SIEMON OUTSIDE PLANT (OSP) 4-PAIR COPPER CABLE...

SIEMONOUTSIDE PLANT (OSP)4-PAIR COPPER CABLE

PLANNING & INSTALLATIONGUIDE

Edition 2.0

OSP Copper Cable Planning & Installation Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. SCOPE......................................................................................................................................... 12. OVERVIEW.................................................................................................................................. 13. TOPOLOGY ................................................................................................................................. 13.1. OSP Cable Limitations ........................................................................................................ 13.2. Design Considerations ....................................................................................................... 24. PRODUCTS.................................................................................................................................. 25. CABLE HANDLING/INSTALLATION PRACTICES............................................................................ 65.1. Installation Environment.................................................................................................... 65.2. Pulling Tension................................................................................................................... 75.3. Water Blocking Compound ................................................................................................ 75.4. Building Entrance Protection ............................................................................................. 75.5. Bonding / Grounding and Shield Connections ................................................................... 85.6. Labeling/Administration .................................................................................................... 96. PATHWAY PLANNING................................................................................................................. 96.1. Cable Diameters................................................................................................................. 96.2. Pathway Sizing ................................................................................................................. 106.3. Horizontal Cable Bend Radius .......................................................................................... 116.4. Clearance Requirements.................................................................................................. 127. DEVIATIONS.............................................................................................................................. 138. DISCLAIMER.............................................................................................................................. 13


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1. SCOPE

The purpose of this guide is to provide both designers and installers with the necessaryinformation for making standards compliant as well as Siemon warranty compliant designdecisions when planning and installing Siemon Outside Plant (OSP) cables. This document servesas a comprehensive source for associated elements of the OSP portion of the cabling systemspecific to intra-building slab on grade installation designs and inter-building horizontalpathways using Siemon Category 6 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or 6A shielded twisted pair(F/UTP) OSP 4-pair cables. It is strongly recommended to review all information contained inthis document prior to design or installation of a system incorporating any Siemon OSP cable toensure all requirements are met. For additional detailed OSP guidelines and requirementsplease reference ANSI/TIA-758-B (Customer-Owned Outside Plant TelecommunicationsInfrastructure Standard) and BICSI CO-OSP Ed3.0 (Customer-Owned Outside Plant Manual).

2. OVERVIEW

With the increased demand for building automation, more and more projects are necessitatingEthernet links to exterior and peripheral building devices with OSP rated copper cable. Projectsmay also require OSP rated cable to intra-building devices through wet location pathways suchas slab on grade conduit. In many of these cases transitioning to OSP copper cables is muchmore practical than other media types (e.g. fiber) that may be impractical.

Siemon currently offers three (3) 4-pair OSP cables: Category 6 UTP, 6A UTP and 6A F/UTPdesigned to support Category 6/Class E or 6A/Class EA applications. All versions are designed foruse in typical outdoor or wet location applications. Outer jackets are constructed with a ruggedpolyolefin (PE) material that is UV resistant and provides excellent sunlight and abrasionresistance. The cables are filled with a non-conductive water-blocking compound to preventmoisture ingress. The 6A shielded version also incorporates a dual jacket layer enclosing water-blocking aramid yarns with a super absorbent polymer. Suitable for direct burial, lashed aerial,duct and underground conduit installations, these cables are designed to support applicationssuch as outdoor cameras, outdoor wireless access points (WAPs), point-of-sale (POS) kiosks,entrances gates, emergency call boxes, outdoor satellite structures or trailers and other exteriorbuilding devices.

Reference the latest associated product spec sheet for additional details:https://www.siemon.com/en/home/support/downloads/spec-sheets

3. TOPOLOGY

3.1. OSP Cable Limitations

The maximum industry standard permanent link length for backbone or horizontal 4-paircopper cable is normally 90m (295 ft). However, Siemon Labs has determined that in aworst-case scenario, it is necessary to impose a slightly more stringent permanent linklength limitation of 85m (279 ft) due to a 5% degradation in propagation delay caused bythe water blocking compound. This equates to a maximum permanent link reduction of 5m(16 ft) to ensure compliant propagation delay transmission parameters.


