Optical fiber joint closures are used to protect the fiber splicing points in a fiber optic link. Optical fiber cables are spliced when the cables are installed in a trunk line or when there is a need for branching or distribution. Thus, fiber management at the splice locations is done inside the splice closure.
Fiber optic joint closures or fiber optic splice closures should ensure mechanical and optical continuity of fiber optic cables. Also, if metallic parts are employed in the fiber optic cables, the splice closures should ensure the electrical continuity of the cables too. Optical integrity should not be lost at the splice point.
Fiber optic joint closures come in different designs as per the method of application. The aerial splice closures, underground splice closures, duct splice closures, and special application or general application splice closures are designed to withstand the mechanical and environmental characteristics of the deployment area. Joint closure manufacturers design the closures by keeping these performance parameters in mind.
The mechanical continuity of fiber optic cables can be ensured by fixing the fiber optic cable elements such as sheaths, central strength members, or additional strength members such as Aramid yarns or glass yarns, etc if used.
Metallic elements such as steel tape armor or aluminum tape moisture barrier elements or steel wire armor elements are connected with that of the jointing cable inside the splice closure. In some cases, the metallic elements are properly grounded with external grounding points. There are cables with steel central strength members instead of the commonly used fiber reinforced plastic elements.
Fiber optic splice closures must also allow the effective organization of the splices in suitable splice trays and safely store the extra fiber lengths or buffer tubes. A good fiber optic joint closure will not increase the attenuation to the fiber optic link.
If the design of the fiber optic joint closure is not proper, there is a chance that the attenuation of the fiber optic link will go high due to improper bending that crosses the limits of minimum bending radius criteria. Also when the cables are sealed, the water integrity shall be taken into consideration. The sealing should not allow entry of water in the splice trays.
Some of the fiber optic joint closure suppliers are;
FORMOSA CABLES
Zhongxing Xindi Telecom Equipment Ltd
Qingdao Applied Photonic Technologies Co.,Ltd.
NANJING PUTIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO. LTD
3M
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