CommScope FTTX Solutions Rapid Flexible Fiber Box User manual

TECP-96-614 Rev D Page 1
This product is covered by one or more U.S.patents or their foreign equivalents. © 2017 CommScope.
For patents, see http://www.commscope.com/ProductPatent/ProductPatent.aspx All Rights Reserved.
User Manual
Rapid FFB With RapidReel and Sliding Adapter Packs
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................2
Revision History ........................................................................2
Trademark Information ...................................................................2
Admonishments ........................................................................2
1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................3
1.1 General Description................................................................3
1.2 Main Components .................................................................4
1.3 Bottom Plate Kit ..................................................................6
1.4 Specifications and Dimensions ........................................................6
2 MOUNTING THE RAPID FFB ................................................................7
2.1 General Recommendations...........................................................8
2.2 Wooden Utility Pole Mounting Procedure .................................................8
2.3 Metal Utility Pole Mounting Procedure .................................................. 10
2.4 Wood-Framed Wall Mounting Procedure ................................................ 11
2.5 Masonry Wall Mounting Procedure .................................................... 14
3 GROUNDING THE RAPID FFB .............................................................. 16
4 OPENING AND CLOSING THE OUTER DOOR..................................................... 17
5 INSTALLING THE FEEDER CABLE............................................................ 18
6 INSTALLING A DROP CABLE ............................................................... 22
(continued)
Content Page
24691-A
FTTX Solutions Rapid Flexible Fiber Box
TECP-96-614 Issue 3 November 2016

TECP-96-614 • Issue 3 • November 2016
Page 2
© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
7 CLEANING CONNECTORS AND ADAPTERS ..................................................... 23
8 ACCESSING ADAPTER PACKS .............................................................. 24
9 PERFORMING A SPLICE .................................................................. 24
10 PRODUCT SUPPORT .................................................................... 26
INTRODUCTION
This manual describes the Rapid Flexible Fiber Box (FFB) and provides all information needed
to install and operate this product. Select the procedures required for the product being installed.
Revision History
Trademark Information
CommScope (logo) and CommScope are trademarks.
Admonishments
Important safety admonishments are used throughout this manual. The admonishments must be
followed at all times. These warnings are flagged by use of the triangular alert icon (seen below),
and are listed in descending order of severity of injury or damage and likelihood of occurrence.
General Warning and Caution Statements
Content Page
ISSUE DATE REASON FOR CHANGE
1 12/2011 Original.
2 3/2012 Details added for paying out feeder cable.
3 November 2016 Rebranded for CommScope.
Danger: Danger is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that can cause severe personal
injury, death, or substantial property damage if the hazard is not avoided.
Warning: Warning is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that can cause severe personal
injury, death, or substantial property damage if the hazard is not avoided.
Caution: Caution is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that can cause minor personal
injury or property damage if the hazard is not avoided.
Danger: Avoid eye exposure to unmated connectors. Unmated connectors may emit invisible
laser radiation. Do not look directly into the end of a connector or adapter port. Do not inspect
with a magnifying device. To ensure safety, maintain caps on unmated connectors at all times.
Caution: Handle cables with care. Fiber optic cable stubs should be handled with care
throughout the installation procedure to avoid kinking and damage to cables.

TECP-96-614 • Issue 3 • November 2016
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© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
1.1 General Description
The Rapid Flexible Fiber Box (FFB), shown on the cover of this user manual, is a rugged,
weather-resistant demarcation and aggregation box equipped with an internal RapidReelTM fiber
cable spool for easy storage, unreeling, and installation of a feeder cable spooled within the
product. The feeder cable may be either stub-ended or terminated with an MPO connector.
Cable length is either 100 feet for a 24-fiber cable or 200 feet for a 12-fiber cable.
The Rapid FFB is used in Fiber-to-the-Cell-Site (FTTCS) and Fiber-to-the-Antenna (FTTA)
applications. In a typical installation, the Rapid FFB is mounted on a utility pole or wall at a cell
site or tower, where it provides a splice or connection point between the backhaul network and
the cell site or tower.
The Rapid FFB divides functionally into feeder cable components and drop cable components,
as shown in Figure 1.
•Feeder Cable Components—include the RapidReel, the feeder cable, and a compression
nut assembly for securing the feeder cable after it is unwound.
•Drop Cable Components—consist of two compression nut assemblies for securing drop
cables and either sliding adapter packs or splice trays for terminating the drop cables
within the FFB.
Figure 1. Rapid FFB Functional Components
24695-A
DROP
COMPONENTS
FEEDER
COMPONENTS
FROM
BACKHAUL
NETWORK
TO
CELL SITE OR
ANTENNA