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3.2. Design Considerations

The petroleum-based compounds used in OSP cable jackets are necessary to make themsuitable for outdoor environmental extremes. As with all OSP cables, this Polyethylene (PE)jacket material does not meet any UL fire resistance ratings for inside plant applications. Assuch, for safety reasons, the National Electrical Code (NEC article 800-50) allows no morethan 15m (50 ft) of exposed* OSP (unlisted) cable from the building entrance to the point oftermination. If more than 50 feet of exposed unlisted cable is required within the building,the cable must be routed in rigid metallic conduit.

*The NEC considers unlisted cable within a building as exposed starting from the point at which itemerges from the entrance conduit stub or external wall. In addition to NEC regulations, other stateand local building fire codes may also apply. It is the responsibility of the installer to be familiar withany additional local requirements from the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Since OSP cables are not listed for indoor use, it will be necessary to transition to a listedcable when lengths exceed the NEC limit. This transition point must be treated as anadditional connection such as a consolidation point (CP) in the permanent link topology.The following considerations must be observed when implementing a CP:

Cross-connections shall not be used at a CP

There shall be no more than one CP within the same horizontal run

CP’s shall be located at least 15m (50 ft) from the TR or TE

If there is less than 15m (50 ft) of exposed OSP cable inside the building to the final point oftermination (i.e. building entrance protection terminal not required - see section 5.7 below),transitioning to a listed cable may not be necessary. Note that the AHJ should be consultedto confirm. Even though transition to a listed cable may not be necessary, this may still bedesired for ease of routing, cable management and terminations that may be moreinstallation friendly when using an indoor cable construction.

4. PRODUCTS

The current OSP cable offering is available in both UTP and shielded versions. The shieldedcategory 6A OSP cable has been qualified to terminate to Siemon shielded Z-MAX series outlets,RJ45 Z-PLUGs or Siemon TERA outlets/plugs. The UTP category 6 OSP cable has been qualifiedto terminate to any of Siemon MAX or Z-MAX series category 6 outlets or S210 series connectinghardware. The field terminated RJ45 Z-PLUG (p/n: ZP1-6AS-01S) has also been qualified toterminated to any of the above cable types and is ideal for transitions from OSP to indoor cabletypes. Part numbers for OSP cable types are listed below as well as related part numbers andtypical examples in the following tables. Note that the OSP terminations (especially the 6Acables) may require additional clearance and strain relief provisions because of the larger O.D.and stiffness of the shielded OSP cable (see clearance requirement below in Table 8). In caseswhere the OSP cable is terminating directly to a modular outlet (if allowed by the local AHJ),using the shielded OSP version requires a modified termination technique because of thedifferences in OSP cable construction. When terminating specifically to the Siemon Z-MAXmodule or Z-PLUG, supplemental OSP termination instructions for alternate cable preparationshould be followed if using the shielded OSP cable with two jacket layers (see Figure 1).


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Figure 1: Supplemental Shielded Cable Preparation (Double Jacket Version)

Visit https://www.siemon.com/en/home/support/product-installation/installation-instructionsfor the pdf version of this alternate cable preparation (found in the WORK AREA section). Incontrast to the shielded termination, the UTP OSP terminations may not require any modifiedtermination techniques other than cleaning off the water blocking compound (see WaterBlocking Compound in next section) and proper management of the stiffer cable jacket.

Part Numbers OSP Cable Description

9C6O4-E1, 9C6O4-E2(-01-R1A) Category 6 UTP 4-pair OSP, Black PE Jacket, 1000FT Reel

9C6O4-A5-01-R1A Category 6A UTP 4-pair OSP, Black PE Jacket, 1000FT Reel

9A6O4-A5-01AR1A Category 6A F/UTP 4-pair OSP, Black PE Jacket, 1000FT Reel (Single Jacket)

9A6O4-A5-01-R1A Category 6A F/UTP 4-pair OSP, Black PE Jacket, 1000FT Reel (Double Jacket)

Table 1: OSP Cables


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ID Function Description Part Number(s)

1a OSP Horizontal UTP Cable Category 6 UTP OSP cable 9C6O4-E1

1b OSP Horizontal FUTP Cable Category 6A F/UTP OSP cable 9A6O4-A5-01AR1A

2aConsolidation Point (OSP-to-Indoor UTP cabletransition)

