Documentation and Closeout

Purpose

Hand over records that match what is in the ground. The as-built is what every future locator, designer and repair crew will trust. An as-built drawn from the design instead of the field is how the next contractor hits your fiber. Closing the permits releases bonds and limits the contractor’s exposure; any warranty period is per the permit and contract.

When to Do It

• Trigger: placement and restoration are complete on the route or a segment (UG-12).
• Prerequisites: complete bore logs (UG-06), field redlines, pothole logs (UG-04), proving and pull records (UG-10, UG-11), and restoration photos (UG-12).
• Previous step: UG-12 Restoration and Cleanup.
• Next step: this is the last underground step. Splicing starts with SPL-01, and the project moves to the Close Out stage of the lifecycle.

Roles

• Foreman: turns in bore logs, redlines and photos, and confirms the as-built matches the field.
• Drafter or geographic information system (GIS) technician: draws the as-builts and loads them to GIS.
• Project manager: closes permits, schedules final inspections and delivers the package to the owner.
• Tracer wire test technician: tests tracer wire continuity end to end.

Equipment and Materials

• Bore logs, pothole logs and field redlines.
• GPS receiver for enclosure locations.
• Tracer wire test set.
• Camera and photo log.
• Drafting or GIS software.

Safety

Procedure

Hold Points

Records to Keep

• As-built drawings and GIS data.
• Bore logs, pothole logs and redlines.
• Tracer wire continuity test results.
• Pull tape and cable footage at each enclosure.
• Final inspection sign-offs and permit closure letters.
• Photo archive and locate tickets.

Print the blank punch list for the final walk and the closeout package checklist to gather these records for the owner.

Common Mistakes

• As-builts drawn from the design instead of the field. The ground is the truth; draw what the logs say.
• Missing depth data. A route with no depths is only half located.
• Open permits holding bonds. Schedule final inspections as soon as restoration is done.
• Tracer wire never tested. A break found years later means the route may not be locatable by its tracer wire.

Standards and References

• Owner as-built and GIS requirements.
• Permit closeout requirements for each agency.
• MUTCD Part 6: temporary traffic control at enclosures.
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA: confined spaces in construction (1926.1201 to 1926.1213), the rule for construction work.
• 29 CFR 1910.268: telecommunications, including guarding manhole and vault openings and testing the air in manholes and unvented vaults in paragraph (o). Paragraph (a) excludes construction work.
• 29 CFR 1910.146: permit-required confined spaces in general industry, which covers telecom maintenance and service work. Paragraph (a) excludes construction.
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M: fall protection in construction, including covers and guardrails at holes such as open enclosures (1926.501(b)(4)).

On the Map

• Tracer Wire and Test Point: the locatable wire you test end to end in this step.
• Directional Bore Path: the actual path the as-built must show.
• Handhole: enclosure locations recorded by GPS.

Related Tools

Not applicable: no FAHMY tool covers documentation and closeout.