member clamps, grounding and seals.
- Buffer Tubes and Color Code: the color-coded tubes you open and route to trays.
Related Tools
Not applicable: no FAHMY tool covers cable preparation.
SPL-03 · Field Checklist
Checklist
0/9items ticked
Tick each procedure step and hold point as the crew completes it. Ticks stay on this device only. They are a personal aid, not a hold-point release or a project record; follow the owner’s sign-off process.
OSP Map · Handhole Detail
On the Map
- Closure InteriorExpress basket, splice trays, strength-member clamps, grounding and seals inside a closure.
- Buffer Tubes and Color CodeColor-coded tubes and fibers identified with the TIA-598 sequence.