Category 6 UTP Terminal block S210AB2-(XX)FT

2bConsolidation Point (OSP-to-Indoor UTP or F/UTPcable transition)

Zone box with 6A ZMAX or TERA shieldedoutlets

ZU-MX-24P withZ6A-S(XX) or

ZU-MX-24P withT7F-01-1

3Consolidation PointCabling to work area

Category 6 UTP or 6A F/UTP solidInterconnection cable, singled ended, RJ45plug factory terminated

IC6-8(X)-B(XX)(X) orZC6A-(XX)(X)-(X)

Category 6 UTP or 6A F/UTP Cable with fieldterminated TERA Plugs or RJ45 Z-PLUG’s

9A6(X)4-A5-(XX)-R1A (US)or 9A6(X)4-A5 (Int’l)with: T7P4-B01-1 or

ZP1-6AS-01S

Table 2: Intra-building Example


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1 OSP Horizontal CablingCategory 6 UTP 4-pair OSP cable orCategory 6A F/UTP 4-pair OSP cable

9C6O4-E1 or9A6O4-A5-01AR1A

2Building EntranceTerminal

3rd Party category 6 or 6A rated ProtectedEntrance Terminal (See note in sec 5.6)

Customer Provided

3a,3b

Horizontal or BackboneCabling

Category 6 or 6A solid Indoor listed cable9C6P4-E2-(XX)-RXA or9A6(X)4-A5-(XX)-R1A

Table 3: Inter-building Example


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1 OSP Horizontal CablingCategory 6 UTP 4-pair OSP cable orCategory 6A F/UTP 4-pair OSP cable

9C6O4-E1 or9A6O4-A5-01AR1A

2OSP Termination/Transitionto Listed Cable

OSP termination/transition point (within50ft or 15m of exposed cable entry)

Multiple options based oncategory and cable type

3 Horizontal Cabling Category 6 or 6A solid Indoor listed cable9C6P4-E2-(XX)-RXA or9A6(X)4-A5-(XX)-R1A

Table 4: Building to External Device Example

Direct-connect accessory products for OSP: Many outdoor devices incorporate a watertightcompression gland at the ethernet port interface. Historically these glands have been sized forthe traditional small form factor RJ45 plugs (such as category 5e or 6) andwill not fit the larger form factor category 6A field terminated plugs. In thesecases, Siemon offers an accessory gland kit to accommodate the large size ofthe category 6A Z-PLUG (see Figure 2). The kit includes 2 different sizegaskets to accommodate various cable diameters.

5. CABLE HANDLING/INSTALLATION PRACTICES

5.1. Installation Environment

The OSP cables are suitable for direct burial, lashed aerial, duct and underground conduitinstallations but are not recommended for applications that require the cable to be exposedto significant long-term submersion, extreme water pressure or other underwater hazards(such as lakes or rivers). It is recommended that the installer source additionalenvironmental and mechanical protection means for cable used in these applications.

Figure 2: Z-PLUG GLAND

(P/N: ZPG-ME00)


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5.2. Pulling Tension

Never exceed the maximum rated pulling tension of 110N (25lbf) for 4-pair horizontal cableor as specified by the manufacturer during installation.

5.3. Water Blocking Compound

The recommended method for removal of the water blocking compound is by simply wipingthe conductors with a clean, dry, soft cloth or paper towel. Alternately, there arecommercially available cleaners such as HydroSol® that may be used however, if choosing acommercial cleaner, care should be taken to ensure that it is designed specifically for use ontelecommunications products. Somecleaning solutions may contain solventswhich are not compatible with thecable insulation and could lead toinsulation degradation. Note thatunder some conditions this waterblocking compound will leak out of thecut end of the cable. Vertical dropswith cut end down and hightemperatures will exacerbate thisissue. The compound is non-conductive, so it will not cause anyelectrical shorts. However, to prevent the gel from leaking, the cut end of the cable willneed to be blocked with adhesive design specifically for this purpose. Commerciallyavailable cable sealant kits such as B-Sealant Silicone (by Rainbow Technology) or AT-8502(Devcon Corporation) are available options. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions forproper application of the blocking sealant.

