Abstract: A thermal shield and hermetic seal is provided to prevent deterioration of plastic insulation in a cable including a plurality of insulated conductors. The shield includes a sheet of aluminum material wrapped around exposed insulated conductors of the cable, a pressure wrap superposed over the sheet of aluminum material, the pressure wrap being wrapped over the sheet of material, and an enclosure housing the wrapped insulated conductors. The shield and seal thus provides thermal and hermetic protection that prevents heat exposure as well as infiltration of oxygen and ultraviolet radiation into the splice for preventing deterioration of plastic insulation in the conductors of the cable in the area of the splice. A method is also provided for protecting conductor access points and permitting re-access thereto. The method includes opening a conducting access point cover, removing the conductor access point cover if necessary, and exposing insulated conductors to allow access thereto.