After splicing, the next steps involve protecting, storing, and sealing the fiber to ensure durability and signal integrity.

Fiber Protection and Storage

Once the optical fibers are spliced, the fibers should be placed in a splice tray to organize and secure them. The splice tray prevents bending or stress on the fibers and provides a structured layout for multiple splices . After arranging the fibers, a protective sleeve or tube is positioned over the splice point. This sleeve is then heated using a fiber fusion machine or heat-shrink device to encapsulate the splice, ensuring mechanical protection and preventing moisture ingress .

Splice Closure and Sealing

After the protective sleeve is applied, the spliced fibers are placed inside a splice closure. The closure must be sealed carefully, often using sealing tape or adhesive, to prevent environmental damage such as water or dust penetration . Proper sealing ensures the splice maintains low optical loss and long-term reliability.

Post-Splice Testing

Following protection and storage, it is important to test the optical fibers to confirm the splice quality. This may include measuring insertion loss and back reflection to ensure the splice meets network standards . Only after passing these tests should the splice closure be fully secured and the fiber routed for deployment.

Summary

In essence, the steps after an optical cable splice include:

1. Placing fibers in a splice tray to organize and protect them.
2. Applying a protective sleeve or tube over the splice and heating it to secure the joint.
3. Storing the fibers in a splice closure and sealing it to prevent environmental damage.
4. Testing the splice to verify optical performance before final deployment . These steps ensure the splice is durable, protected, and maintains optimal signal transmission.