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© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
1.2 Main Components
Figure 2 provides a more detailed and comprehensive view of the main components of a Rapid
FFB with a feeder cable pre-wound onto the rapid wheel and with sliding adapter packs for
termination of drop cables.
Figure 2. Main Components of Rapid FFB With Sliding Adapter Packs
The components called out are as follows:
•Outer Door—swings open to provide access to the interior of the box.
•Outer Door Latch—houses a door lock operated with a 216B key tool. It has a hole for an
optional padlock.
•Designation Label—provides an area to record the designation of drop cables.
•Door Grounding Wire—grounds the door to the main part of the box (which is in turn
grounded to the facility ground).
•Sliding Adapter Packs—transition between the feeder cable on the RapidReel and drop
cables. Depending on the fiber count of the feeder cable, the FFB may contain either 12 or
24 adapters.
•RapidReelTM— contains the spooled up feeder cable which is unspooled at the customer
site and routed to the connection point with the cable from the backhaul network. The
RapidReel is locked when shipped and must be unlocked before the cable can be
unwound.
24693-A
FEEDER CABLE
PORTAL
DROP SIDE
CABLE PORTALS
DESIGNATION
LABEL
RADIUS
LIMITERS
RAPID
REEL
DOOR
OUTER
DOOR
LATCH
DOOR
GROUNDING
WIRE
SLIDING
ADAPTER
PACKS GROUNDING
STUDS

TECP-96-614 • Issue 3 • November 2016
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© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
•Radius Limiters—are guides for wrapping around the drop cables when installed. They
prevent the drop cables from being damaged by being bent too sharply.
•Grounding Studs—are used to fasten a two-hole grounding lug and grounding wire.
•Feeder Side Cable Portal—holds the compression nut assembly that is used to secure the
feeder cable after it is unwound.
•Drop Side Cable Portals—holds the compression nut assemblies used to secure drop
cables after they are installed. Multiple cables may enter through the same portal.
Figure 3 shows the splice-specific components of a Rapid FFB with splice trays on the drop
side. This unit also has an internal RapidReel fiber cable spool and feeder cable.
•Radius Limiters—are guides for wrapping around the drop cables when installed. They
prevent the drop cables from being damaged by being bent too sharply.
•Hook-and-Loop Straps—secure the splice trays to the RapidReel and allow the splice
trays to be easily removed from the RapidReel and returned to it after completion of
splicing or other maintenance procedures.
•Splice Trays—are used to splice the feeder cable fibers to the drop cable fibers. The Rapid
FFB accommodates up to two 12-fiber SC ribbon assemblies
Figure 3. Main Components of Rapid FFB With Splice Trays
24694-B
RADIUS
LIMITERS
HOOK-AND-LOOP
STRAP SPLICE
TRAYS

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© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
1.3 Bottom Plate Kit
A bottom plate kit (FFB-BTM-PLT-KIT) is available as a product accessory. The kit (shown in
Figure 4) contains one two-hole bottom plate, one gasket, two compression nut assemblies, and
eight mounting screws.
Figure 4. Bottom Plate Kit Components
1.4 Specifications and Dimensions
Table 1 lists specifications, Figure 5 shows dimensions of the Rapid FFB.
Table 1. Specifications
ITEM SPECIFICATION COMMENTS
Dimensions (H x W x D) 11.30 x 12.74 x 5.36 in (38.70 x 32.36 x 13.61 cm) Basic box. See Figure 5
Weight 11.50 lbs. (5.22 kg.)
Construction Aluminum 0.080 inch (.020 cm) thick
Color Putty white
Fiber count 12 or 24 fibers
Feeder cable types 100-foot, 24-fiber, MPO terminated Outside diameter:
3.6 mm (single-mode)
3.8 mm (multimode)
200-foot, 12-fiber, MPO terminated
100-foot, 12-fiber, stub
200-foot, 24-fiber, stub