5.4. Building Entrance Protection

Some copper cables entering/exiting a building may be considered exposed to potentiallightning and other electrical faults necessitating the need for a protected entrance terminal(PET). The system designer should check with the local AHJ and applicable standards codes

and regulations. Some exceptions may apply that can exclude this requirement such as:

Inter-building runs less than 43m (140 ft) that are direct buried or in undergroundconduit

Short runs between buildings where exposed cable is within the zone of protectionprovided by the buildings lightning protection system

Areas having 5 or fewer thunderstorm days per year and earth resistivity of lessthan 100 ohm-meters

There may be several other installation variables to consider as determined by the local AHJ

on a case by case basis that may supersede any of these exceptions.

FIGURE 1: WATER BLOCKING COMPOUND


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In any case, cables not excluded will require building entrance protection. The PET will needto be rated to match the category performance of the cable to ensure proper transmissionperformance is maintained (see note below). In general, PET’s must meet the primaryprotection requirements of UL 497, the Mechanical and reliability requirements of ANSI/TIA-758-B and the transmission requirements for the applicable category of ANSI/TIA-568.2-D.Non-protected terminal connections must simply meet the requirements of ANSI/TIA-568.2-D.

Note: Sample PET’s are shown in Figures 4A and 4B. Siemon has currently not qualifiedtransmission performance with any 3rd party PET manufacturers for warranty purposes.Therefore, application assurance cannot be guaranteed, and any links associated with PET’sare outside the scope of the extended warranty.

Figure 2a: Porta Systems 606 CAT6 Protector Figure 4b: ITW Linx Cat6A-LAN

5.5. Bonding / Grounding and Shield Connections

For F/UTP applications that require a separate stable low resistance electrical connectionsuch as with PET’s, there are several 3rd party termination options available. Proper bondingand grounding of OSP cable may be required to protect both personnel and equipment aswell as reduce EMI that could cause disruption totelecommunication circuits.

Common connectors used for this type of termination are thealligator-type bonding clamps, sometimes referred to as cablebonding and grounding connectors, shield bond connectors, or"B Bond Clamps". These connectors are used for terminatingthe shield in various OSP cables. Be sure the selected modelis suitable for smaller pair count cable containing a foil shield.They are typically offered in several sizes and types based oncable O.D. and shield construction – examples from 3M are shown in Figures 5a and 5b. Adetailed step-by-step cable preparation reference document for this 3M type connector canbe found at: http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/479774O/3mtm-scotchloktm-shield-connectors-4460-d-4460-ds-ss-instr.pdf

Figure 5a: 3M 4460-DScotchlock Shield Connector –for cable O.D. ≤ .80" (20.3mm)


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In addition to 3M, other manufacturer's that offer these types of cable shield connectorsinclude Thomas and Betts, Electric Motion, and Preformed Line Products. Follow applicablemanufacturer instructions for termination of the shield connector being used. Bonds shouldbe made with #6 AWG solid copper wire not more than 6.1m (20ft) long. If this length isexceeded, the conductor must be sized according to NEC requirements. Cables should begrounded as close to the entrance of the buildings as possible. Some local codes mayrequire you to open the sheath and ground the shield within a few feet of entering thebuilding. It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with any additional localrequirements.

It is important to distinguish between guidelines and requirements provided for life andequipment safety vs signal interference disruption. Bonding and grounding must meet theappropriate requirements and practices of applicable authorities and codes. Applicableresources include NFPA 70 (the National Electric Code [NEC]) and the ANSI/TIA-607-C.

Higher level requirements may also apply in accordance with local authorities and codes .

5.6. Labeling/Administration

Ensure that the construction documents clearly define the labeling requirements. Thecontractor must properly label all cables and connecting hardware.

6. PATHWAY PLANNING

While there are standard planning practices that continue to apply such as pathway fill,maintenance of minimum cable bend radius and proper cable handling there are also severalplanning aspects specific to OSP cable that must be considered.

6.1. Cable Diameters

One of the key elements of consideration for planning is the horizontal cable diameters.Small differences in cable O.D. can stack up to create a significant impact on accuratepathway design and conduit sizing calculations. Current diameters for Siemon’s OSP cablesare as shown below the table below.

