Fiber optic cable assemblies for installation in outdoor and indoor environments must be selected correctly to ensure a durable connection. Learn how to choose fiber optic cable construction and jackets to protect your fiber optic installations:
Optical fibers require proper cable construction and jacketing to avoid damage due to the rigours of installation and selected requirements. This is especially important when fiber optic cables are to be placed in outdoor environments.
cable jacket
The first line of protection for an optical fiber is the cable jacket. Indoor/outdoor applications involve the manufacture of a jacket material that has the appropriate combination of moisture, mechanical, flame, chemical and UV protection for outdoor environments, but an appropriate flame rating for indoor environments.
flame level environment
Partitions: Building spaces used for air distribution, such as suspended ceilings or raised floors. The cable jacket must be flame retardant and low smoke.
Riser: A duct, floor shaft or opening shape that extends vertically between one or more layers. The cable jacket is non-conductive and oxidation resistant. A jacket with a fire resistance rating can be used in the riser space.
Optical cable jacket assembly
General: Areas of risers or plenums that are not on the same floor or in the same space. Both partition and elevated rated sheaths can be used in general purpose spaces.
Outdoor Equipment: Fiber optic cable jacket materials are designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor environments, but do not have the flammability rating required to enter built environments beyond 50 feet.
Optical cable structure
Another key factor in choosing the right cable is: the application. Here are some common applications with special cable constructions:
Common indoor/outdoor fiber optic cable applications
Campus/Building Backbone: To simplify fiber networks by eliminating connection points and adding fiber terminations, indoor/outdoor fiber optic cables reduce points of failure and reduce downtime in various institutions including hospitals and educational institutions.
Outdoor Optical Cable Application
Residential: Providing fiber to homes in buildings with multiple dwellings presents challenges that are addressed with specially designed indoor/outdoor fiber optic cable assemblies. Cell assemblies feature bend-insensitive fiber and robust indoor/outdoor cable jackets for optimal flexibility and performance in various building deployments.
Community optical cable wiring
Small Cell and Antenna Cables: A variety of specialized cables are available to address wireless and DAS installations. Proper indoor/outdoor fiber optic and OSP cables can withstand a wide temperature range, UV radiation, and factors specific to the antenna environment. Browse our Wireless Solutions Center for more details.
Common OSP cable applications
Aerial fiber optic cable: Above-ground deployment on utility poles or towers, eliminating the need for underground excavation. Some designs are self-supporting, while others employ "messenger" wires to help support the weight of the fiber optic cable between the poles. In this environment, the UV-resistant properties of the cable jacket are key to its long-term protection.
Buried underground: In installations without a duct structure, the fiber optic cable can be buried in trenches or with vibrating ploughs. Rugged armored fiber optic cables are ideal for such situations. Underground fiber optic cables often include corrugated steel tapes that provide additional fiber protection and provide excellent water resistance.
Indoor fiber optic cables: These fiber optic cables provide the ultimate link between the distribution point and the end user for indoor applications such as fiber-to-the-home. For such applications, drop cables will typically contain 1-12 fibers and use dielectric strength components to provide high compressive strength.