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© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
Figure 5. Rapid FFB Dimensions
2 MOUNTING THE RAPID FFB
The Rapid FFB can be mounted on a wooden utility pole, metal utility pole, wood-framed wall,
H-frame, or masonry wall. Use whichever procedure is appropriate for the application.
Drop cable termination Sliding adapter packs SC and LC; supports up to four
APL series modular adapter packs
Splice trays Up to two 12-fiber cables
Feeder cable portal Shipped with feeder cable already threaded through portal
Drop cable portals Two portals, can be used with up to 5 mm diame-
ter cables depending on configuration
Multiple cables may enter through
same portal
Table 1. Specifications, continued
ITEM SPECIFICATION COMMENTS
5.36 IN.
(13.6 CM)
12.00 IN.
(30.5 CM)
6.60 IN.
(16.8 CM)
11.30 IN.
(28.7 CM)
12.06 IN.
(30.6 CM)
6.80 IN.
(17.3 CM)
13.57 IN.
(34.5 CM)
12.74 IN.
(32.4 CM)
TOP VIEW
FRONT VIEW
24653-A

TECP-96-614 • Issue 3 • November 2016
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© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
2.1 General Recommendations
The site chosen for the installation must conform to all local codes and any permits required
must be obtained prior to the start of installation. The location must be accessible and provide
adequate parking for worker and vehicle safety. In addition, the installed FFB must not create a
visual or physical obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Sufficient space must be
provided on all sides to facilitate FFB installation and maintenance.
Install a grounding system (not provided) that meets all local electrical codes. Check local codes
for grounding system installation, use of clamps, wire size, and any other grounding
requirements. Typically, a 2-hole grounding lug crimped to a #6 AWG solid copper wire is used
to connect the FFB to a approved earth ground source as specified by local code or practice.
2.2 Wooden Utility Pole Mounting Procedure
Use the following procedure to mount the FFB on a wooden utility pole.
1. Obtain the following fasteners and tools:
• 3/8-inch x 2 inch lag screw suitable for exterior application
• Drill
• 9/32-inch drill bit
• 1/2-inch drill bit (optional depending on pole condition)
• 9/16-inch wrench
• 216B key tool (accessory)
The following fasteners are optional depending on the condition of the pole:
• 1/2-inch threaded rod (1), 1/2-inch nut (1), 1/2-inch flat washer (2),
1/2-inch lock washer (2)
2. Using the mounting bracket as a guide, mark the location of the bracket mounting holes on
the pole as shown in Figure 6.
3. Drill a 9/32-inch hole in the pole at each of the locations marked in step 2.
4. Secure the mounting bracket to the pole using the two 3/8-inch x 2-inch lag screws.
Tighten lag screws securely.

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© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
Figure 6. Installing Mounting Bracket on a Wooden Utility Pole
Figure 7. Threaded Rod or Through-Bolt Installation
Note: If the utility pole is in poor condition, install a 1/2-inch threaded rod or through-bolt
in addition to the lag screws to provide additional support in mounting the bracket to the
pole, as shown in Figure 7.
24219-A
FASTENERS USED TO
SECURE BRACKET TO
WOODEN UTILITY POLE
MOUNTING
BRACKET
3/8-INCH X 2-INCH
LAG SCREW (2)
WOODEN
UTILITY POLE
24220-A
1/2-INCH
THREADED ROD
1/2-INCH FLAT
WASHER
1/2-INCH FLAT
WASHER
1/2-INCH FLAT
WASHER
1/2-INCH FLAT
WASHER
1/2-INCH LOCK
WASHER
1/2-INCH LOCK
WASHER
1/2-INCH
NUT
1/2-INCH
NUT
1/2-INCH
NUT
1/2-INCH
THROUGH-BOLT
THREADED ROD
INSTALLATION
THROUGH-BOLT
INSTALLATION

TECP-96-614 • Issue 3 • November 2016
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© 2017 CommScope. All Rights Reserved.
5. Using appropriate lifting equipment, hoist the FFB into position for attachment to the
mounting bracket.
6. Hang the FFB from the installed mounting bracket. The welded bracket on the back of the
FFB, shown in Figure 8, fits into the two slots at the top of the mounting bracket. The
partially installed cap screw at the bottom of the mounting bracket fits into the slotted tab
at the bottom of the FFB.
7. Tighten the partially installed cap screw at the bottom of the FFB using the 216B key tool.
Figure 8. Installing FFB on Pole-Mounted Bracket
2.3 Metal Utility Pole Mounting Procedure
Use the following procedure to mount the FFB on a metal utility pole.
1. Obtain the following materials and tools:
Danger: Do not stand directly under the FFB as it is being hoisted into position for mounting. A
failure of the lifting equipment could result in serious personal injury.
Note: A cup washer is included with the cap screw to provide tamper resistance.
24633-A
WELDED
BRACKET
CAP SCREW
WITH CUP
WASHER
MOUNTING
BRACKET