Cable diameters are subject to change and the most current product specifications shouldalways be referenced prior to performing any pathway spacing calculations.

Figure 5b: 3M 4460-D Scotchlock Shield Connector – termination options


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OSP Cable TypeCable O.D.mm (in.)

Category 6 UTP 6.9 (0.27)

Category 6A UTP 9.0 (0.355)

Category 6A F/UTP(Single jacket style)

8.1 (0.32)

Category 6A F/UTP(Double jacket style)

9.4 (0.37)

Table 5: OSP Cable Diameters

6.2. Pathway Sizing

When determining pathway sizing, it is important to note that there is a difference betweencalculated fill and actual fill. Calculated fill assumes all space is used (i.e. – no spacebetween adjacent cables) and cables are routed perfectly parallel. In reality, there is alwaysspace between cables (as they are essentially round) and cable lay is typically random alongthe pathway. For example, a calculated fill ratio of 50% for a cable tray can be expected tophysically fill 100% of the entire cable tray due to spaces between cables and randomplacement.

Conduit is one of the most common pathways used for OSP cables. When calculating fillcapacity for conduit, there are several sizing factors to consider based on specific siterequirements. These include cable & conduit/duct diameters, conduit bends, lengths, andpulling eyes.

As a rule of thumb, your conduit/duct diameter should be a minimum of 15% larger than thediameter of your cable or cable bundle. This should equate to a pathway that is at leastone-half trade size larger than the diameter of the cable/cable bundle you plan to install. Incases where a pulling eye is going to be used, the diameter used for conduit sizingcalculations should be increased an additional 10%. Likewise, if the conduit run contains a90-degree bend, calculations should be increased an additional 15%.

Also note that ANSI/TIA-758-B requires a 4” trade size conduit as the minimum size fortypical OSP cable pathways. Some smaller conduit exceptions may apply such as cables thatserve the Blue Light Emergency Telephones that may be sized at 1.5”.

Table 6 illustrates the necessary conduit sizing for both the UTP and F/UTP cables basedupon the conditions noted:


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Conduit Trade Sizeinches(meters)

Max number of cables based upon allowable fill

Cable O.D. (w/out pulling eye)

0.27 in.(6.9mm)

0.32 in.(8.1mm)

0.355 in.(9.0mm)

0.37 in.(9.4mm)

3/4” (21) 3 2 2 1

1” (27) 4 3 2 2

1-1/4” (35) 7 5 4 4

1-1/2” (41) 10 7 6 5

2” (53) 16 12 9 9

2-1/2” (63) 29 20 17 15

3” (78) 43 31 25 23

3-1/2” (91) 56 40 33 30

4” (103) 72 51 42 38

Notes:• This table provides guidelines on cable capacity for conduit based on two 90° bends and a maximum length of 30 m (100 ft).• This table is based on 40% initial calculated fill and a de-rating factor of 15% for each of two 90° bends: 100% -15%-15% = 70%;40% x 70% = 28%. For site specific calculations, see the Siemon Installation Calculators ( Conduit Fill worksheet) located on theSiemon Ally Website.• Conduit fill will vary depending on the quantity of cables being pulled at any one time.• The number of cables that can be installed in a conduit can be limited by the allowed maximum pulling tension of the cables.

Table 6: Conduit Sizing for OSP Cables

Cable tray systems are not as common with OSP cable runs but the same design considerationsshould be adhered to with these pathways as those used for indoor horizontal cables . In caseswhere a tray system is used, the maximum capacity shall not exceed a calculated fill ratio of 50%to a maximum of 150mm (6 in.) inside depth. Maintaining a maximum depth serves to minimizethe effects of “cable set” by reducing cable bundle size and weight to avoid changing thegeometric shape of the cables. To allow room for future expansion, and to facilitate additionsand removal of cables, a lesser fill is recommended.

