With the many types of fiber cables and then the components that make each of them up, it can be very confusing to know what fiber cable is the best overall for your business. One of the biggest questions we get is what is the difference between OFNR fiber cables and LSZH fiber cables. While they seem like the same thing, they are really two very different and very important attributes of fiber cables, and the same fiber cable can be both. To understand these attributes better, we have to understand the construction of fiber cables and the different rating levels associated with fiber optic cabling.
Optical Fiber Construction
There are several parts that made up the fiber cable. Each part starting from the cladding, then the coating, strength member and lastly the outer jacket is covered at the top of each other to give protection and shielding especially the conductors and the fiber core. Above all of these, the outer jacket is the first layer of protection and adds strength to the fiber to withstand different conditions such as fire, moisture, chemical, and stress during installations and operations.
Fiber Cable Outer Jacket Material Types
Fiber cable outer jackets can be classified into several types in terms of different materials. These materials have different characteristics and use that depends on the application’s setting. The list below shows the most popular types of outer jacket materials and its uses.
| Material | Characteristics and Uses |
|---|---|
| PVC (Polyvinylchloride) |
Most commonly used material for outer jacket. It is low cost, strong, flexible, fire resistant and can be used in many applications. |
| PE (Polyethylene) |
Very good electrical properties while maintaining high insulation. PE cables may be firm and solid but are more flexible. |
| PVDF (Polyvinyl Difluoride) |
Has more flame-resistant properties than the PE cable and primarily used for plenum areas. |
| PUR (Polyurethane) |
PUR is very flexible and scratch resistant that is mainly used in low-temperature environments. |
| LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) |
LSZH is less toxic than PVC. It has a flame-retardant outer cover that doesn’t produce halogen when heated. Mainly used in confined installations. |
The National Electrical Code (NEC) has a classification system for optical fiber cables. These requirements specify how the fiber cables will behave in case of fire conditions and categorize depending on its application for these different areas.
What is the Plenum Area?
A plenum area is a space used to move air to workspaces for the purpose of [Read more…] about What is the difference between LSZH and OFNR?
