Use Optical Fiber Splice Closures

Optical fiber splice closure, also called optical cable splice box or fiber joint box, is a mechanical pressure sealing joint system for the splicing protection of optical cables. The splice closure can be buried in the ground or mounted aerial, and it can protect optical cables from many dangers such as water, dirt, insects, vibration and impact. When choosing a splice closure for your outside plant (OSP) network, consider the amount of splicing you’ll need to do. A good splice closure should be capable of accommodating the maximum number of cables you may need to splice together.

Using the correct splice closure will help keep your cables safe and secure for the duration of their lifespan, which is a long time in the telecom industry. A splice closure can protect your cables from many of the same dangers that they’re exposed to on your actual service networks, including pressure, extreme temperatures and insects. Some of these are more common than others, but all can cause problems if they come into contact with your cabling.

To ensure the safety of your spliced cables, it’s important to choose a rugged, hermetically sealed fiber optic splice closure. A hermetically sealed closure will better protect the sensitive cabling from all of these threats, and it will help prevent the spliced cables from becoming damaged over time. If you’re not sure which type of splice closure to choose for your project, ask yourself what kind of reentry access you need and how much growth your network is expected to experience in the future. A splice closure designed for frequent reentry will need to be easier to open and close, while one that’s built for underground use should have a high capacity for the splice trays inside it.

What Industries Commonly Use Optical Fiber Splice Closures?

There are two main types of Optical fiber splice clsoure: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal type closures look like a flat or cylindrical case and are commonly made of high tensile construction plastic. They can be mounted aerial or buried, and they usually have input ports that are located on the top and output ports that are located on the bottom. These enclosures can fit hundreds of fiber connections, and they’re typically waterproof and dustproof.

On the other hand, a vertical closure looks like a dome and is commonly used for buried applications. These closures are made of high-quality engineering plastics that are waterproof and dustproof, and they can withstand pressures of up to 70 kpa. These closures are ideal for splicing and connecting OSP cables, and they can accommodate up to 96 cores of optical fiber.

While most closures have a large capacity for splice connections, it’s still important to select the right model based on your specific network needs. For example, a Starfighter Dome enclosure is perfect for splicing points that will be used often, while a Starfighter Inline enclosure is an excellent choice for splice points that will be less frequently accessed. Both options feature factory-installed hardware that is easy to install, and they don’t require specialized tools to open.