To calculate the necessary cable tray size for a specific cable type, the following formulas can befollowed:

Area of Cable = r2 = 3.14 x (cable O.D./2)2

Area of Cable Tray = width x depth

Capacity (Calculated) = (Area of Cable Tray x 50%) / Area of Cable

6.3. Horizontal Cable Bend Radius

In addition to overall pathway sizing, proper care must be taken to ensure the minimumbend radius for both UTP and F/UTP cable types is not exceeded. Despite the similar 4-pairconstruction of these OSP cables with typical 4-pair indoor cable, the outer jacketconstruction of the OSP cable, limits the recommended bend radius to a larger degree. The


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~4 x Cable OD23mm(0.9 in.)

current recommended minimum bend radius for the current Siemon OSP cable at rest andduring installation is provided in Table 7. Please check the latest spec sheet for the mostcurrent recommendations.

OSP Cable TypeBend Radius at rest

mm (in.)8 x O.D

Bend Radius duringinstallation

mm (in.)10 x O.D.

Category 6 UTP 55 (2.16) 69 (2.7)

Category 6A UTP 72 (2.84) 90 (3.55)

Category 6A F/UTP(Single jacket style)

65 (2.56) 81 (3.2)

Category 6A F/UTP(Double jacket style)

75 (2.96) 94 (3.7)

Table 7: Category 6 & 6A UTP; 6A F/UTP bend radius

6.4. Clearance Requirements

In cases where the OSP cable is permitted to terminate directly to an end device location(i.e. without having to transition to a listed cable), it is important to ensure there isadequate termination clearance associated with the outlet and cable. Direct termination toan outlet such as our keystone Z-MAX outlet or the hybrid Z-MAX outlet (flat mountingorientation) represents the worst-case depth requirements as shown below in Table 8.

Table 8: Z-MAX Outlet Depth Requirements with OSP cable

(*Depth measured from latching area)

In extreme cases of limited clearance behind the terminated outlets (such as in a wall boxwith limited depth) the stiffer jacket of the OSP cable may tend to leverage the conductorsor module out of position if not managed properly. Alternate mounting and terminati ontechniques to mitigate these clearance difficulties such as stand-off rings, angled mountingor positioning the OSP jacket further away from the termination points (such as with a MAXseries module) can help alleviate these problems. Other product options may also be

OSP Cable O.D.mm (in.)

Overall Depth*(ZMAX Keystone)

Overall Depth*(ZMAX Flat)

Overall Depth*(ZMAX Angled)

Cat. 6 UTP: 6.9 (0.27) 85 (3.4) 90 (3.6) 51 (2.0)

Cat. 6A UTP: 9.0 (0.355) 102 (4.0) 107 (4.2) 59 (2.3)

Cat 6A F/UTP: 8.1 (0.32)(single jacket style)

95 (3.7) 100 (3.9) 55 (2.2)

Cat 6A F/UTP: 9.4 (0.37)(double jacket style)

106 (4.2) 111 (4.4) 61 (2.4)

35mm(1.4 in.)

8 xCable

OD30mm(1.2 in.)

8 xCable

OD


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available to further accommodate outlet depth requirements not detailed here, pleasecontact Siemon Technical Services Group for additional information.

7. DEVIATIONS

The Siemon Company understands that each application of an outside plant communicationssystem design is unique, and circumstances may occasionally warrant a deviation. If thedesigner feels that a deviation is warranted to comply with a Siemon Certified Installation, anexception request must be submitted. Approval of any deviation is required on a case-by-casebasis. If approved, the Designer should not assume that an approved exception for one projectwill eliminate the need to apply for a future project exception regardless of similarity.

8. DISCLAIMER

Siemon makes every attempt to ensure that the content of materials presented orcommunicated to you is accurate. The content herein is for informational purpose only andSiemon assumes no responsibility or obligation for actions resulting from this content unlessotherwise agreed to in writing and signed by both parties

If you have any questions regarding this document or other related issues, please contact theSiemon Technical Services Group in Watertown CT at 1-800-365-2285 or your regionalinternational Siemon sales office. For a complete listing of Siemon offices, please visitwww.siemon.com.


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Revision History:

Edition Date Revisions1.0 Jan 2016 Initial Release2.0 Mar 2019 Added Z-PLUG, single jacket F/UTP OSP, 6A UTP OSP, outdoor

compression gland accessory for Z-PLUG

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